A trailer has been released giving horror fanatics a first look insight into this year's upcoming Christmas Eve ghost story, The Mezzotint, set to air on BBC Two.
The original story, which was written by author MR James as part of his 1904 Ghost Stories of an Antiquary collection, has been twisted and transformed for television purposes by actor, comedian and screenwriter Mark Gatiss.
County Durham-born Gatiss, known for composing and featuring in numerous hit British shows such as Doctor Who, Sherlock and Dracula, joined Lorraine Kelly to reveal why his latest project is not for the faint-hearted.
He teased: "This is my latest MR James adaptation... it's a noble tradition that I'm trying to keep going!"
The terror-fuelling tale is set in the heart of an old English college in 1922 and focuses on Edward Williams, a curator of the university art museum, who receives a monochrome print in the post.
Williams (played by Rory Kinnear - James Bond films; Penny Dreadful) shows his unusual, seemingly haunted new possession to his colleagues Garwood (Robert Bathurst - Joking Apart; Coup!) and Mrs Ambrigail (Frances Barber - We Think The World Of You; Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool), who notice that the image is changing between each glance. But why...?
Haunted by the consequences of his past decisions, Edward finds his lucidity and soundness of mind spiralling out of control. Suddenly, he makes a startling discovery about his ancestry that will haunt him for the rest of his days.
Speaking about the making of his latest project, Gatiss explained: "A lot of this is the consequence of Covid because I'm doing Christmas Carol on stage at the moment, which was supposed to be last year, the ghost story was originally supposed to be for last Christmas and had to be postponed, and I've also done The Amazing Mr Blunden for Sky which starts on Christmas Eve, so it's actually been my perfect year."
The Mezzotint is the latest spook-tacular Christmas special from Gatiss commissioned for the BBC, following his successful Martin’s Close in 2019, The Dead Room in 2018, The Tractate Middoth in 2013, and Crooked House in 2008 - all of which were a ratings hit, with Martin’s Close becoming BBC Four’s most-watched programme of 2019, with 1.5 million viewers.
The 55-year-old, who is also famed for being one-third of the comedy group The League of Gentlemen, added: "It's Christmas and ghosts literally all year, I can't believe it's actually Christmas now, but I mustn't grumble - it's been a fantastic experience and so much fun.
"It's absolutely my sweetest spot - I love Christmas and I love ghosts!"
The upcoming frightening festive extravaganza, which also stars the likes of John Hopkins, Emma Cunniffe, Nikesh Patel and Tommaso Di Vincenzo, is definitely not a show for the easily spooked, as it has been scheduled for 10.30pm on Friday, December 24.
