The Wasp's Nest (lost early BBC television adaptation of Agatha Christie short story; 1937)

Agatha Christie and Francis L. Sullivan as Hercule Poirot

Status: Lost

The Wasp's Nest is an early BBC television adaptation of the Agatha Christie short story of the same name. Broadcast twice on 18th June 1937, the adaptation was notable not only for being the first time an Agatha Christie story converted into a television play, but also for being the only time where Christie herself was responsible for adapting her works for television.

Background

The Wasp's Nest was conducted and broadcast live at the Alexandra Palace, as part of BBC's Theatre Parade. This was unusual, because previously Theatre Parade had only showcased already successful plays. However, as issue 715 of Radio Times notes, this play was an original adaptation, with television viewers receiving the opportunity to see it be conducted for the first time. Starring Francis L. Sullivan as detective Hercule Poirot, the play was first shown at 3.35 pm and lasted for 25 minutes. A repeat that same evening at 9.40 pm lasted 20 minutes.

Aside from being the first play adaptation of The Wasp's Nest, it was also the only instance where writer Agatha Christie adapted her works for a television setting by producing the screenplay. Sources conflict with the reasoning behind why she never wrote another script. The common narrative is that Christie came to dislike television, being particularly critical of later television adaptations of her books, and because of this was against producing further works for television. Another theory is that Christie was not necessarily against television, but strictly regulated how her works were adapted for other platforms. Most notably, she terminated her MGM film contract following the film company making too many adjustments to her works for film adaptation. Christie also wrote other television screenplays, including for the musical Triangle at Rhodes, but did not send them to producers.

Irrespective of the explanation, Christie would not write another TV screenplay that would go on to be utilized, although the BBC would eventually be responsible for the first TV adaptation of one of her novels, And Then There Were None, in 1949.

Availability

Like other early BBC television broadcasts, The Wasp's Nest was broadcast live and was not recorded. Therefore, both versions of the play are now permanently missing. A Radio Times mention of the play, as well as a behind-the-scenes photo of Christie with Sullivan as Poirot, are all that remains of the play.

Gallery

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  Radio Times listing of the adaptation.

See Also

Early BBC Television

• Alexandra Palace's wartime television demonstrations (lost footage of private television transmissions; 1943, 1945)
• An Inspector Calls (lost television adaptation of play; 1948)
• Ann and Harold (lost early BBC drama television series; 1938)
• BBC Election Night (lost coverage of British general elections; 1950-1951)
• The Care of Your Car (lost early BBC motoring show; 1947)
• Cook's Night Out (lost early BBC cooking show; 1937)
• Craftsmen at Work (lost early BBC documentary show; 1938, 1946)
• Dish of the Month (lost early BBC cooking show; 1937)
• First Aid (lost early BBC medical show; 1937)
• Foundations of Cookery (lost early BBC cooking show; 1939)
• Marcel Boulestin television shorts (lost early BBC programs; 1937-1939)
• Masks through the Ages (lost early BBC history talk show; 1937)
• Opening of the BBC Television Service (partially found coverage of inaugural day of high-definition television service; 1936)
• The Orchestra and its Instruments (lost early BBC music talk show; 1937)
• RCA recording of BBC Television Service (found footage of pre-Second World War BBC television broadcast; 1938)
• Sea Stories (lost early BBC talk show; 1936-1937)
• Spelling Bee (lost early BBC game show; 1938)
• Telecrime (lost early BBC crime drama; 1938-1939; 1946)
• Weaponless Self-Defence (lost early ju-jitsu television program; 1936-1937)
• The World of Women (lost early BBC talk show; 1937)

Early BBC Sports Television

• 1931 Epsom Derby (lost televised footage of horse racing event; 1931)
• 1937 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1937)
• 1937 International Imperial Trophy Race (lost footage of motor race; 1937)
• 1937 Wimbledon Championships (partially found footage of tennis tournament; 1937)
• 1938 Ashes Series (partially found footage of international test cricket match; 1938)
• 1938 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1938)
• 1939 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1939)
• 1947 FA Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1947)
• 1953 British Grand Prix (partially found footage of Formula One race; 1953)
• 1955 Scottish Cup Final (partially found footage of football match; 1955)
• Archery (lost early televised toxophily; 1937-1938)
• Arsenal 7-1 Hibernian (lost footage of charity football match; 1952)
• Arsenal vs Arsenal Reserves (lost footage of early BBC televised football match; 1937)
• Barnet 3-2 Wealdstone (lost footage of Athenian League football match; 1946)
• The Boat Race 1938 (partially found footage of rowing race; 1938)
• Catch-As-Catch-Can Wrestling (lost early BBC televised professional wrestling matches; 1938-1939; 1946-1947)
• Charlton Athletic 1-0 Blackburn Rovers (lost footage of FA Cup match; 1947)
• Darts and Shove Ha'penny (lost early BBC televised darts matches; 1936-1939)
• England 0-1 Scotland (partially found international football match; 1938)
• England 1-1 Scotland (partially found footage of international football match; 1947)
• England 16-21 Scotland (partially found footage of rugby match; 1938)
• England 3-0 France (partially found footage of international football match; 1947)
• England 3-0 Rest of Europe (partially found footage of international football match; 1938)
• Falkirk 3-2 Newcastle United (lost footage of football match; 1953)
• Horace Lindrum vs Willie Smith (lost footage of televised snooker; 1937)
• Scottish Universities 1-1 English Universities (lost footage of international football match; 1952)
• Woods and Jack (lost early televised lawn bowls; 1937; 1946)

External Link

• IMDB page for The Wasp's Nest. Retrieved 18 Apr '21