December 25th 2023.
BBC viewers got a bit more than they bargained for after tuning into the latest A Ghost Story for Christmas special. This beloved series has been around since 1971, and the specials are traditionally based on classic ghost stories, following the oral tradition of supernatural tales at Christmas.
This year's special, Lot No. 249, was based on the 1892 Arthur Conan Doyle story first published in Harper's Magazine. The story follows the purchase of an Ancient Egyptian mummy at an auction, leading to a horrifying series of events for two Oxford students.
The special aired on Christmas eve and starred Kit Harington and Freddie Fox, who were directed by Mark Gatiss, the brains behind the past six specials. After tuning in, viewers took to social media to express their delight, with many praising the spooky festive story.
Kate Griffin shared: “Lot 249 was everything I want in a ghost story for Christmas. Mummies, magic and murder. Thank you very much.” Laura P wrote: “Mark Gatiss. Sorry for the late hour but you have blown it out of the water again. A Ghost Story for Christmas what a wonderful tale. Thank you to all concerned.”
Daniel Groom called it “beautiful work” and praised the director, adding: “He’s got to be one of the busiest and most talented people around. A Ghost Story for Christmas with a glass of port has become my ‘macabre old soul’ tradition.”
One viewer, Sarah Hamstera, said the special had an unexpected effect. “Was A Ghost Story for Christmas supposed to make me… horny?” she asked.
Unsurprisingly, Gatiss has had difficulty securing funding for the one-off, 30-minute stories. He told RadioTimes.com: “It’s great because it means we can do somebody else – and I love this story, I had it in an anthology when I was a kid, so it’s nice to do something totally different. But it’s just so hard – I mean, genuinely. If you talk to anybody, it’s scary how scarce the resources are.”
Despite the difficulties, Gatiss expressed hope that the series could continue. A Ghost Story for Christmas is currently streaming on BBC iPlayer.
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