AWARD-WINNING actress Julia McKenzie will be donning her familiar Miss Marple costume when she visits Torquay to mark Agatha Christie's 120th anniversary.

Ms McKenzie, star of ITV's popular Miss Marple series, is due at the Grand Hotel on September 15 to talk about her life as the world's favourite spinster sleuth.

The actress took over the Miss Marple role from Geraldine McEwan, featuring in episodes such as A Pocket Full of Rye and Murder is Easy.

Ms McKenzie said: "I am delighted to be taking part in this wonderful festival."

The fictional character of Miss Marple appears in 12 of Agatha Christie's crime novels.

Lydia Stone, of the English Riviera Tourist Board, said: "I am very pleased that Julia McKenzie has confirmed she will be making a guest appearance and sharing the festivities with us here on the English Riviera.

"The birthday event at the Grand Hotel, together with the fireworks display, is set to be the real highlight of the festival.

"We wanted to organise something really special this year, and we are delighted that the Grand Hotel is supporting it in this way."

Agatha Christie was born in Torquay in 1890, and she went on to sell four billion books around the globe.

Interest in Ms McKenzie's event — at 8pm on September 15 — has already been huge, but tickets are still available from the Grand Hotel at a cost of £15 each.

Emily Rogers, hotel general manager, said: "The Grand has a unique association with the much-loved authoress, as the place where she spent her honeymoon in 1914.

"We're all looking forward to welcoming Ms McKenzie to our celebration, particularly as she and the hotel enjoy a special relationship with Agatha Christie, the world's most popular crime author."