[brian s]

Press Releases
Mark Gatiss's Crooked House conjures up a ghostly Christmas on BBC Four

Category: TV Drama; BBC Four

Janice Hadlow, Controller, BBC Four, has commissioned Tiger Aspect Productions to produce Crooked House, a haunting tale of three sumptuous ghost stories woven together for a spooky Christmas treat.

Written by Mark Gatiss (The League Of Gentlemen) and directed by Damon Thomas (Beethoven), the duo last collaborated on 2007's critically-acclaimed BBC Four drama The Worst Journey In The World.

Shot in HD, Crooked House boasts a wonderfully diverse cast which includes Julian Rhind-Tutt (Green Wing), Mark Gatiss, Philip Jackson (Margaret Thatcher: The Long Walk To Finchley), Lee Ingleby (George Gently), Jean Marsh (Sense And Sensibility), Samuel Barnett (Beautiful People), Daniela Denby-Ashe (My Family), Anna Madeley (Brideshead Revisited) and, in his debut dramatic role, illusionist Derren Brown as the mysterious Sir Roger Widdowson.

In addition to writing and co-producing the drama, Gatiss takes the role of a museum curator with an in-depth knowledge of the fictional Geap Manor, stretching through Tudor, Georgian, the Twenties and contemporary times.

When school teacher Ben unearths an old door knocker in the garden of his new home, the curator suggests it may come from the now-demolished house. A house reputed to be haunted...

Intrigued, Ben prompts the curator to tell him some of stories about the house and so begins a journey through time.

A corrupt Georgian businessman finds something unexpected in the woodwork of his new home.

In the Twenties, a young couple's happy engagement party is spoiled by the spectre of a ghostly bride.

And, back in the present day, Ben soon finds himself in darker, more dangerous waters than he could possibly have foreseen...

Paul Frift produces Crooked House and Jamie Laurenson is Commissioning Editor for BBC Four. Richard Fell is Executive Producer for Tiger Aspect.

Janice Hadlow says: "There's nothing quite like the thrill of a spooky yarn to warm up a chilly winter evening and BBC Four is the natural home for Mark's clever and witty story."

Mark Gatiss says: "Ever since I was a child and thrilled to the BBC's classic MR James adaptations, I've dreamt of sending a festive shiver down the nation's spine.

"I'm delighted to finally have the opportunity. A fantastic cast and crew have worked incredibly hard to fulfil this long held dream."

Richard Fell added: "The ghost story at Christmas is a much cherished BBC seasonal tradition that Mark's wonderful story has brought back to life.

"Like the best Christmas fare it is replete with rich and sumptuous treats – and not the odd skin crawling surprise."

Jamie Laurenson added: "Evoking the richest traditions of the genre where suspense and suggestion fray our nerves far more than violence or gore, Mark Gatiss's brilliant script plays on the strange compulsion to watch or listen to stories that scare us."

Crooked House was commissioned by Ben Stephenson and Janice Hadlow, and follows in the tradition of BBC Four Christmas ghost stories which include The Haunted Airman, Number 13 and View From A Hill in previous years.

Crooked House joins the stellar canon of drama on BBC Four which includes the Curse Of Comedy season, Marie Lloyd and Margaret Thatcher: Long Walk To Finchley.

[redwing]

That sounds good .

Ill definetly be watching out for that . I like Mark Gatiss in LoG and really like the sound of that cast .

[brian s]

I'll also be watching if it's broadcast without a dog.

Cheers
Bri

[soundstory]

Sounds promising

[raigraphixs]

on Dec 22nd 10.30pm BBC4

[ndenbow]

Glad to see it's on late - hoping it's going to have dark tones and be scary. If it was going to get the tepid 7pm Saturday slot (Dr Who, Merlin, Robin Hood) then I would have avoided it like the plague - although some Dr Who episodes were very good (Blink).

[brian s]

Originally Posted by ndenbow

Glad to see it's on late - hoping it's going to have dark tones and be scary. If it was going to get the tepid 7pm Saturday slot (Dr Who, Merlin, Robin Hood) then I would have avoided it like the plague - although some Dr Who episodes were very good (Blink).

I hope he's missing his dog.

Cheers
Bri

[brian s]

Crooked House clip.

BBC - BBC Four Programmes - Crooked House, The Wainscoting

[soundstory]

I saw the trailer on BBC2 last night, it certainly looks like it's worth watching

[raigraphixs]

So who remembered? not me

Part 3 on tonight, i will have to catchup all parts online/repeats sometime.

[brian s]

Originally Posted by raigraphixs

So who remembered? not me

Part 3 on tonight, i will have to catchup all parts online/repeats sometime.

I've not been too well this week and went to bed early on Monday and forgot all about it. I remembered last night and set the recorder. It's got a dog though and I hate those.


