Simenon son in Chorion Poirot push

THE son of Belgian crime writer Georges Simenon is set to mastermind plans to push two of the most famous detectives from across the Channel on to television and the big screen in new markets around the world.

John Simenon has joined Chorion, the London publishing rights firm which controls the rights to his late father's Inspector Maigret novels as well as the Hercule Poirot books of Agatha Christie. Chorion today named Simenon as a consultant responsible for filmed production and promotion. He worked for several film producers before setting up full-time to manage the literary rights of his father. Copyright was acquired by Chorion in 2001.

'The market for filmed adaptations can certainly be developed further particularly throughout the non-English speaking world,' he said.