Marketing Stockport have been named among the top 10 best places to live in England and Wales The latest ‘Best Places to Live 2025’ rankings by Garrington Property Finders celebrate locations that combine quality of life with three Stockport neighbourhoods all making the top 10 Garrington is one of the UK’s most established independent property finding companies and its annual rankings are widely reported as a barometer of up-and-coming The accolade is the latest praise given to Stockport as a great place to live. The town was named the Sunday Times’ Best Place to Live in the North-west in 2024 with The Heatons also making the top 10 in the 2025 ranking “While Stockport town centre continues to make headlines with the biggest town centre regeneration in the country it’s our district centres that tell the real story of what makes Stockport special “I’m absolutely delighted to see Marple Gatley and Bramhall all ranked in the top 10 best places to live in England and Wales in Garrington’s 2025 report That’s an extraordinary endorsement of our borough – and a real testament to the strength of our local communities “Marple is climbing the national ranks for good reason – its beautiful setting strong sense of community and the exciting plans for the new Marple Hub are putting it firmly on the map The Hub will have a huge and lasting impact on the prosperity health and wellbeing of local people – and shows what’s possible when you back a place to succeed “Gatley and Bramhall’s recognition reinforces what so many residents and visitors already know – that these neighbourhoods are thriving and rooted in a brilliant mix of people and local pride “At a time when many towns are struggling this kind of national recognition shows that Stockport’s approach – backing local places and building for the long term – is delivering real results “We’re proud of every corner of this borough And we’re only just getting started.” Read News Read News Read News The ad-free version is ready for purchase on iOS mobile app today we couldn't find that page";var n=e.querySelector("h2");return n&&n.remove(),{staticContent:e,title:t}},d=function(e){var t=document.createElement("button");return t.innerText=e,t.classList.add("error-page-button"),t},f=function(e){var t=document.createElement("div");t.id="recirculation-404",t.classList.add("brand-hint-bg");var n="\n \n \n Tick here if you would like us to send you the author’s response Much of Marple's 23,000 population considers the area to be a town in its own right rather than part of Stockport With canal towpaths and ready access to the surrounding hills it is at the more rural end of the borough As well as Marple Hall High School the area also has Cheadle and Marple Sixth Form and College for further education one of Stockport's better-used shopping precincts and a large number of restaurants You are viewing your 1 free article this month HarperCollins will publish The Guest List author Lucy Foley’s book featuring Miss Marple the first full-length continuation of Agatha Christie’s iconic sleuth Foley’s currently untitled novel is slated to be released in autumn 2026 the 50th anniversary of the publication of Christie’s last Marple The deal for world English-language rights was negotiated by former HarperFiction MD and publisher Kimberley Young (now Transworld MD) with Agatha Christie Limited along with Curtis Brown’s Cathryn Summerhayes on behalf of Foley The project will be overseen in the UK by HarperFiction publishing director Charlotte Brabbin and David Brawn HC’s publisher for Estates; the US side will be handled by Morrow VP and editorial director Emily Krump and Jennifer Hart the HC US division’s SVP and deputy publisher Agatha Christie Limited is handling foreign rights Foley has published eight books since her debut in 2015 and had her breakout success with 2019’s The Hunting Party She was one of 12 writers to contribute to 2022’s Marple (HarperCollins) a collection of short stories reimagining the detective Foley also wrote the foreword to last year’s Agatha Christie’s Marple: Expert on Wickedness an examination of St Mary Mead’s most famous resident by "Agathologist" Mark Aldridge Foley called Miss Marple "hands down my favourite Christie sleuth (désolé Poirot) I love her intuitive intelligence; her sense of humour; her brilliantly cynical view of humanity; and the way she uses her invisibility – as an older woman she is frequently patronised and misjudged by those around her – as her superpower" Agatha Christie Limited chairman and CEO (and the late author’s grandson) James Prichard said: "Miss Marple is an extraordinary and special character and this project promises to be immense fun and the idea of bringing her talents to bear on Miss Marple is an utter joy." Foley joins fellow British crime author Sophie Hannah in the Christie brand extension space: since 2014 Hannah has written five Hercule Poirot mysteries which have collectively shifted £2.8m through Nielsen BookScan UK HarperFiction MD and publisher Frankie Gray called Christie and Foley "an extraordinary marriage of crime-writing greats" She added: "This new imagining of Miss Marple – the most famous female fictional detective of all time – in Lucy’s inimitable style will be a global publishing sensation." Morrow’s Hart added: "When thinking about which author would best be suited to continue Miss Marple’s story Her bestselling contemporary thrillers have captivated US readers coupled with a profound admiration for Agatha Christie’s world JavaScript offTo get the best experience on this website please use a browser with JavaScript enabled The Marple Hub project is being supported by a £20 million grant from the Capital Levelling Up Fund with the development also set to include active travel and highways improvements in the local area The project will involve constructing a new community hub in Marple Following the granting of planning permission after a long consultation process library and a health clinic will be demolished to make way for the new community hub with all of those uses retained on the site The library and clinic will be relocated to the new complex with the police relocated to Hollins House The scheme will also replace the village’s previous swimming pool which closed in 2018 due to health and safety issues with the building You can find the plans on our document page We're currently delivering a project to support sustainable travel choices in the area and improve access to the Marple Community Hub The works include installing a new Puffin (signal controlled) Crossing for pedestrians on Station Road between Manor Hill Road and Hollins Lane Dropped kerbs will also be installed at the side road junctions of Station Road with Manor Hill Road and Hollins Lane to improve the provision for pedestrians You can find more information, including a drawing of the works, on our roadworks page Works for Marple Community Hub are now well underway and we're excited to share with you updated CGIs (computer generated images) You can find some images of the progress below Works to Hollins House are now completed and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) will be relocating to their permanent facility within Hollins House at the end of February 2025 The following works are to start in the next month: We're also pleased to share with you some of the incredible work that Willmott Dixon’s Social Value team have carried out since the start of the project We're excited to confirm that Willmott Dixon will be providing a woodland path in Marple Memorial Park as part of their social value commitment We'll share more information on the route in the next month The library at Marple Scouts Hut opened on 29 October 2024 You'll also find posters and leaflets with information about getting in touch with services who can help you We've seen a great response to the book lockers (pictured below) with residents picking up reservations and