Lot No. 249 joins the Christmas TV line-up, where we'll see Sherlock creator Mark Gatiss adapting another classic Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story.
The gothic horror short story has been widely adapted over the years and has become an influential piece of writing for many fans of the macabre, and fans are about to see a fresh take on the tale.
Speaking about adapting Lot 249, writer and director Mark Gatiss said: "It’s a serious delight for me to delve once again into the brilliant work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, this time for the Christmas Ghost story.
"Lot No.249 is a personal favourite and is the grand-daddy (or should that be Mummy?) of a particular kind of end of Empire chiller: a ripping yarn packed with ghastly scares and who-knows-what lurking in the Victorian closet…"
Here's everything you need to know about the spooky Christmas special...
Lot No. 249 release date
Lot 249 airs on Christmas Eve (December 24) on BBC Two at 10 pm. It will also be available on demand via iPlayer.
Lot No. 249 plot
According to the synopsis, Lot 249 follows a group of Oxford students, and one of whom undertakes research into the secrets of Ancient Egypt, which soon becomes the talk of the college.
It is based on the Arthur Conan Doyle story of the same name. The novel follows student Abercrombie Smith who notices a strange series of events surrounding Edward Bellingham, an Egyptology student who owns many ancient Egyptian artifacts, including a mummy.
As far as we can tell, the adaptation will follow the original source material quite closely. The mummy featured in the story has become quite the horror icon, so it will be interesting to see the most recent adaptation.
Teasing the story more, Mark Gatiss said: "I would say it’s an overripe box of chocolates – it’s a typically full-blooded Victorian melodrama with elements of Boy’s Own story as well as that Doyle/Rider Haggard feel. It’s the original “mummy” story as far as we know.
"It’s certainly one of the first stories to feature a mummy as an instrument of revenge. So everything we associate with the Mummy from Hollywood to Hammer starts here. It’s got a terrific cast and it should be a delicious Christmas treat."
Lot No. 249 cast
Game of Thrones star Kit Harrington plays the lead role of Abercrombie Smith and White House Farm star Freddie Fox stars opposite him as Edward Bellingham.
Other confirmed cast includes Colin Ryan (Boundless) as Monkhouse Lee alongside John Heffernan (Dracula), James Swanton (Stopmotion), Jonathan Rigby (Father Brown) and Andrew Horton (Slotherhouse).
Speaking about starring in the series, Freddie Fox told us: "It lived up to all my expectations of what a Mark Gatiss Christmas horror would be. He gives it that twinkle, that flair, that naughtiness as well as the real chills that you want from the genre."
Freddie went on to praise James Swanton, who plays the Mummy and is well known for monstrous roles such as playing the role of the Spirit in the hit found footage movie Host, and the titular creature in Frankenstein's Creature.
He revealed: "[James] was lying or standing there for hours and never complained. The set was full of wasps and hornets, there was a nest nearby, but it didn’t faze him at all."
Elsewhere, he has teased the relationship between Colin Ryan's character Monkhouse Lee and his character, saying: "I think there is an implicit sexual relationship between Bellingham and Monkhouse Lee - one that is very dominant on Bellingham’s side and controlling,’ says Fox. ‘And he’d quite like to have a relationship with Kit’s character."
Is there a trailer?
Yes, a trailer has been released for Lot No 249 and it's got the perfect creepy vibes if you're looking for something a bit scarier this festive season.
While it's short and doesn't give much away, it's certainly enough to whet your appetite. Take a look at the trailer below...
