Dorothy McShane and St John Colchester-Price meet for Christmas ghost stories on the longest night of the year.

Four presents for the price of one in a neatly handled anthology linked by two of the most instantly likable characters and performers working today. The Colchester/McShane friendship is one of the most fun parts of the Torchwood universe and it’s a treat to hear them both talk at such length and with such honesty.

It’s also a clever examination of Torchwood as a concept, riding the line between fantasy, SF and horror. Ace’s first story gives us a retro-active introduction of Torchwood during the 7th Doctor’s run and a compelling reason for how relatively little time he spent on Earth, as well as revealing one more twist of the guilt that defined Ace so much. Sophie Aldred’s exceptional here, playing the onetime Ace with honesty and pain. Her second story is a lighter affair until it isn’t, revisiting the Torchwood officer she meets in the first one via a diary. There’s a hint of the Scrooge (and Scrooged) to the second story too, recounted in diary form and exploring what happens when a Victorian sociopath is told to mend their ways. It’s very funny, and very grim and has a legitimate jump scare as an ending. Torchwood, here, is presented as an active threat.

For Mr Colchester, Torchwood is, if not salvation, then context. Mr Colchester’s serenity is very hard won and Joe Lidster and Paul Clayton take us deep into the overlooked hellscape of 1987. There’s a significant beat where Ace mentions that was the year they both left London. Mr Colchester didn’t have the luxury of leaving the planet. Instead, traumatised by his losses, his betrayals and existing in a society that doesn’t care about the AIDS epidemic and that actively wants him dead, Mr Colchester runs to the one person who’s helped him in the past. The quiet, cosy life of a gay couple living outside the city is everything he wanted. Lidster excels at honest emotion and that’s exactly what you get here. Alongside a moment where Mr Colchester starts to become who we know. Terrified, powerless, no idea what’s going on and completely unable to walk away from people in trouble. There’s an image at the end of this story that’s beautiful, haunting and terrifying. Alien beauty wrapped around human need and opening the door, at last, for him to do something other than survive. The entire story is great. This section is extraordinary. Big kudos too to Maddy Searle, making their production debut on sound design here and giving each story a unified feel while ensuring each feels unique and standalone.

The final story here is an urban myth, one that unites Colchester, Ace, their differing perspectives of Torchwood, the past and the future. It’s a great idea, chillingly executed and finishes with a flourish. Or perhaps more appropriately for the season, a bow. It’s kind, and brave, honest and determined, Frightened and doing it anyway. Just like Ace and Mr Colchester.

Verdict: Four stories in one, big ideas explored with grace, great performances, script, direction and sound design. This one’s something special. Go listen. 10/10

Alasdair Stuart

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