returning books Storytime is ongoing with a small group of residents attending and we're promoting this with the shops and childminders Marple Memorial Car Park will be closed to the public to allow for the main construction works of Marple Community Hub to begin pedestrian access will be maintained for those accessing Marple Senior Citizens Association There'll be 2 disabled bays provided and from mid-December two drop-off and pick up bays will be provided opposite Marple Scouts Hut and Marple Senior Citizens Association These bays will be available at all times of the day This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology a Contractor Traffic Marshal will be at the bottom of Memorial Drive managing vehicles as the road will also be used for construction and service vehicles We appreciate this will cause some disruption and we apologise for the inconvenience this may cause the safety of those using the site is very important to us Sign our campaign for a grant funding review Asda has pushed heavily into the convenience sector Plans have been lodged with Stockport Council to bring convenience retail to the Marple Road site is working with advisor ADS Design on the scheme the proposal is to demolish the exiting garage buildings on site and replace them with a store of around 3,600 sq ft Indicative images show Asda Express branding A move into convenience retail has been a major trend since Asda was taken over by TDR Capital and the Issa brothers in 2021 The first standalone store was opened in November 2022 with a 470-strong raft of former EG and Co-op convenience stores brought into the group while February 2024 alone saw 110 convenience locations re-badged access by car will come from a widened entrance onto Marple Road ADS said: “The proposal will rejuvenate a derelict site and provide an additional level of amenity to the existing land off Marple Road The design of the site has been carefully considered to maximise space and circulation “The proposed buildings represent a high quality Principles of sustainability have been incorporated including safe pedestrian access and site planting “On balance we consider that the development would not give rise to any unacceptable consequences for the environment community or other public interest and will contribute positively to the local area.” with one of its listed directors Yousuf Bux The Marple Road plans can be viewed on Stockport Council’s planning portal with the reference DC/095317 Read our comments policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" We do not need another greedy chain store opening in our Community We have a fabulous family run convenience store on Hempshawe Lane it has served our community for many years We need these traditionally run businesses not another big giant This site isn’t in a centre so there shouldn’t be any retail It’s a good site where housing could be provided Retail should never be allowed out of centre if housing would be acceptable on the site and 75 independent living homes on a 72-acre plot The 122-flat development known as Torkington sits on the site of the former Stockport College Register for free North West property intelligence Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to 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Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value" Anyone who has read a murder mystery has heard of Agatha Christie. Along with Dorothy Sayers, Margery Allingham, Josephine Tey, and some less-remembered authors like Gladys Mitchell she is one of the British women who made up the Golden Age of Mystery in the early 20th century And anyone who has heard of Agatha Christie most likely has heard of Miss Jane Marple she studies human nature with a keen and jaundiced eye Not for her the sleuthing of a Sherlock Holmes nor the “little grey cells” of Christie’s other famous detective it’s noticing how people act and react that reminds her of other people she has known “The Moving Finger (Miss Marple #3)”by Agatha Christie we meet most of the characters before Miss Marple does They appear at first to be types: the injured war hero the unworldly vicar and his practical wife the types come to life with idiosyncratic traits and hidden depths “If I misjudged this person the first time or two I met them Perhaps they are really the murderer?” The quiet little village of Lymstock seems the perfect place for Jerry Burton to recuperate from his flying accident under the care of his sister who would probably be more at home in London They settle in for a round of daily walks and conversations with everyone else in the village who are curious about the newcomers – they don’t see many But soon a series of vicious poison-pen letters destroys the village’s quiet charm eventually causing one recipient to commit suicide Do they happen because of the accusations (false or true) made in the letters Which of these seemingly quirky people in this apparently bucolic town wants to kill other people’s reputations … or simply kill them One of the townspeople knows our Miss Marple and invites her to stay but not until three-quarters of the book is done we really have come to know and care about the villagers and their visitors and the portrait of their lives is the best part of the book The solution – with the characteristic Agatha Christie twist but it’s also in some ways beside the point read this book if you enjoy British mysteries but be prepared for it not to follow the usual pattern of detective novels Marple has developed the Marple Insight tool which provides time-series engineering data to users over the cloud for visualizing It builds on its precursor Marple Cloud with the ability to read databases – rather than ‘drag and drop’ files – and thus caters to larger teams or infrastructures than its precursor is a high-performance database designed to store and query time-series data and complements Marple Insights by vertically integrating into the cloud tool with the ability to be the database should a transition from a file model to a database model occur The automotive industry is seeing a huge leap forward regarding data which is moving from local files to a database model a disconnect between IT and engineering is often an issue seen in the industry Most visualization and analysis tools are for business intelligence requiring an engineer to download the data to jump into a local script or there is no database process adopted in the first place This reduces productivity as the data is not in a database MarpleDB and Marple Insights are designed to address these issues MarpleDB can be the first stage in the data pipeline Marple Insights can be used to make a project where many different visualizations (maps tables) are presented to each team member independent of their location This data can be further enriched with Marple’s tooling live-data support and other industry-specific items such as distance-based plotting for motorsport users Marple has been introduced to a number of large motorsport teams and has been employed at the IMSA 24 at Daytona Zahra brings her background in reporting on the heavy manufacturing industry together with her passion for automotives as the Web Editor for the various titles at UKi Media & Events She is keen to connect with people across the sector and meeting others who share her enthusiasm for automotive innovation Enter a location to help give the most relevant search result for you Clear Lively little café and deli with an imaginative menu Uniqueness:Does the establishment stand out in the context of the local area Warmth:How warm is the service and the hospitality in general Strength of recommendation:How enthusiastically and widely would you recommend the establishment this growing genre is hard to capture in a single word hence the proliferation of terms such as ‘kitchen’ It's a good fit for Beth Hammond's latest venture after her much-praised stints at Altrincham Market The location on the suburban edge of the Peak District is unexpectedly delightful: on one side of the leaf-green shopfront is the Macclesfield Canal and charming waterside garden; on the other the looming hulk of the old Cottonopolis Goyt Mill a counter of enticing home-bakes and a bevy of friendly An expertly curated selection of deli items fills every nook and cranny You can drop by for coffee and cake or a (highly recommended) focaccia sandwich The regular ‘food’ menu immediately appeals with vibrant dishes that show off their seasonality and provenance without sounding prissy or self-conscious Most are ‘green’ but not exclusively so Standouts on our visit were the crispy courgette sweetcorn and ricotta salata fritters with creamy tzatziki and a subtle dash of fermented chili oil as well as the roast Flourish Farm aubergine topped with elegantly spiced lamb ragù and herbs self-confident and enthusiastic simplicity The kitchen clearly knows what it's doing.  