Who is Tim Benzie?
I’m the creator and host of Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote, an interactive screening of an episode of Murder, She Wrote, that I first performed in late 2018 in a pub in London and now, I’m delighted to say, tours the world. I also have another one-man show called It’s a Mystery! – a deep dive into why we love whodunnits and cosy crime, drawing on my other obsession: the collected works of Agatha Christie.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
All the pitfalls and disappointments and mishaps have made me who I am, but I wish I had been happier in my skin from an earlier age. It’s absolutely liberating to hit your 50s and be able to very easily follow Dolly Parton’s sage advice: Find out who you are and do it on purpose.
Who inspires you and why?
My Mum and Dad of course, but also my amazing husband Paul, a creative force and the most fun I’ve ever had.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
I’d like to think that my show brings joy to many people and if this is my legacy, then I’m more than happy with that. But one of the little things I get to do in Solve-Along is put the spotlight on the older guest stars, which includes some formerly huge stars of Hollywood now long forgotten.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Spain is a favourite – we have close friends there and I also have a god-daughter in Catalonia. It’s a fascinating place with great food and incredible sights. Granada’s Alhambra palace is breath-taking and I’m a big fan of Madrid and Barcelona. Then of course there’s a beach holiday in Sitges – a seaside town known as a favourite destination for bachelors and their gentlemen companions.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
One of my favourite things is showing off London, which has been my home since 2005. I leave the big sites to them, but I love introducing them to little things like taking a ride in the singing lift at the Southbank Centre or late night drinks at the Phoenix Arts Club.
What are you currently reading?
The Hollow Man by John Dickson Carr. Carr was a Golden Age novelist (that’s the Golden Age of detective fiction) and his specialty was impossible, locked-room murders. I was obsessed with Agatha Christie as a child but now I’m enjoying books by her contemporaries, like Ngaio Marsh and Margery Allingham.
What are you currently listening to?
The Broadway cast recording of Suffs – an incredible musical I saw in October all about the women’s suffrage movement in the United States. It sounds a bit grim on paper, but the story was incredible – I cried like a man-baby at the end. Everyone should see this show – I hope it transfers everywhere.
Happiness is?
A series of moments, not a destination. For me it’s a night out with my husband seeing great theatre, or sitting in a square in the old town of any European city, drinking white wine while the sun slowly sets (which makes me sound like a wanker, so I’ll also add: happiness is a 3am kebab on the way home from a big night out).
What does the future hold for you?
Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote and It’s a Mystery! became my full-time job last year, so I’m hoping the future holds more opportunities to show off perform. But first on the list is building on this year’s Australian tour and then taking the shows to San Francisco, Mendocino and Staten Island in the spring.
Tim is the creator and host of Solve-Along-A-Murder-She-Wrote – which will be presented at The Mercury Cinema, from 5 – 16 March, as part of the 2025 Adelaide Fringe. For more information, visit: www.adelaidefringe.com.au for details.
Image: Tim Benzie (supplied)