A RURAL village could be at the heart of an Agatha Christie classic on the BBC this Christmas.

Garvald has been earmarked as the idyllic village setting for Murder is Easy, which looks set to be screened during the festive season.

Residents living in the village received a letter this week confirming that filming could take place this summer.

A letter from Pete Murphy, working on behalf of London-based Mammoth Screen, said: “After two weeks of scouting across Lothian, the Borders, Fife and Stirlingshire, we have come to the conclusion that Garvald offers many of the elements that we are looking for, hence the reason for this letter.

“We are also looking at Tyninghame, near Dunbar, and with the magic of television we would combine aspects of both villages to create our fictional village of Wychwood-Under-Ashe.”

Pre-production is planned for April, with six weeks of filming from mid-June or July.

East Lothian Courier:

Tyninghame is also set to feature

The letter continues: “We are focusing on exteriors and are likely to need to film in parts of the village over the period of a couple of weeks.

“There would also be some prep time involved to help recreate that wonderful ’50s feel.

“This would all be removed and normal life completely reinstated once we have finished filming.”

Residents of Garvald have been asked to get in touch with the company to share their views on the potential filming.

A spokeswoman for Film Edinburgh told the Courier that it was not definite that filming would take place but “there is interest”.

She described community engagement as the “absolute top priority”.

Phillip White, chairman of Garvald and Morham Community Council, said that there would be some people who welcomed it and others who had concerns.

However, he pointed out that it was not the first time the village had attracted television and film crews.

He said: “We have been used in the past for filming.

“Stephen Fry was involved in some production maybe 10 years ago and it was based in the pub and round about there. It did not seem to cause any problems then.”

No suggestion was made in the letter as to who would star in the television version of the 1939 tale.

Mr White added: “I would have broadly thought from an East Lothian point of view that anything we can do to enhance our area and tourism – it is good for everybody.”