but delicate little custard tarts should fill any gaps ethically sourced coffee completes the picture Prices are higher than your average ‘caff’ but still remarkably good value for the quality on offer plus that hard-to-define X-factor: returnability 1 Upper Hibbert Lane, Hawk GreenMarpleGreater Manchester SK6 7JQGB Chester brings a distinctive flair to the dining scene in Cheshire with a growing number of restaurants that balance creativity From bold Mediterranean flavours to plant-led plates and modern British cooking Ahead of the next instalment of our Claridge’s Supper Series we caught up with Elly Wentworth from The Angel The South Hams boasts some of the most beautiful stretches of the English coastline with fertile farmland stretching from sea-sprayed headlands to steep rolling pasture and cool It’s home to a fiercely local food and drink scene and .. Samantha Miller and Jane Baxter’s eccentrically located restaurant  brings people together in a shared table format Here’s a light summer recipe to bring to your dining table Have we seen the last gasp of late night London Critic and Good Food Guide columnist Jimi Famurewa doesn't think so Some of the best restaurants in the city will still seat you come 10pm Bangkok Diners Club began life as District a Thai fusion tasting menu restaurant on nearby Oldham Street that attracted plaudits from local and national press before closing in 2022 due to financial difficulties.  few things are as uncomfortable as having to hurriedly recalibrate opinions about a formerly wholehearted recommendation I excitedly dragged my wife along for a very late Restaurant Index Our website uses cookies to improve your experience and personalise content. Cookies are small files placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to improve your experience of a website, gather reporting information and show relevant advertising. You can allow all cookies or manage them for yourself. You can find out more on our cookies page any time These cookies are needed for essential functions such as signing in and making payments These cookies help us optimise our website based on data Using these cookies we will know which web pages customers enjoy reading most and what products are most popular James Pritchard has been attempting to bring the detective back \"for a very long time\" Agatha Christie's great-grandson James Pritchard has revealed that a fresh dramatisation of iconic detective Miss Marple is in the works describing the character's stories as some of the mystery novelist's best The character has previously been portrayed in live-action by Helen Hayes (in two American films) by Geraldine McEwan and Julia McKenzie (in an ITV adaptation of the esteemed source material) with Pritchard revealing in an interview with Radio Times that he had spent part of the last decade attempting to get another take on the character off the ground Questioned on the recent competition from 'cosy crime' stories, ranging from The Thursday Murder Club to The Madame Blanc Mysteries and The Marlow Murder Club Pritchard rejected the term – but conceded there is room for lightness in a detective story \"I hate the phrase 'cosy crime' and I don't think it's what my great-grandmother wrote,\" he began \"but her books had humour and I don't think everything needs to be as dark as Sarah [Phelps \"[Towards Zero] is a little lighter and I can certainly see us doing more [in that style].\" Pritchard went on to tease that Miss Marple could be next on the agenda ready to once again challenge Hercule Poirot for the title of Christie's greatest sleuth but didn't offer details on who is developing the project \"I've been trying to get something for Miss Marple off the ground for a very long time Poirot has stolen her limelight since time began \"I re-read all the Marple stories five years ago and I'd forgotten how good they were Poirot has perhaps three or four of the all-time great Agatha Christies you'd get at least two or three Marples in there Pritchard concluded by musing on his great-grandmother who he credits for writing \"a lot of strong women\" – with Miss Marple being arguably the most famous of them all He added: \"She was an extremely interesting woman because part of her was very shy and retiring but I think she was also a forceful person \"She would claim not to have been a feminist but she absolutely thought she was as powerful as any man who she came across And that’s the kind of woman she wrote about.\" Agatha Christie's Towards Zero premieres on Sunday 2nd March 2025 on BBC One and iPlayer Agatha Christie's Miss Marple is making a return – great-grandson confirms new dramaJames Pritchard has been attempting to bring the detective back "for a very long time" describing the character's stories as some of the mystery novelist's best Joan Hickson (in an '80s BBC series) and with Pritchard revealing in an interview with Radio Times that he had spent part of the last decade attempting to get another take on the character off the ground Questioned on the recent competition from 'cosy crime' stories, ranging from The Thursday Murder Club to The Madame Blanc Mysteries and The Marlow Murder Club Keep up to date with all the dramas - from period to crime to comedy By entering your details you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply "I hate the phrase 'cosy crime' and I don't think it's what my great-grandmother wrote," he began "but her books had humour and I don't think everything needs to be as dark as Sarah [Phelps "[Towards Zero] is a little lighter and I can certainly see us doing more [in that style]." ready to once again challenge Hercule Poirot for the title of Christie's greatest sleuth but didn't offer details on who is developing the project "I couldn't be more excited," he said "I've been trying to get something for Miss Marple off the ground for a very long time Hulton Archive/Getty Images"I re-read all the Marple stories five years ago and I'd forgotten how good they were you'd get at least two or three Marples in there who he credits for writing "a lot of strong women" – with Miss Marple being arguably the most famous of them all He added: "She was an extremely interesting woman "She would claim not to have been a feminist And that’s the kind of woman she wrote about." Agatha Christie's Towards Zero premieres on Sunday 2nd March 2025 on BBC One and iPlayer David CraigSenior Drama WriterDavid Craig is the Senior Drama Writer for Radio Times covering the latest and greatest scripted drama and comedy across television and streaming presented The Winter King Podcast for ITVX and studied Journalism at the University of Sheffield you are agreeing to site title privacy policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Subscribe to RT!Subscribe to Radio Times magazine and get £10 issues for £10! Could your home unlock your dreams?Releasing equity from your home could help give you the retirement you've been dreaming of? Holiday brochuresNeed inspiration of where to go next Request a free brochure and start your journey There’s a big difference between being a fan and being a super-fan Not all fans would be able to differentiate between the two the difference between themselves and those of their ilk (fellow super-fans) on the one hand and regular fans on the other The unforgettable theory that it’s the weak characters who do the most damage appears in a Marple novel I am a big fan of Richard Curtis’s 2013 movie About Time Sophie Hannah’s latest Hercule Poirot mystery Her heavily Agatha-inspired murder mystery musical movie Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3 Already a subscriber? Log in Please whitelist confidentials.com to continue to our site and enjoy an Ad-Light experience My vegetarian friend Dave doesn’t like fish his response is a combination of the answers you’ve come to expect and the view that they’re just a bit weird.  