Ghost Stories for Christmas 2026
Star and Shadow Cinema, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 1BB
Saturday 12th December 2026
It’s our fifth annual GHOST STORIES FOR CHRISTMAS evening at the Star & Shadow Cinema, part of our TV ON THE BIG SCREEN series!
As is tradition, we begin with a live reading by our talented volunteers. This year, we’re bringing you Charles Dickens’ THE GHOST IN THE BRIDE’S CHAMBER, a chilling tale of a mysterious apparition, an unsettling encounter and a secret from the past. The story also forms the basis of this year’s new BBC adaptation, airing on Christmas Eve.
Then we dim the lights and delve into four classic BBC ghost stories, featuring three haunting tales from the BBC archives that we’ve never screened before, alongside the return of an old favourite:
THE ROOM IN THE TOWER (2025)
We begin with last year’s chilling adaptation of E. F. Benson’s THE ROOM IN THE TOWER. For years, a young man has been haunted by the same recurring nightmare: a visit to a country house, a sinister hostess and a particular room in a tower. But when the dream begins to intrude upon reality, he discovers that some nightmares are impossible to escape.
THE ICE HOUSE (1978)
Next is THE ICE HOUSE, the final instalment of the BBC’s original 1970s A GHOST STORY FOR CHRISTMAS run. Written especially for television by John Bowen, this unusual and divisive entry follows a young man staying at a secluded country health spa, where the owners’ peculiar behaviour and a mysterious ice house in the grounds conceal something deeply disturbing. An eerie, unconventional tale that takes the series into stranger territory.
MARTIN’S CLOSE (2019)
We then move into the modern era with Mark Gatiss’s adaptation of M. R. James’s MARTIN’S CLOSE. Set in the 17th century, the story follows the trial of a wealthy young man accused of murdering a young woman. But as the evidence unfolds, it becomes clear that the dead may not be willing to remain silent. Featuring Peter Capaldi, this is a wonderfully atmospheric tale of guilt, injustice and supernatural vengeance.
WHISTLE AND I’LL COME TO YOU (1968)
Finally, we return to the chilling classic that started it all! Jonathan Miller’s legendary adaptation of M. R. James’s WHISTLE AND I’LL COME TO YOU is widely regarded as one of the finest ghost stories ever made for British television. When an eccentric academic discovers an ancient whistle in a deserted coastal graveyard, he unwittingly summons something that refuses to leave him alone. Starring Michael Hordern in an unforgettable performance, this minimalist masterpiece of psychological terror laid the foundations for the BBC’s beloved GHOST STORY FOR CHRISTMAS tradition.
So escape the festive cheer, settle into the darkness and join us for another Christmas celebration of things that go bump in the night.
After all, what could be more Christmassy than a good old-fashioned ghost story?
As is tradition, we begin with a live reading by our talented volunteers. This year, we’re bringing you Charles Dickens’ THE GHOST IN THE BRIDE’S CHAMBER, a chilling tale of a mysterious apparition, an unsettling encounter and a secret from the past. The story also forms the basis of this year’s new BBC adaptation, airing on Christmas Eve.
Then we dim the lights and delve into four classic BBC ghost stories, featuring three haunting tales from the BBC archives that we’ve never screened before, alongside the return of an old favourite:
THE ROOM IN THE TOWER (2025)
We begin with last year’s chilling adaptation of E. F. Benson’s THE ROOM IN THE TOWER. For years, a young man has been haunted by the same recurring nightmare: a visit to a country house, a sinister hostess and a particular room in a tower. But when the dream begins to intrude upon reality, he discovers that some nightmares are impossible to escape.
THE ICE HOUSE (1978)
Next is THE ICE HOUSE, the final instalment of the BBC’s original 1970s A GHOST STORY FOR CHRISTMAS run. Written especially for television by John Bowen, this unusual and divisive entry follows a young man staying at a secluded country health spa, where the owners’ peculiar behaviour and a mysterious ice house in the grounds conceal something deeply disturbing. An eerie, unconventional tale that takes the series into stranger territory.
MARTIN’S CLOSE (2019)
We then move into the modern era with Mark Gatiss’s adaptation of M. R. James’s MARTIN’S CLOSE. Set in the 17th century, the story follows the trial of a wealthy young man accused of murdering a young woman. But as the evidence unfolds, it becomes clear that the dead may not be willing to remain silent. Featuring Peter Capaldi, this is a wonderfully atmospheric tale of guilt, injustice and supernatural vengeance.
WHISTLE AND I’LL COME TO YOU (1968)
Finally, we return to the chilling classic that started it all! Jonathan Miller’s legendary adaptation of M. R. James’s WHISTLE AND I’LL COME TO YOU is widely regarded as one of the finest ghost stories ever made for British television. When an eccentric academic discovers an ancient whistle in a deserted coastal graveyard, he unwittingly summons something that refuses to leave him alone. Starring Michael Hordern in an unforgettable performance, this minimalist masterpiece of psychological terror laid the foundations for the BBC’s beloved GHOST STORY FOR CHRISTMAS tradition.
So escape the festive cheer, settle into the darkness and join us for another Christmas celebration of things that go bump in the night.
After all, what could be more Christmassy than a good old-fashioned ghost story?
Price
Ticket price incl. booking fee
£3.11 - £10.38
