Went to a screening of a couple of Ghost Stories for Christmas in my local cinema the other day with a talk about the depiction of ghosts in film throughout the ages.... cracking night out though I fell asleep in the second film - The Signalman (or similar)
I'm about to watch The Signalman.
It truly is one of the most genuinely chilling bits of film/tv I've ever watched.
I'm quite hardened to scary stuff nowadays, much to my chagrin as I love a good scare, but this always gets to me in a good way
No BBC announcement as yet and no details of broadcast date and time, although I imagine it will probably be on Christmas Eve evening as usual.
Last year’s special, “Lot 249,” was the best performing show on BBC Two on Christmas Eve, drawing in 1.75 million viewers according to ratings body BARB. In 2022 his special drew 1.80 million.
Like Epona, I am waiting with baited (and chilled and frosted) breath to find out what other ghosts and ghouls will be slouching towards our TVs this Christmas. Keep up the excellent work Lurdan.
A couple more "A Ghost Story For Christmas" repeats late tonight on BBC4 (Freeview Channel 9), recent adaptations from the last couple of years - The Mezzotint at 23:50 Monday night, followed immediately by last year's new production, Lot No. 249
Good news for anyone wanting to revisit these and get in a spooky mood for Xmas.
Sun 22nd - BBC 2
21.00 - Inside No. 9: The Party’s Over
"Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, creators of one of TV’s darkest and most celebrated comedies, go on a journey behind the scenes to show the making of the show’s final series".
The publicity round for it included Mark Gatiss Talks the Ghost Stories Franchise - TVDRAMA
and he's written a related short story that's in the Xmas Radio Times. PDF attached at the foot of this post.
Freeview channel Talking Pictures TV have been showing the 1970s BBC Ghost Stories for Christmas throughout this year. There are three scheduled for the new year
Wed 1st
04.45 - The Ash Tree (1975)
01.05 - The Signalman (1976)
There was some new radio this year but much of it was broadcast this week and is already on BBC Sounds. (Someone really should have done this post last week. Ahem)
Next weeks Book of the Week is Sarah Clegg's 'The Dead of Winter' which
"traces the origins of the wassailing and hoodenings lodged firmly in English folklore, and how these ghoulish gatherings remain a legitimate source of merrymaking".
Radio 4 Mon to Fri 11.45 and repeated at 00.30 that night. BBC Radio 4 - The Dead of Winter by Sarah Clegg - Episode Links
Uncanny, Series 5, Christmas Special: Return to Luibeilt
"In a Christmas special, Danny Robins ventures to the Scottish Highlands to see whether a bothy is still haunted where, in 1974, two climbers had a paranormal encounter"
Are you team believer or team sceptic?
And how do you feel about the paranormal?
Vampirella by Angela Carter with Anna Massey (1976)
an original radio drama which was later rewritten as the short story 'The Lady in the House of Love'.
23rd - BBC 2
23.20 - The Haunting
Robert Wise's 1963 film of Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House. Easily the best ghost story being shown this year IMO.
And what would Christmas be without many, many versions of A Christmas Carol?
Sun 22nd - Sky Arts (freeview)
07.35 - 1977 BBC version with Michael Hordern
Mon 23rd Channel Five
17.10 - 1999 version with Patrick Stewart and Richard E. Grant.
Tue 24th - Channel Five
09.30 - Scrooge. The 1952 version with Alastair Sim
and on Channel 4
14.10 - Clive Donner's 1984 TV version with George C. Scott
Christmas Day - Sky Arts (freeview)
09.00 - 1977 BBC version with Michael Hordern
and on Talking Pictures TV
06.50 - Scrooge - 1935 British film version with Seymour Hicks
15.00 - Scrooge. The 1952 version with Alastair Sim
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