BA (Hons) Film and Television
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Dr Mark Aldridge
Associate Professor of Screen Histories
Department of Film and Media
Biography
Dr Mark Aldridge is Associate Professor of Screen Histories. At Solent, Mark teaches across the film and television degrees at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, as well as supervising PhD students.
Mark completed his PhD at the University of Southampton, with a thesis that explored attitudes towards early British television. His publications include the books Agatha Christie’s Poirot: The Greatest Detective in the World (2020), Agatha Christie on Screen (2016), The Birth of British Television (2011) and T is for Television: The Small Screen Adventures of Russell T Davies (with Andy Murray, 2008). He is currently working on the book Agatha Christie’s Marple, to be published by HarperCollins.
He has discussed his research across a variety of media, including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky, PBS and many international broadcasters. His research has also been highlighted in publications including The Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post and The New European. Mark has presented his research at many events, including the international Agatha Christie festivals in both the UK and Tenerife, and he has also been a guest speaker for academic institutions including the University of Cambridge.
Research interests
Mark’s research interests include film and television history, contemporary British television, and the work of Agatha Christie.
During his PhD studies Mark was particularly interested in exploring the way that television changed in its early decades, and how attitudes towards the medium also shifted. This included questions of its use and potential. He maintains an interest in British television in particular, both historical and contemporary. In 2008 Mark co-authored a book that discussed the work of television dramatist Russell T Davies, which was written with the co-operation of Davies himself.
Mark is a recognised expert in the field of Agatha Christie, following his two books on the subject (to date). He is particularly keen on undertaking new archival research that offers new insight into the development of Christie’s career, and the wider impact of her work. So far, this research resulted in Agatha Christie on Screen, a comprehensive history of the film and television adaptations of her work, and Agatha Christie’s Poirot: The Greatest Detective in the World, which told the story of the character’s appearances across page, stage, and screen.
ORCID ID
Keywords
British television, film and television history, adaptation, Agatha Christie
Further information
Mark has taught across the film and television degrees at Solent, and currently teaches on BA (Hons) Film and Television and MA Film Production.
He has supervised several PhD students, taking both traditional and ‘PhD by practice’ routes. Areas of study have included:
- Film history and the Crown Film Unit
- Crime fiction
- Changes to film classification and censorship in the UK
- Documentary films and climate change
Mark welcomes contact from those interested in potentially pursuing a PhD in any of his research areas, which may include film and television history, contemporary British television, and Agatha Christie.
Taught courses
MA Film Production
Got a passion for filmmaking? Want to improve your professional showreel and boost your employability? Solent’s MA Film Production programme is ideally suited to students who...
