Ghost Stories for Christmas

Released: 28th October 2013. Collection of ghost stories adapted by the BBC. In 'Whistle and I'll Come to You' (1968) Michael Hordern plays Professor Parkin who heads to a hotel on the east coast of England. While out on a walk he comes across a mysterious bone whistle, the discovery of which ends up having disturbing consequences for him. In 'Whistle and I'll Come to You' (2010) John Hurt stars as James Parkin who, in this version, is a retired astronomer taking a much needed break from caring for his ailing wife. In 'A Warning to the Curious' (1972) Mr Paxton (Peter Vaughan) travels to the English seaside town of Seaburg hoping to find the last of three Anglo Saxon crowns belonging to the Agers family whose last descendant has recently died. In 'The Stalls of Barchester' (1971) Dr. Black (Clive Swift) is cataloguing the Barchester Cathedral Library when he comes across an old diary belonging to Archdeacon Haynes (Robert Hardy) who died mysteriously. In 'Lost Hearts' (1973) young orphan Stephen (Simon Gipps-Kent) goes to stay at the generous Mr. Abney (Joseph O'Conor)'s estate where he is haunted by two children who previously lived in the house. In 'The Ash Tree' (1975) Sir Richard Fell (Edward Petherbridge) inherits his uncle's manor and grounds. He moves in and decides to cut down an ash tree that could prove harmful to the property. In 'The Treasure of Abbot Thomas' (1974) cynical Reverend Somerton (Michael Bryant) is completely close-minded when it comes to paranormal activity. But his steadfast beliefs falter when his search for the treasure of alchemist Abbot Thomas (John Herrington) unleashes a terrifying spectre. In 'The Signalman' (1976), based on the story by Charles Dickens, Denholm Elliott stars as a troubled railway signalman who has witnessed some unsettling sights and sounds along his stretch of track. In 'Stigma' (1977) Katherine Delgado (Kate Binchy) and her family move into a new home but have difficulty removing a menhir from their garden. In 'The Ice House' (1978) Paul (John Stride) goes to stay at a spa resort to help him get over the breakdown of his marriage. In 'A View from a Hill' (2005) historian Dr. Fanshawe (Mark Letheren) visits his friend, Squire Richard (Pip Torrens), and, having broken his own binoculars, borrows a pair through which he can see into the past. In 'Number 13' (2006) Professor Anderson (Greg Wise) is staying in room 12 of a local hotel while working in a cathedral town to authenticate historical documents. But after being disturbed at night, Anderson discovers that a previously missing room 13 has appeared... Finally, Robert Powell reads a selection of tales by M.R. James which were partially dramatised for the series 'Classic Ghost Stories'. The episodes comprise: 'The Mezzotint', 'The Ash Tree', 'Wailing Well', 'The Rose Garden' and 'Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad'.