Mark Gatiss reveals Joanna Lumley was “so game” to transform for Ghost Story role

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*This article contains spoilers for A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Room in the Tower*

BBC Two’s newest ‘Ghost Story for Christmas’ is an adaptation of EF Benson’s tale, ‘The Room in the Tower,’ which centers around a man plagued by a repeating nightmare.

I was really creeped out by this version of the story! Tobias Menzies plays Roger Winstanley, and he’s constantly haunted by these visions of a beautiful, but unsettling, country home. It’s like there’s something really dark hiding in one of its towers, and it’s really getting to him.

The story follows Roger as his disturbing dreams come true. After being hurt in an air raid, he wakes up in a hospital that’s strangely familiar – it’s the house from his nightmares. And waiting for him there is Mrs. Stone (played by Joanna Lumley), a woman who has long troubled his sleep.

The story reaches a terrifying end as Mrs. Stone, now a horrifying ghost instead of the elegant woman Roger once imagined, closes in on her defenseless victim.

At a showing of The Room at the BFI Southbank, writer and director Mark Gatiss shared that it took four hours of makeup and prosthetics to turn actress Joanna Lumley into the disturbingly transformed Mrs. Stone.

Gatiss explained that Lumley agreed to participate for a very small fee, and she was enthusiastic about the project.

It took four hours to do her makeup, and she looked amazing. She agreed to do it immediately. It’s a small role, but the focus is entirely on her – on Mrs. Stone.

Mark Gatiss mentioned the ongoing challenge of securing funding for future episodes of ‘The Ghost Story for Christmas,’ explaining that it’s a yearly effort to get the necessary money.

When someone asked how fans could help ensure more episodes are made, he responded with genuine enthusiasm: “Support the BBC.”

The BBC has always been a complex organization, and it’s facing constant attacks that could genuinely lead to its downfall. Despite its imperfections, the BBC offers incredible value for money, and these attacks aren’t just about current issues – they’re about everything the BBC stands for. It’s truly remarkable what we get for the cost, and it’s shocking to see it so threatened.

Don’t miss “A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Room in the Tower” on BBC Two this Christmas Eve, December 24th, at 10pm. Want to keep track of what to watch? Download the TopMob: What to Watch app for daily TV suggestions and more!

Authors

Morgan JefferyDigital Editor

Morgan Jeffery leads the editorial content for TopMob across all its digital platforms as Digital Editor. Before joining TopMob, he worked as TV Editor at Digital Spy and has appeared as a television expert on programs like BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 5 Live, and Sky Atlantic.

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2025-12-25 02:04