Fergus Craig, author of 'I’m Not The Only Murderer In My Retirement Home' - Comedian discusses going viral, working on the mystery, and not needing to be funny
Writer's Routine
Dan Simpson
4.9 • 599 Ratings
🗓️ 27 February 2026
⏱️ 64 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Fergus Craig is a stand-up comic and actor who has appeared across shows on the BBC and Disney Plus. In 2009, he was named 'Hackney Empire's New Act of the Year'. Through lockdown, he found internet fame with his videos parodying bad crime writers. He starred in both series of the BBC show 'Hoff the Record', and won a Chortle Comedy Award. He would read 'Detective Roger le Carre' stories, filled with pomp and cliche. They drew in an audience, and spawned a novel-writing career.
He published 'One Upon a Crime' and 'Murder at Crime Manor', bringing Detective Roger le Carre to life. We discuss the challenges of writing parody, where readers come for the funny, and need to stay for the plot.
His new novel is 'I'm Not The Only Murderer In My Retirement Home'.It tells the story of serial killer Carol Quinn, who is out of prison and looking to relax in her retirement home. However, when a dead body is found, she needs to find the culprit before all eyes turn on her.
We discuss why plotting is like playing snooker, also how much he knows before he starts, and why he's enjoying not having to be relentlessly funny in the novel.
You can get a copy of the book at uk.bookshop.org/shop/writersroutine
This week's episode is sponsored by M.M. Rodeheaver's new novel, 'Minding Toby'. If you know a child who needs an inspiring new story to read, find out more at https://margaretrodeheaver.com/
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This week's episode of writer's routine is sponsored by Minding Toby, the new novel by M. M. |
| 0:06.5 | Roadheaver. If you know a child who needs an inspiring new story to capture their imagination, |
| 0:12.4 | minding Toby is perfect. Margaret Roadheaver writes, fantastic stories, ones that get right to the |
| 0:18.6 | heart of human thought and experience. She finds the magic |
| 0:22.9 | in the every day. Her new book is inspired by the wonderful dogs that she's had over the years, |
| 0:28.5 | and what it really means to grow up. Minding Toby is all about Ember, who had one job, |
| 0:34.9 | minding Toby, only now, well, he's gone. |
| 0:39.0 | Life hasn't been great for Ember. |
| 0:41.0 | Her mum barely notices her. |
| 0:42.4 | Her dad's visits are awkward. |
| 0:44.4 | Her school is a daily battle with the tiresome bully. |
| 0:47.6 | Her big sister's just left home for college. |
| 0:49.9 | It's just pet sitting Toby, the sweet dog next door. |
| 0:54.1 | It's the only part of Ember's life that feels simple and safe. |
| 0:59.0 | And when Toby goes missing, Ember must search and find him. |
| 1:03.5 | And along the way, uncovers family secrets, new friends, and even her own place in a changing world. |
| 1:10.7 | Now, M.M. Roadheaver has written so many |
| 1:13.0 | different books for different audiences and really understands how to write stories which connect, |
| 1:18.9 | which is why I think her novels for children work so well. They find the magic in the every day. |
| 1:24.1 | They get right to the heart of the world and our place in it. Now, minding |
| 1:28.4 | Toby is a mid-grade story, so it's perfect for kids who are between 9 and 11, just starting to |
| 1:34.6 | question who they are, what might be happening. If you know a child there who needs a new story, |
... |
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