Sci-Fi Bulletin: Exploring the Universes of SF, Fantasy, Horror and Spy-fi!

BBC Studios has filmed a four one-hour episode adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s The Canterville Ghost, which will receive its premiere in the US on BYUtv at Halloween.

“‘The Canterville Ghost’ brings together the acclaimed storytelling that BBC Studios Productions is well known for with BYUtv’s unique brand of family entertainment,” said Andra Johnson Duke, head of content at BYUtv. “We are honoured to partner with BBC Studios Productions to create a not-to-be-missed special event of supernatural proportions filled with humour and heart that each member of the family will enjoy.”

The accomplished cast of “The Canterville Ghost” includes Anthony Head (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) as Sir Simon de Canterville; James Lance (“Ted Lasso”) as Hiram Otis; Caroline Catz (“Doc Martin”) as Lucy Otis; Laurel Waghorn (“Holby City”) as Virginia Otis; Carolyn Pickles (“Broadchurch”) as Mrs. Umney; Haydn Gwynne (“The Windsors”) as Lady Deborah de Canterville; Jack Bardoe (“Belgravia”) as The Honourable Cecil Canterville; Harry Gostelow (“The Crown”) as Lord St. John Canterville; Lizzy Connolly (“Call the Midwife”) as Lady Henrietta Stilton; Fred Fergus (“Wonder Woman”) as Viscount Ralph Stilton; Jeff Rawle (“Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”) as Bluey, the Duke of Stilton; Harry Taurasi (“The Borgias”) as Django Lovell; Cathy Tyson (“Mona Lisa”) as Masilda Lovell; and the voice of Jonty Stephens (“Life on Mars”) as Cesspitt; and introduces Joe and Tom Graves as Frank and Theo Otis, and Harriette and Charlotte Robinson as Patience and Charity Lovell.

Set in leafy 21st century rural England, “The Canterville Ghost” sees American tech billionaire Hiram Otis buy Canterville Chase, unaware that the contents include a malevolent family ghost, Sir Simon de Canterville, who has been haunting the premises for centuries. Or that his family will face the full might of the English aristocracy: united in opposition to the parvenu Americans. The contemporary reimagining of the classic Oscar Wilde comedy revolves around three families – the aristocratic Cantervilles, the Romani Lovells and the American Otises – who must come together to find redemption and heal the past.

Despite its modern setting, it’s an old world, bound by strict social convention and archaic traditions. A world of house parties and cricket matches, fox hunting and pheasant shooting. The stately homes of the aristocracy and a resident ghost…

“This is Oscar Wilde meets ‘Downton Abbey,'” said Will Trotter, executive producer for BBC Studios Productions. “It’s bursting with gothic horror, romantic comedy and pathos. We are thrilled to be working with BYUtv on such an uplifting drama for the whole family, and we hope it brings much laughter to BYUtv audiences.”

“The Canterville Ghost” icomes from the team behind “Father Brown” and “Shakespeare & Hathaway.” It is produced by BBC Studios Productions, written by Jude Tindall (“Father Brown,” “Shakespeare & Hathaway”) and executive produced by Will Trotter (“Father Brown,” “Shakespeare & Hathaway,” “Doctors”). “The Canterville Ghost” will be brought to the screen by directors Paul Gibson and Suri Krishnamma.