For its first five years The Fisherman’s Table was manned by Marple Fish man Jamie Barratt whose trips back in the morning light from Fleetwood brought a trawl of quality produce for surrounding restaurants Since Christmas it’s been in the capable hands of head chef Louis and manager Charlotte both having been in the place since day one So in the interests of continuity I drove over to the familiar surroundings of Marple to see if The Fisherman’s Table still had the locals hooked.  looking much like most restaurants did decades ago before interior design started getting equal billing I like an interesting decor as much as the next person but not at the expense of what comes out of the kitchen.  with the likes of breaded fish goujon sandwiches (or a posh fish finger butty in other words) dressed crab salad and fish or scampi with chips and tartare sauce selection of the a la carte was what I was after.  Mains had plenty of similarly tempting options and I also love the luck-of-the-draw nature of the Catch of the Day But instead I found myself drawn towards the appeal of a well-established trio honey and chilli baked cod fillet with sauteed vegetables and white rice (£21).  Finally for dessert I chose something that could cleanse even the palate of a cannibal after a big lunch; affogato (£4.95) it’s a perfect example of the power of three The Fisherman’s Table and ALWAYS paid for by Confidentials.com and completely independent of any commercial relationship They are a first-person account of one visit by one knowledgeable restaurant reviewer and don't represent the company as a whole Which restaurants have our readers been visiting in March We look at ten top names due to land in the city Looking for a little lift through your letterbox This 16-lock flight at Marple is a spectacular sight and one of the steepest flights in Britain Visit beautiful countryside and nearby Marple Aqueduct for a family day out It's an absolutely fascinating part of our industrial heritage. Not only does Marple boast Benjamin Outram's splendid stone Marple Aqueduct, together with its slightly higher railway viaduct neighbour running parallel. But you're sure to bump into Oldknow - the man who made Marple Visit our welcome station for more information, located at the top of Marple's famous lock flight, near to the junction with the Macclesfield Canal Download your free local mapMore information about what you can enjoy at Marple Locks There are public toilets in the town centre Samuel OldknowSamuel Oldknow (1756 – 1828) transformed rural Marple and Mellor into a hub of industry Marple Station is a 5-minute walk to the towpath itself Free guides for fun days outDownload our free guides - over 100 places to visit Stay connectedSign up to our newsletter and discover how we protect canals and help nature thrive Copyright © Canal & River Trust 2025 Canal & River Trust is a charity registered with the Charity Commission no 1146792 and a company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales no temporary library provision will be available in Marple Scout Hut Marple Memorial Drive Marple to ensure local people can access vital library services whilst building of the new hub takes place The pop up library will open every Tuesday (12 midday to 6pm) and every Thursday (10am to 4pm) and during these times people will be able to borrow books speak to library staff and attend our Storytime every Thursday at 11am The service will be complemented by smart lockers installed outside the scout hut so residents can return their books and pick up reservations Residents can also access neighbouring libraries including High Lane Library where from Friday 4th October we are adding in an additional staff day 10am to 4pm The library’s home delivery service continues in the Marple area for those who need it And you can download the free BorrowBox app to access e-books magazines and newspapers on our e-lending service 24 hours a day the new Marple Community Hub will have a brand-new ground floor library with a small café Thank you once again for your patience while these local improvements take place A new temporary library has opened in Marple Scout Hut as part of work to deliver a new community hub and leisure centre for the village Stockport Council confirmed in an update on the project that the pop-up library will open every Tuesday (12 midday to 6pm) and every Thursday (10am to 4pm) During these times people will be able to borrow books speak to library staff and attend Storytime every Thursday at 11am Smart lockers will also be installed outside the scout hut for out-of-hours book returns and to pick up reservations Extra staffed hours will also be added at nearby High Lane Library on Fridays between 10am to 4pm Home delivery and online services via the BorrowBox app will also continue as normal have been on-site since September to conduct survey work ahead of the construction phase of the project Read News Now that planning permission has been secured for the new Community Hub in Marple preparations are now ramping up so that construction of the new facility can get underway we need to make some temporary changes to our library services in the area the library service will move out of the building to allow the new build phase of the development We are pleased to confirm that we are currently finalising details with the Scouts Headquarters in Marple to provide a pop-up library for the duration of the construction works The library will be open on a Tuesday and Thursday and provide an opportunity for residents to speak to library staff browse and borrow from a selection of books access public computers and use the space to relax Our popular Storytime will continue once a week for parents The Library Service will also be providing a book deposit/collection locker outside of the Scouts Headquarters which will be accessible outside of library hours We can also confirm the library’s home delivery service will continue in the Marple area for those who need it most and e-books will also remain available for free online 24/7 Residents can return their Marple Library books to any of our libraries, including Bredbury, Hazel Grove or High Lane, renew them via Library Catalogue - or hold onto them until the launch of our temporary offer will be taking possession of Marple Library and Marple Police Station at the beginning of September with surveys scheduled and service diversion works taking place to enable the main build of the new hub to commence in this winter There will also be some changes in Marple Memorial Park from October 2024 with Marple Memorial car park and children’s play park closing completely on the 15th October to the public to allow for main construction works to commence The external toilet block in the park will be closing to the public in early October with new temporary provision in place at this time During the construction phase there will be large numbers of contractors working on site To limit impact on public