December 15th, 2007
Christmas ghost stories
Even though some people aren’t happy with the BBC’s Christmas TV schedule, there is a definite gem in there. Once again, the Beeb will screen more of their MR James adaptations. James, if you’ve never read him, was one of the best ghost story writers in the English language.
The Christmas Ghost Story season is sadly only an annual thing, and they’re being shown on BBC4 starting today. First up, is The Haunted Airman tonight at 11.30pm. Tomorrow, Sunday December 16th, at 10.40pm there’s A View from The Hill, the first TV adaptation of the 1925 story. Also being shown are The Stalls of Barchester (Monday, December 17th at 11.40pm), Number 13 (Tuesday, December 18th at 10pm), followed by double bills on Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesday, December 19th, there’s The Treasure of Abbot Thomas at 10pm and the very eerie Whistle and I’ll Come To You is on at 11.05pm. The series saves the best for last on Thursday December 20th. As well as Lost Hearts at 10pm, it concludes with The Signalman, an utterly spooky tale starring the late Denholm Elliott at 11.05pm.
Definitely worth staying in for.
On a slightly related note, a couple of years ago Irish author John Connolly published a collection of short stories called Nocturnes. I interviewed him about it at the time and he said he was massively influenced by MR James in writing them. News reaches me via Declan that Nocturnes is to be republished in the UK, with a new story included. If you already have the book, you don’t have to fork out for it again, as the story, “The Cycle” appears on the ghost story section of Connolly’s website. The author also has a very fine blog worth checking out.
December 16th, 2007 at 1:16 am
Tonight was the 1 night I didn’t have work do’s, friends to meet or somewhere to go so a night in was a godsend. Thanks for the tip, v intriguing even if i’m not sure what happened at the end.
December 16th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Any idea where to get these if you don’t have BBC 4. Have shared this info with a VERY disappointed BBC4-less friend whose been trying to get them for years.
December 17th, 2007 at 9:02 am
Dave, glad you liked it. I missed the first one as I was out. Any good?
Little Red, I don’t get why they’re languishing on BBC4, it might be worth having a poke around the BBC website to see if there’s a ‘watch again’ facility. Or check out the the BBC shop (http://www.bbcshop.com/) as I know they definitely have copies of The Signalman for sale.
BBC2 could have showed one or two last night given that the snooker ended almost two hours before it should have thanks to Ronnie O’Sullivan.
December 17th, 2007 at 11:38 am
On a completely different note an adaptation of Noel Streatfield’s Ballet Shoes is on over Christmas - one of my favourite books as a kid
December 17th, 2007 at 11:44 am
Thanks Sinead. I feel a last-minute Christmas present coming on.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:30 pm
If you like MR James (and I do), you should get your paws on the Virago Book of Victorian Ghost Stories - I got it second hand a few years ago and it’s amazing and very spooky. It also features Elizabeth Gaskell’s fantastic story The Old Nurse’s Story, one of the best ghost stories ever and a long way from Cranford.
December 17th, 2007 at 10:47 pm
Claire C, where’s that on?
LR, no bother.
Stellanova, that sounds fantastic - any idea where I’d pick up a copy?
December 17th, 2007 at 11:22 pm
‘ Whistle and I’ll come to you’ is one of my favourite short films ever. It was adapted by Jonathan Miller in 1968 for beeb.
It has a hypnotic kubrick-like pace . Michael Hordorn is amazing in it. I recommend it highly.
December 18th, 2007 at 10:38 am
Sorry, I should’ve said - it’s a movie adaptation and it’s premiering on BBC ONE - I think on Christmas Day. It’s a big budget jobbie, with Emilia Fox, Victoria Wood, Emma Watson from the Harry Potter movies and Richard Griffiths
December 18th, 2007 at 12:39 pm
Claire C, it’s actually on St Stephen’s Day - I plan on spending that evening watching it in a Cadbury’s Roses-induced haze! Noel Streatfeild is one of my all-time favourite kids’ authors - it’s a shame that most of her books aren’t in print at the moment (including my favourite one of all, The Painted Garden). Maybe this adaptation will kick off a Streatfeild revival.
Sinead, I got my copy fairly cheaply on good old abebooks.co.uk - I think it cost less than a fiver!
December 19th, 2007 at 9:08 am
Thanks for that, Stellanova. I’d hate to miss it too! I didn’t realise that most of Streatfield’s books aren’t in print at the moment - a real shame.