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

A Perfect Drama For A Cold Winter’s Night

It’s become a Christmas tradition and here’s one of its cast Tobias Menzies 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 his short story, The Room in the Tower?

I didn’t know the writing of E.F. Benson before working on this film, The Room in the Tower is the first story I read of his.

Tell us about your character Roger Winstanley, did you base him on anyone?

Roger Winstanley is an ordinary man to whom something extraordinary happens. He has a recurring nightmare that has troubled him intermittently since he was 16 years old. And then one day that nightmare becomes real.

Have you ever dreamed of an event that was – to quote Benson – “subsequently realized in the material world”?

I have not. Which I’m both relieved about and disappointed by.

Tell us about filming at Cobham Hall – was it a challenge to recreate the same scene, in different costumes and guises?

Cobham Hall proved to be a great location to shoot this story. But it required a lot of dexterity and skill from the production design team and the hair and make-up team. It was a real team effort, there was a lot of sticking on of moustaches!

What was it like to work with Mark Gatiss, Joanna Lumley and the other cast members?

It was great working with so many friends on this film. I’d worked with Mark as an actor before, and with Joanna too, as well as with Polly Walker and Nancy Carroll, it was a lot of fun.

Have you ever had any ghostly or supernatural experience?

I’ve never had a supernatural experience. Again, not sure whether to feel happy or sad about that.

Do you have a favourite ghost story?

A Christmas Carol was the first ghost story I ever heard, and the first cut is the deepest. Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a pretty wild ghost story too.

How would you entice a friend to watch The Room in the Tower at Christmas?

Written and directed by Mark Gatiss, and Joanna Lumley as a ghost! What more do you need on a dark winter’s night.