Solve Along Murder She Wrote - Amphitheatre at theSpace @ Symposium Hall

There are over 3000 shows playing at the Edinburgh Fringe over the month of August, lots and lots to discover and whilst you may wish to fill your schedule with new things that you have never seen before, sometimes it can feel nice to return to a favourite and make a repeat visit, and that is what I did here.

As an avid fan of those cosy murder mysteries, where you always know that the baddie will be caught and some of the clues stand out like sore thumbs, I couldn’t resist a return visit (after discovering the show last in 2024) to ‘Solve Along Murder She Wrote’, a celebration of all things Jessica Fletcher and cosy crime, playing at The Space @ Symposium Hall.

Hosted by Tim Benzie, quite possibly the world’s biggest fan of ‘Murder She Wrote’, this interactive combination of a watch along and a whodunnit party is quirky and brilliant fun as audiences are invited to watch a classic episode and try to work out the killer before Jessica Fletcher does. The watch along is interspersed with commentary from Benzie and games, such as placing the guest stars on a brilliantly homemade fame ‘o’ meter and waving Fletcher themed paddles whenever something suspicious happens.

Whilst many in the audience may be die-hard fans of ‘Murder She Wrote’, there are also those who have perhaps never seen an episode or perhaps have but are maybe too young to really know the fame levels of the guest stars, but either way, everyone is welcomed. Benzie introduces the episode and explains cleverly the whole idea of the series without giving too much away. This year, the episode was ‘A Fashionable Way to Die’, an episode set in France, giving Benzie the opportunity to add in further jokes about on location filming.

Now, it’s great fun to sit in a comfortable theatre space and watch a classic episode of the classic murder mystery series, but it is Tim Benzie himself who really makes this show. His enthusiasm for the series shines brightly throughout, with him showcasing a number of costumes inspired by Jessica Fletcher, performing the theme song and creating a number of games that keep audiences engaged throughout. Benzie is naturally funny, with a winning personality. He has a friendly warmth, and it is clear to see the sheer amount of effort that he puts in to creating each show, from the props to the signposts that match certain moments in each episode. You truly feel as if you are watching television with a friend, who just so happens to be an A star level expert on the topic, entertaining you with several ‘did you know’ moments.

With a different episode being highlighted and celebrated each year, combined with Benzie’s hilarious games and clearly evident true love for ‘Murder She Wrote’, the auditorium at Symposium hall is, not surprisingly, crammed full of delighted audiences who will walk away smiling, whether they were fans of Jessica Fletcher before or not.

This is a truly entertaining production, masterfully mixing comedy with cosy crime, part watch along, part stand up, part game show and with Benzie at the helm, I can see it continuing to delight for years to come at the Edinburgh Fringe and beyond.