Bri

[Sonic67]

The series is repeated again soon. Not that impressed though.

[Joe Pineapples]

Just finished watching this. First two were very weak, but enjoyed the third. It reminded me of 'the door' segment of the horror 'from beyond the grave' (with Ian 'the saint' Ogilvy). What annoyed me about all three though, was the BBC FOUR logo. All the craft they spend in getting these things looking right, and then go and slap on a white logo, which is very distracting for this sort of genre.

[Shaun666]

Originally Posted by Joe Pineapples

Just finished watching this. First two were very weak, but enjoyed the third. It reminded me of 'the door' segment of the horror 'from beyond the grave' (with Ian 'the saint' Ogilvy). What annoyed me about all three though, was the BBC FOUR logo. All the craft they spend in getting these things looking right, and then go and slap on a white logo, which is very distracting for this sort of genre.

It had a logo on BBC HD as well and the picture was disappointing to put it mildly.

[brian s]

Originally Posted by Joe Pineapples

What annoyed me about all three though, was the BBC FOUR logo. All the craft they spend in getting these things looking right, and then go and slap on a white logo, which is very distracting for this sort of genre.

I couldn't agree more. They call themselves channel of the year and slap that damn logo on. I'd hope they would drop it for something of this nature. I didn't bother with it once I confirmed it was there.


Bri

[Sonic67]

Originally Posted by Joe Pineapples

Just finished watching this. First two were very weak, but enjoyed the third. It reminded me of 'the door' segment of the horror 'from beyond the grave' (with Ian 'the saint' Ogilvy).

Yes third one was better. I watched it in HD but aside from the fact it took up about three times the space on the HDD I never would have known.

[Scapegoat]

How long were these?

Radio Times states an omnibus version is to be shown on HD today, but its only 90 mins. Were they only half an hour each?

[Joe Pineapples]

Originally Posted by Scapegoat

Were they only half an hour each?

yes

[brian s]

Gatiss ghost story a hit for BBC Four
Monday, December 29 2008, 08:06 GMT

By Neil Wilkes, Editor


Mark Gatiss's Christmas ghost story Crooked House was a ratings winner for BBC Four last week.

The original three-part tale, about the strange events relating to a mysterious door knocker, started with an impressive 517k (3.3%) for the channel at 10.30pm Monday, December 22.

It was the fifth most-watched multichannel programme and the most popular original multichannel programme of the day.

[brian s]

Crooked House is on BBC4 tonight at 11.15. A pity it's the last one.

Bri

[TonyA]

Loving this horror season!

More of this please BBC 4!

[brian s]

I've just watched this. I hate logos at the best of times but the white BBC FOUR dog on the very dark scenes was obscene. I hate them .

I was surprised by the George Gentley bloke as he sounded like he is actually a Geordie unlike in in GG. It also had one of my favourite actors David Ryall playing it like an older Mark Gatiss. These should get a DVD release without the ******* logo.

Bri

[TonyA]

Originally Posted by brian s

I've just watched this. I hate logos at the best of times but the white BBC FOUR dog on the very dark scenes was obscene. I hate them .

I was surprised by the George Gentley bloke as he sounded like he is actually a Geordie unlike in in GG. It also had one of my favourite actors David Ryall playing it like an older Mark Gatiss. These should get a DVD release without the ******* logo.

Bri

I hate these DOGS too... totally unnecessary and obtrusive! We do have an "info" button on our remotes to check what channel we're on! But that's an argument for another thread! LOL!

[Todd Tomorrow]

Originally Posted by brian s

I've just watched this. I hate logos at the best of times but the white BBC FOUR dog on the very dark scenes was obscene. I hate them .

I was surprised by the George Gentley bloke as he sounded like he is actually a Geordie unlike in in GG. It also had one of my favourite actors David Ryall playing it like an older Mark Gatiss. These should get a DVD release without the ******* logo.

Bri

Crooked House is out on DVD, without the logo of course (unless I misunderstood you). That's the only way I ever saw it, because I missed the original transmission.

I thought the first two episodes were rather weak, but the last one with the door knocker is one of the best examples of TV horror I've ever seen. Clever concept, and very well executed. Gatiss only wanted to do the last episode, but the BBC wanted three, so no wonder the other two seem rushed in comparison.

[brian s]

Originally Posted by Todd Tomorrow

Crooked House is out on DVD, without the logo of course (unless I misunderstood you). That's the only way I ever saw it, because I missed the original transmission.

I thought the first two episodes were rather weak, but the last one with the door knocker is one of the best examples of TV horror I've ever seen. Clever concept, and very well executed. Gatiss only wanted to do the last episode, but the BBC wanted three, so no wonder the other two seem rushed in comparison.

Cheers. I'll think about buying it though you've put me off a bit by saying the first two episodes were weak.

Regards
Bri