Author travelled here in 1930 to write 'Manx Gold'
A visit to the Isle of Man by the famous author Agatha Christie has inspired a new Radio 4 drama which will be broadcast today (15 October).
In 1930, four years before 'Murder on the Orient Express', she was commissioned to write a mystery story that contained clues to a real-life treasure hunt.
It was an idea put forward by the Island's tourist board in a bid to attract more visitors to the Island, with Agatha Christie reportedly paid just £60.
An article in Mona's Herald from April 30 1930 states: "Agatha Christie, the celebrated novelist, who is on the Island in search of local colour for her "Treasure Hunt" story, crossed to Douglas on Monday, and is the guest of Sir Claude and Lady Hill at Government House."
The resulting short-story 'Manx Gold' was serialised in five instalments of the Daily Dispatch in May 1930.
It contained clues which pointed to the location of four snuffboxes hidden on the Island, each contained a voucher worth £100 (around £8,400 in today's money).
Manx residents weren't allowed to take part in the treasure hunt, and an article in The Examiner on 16 May 1930 headlined 'Every Manxman and Manx Woman a Publicity Agent' carried an appeal from the June Effort Committee to every member of the community to assist in distributing 250,000 reprints of the Christie story in order to 'obtain as much publicity as possible'.
Eventually the four snuff boxes were located at Peel Hill, Meayll Circle near Cregneash, Derby Fort, and Mooragh Park.
Today's Radio 4 drama, titled 'Celtic Christie: Hidden Treasures', imagines what could have happened during Agatha Christy's trip to the Island.
"I painted a black dog on it, to represent the Moddey Dhoo, but they said it was too sinister!" - Michael Starkey [Image: Manx Radio]
In 2003, Manx artist Michael Starkey designed a stamp for the Isle of Man Post Office based on 'Manx Gold' as part of a series celebrating the work of authors such as Hall Caine who either lived on, worked or were inspired by the Island.
Under each image on the stamps a caption was printed, written in text so incredibly small you needed a magnifying glass - the likes used by mystery-novel detectives - to read it.
Speaking to Manx Radio, Mr Starkey says he's very excited to hear how the author's visit to the Island is portrayed:
'Celtic Christie: Hidden Treasures' will be broadcast on Radio 4 from 2.15pm.
Listen to the full interview with Michael Starkey via the Manx Radio Newscast below:
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