Audiences applaud the BBC for acing the eerie Christmas special, even if it unexpectedly stirred some feelings among them

 

Originally launched in 1971, these short TV films were crafted to bring classic ghost stories to the small screen, aligning with the tradition of sharing eerie tales during Christmas, much like the oral storytelling tradition.

They continued until 1978 and were later revived in 2005, with this year’s featured special, ‘Lot No. 249’, drawing inspiration from Arthur Conan Doyle’s story, first printed in Harper’s Magazine in 1892.

The narrative revolves around the acquisition of an Ancient Egyptian mummy at an auction, setting off a chilling sequence of events for two Oxford students.

Scheduled for Christmas Eve, the special starred Kit Harington and Freddie Fox, with Mark Gatiss directing, leading his sixth consecutive special.

Numerous viewers lauded the programme, expressing how it provided the perfect spooky atmosphere for the festive season.

“Lot 249 delivered everything I crave in a Christmas ghost story: mummies, magic, and murder. Many thanks,” shared Kate Griffin on X.

“Also, how impressive is Freddie Fox as a villain?” she added.

“Mark Gatiss, apologies for the late hour, but you’ve once again exceeded expectations. A Ghost Story for Christmas—what a splendid tale. Gratitude to all involved,” wrote user Laura P.

“Mark Gatiss absolutely nailed A Ghost Story for Christmas yet again,” added Wayne Brightmore.

Daniel Groom hailed it as ‘beautiful work’ and commended the director as well.

“He’s undoubtedly one of the busiest and most talented individuals out there. A Ghost Story for Christmas with a glass of port has become my ‘macabre old soul’ tradition.”

However, a viewer, Sarah Hamstera, confessed to an unexpected reaction to the story.

“Was ‘A Ghost Story for Christmas’ meant to evoke… unexpected feelings?” she questioned.

Despite commendations for the director’s involvement, he recently hinted that his time directing ‘A Ghost Story’ might have concluded.

This year, ‘Lot No. 249’ was created as a companion piece to the docuseries ‘Killing Sherlock: Lucy Worsley on the Case of Conan Doyle.’ However, without similar projects in the pipeline, he suggested that securing funding for his distinctive, 30-minute stories could become an arduous task.

“We’ve been fortunate that this opportunity came up because Lucy Worsley is presenting this three-part series,” he informed RadioTimes.com.

All but one of the previous five Ghost Stories were adaptations of MR James’ works. Gatiss elaborated: “It’s fantastic as it allows us to explore someone else’s tale – and I adore this story; I stumbled upon it in an anthology as a child, so it’s refreshing to venture into something entirely new.

“However, it’s undeniably challenging. The resources are incredibly scarce – it’s a topic that worries many when discussed.”

Admitting the struggle to gather funds, he remained hopeful about the project’s continuity.

“A Ghost Story for Christmas” is available for streaming on BBC iPlayer.