parking within Marple during the construction phase the former Marple Baths site will be used exclusively for contractor parking the council will be launching a dedicated web page for the construction phase where we will share updates on the progress of the project the new Marple Community Hub will have a five-lane swimming pool The temporary library provision is being provided for local people to access vital library services until the new hub is open Smart lockers will be provided outside the scout hut later this week so that residents can return their books and pick up reservations then the author was not at all like her creation Miss Marple the spinster sleuth of St Mary Mead: ‘I never can see why anybody thinks that I resemble Miss Marple in any way,’ she once complained Christie – who was born 134 years ago this week – felt that she was much more like her recurring character Ariadne Oliver an apple-munching writer of crime fiction who despaired of making her most famous detective a Finn (Christie’s own Hercule Poirot was proudly Belgian) and whose complaints often mirrored those in Christie’s own life including problems with taxation and disagreements over adaptations of her work There was something of the author in Miss Marple The most convincing evidence for Christie’s claim is a simple matter of age Miss Marple first appeared at the end of 1927 and so clearly some obvious points of comparison fail here with Miss Marple at least three decades older than her creator Already a subscriber? Log in Dr Mark Aldridge is the author of Agatha Christie’s Marple: Expert on Wickedness The LUF Engagement Report provides an overview of the engagement process completed by the Council prior to planning submission in early March. The report also provides a detailed analysis of all of the comments that were received by residents and how we have responded to them. You can also review the ‘We Asked, You Said, We Did’ information on the Council’s Consultation Website Further to the positive news last month that a Planning Application has been submitted for the development we can confirm that SMBC Planning have acknowledged receipt and that this has been validated Greater Manchester Police will be moving into Hollins House in Marple Memorial Park staff from Hollins House will be temporarily re-located into Marple Library on the 1st Floor from the 17th June 2024 during this period there will be no access for members of the public to the 1st Floor of the Library Public toilets are available in Marple Memorial Park The Ground Floor of the Library will remain operational There will also be some restricted parking between Hollins House and Marple Library during this phase We look forward to updating residents as we progress with the exciting new development for Marple If you would like to get in touch with the Marple Project Team you can do so by emailing marplepoolproject@stockport.gov.uk Recent discovery of the Ug99 wheat stem rust strain in Nepal has once again emphasised the need for vigilance to protect Nepal’s third most important food crop from any large-scale outbreaks of this devastating wheat disease Nepal already contends with frequent large-scale outbreaks caused by the related yellow rust pathogen that can cause severe grain yield losses of 30 – 80% if not effectively controlled A key component in guiding the correct control measures is to understand the precise strain of the pathogen present in a farmer’s field For yellow rust, the deployment of MARPLE diagnostics in Nepal since 2022 has helped provide this capacity. The MARPLE diagnostics methodology developed at the John Innes Centre in collaboration with CIMMYT, uses a handheld MinION nanopore sequencer, built by Oxford Nanopore to analyse samples of wheat infected with yellow rust Reading the pieces of the pathogen’s genome which define the different strains of the wheat rust pathogen this method can provide near real-time information about which strains are present in a region This mobile genotyping approach enables the identification of individual strains of the pathogen rapidly in situ It can also provide strain-level information within 48 hours of collecting samples making it ideal for responding to disease emergencies Through support from the USAID-funded Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Current and Emerging Threats to Crops the team at JIC has also recently expanded this method so it can be used to identify and track strains of the stem rust pathogen The recent deployment of this method in Nepal will ensure strains such as Ug99 can be effectively monitored in near real-time senior scientist and chief of the National Plant Pathology Research Centre at NARC where MARPLE diagnostics has been adopted noted: “It is fantastic to have this capacity available at our research station MARPLE diagnostics is giving us the rapid diagnostics needed to help identify and manage changes in the rust pathogen population diversity.”  Successful trials of the stem rust MARPLE platform were completed at NARC by Dr Ram Khadka in July 2024 with support from CIMMYT and the John Innes Centre Samples from Khumaltar were successfully identified as Clade IV matching results obtained at the Global Rust Reference Centre in Denmark Dr Ram Khadka commented: “This represents the first application of MARPLE to stem rust in South Asia and provides a useful new tool for rapid diagnostics on this latest threat to wheat production in Nepal.”  project co-lead and group leader at the John Innes Centre commented: “Given the recent shifts in the stem rust population in Nepal it is vital that this capacity is available to our colleagues in Nepal We are providing them with access to the latest innovations in plant disease diagnostics where it is needed most in the hands of researchers in the field who are working tirelessly to combat these devastating diseases.”  Director of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Current and Emerging Threats to Crops commented: “This is an incredibly exciting demonstration of the potential of what happens when we focus on building capacity at the national level With excellent and rapid genetic tests such as MARPLE that can build on the PlantVillage platform with its phenotypic diagnostics via AI we can get to the situation of rapid Surveillance which enables Solutions to be deployed.” said: “In the months ahead MARPLE diagnostics will be used to monitor any spread of the Ug99 strain and rapidly identify any other notable strains to help combat the ever-evolving threat of the wheat rusts in Nepal.”  MARPLE diagnostics is currently supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Foreign with additional support from the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Current and Emerging Threats to Crops funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Innovator of the Year Award and the CGIAR Big Data Platform Inspire Challenge Planning permission has been secured for the new Community Hub in Marple and preparations are now ramping up so that construction can get underway the library service will move out of the building and Stockport Council has confirmed it is finalising details with the Scouts Headquarters in Marple to provide a pop-up library for the duration of the construction works access public computers;  a book deposit/collection locker outside of the Scouts Headquarters will be accessible outside of library hours with Marple Memorial Car Park and Children’s Play Park closing completely on the 15th October to the public to allow for main construction works to commence The Council will also be launching a dedicated web page for the Construction phase where to share updates on the progress of the project This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Antwerp-based tech startup Marple recently closed a new investment round to support their growth into the automotive and aerospace industry Marple was founded by