Joanna Lumley Talks Mark Gatiss’ Latest Christmas Special A Ghost Story for Christmas: The Room in the Tower by E.F. Benson

Being Part Of Someone Else’s Dream

It’s become a Christmas tradition and here’s one of its cast Joanna Lumley talking about Mark Gatiss’  latest ghost story, his adaptation of The Room in the Tower by E.F. Benson for the BBC…

Were you familiar with E.F. Benson or the Room in the Tower?

I knew E.F. Benson’s writing but never the Room in the Tower. Superb imagination.

What was the highlight or most interesting aspect of the shoot?

Being part of someone else’s dream is fascinating: and of course the ghastly reveal at the end. It was shot in no time at all but looks wonderful.

Have you ever had a recurring dream?

It used to be standing too close to a long straight railway line stretching away into the distance, with a faraway train screaming towards me and I cannot move. Now it’s the familiar nameless dread which we all feel from time to time and cannot escape. I can hear it breathing.

Tell us about your costume and the prosthetics.

They were Edwardian clothes: and my character gradually ages, and the clothes become imperceptibly more up-to-date: and the make-up minimal at first and then frankly the kitchen sink at the end.

Have you ever had any ghostly or supernatural experiences?

One or two: usually a sudden coldness, footsteps when no-one is there: a room full of flies which were a chimera: a shadow walking past a window.

How was working with Mark Gattis?

Mark Gatiss is a staggering brainbox and also the kindest and funniest person to be with. And it was lovely to work with Tobias Menzies again; we did The Cherry Orchard together for Jonathan Miller at the Crucible in Sheffield.

Were you familiar with the strand, A Ghost Story for Christmas?

Yes: and I never miss those spooky Christmas stories.