FRIGHT NIGHT

For many years, the fully soundproofed space in a radio studio where recordings are made has been known as the ‘dead room’. But trust Mark Gatiss, co-creator of Sherlock and The League Of Gentlemen and writer of some of Doctor Who’s scariest episodes, to turn the whole idea of a dead room into something spooky.

He’s let his imagination run riot in a half-hour BBC drama called The Dead Room, in which an actor is haunted by his past. ‘I used to introduce horror stories for The Man In Black show on Radio 4 Extra, and the producer asked me if I’d write a story for it,’ recalls Mark. ‘I said I would but it never happened. But this has come out of it.’

Having worked with Simon Callow on a ghostly Doctor Who episode in which Simon played Charles Dickens, the pair became friends, and Mark wrote the role with the star in mind. ‘He’s a wonderful man, so full of life and talent, so I wrote the part of Aubrey Judd especially for him.’

The show starts with renowned radio actor Aubrey – who’s been narrating spooky series The Dead Room for four decades – back working at the famous Maida Vale Studios in London after some years. But he doesn’t like the latest tale he has to read and gets tetchy with his producer Tara, played by Bodyguard’s Anjli Mohindra. As he reads, he feels uncomfortable. Returning to Maida Vale has brought back memories of a time he’d rather forget. He starts hearing noises and old songs, and the story he’s reading begins to mutate. ‘The script is really clever, witty and dark,’ says Simon.

Mark says that, although it seems strange, the combination of Christmas and ghost stories has a long tradition. ‘It’s something to do with being in the dark around a fire. Dickens cemented the idea in our imaginations, but such stories have been told at this time of year for centuries. There’s a character in Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale who says, “A sad tale’s best for winter: I have one of sprites and goblins.” I hope this story gives everyone a nice shiver. And if they don’t watch, I’ll haunt them…’ You have been warned.

The Dead Room, Christmas Eve, 10pm, BBC4.

Simon Callow as Aubrey Judd, with Anjli Mohindra (right) as Aubrey’s producer Tara