Matthias Baert and Nero Vanbiervliet two engineers who were fed up with the data tools they had to use Matthias worked as an engineer for the Mercedes Formula 1 team during the 2017 and 2018 seasons there needed to be more effective software to organise and analyse data collected from the cars efficiently "This signalled to us that there's a need for a better solution," says Matthias particularly those from sensors producing time series data Processing such large datasets is complex and requires specialised handling Marple recognised this challenge and developed a unique time series algorithm capable of instantaneously processing billions of data points over 3000 engineers worldwide used Marple in their data analysis workflow along with some well-known motorsport teams and various aerospace companies a German company developing electric motors for major automotive players like BMW Marple enables DeepDrive to efficiently process and interpret the extensive data generated during their electric motor development and testing phases The hyperloop and eVTOL sectors also use Marple software The round was led by Network Venture Partners and joined by Birdhouse Ventures and imec.istart "We're thrilled to have both Network Venture Partners and Birdhouse joining Marple!" says Matthias Baert "The experience of Network Venture Partners in the automotive industry combined with their startup knowledge is unique and will give Marple a big boost."  the company is setting its sights on attracting larger customers within the Automotive and Aerospace industries This strategic move aims to expand Marple's footprint in these technologically advanced sectors where data analysis plays a crucial role in innovation and development Marple will focus on integration with established databases and Mireo are gaining increasing traction in engineering Accessing Family Hub support in these areas is easy to speak to staff trained to connect families to the right people and resources With all Stockport libraries now offering family support, more families have local access to information, help, and support with all aspects of family life. To find your nearest Family Hubs access point, visit our One Stockport Family Hubs web pages for a complete list and map Families and Education said: “We want to ensure parents young people and children are supported and know where they can turn for information and help on all aspects of family life There is now a clear and simple way for families with children of all ages to access help and support through our Family Hubs network and One Stockport Local community partners.” Alongside the network of Family Hub buildings, support is also available from our Family Hubs web pages The online hub brings together a lot of information and tools young people and professionals to access a whole range of information and advice in one place It is another crucial way to reach more families and continue our support work Cllr Meikle continues: “One Stockport Family Hubs form a vital part of One Stockport Local which is bringing together help and support to make it easier for people to help themselves whether in local neighbourhoods or accessed digitally help and support can be easily found in one place.” Relationships are at the heart of everything we do in Family Hubs which already have connections with families These services work together and offer access to other council and community support through one ‘front door’ reducing inequality and improving outcomes for children and families They are places where parents of children aged between 0 and 19 (or 25 for young people with special educational needs or disabilities) only need to tell their story once to receive a whole host of information Family Hubs are part of our One Stockport Local neighbourhoods and prevention ambitions which aim to create happy and healthy lives for everyone living in Stockport From Stockport Local appointments in libraries to Stockport Local money maximiser roadshows and our Stockport Local online directory we are introducing a whole host of ways to get early help and support to make it easier for people to help themselves charleshutchpress Gary Oldman in rehearsal for Samuel Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape now in its preview week at York Theatre Royal GARY Oldman’s return to York Theatre Royal tops the bill of Charles Hutchinson’s recommendations and chocolate is in the air too York theatre event of the year: Gary Oldman in Krapp’s Last Tape ONCE the pantomime Cat that fainted thrice in Dick Whittington in his 1979 cub days on the professional circuit in York Oscar winner Gary Oldman returns to the Theatre Royal to perform Samuel Beckett’s melancholic tragicomic slice of theatre of the absurd Krapp’s Last Tape in his first stage appearance since 1987 is the completion of a cycle,” says the Slow Horses leading man The combination of York and Krapp’s Last Tape is all the more poignant because it is ‘a play about a man returning to his past of 30 years earlier’.” Tickets update: New availability of returns and additional seats on 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk Laura Soper’s Noi with the beached Storm Whale in The Storm Whale at York Theatre Royal Studio Children’s show of the week: The Storm Whale YORK writer and director Matt Aston revives his 2019 stage adaptation of Benji Davies’s tales of loneliness Noi lives with his dad and six cats by the sea A friendship began that changed their lives forever his dad takes one last trip in his fishing boat Will it take another storm to bring them back together? Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk York Chocolate Festival: City centre will be chock-a-block with chocs and eggs for Easter Festival of the week: York Chocolate Festival 2025 YORK Chocolate Festival showcases everything sweet and chocolate from independent businesses in Parliament Street and around the city Highlights include the York Chocolate Festival Market; Chocolate Taste Trail; Ashley McCarthy’s Chocolate Sculpture and Family Easter Egg Hunt Entry to the festival and market is free; some activities and events require tickets. Full programme at: yorkfoodfestival.com/programme Showaddywaddy: Rock’n’roll revivalists standing under the moon of love at The Grand Opera House Rock’n’roll nostalgia of the week: Showaddywaddy SHOWADDYWADDY make the bold claim to be “the greatest rock’n’roll band in the world” living up to that title for the past five decades they have sold more than 20 million records Mark Radcliffe and David Boardman: Two voices original songs and carefully chosen covers at Pocklington Arts Centre Duo of the week: Mark Radcliffe and David Boardman MARK Radcliffe and David Boardman are singing strumming and swigging buddies from Knutsford in the Badlands of the Cheshire Plain BBC radio presenter and author Radcliffe was a member of folk-rock bands The Family Mahone and Galleon Blast and is now one half of electronic duo UNE and drummer and lyricist for Americana band Fine Lines guitar teacher and visual artist Boardman cut his teeth on the rock circuit with Darktown Jubilee carefully chosen covers and the occasional rambling anecdote Box office: 01759 301547 or pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk Patrick Monahan: The Talkinator fights back against AI at Theatre@41 Comedy gig of the week: Patrick Monahan: The Talkinator amid much talk of about AI taking over humans only one man can out-talk the chat-bots and robots Step forward Irish-Iranian comedian Patrick Monahan for one hour of stand-up comedy written by a human, performed by a human Alfie Richards’ Mr Tumnus in The Lion STEP through the wardrobe into the kingdom of Narnia for the most mystical of adventures in a faraway land. Join Lucy Susan and Peter as they wave goodbye to wartime Britain and say hello to Mr Tumnus cruellest White Witch (Katy Stephens).  