Mark Gatiss

British television comedy has always embraced the surreal, from Michael Bentine through to Monty Python, The Young Ones and beyond. But has any other show been quite so off-the-wall weird as The League of Gentlemen, which emerged in January 1999 to ambush unsuspecting BBC Two audiences? 

Was it a sketch show or a sitcom? Why was there so much cross-dressing? Did any of this matter? The League of Gentlemen’s startling originality and outrageous quirkiness quickly found an audience and the series developed a cult following.

The six-part drama follows Gabriel Book, who solves crimes from his antiquarian bookshop. Three cases will span two episodes each, as Book will need all his wits – and the volumes lining his shelves – to deliver justice.

In 1946, Book keeps his sexuality hidden with a ‘lavender marriage’ to Trottie (Polly Walker, Bridgerton), who runs the wallpaper shop next door.

Bookish follows the proprietor of an antiquarian bookshop as he assists the police in solving crimes.

Though not a detective by trade, Gabriel has all the knowledge he needs in the books lining his shelves. Set in postwar London, the consultant sleuth has to conceal his sexuality with a ‘lavender marriage’ to Trottie, played by Polly Walker (Bridgerton).

Joining the cast is Blake Harrison (World on Fire), who plays Sergeant Morris, with Rosie Cavaliero (Funny Woman), Amanda Drew (The Gold) and Jacob Fortune-Lloyd (The Great) appearing as guest stars. In addition, Tom Forbes (Rules of the Game), Luke Norris (Poldark), Ella Bruccoleri (Passenger) and Michael Workéyè (This is Going to Hurt) will also guest star.

The Repair Shop: Christmas Special

BBC One, 8.00pm

Starring Simon Callow, Mark Gatiss and Tasmin Greig, the special has been adapted from the novel The Ghosts by Antonia Barber and the 1972 film of the same name.

London teenagers Jamie (Jason Rennie) and Lucy Allen (Tsion Habte) are in for a Christmas adventure when they meet a mysterious old man called Mr Blunden (Simon Callow). 

Blunden offers the kids’ mum an opportunity to become a caretaker of a ruined country house that is supposedly haunted. 

The six-part BBC Two series will feature stand-alone stories every episode and will explore Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton’s world of the extraordinary and macabre. 

This series will feature Daniel Mays (Line of Duty), Jason Isaacs (The OA), Sophie Okonedo (Britannia), Jessica Hynes (There She Goes), Diane Morgan (Mandy), Daisy Haggard (Back To Life), Annette Badland (EastEnders), Siobhan Redmond (The Replacement) and Ron Cook (The Salisbury Poisonings).

Inspired by Bram Stoker’s classic, Dracula will re-introduce the Transylvanian vampire to the world as he plans to terrorise Victorian London.

 “I am thrilled to be taking on the role of Dracula, especially when the script is in the hands of the incredible talents of Steven Moffat [and] Mark Gatiss,” commented Claes Bang on his new role.

The three-part series, written and created by Sherlock’s Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, will be a reintroduction to literature’s most famous vampire as he plans to cause chaos in Victorian London.

Moffat and Gatiss said, “There have always been stories about great evil. What’s special about Dracula, is that Bram Stoker gave evil its own hero.”

BBC's Director of Content, Charlotte Moore, said of the new project, “Genius duo Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss turn their attentions to Dracula for unmissable event television on BBC One."