The Stage

Illusionist Derren Brown to make acting debut in Gatiss Christmas drama on BBC4

Published Tuesday 7 October 2008 at 18:20 by Matthew Hemley

Derren Brown is to make his acting debut in Mark Gatiss’ new BBC4 supernatural drama Crooked House.

As revealed by The Stage, the ghost story is set to be broadcast over Christmas. It is being made by production company Tiger Aspect and directed by Damon Thomas, who collaborated with Gatiss on the BBC4 drama The Worst Journey in the World.

Further casting and plot details have now been disclosed by the BBC, including news that Brown will appear in the drama as Sir Roger Widdowson.

Other names lined up to appear include Julian Rhind-Tutt, Anna Madeley and Jean Marsh.

In addition to writing and co-producing the drama, Gatiss takes the role of a museum curator with an in-depth knowledge of the now-demolished, fictional Geap Manor.

When a school teacher who moves into a property on the plot of the old house finds a door knocker in the garden, the curator suggests it may have come from Geap Manor, which was reported to be haunted.

BBC4 controller Janice Hadlow described Gatiss’ story as “clever and witty”. It follows in the tradition of BBC4 Christmas ghost stories, which in previous years have included The Haunted Airman, Number 13 and View from a Hill.