this breathtaking stage adaptation brings magical storytelling bewitching stagecraft and stellar puppets to CS Lewis’s allegorical novel Alex Hamilton: Playing the blues with his trio at Milton Rooms Blues gig of the week: Ryedale Blues Club presents Alex Hamilton Band ALEX Hamilton (formerly Lewis Hamilton) has been part of the British blues rock scene for more than ten years First making his mark as a young guitarist with skills beyond his age he has matured and developed a technique redolent of Robben Ford and Matt Scofield Hamilton’s debut album aged 18 won the Scottish New Music Award in 2011 and his subsequent albums have been nominated for the British Blues Awards He tours in a trio with his father Nick on bass and Ian Beestin on drums Box office: 01653 696240 or themiltonrooms.com and Jeanette Hambidge’s Cherry Baker in rehearsal for Miss Marple in Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d present Rachel Wagstaff’s stage adaptation of Miss Marple in Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d a story of revenge and dark secrets set in late-summer 1962 England when the wind of change blowing through the land reaches sleepy St Mary Mead is making villagers fearful of changing times a glamorous Hollywood movie star has bought the manor house Miss Jane Marple (played by Jean Sheridan) has injured her ankle a temporary impairment that confines her to a chair making her question if life has passed her by Enter Scotland Yard’s Chief Inspector Craddock (Richard Bannister) the son of a very dear friend of the spinster sleuth poisoned at a party held by film star Marina Gregg (Lucy Wilshaw) Now Miss Marple must unravel a web of lies Who would have guessed that a famous poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson would provide the key to the mystery Wagstaff’s play is an adaptation of Christie’s 1962 novel The Mirror Crack’d From Side To Side first toured in 2019 with a cast led by Susie Blake as Miss Marple and Simon Shepherd as Chief Inspector Craddock Blake reprised the role on tour at York Theatre Royal in October 2022 Lucy Wilshaw rehearsing her role as American film star Marina Gregg is taken from the moment when the mirror of ‘The Lady of Shalott’ (from the Tennyson poem) cracks and the curse she’d feared now befalls her,” says director Julie Lomas “The novel’s plot was undoubtedly inspired by Agatha Christie’s reflections on a mother’s feelings for a child born with disabilities and it is thought that she was influenced by happenings in the life of beautiful real-life actress Gene Eliza Tierney “There are several themes running through the novel covering some of the changes in social history since the Second World War Elizabeth Taylor as Marina Gregg and Edward Fox as Chief Inspector Craddock All the Miss Marple’novels were adapted for a BBC TV series shown in the 1990s ring 01439 771700 or book at helmsleyarts.co.uk Becca Magson’s Lola Brewster and Richard Bannister’s Chief Inspector Craddock in the rehearsal room THE Mirror Crack’d was scheduled to be staged by 1812 Theatre Company in 2024 After a few cast changes under new director Julie Lomas the production is ready for next week’s run Chief Inspector Dermot Craddock: Richard Bannister and Lynn Goslin’s Dolly Bantry on the phone in rehearsal for 1812 Theatre Company’s production Stage manager/properties: Anna Hare; Marcie Hughes Set construction: Michael Goslin; Peter Ives; Russell Smith Set painting: Pauline Noakes; Heather Linley; Denise Kitchin; Liz Ives; John Lomas 1812 Theatre Company’s poster for next week’s production of Miss Marple in Agatha Christie’s The Mirror Crack’d All content copyright of Charles Hutchinson A beloved Marple pub has been named as Greater Manchester’s best for 2024 and will represent the region at this year’s Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Pub of the Year competition 17 pubs from across the UK have been chosen with regional winners set to battle it out for the nationwide title in January Topping the Greater Manchester category is historic Marple boozer locals fought hard in a successful campaign to bring the pub into community ownership the pub has continued to flourish — locally known as ‘The Thumb’ the team have developed the venue into a hub of the community hosting regular events and activities including running Judges will now whittle down the 17 pubs to a final four in late September ahead of handing out the prestigious National Pub of the Year title in early 2025 National Coordinator for the Pub of the Year competition says: “These amazing pubs really are the crème de la crème and I would encourage the public to seek out the 17 winners from across the nations and regions of the UK – they are top-tier pubs serving excellent beer “It’s also important to support your local all year round With constant pressure from stubbornly high energy prices fluctuating running costs and grossly unfair business rates threatening to drown pubs across the UK it’s vital to get out and support the licensed trade.” You can find out more about the Northumberland Arms and its history here Enter your email address below to sign up for Manchester Wire’s email newsletter Fashion trends | Irish islanders | Offsprings in slings | ‘Freebies’ for teachers Jess Cartner-Morley is excited by the “scarf coat”, which she describes as “a genuinely new kind of coat” (Fashion, 20 September) She might enjoy the charming 1961 film Murder She Said dons and wears a distinctive “scarf coat” in numerous scenes Very much enjoyed your article (Experience: We’re the caretakers of an uninhabited Irish island, 20 September), as related by people whom I can only assume to be Schrödinger’s islanders.Gerald DennettFylingdales Messrs Ford and Forsyth (Letters, 26 September) may argue about which was the first 90s dad to carry their offspring in a sling; I often carried my daughter in the 80s from Bloomsbury to the South Bank – and back – walking all the way (maybe a touch slower on the way back).Tom StubbsSurbiton As a retired schoolteacher, I am able to declare that the only “freebies” available to teachers are the current year’s flu viruses and nits (Keir Starmer and top Labour colleagues to stop taking clothes gifts from donors, 20 September).John OldroydKilchattan Do you have a photograph you’d like to share with Guardian readers? If so, please click here to upload it. A selection will be published in our Readers’ best photographs galleries and in the print edition on Saturdays Correctly assemble the puzzle pieces to reveal a snapshot of The World of Miss Marple jigsaw How many clues and characters can you spot from the stories featuring the often-underestimated sleuth Learn more about our cookies Help Miss Marple piece together all the devious deeds happening in St Mary Mead Can you score 100% on this challenging quiz 300 killer questions on the Queen of Crime We earn a small commission on purchases made through any Amazon affiliate links on this page It should be no surprise to anyone that Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple has always been a reassuring presence her first appearance followed an exciting but also tumultuous time for Christie The beginning of the 1920s saw the publication of her debut novel The Mysterious Affair at Styles – the first of many adventures for the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot Christie then went on to write short stories and thrillers alongside her mystery novels while her day-to-day life was enhanced by a ‘Grand Tour’ in 1922 which saw her travelling the world alongside her husband by the time that Miss Marple made her debut in December 1927 Christie’s life had been turned upside down she had a breakdown following the death of her mother and Archie’s decision to leave her for another woman Both this breakdown and the subsequent well-publicised disappearance took some time to recover from and yet these difficult events also coincided with the publication of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd