Chorion has sold its 64% stake in the Agatha Christie estate, which includes the Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot characters, to US home entertainment company Acorn Media.

Wednesday's deal, struck for an undisclosed sum, sees the Agatha Christie family retain a 36% holding in Agatha Christie Ltd.

The business will continue to be chaired by Mathew Prichard, the grandson of the writer, who will oversee an estate covering more than 80 novels and short stories, 19 plays and nearly 40 TV films.

Acorn Media, which has distribution rights to DVD titles including Foyle's War, Midsomer Murders and Two Fat Ladies, has been releasing movie adaptations of Christie titles on DVD since 2001.

"We see this acquisition as a key step in the company's continued evolution into content ownership and television production," said Miguel Penella, chief executive of Acorn Media.

Chorion, which has been selling off assets includig Mr Men, The Octonauts and The World of Beatrix Potter since late last year, is still looking to sell properties including Enid Blyton and Noddy.

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