a novel that has since taken pride of place as one of Christie’s masterpieces Agatha Christie’s career was flourishing just as her life seemed to be falling apart So it is notable that it was shortly after these events that she created a new character whose entire raison d’être was to be a calm point in a stormy sea Miss Jane Marple is an unmarried older lady who has spent most of her life in the small village of St Mary Mead and her quiet observations of people and relationships give her great insight into character human nature remains fundamentally the same Miss Marple herself rarely seeks the spotlight almost functions as a punchline to a joke being played on other characters as the thoughtful old lady in the corner outwits her more forthright acquaintances Miss Marple shows that things will be all right in the end which was and is a reassuring fact for both readers and Miss Marple is not simply some kind grandmotherly figure and an unerring ability to frustrate almost as many people as she charms while her quest for the truth knows few barriers Miss Marple has gained a reputation as a person who can detect and remedy the ‘wickedness’ that she sees in everyday life suggesting that ‘I hope you dear young people will never realise how very wicked the world is.’ This book charts the progress of Miss Marple from her short-story origins to later ventures on stage which now includes new mysteries written by some of the best crime writers working today – a true tes- tament to the staying power of Agatha Christie’s creation Miss Marple’s appearances in other media have resulted in some more radical versions of the character from Margaret Rutherford’s comical sleuthing in the films of the 1960s to the quirky Geraldine McEwan portrayal of the twenty-first century even Christie’s original Miss Marple stories show subtle changes to the character as society develops Contradictory evidence doesn’t allow us to pinpoint precisely when Miss Marple was born; she is both an elderly lady of the Victorian era in 1927 as well as an elderly lady of the World Wars generation in the 1970s ‘Miss Marple was born at the age of sixty-five to seventy’ but nevertheless she lives on to witness the rise of modern society Miss Marple may be nostalgic for a lost past For fellow mystery writer Christianna Brand Miss Marple was surely created to be the antithesis to Hercule Poirot who Brand considered to be ‘all shine and show-off’ Brand described Miss Marple as ‘the very pink of modest self-deprecation’ with her ‘quiet confidence in her own powers’ by the adulation of her somewhat unremarkable friends.’ These ‘unremarkable’ associates include her novelist nephew Raymond West while other important figures in Miss Marple’s life drift in and out as stories demand it Many of them are residents of St Mary Mead from the local servants to the well-heeled Arthur and Dolly Bantry of nearby Gossington Hall It may be easy to think of Miss Marple as a character who had much in common with Agatha Christie Christie was only in her thirties when she created the character and she later complained that ‘I never can see why anybody thinks that I resemble Miss Marple in any way’ before acknowledging that she may be more like Ariadne Oliver the fictional mystery writer who appears in several of Christie’s novels Miss Marple tended her garden and ‘lived all her life in the country which is why her nephew considered (quite falsely) that she knew nothing about life I have spent a great part of my life travelling in all sorts of interesting and exciting places Although Christie rejected the idea that she was a feminist strong female protagonists were an important feature of many of her novels and the intelligence and determination shown by Miss Marple is just one example of this including the likes of Prudence Cowley (better known as Tuppence Beresford) whom we first meet in 1922’s The Secret Adversary and is shown to be more than a match for her eventual husband Tommy when it comes to solving mysteries through adventurous escapades But in Christie’s work a ‘strong woman’ can mean many things from professional nurse Amy Leatheran (who narrates Murder in Mesopotamia) to the icy manipulation of Romaine Vole in Witness for the Prosecution a woman who will do anything to prove her husband is innocent of murder The strength of Miss Marple may not always be obvious because she plays her cards close to her chest but her determination always shines through by the end of each mystery This determination is important both in terms of proving that her conclusions are correct and her unerring belief that justice must be done Christie often cited relatives and family friends as influences which is unsurprising given her strongly matriarchal family background ‘There is no particular model for Miss Marple,’ she confessed; ‘some of her remarks and points of view are reminiscent of my own two grandmothers whom I knew in my youth.’ There exists a letter that appears to show that Christie thought that the name must have been inspired by the ‘beautiful old manor’ Marple Hall near to Abney Hall (now in Greater Manchester) Readers are given relatively little background to the character herself and instead learn much more from the way that she reacts to other people and events In 1970 Christie wrote to a scholar who had penned his own biography of Miss Marple and confessed that ‘If you know “the career of Miss Marple” from childhood upwards I have never thought very much about her childhood.’ In terms of Miss Marple’s character a recent creation was an important influence: ‘I think it is possible that Miss Marple arose from the pleasure I had taken in portraying Dr Sheppard’s sister [Caroline] in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd,’ Christie wrote in her autobiography ‘She had been my favourite character in the book – an acidulated spinster hearing everything: the complete detective service in the home.’ It was when the story was adapted for the stage by another writer that Christie realised the potential for a reworked version of the character as the play changed Caroline into a younger love interest ‘I resented the removal of Caroline a good deal,’ she later complained ‘I liked the part she played in village life: and I liked the idea of village life reflected through the life of the doctor and his masterful sister.’ This turn of events was to have greater significance for Christie: ‘I think at that moment Miss Marple was born and with her Miss Hartnell and Colonel and Mrs Bantry – they were all there lined up below the border-line of consciousness ready to come to life and step out on to the stage.’ Miss Marple – the underestimated but ruthless sleuth of St Mary Mead – had arrived www.agathachristie.com Masthead About Advertisers: Contact Us Privacy Policy Become a member for as low as $5/month AN iconic Agatha Christie detective is to make a surprise comeback after 12 years away Fans of Miss Marple are in luck as writer Agatha's great-grandson James Pritchard has confessed that a new project based around the detective is in the works after being "years" in the making The last edition of Miss Marple aired in 2013 but now it appears something involving the icon is looming once again James said: "I couldn't be more excited Poirot has stolen her limelight since time began." "Poirot has perhaps three or four of the all-time great Agatha Christies James didn't divulge any further details on what fans could expect but it seems clear that Miss Marple is clearly his current focus Speaking about his great-grandmother Agatha James confessed: "She was an extremely interesting woman Miss Marple was last portrayed by both Geraldine McEwan and Julia McKenzie in an ITV series based around the character Helen Hayes also took on the role for two American-based movies as well as Joan Hickson in the classic 1980s BBC series Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/