Outlander star Tobias Menzies has shared the first look at his new role in an upcoming BBC special alongside Joanna Lumley.
Tobias Menzies stars alongside Joanna Lumley in The Room in the Tower
Outlander’s Tobias Menzies appears almost unrecognisable in a forthcoming BBC chiller.
The Frank Randall star joins an ensemble cast including Mark Gatiss, Joanna Lumley and Nancy Carroll in a hair-raising festive Ghost Story.
“Nightmare and waking life seem to collide,” the BBC revealed about The Room in the Tower, adapted from E. F. Benson’s work.
Taking place during the inter-war period, this marks Mark Gatiss’ eighth yuletide ghost story for the broadcaster, centring on Tobias’ character Roger Winstanley whose persistent nightmare transforms into reality, reports <a href=”https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/tv/outlander-star-transforms-new-role-36411357″ rel=”Follow” target=”_self”>the Daily Record</a>.
Plagued for 15 years by a disturbing, repetitive dream since his teenage years, in which he receives an invitation to stay overnight at an acquaintance’s residence where “an unseen terror lurks”, with the dream’s inhabitants ageing in parallel with real time, he finally receives a genuine invitation.
The Outlander actor is taking on a chilling new role
Within his dreams, he finds himself at the entrance of an unfamiliar dwelling, overseen by the formidable matriarch Mrs Stone (Joanna Lumley), with the nightmare consistently concluding with her declaration: “Jack will show you your room. I have given you the room in the tower.”
“Nightmare and waking life seem to finally collide when an invitation to the dreaded “room in the tower” becomes all too real…,” the broadcaster confirmed.
Tobias, who portrayed Prince Philip across the third and fourth series of The Crown, earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for his Outlander performance
Tobias takes the lead as Roger Winstanley, whose nightmares come true
Discussing his role as Roger, he revealed: “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.”
After stepping into character, he praised his hair and makeup team, particularly for his faux moustache.
He expressed: “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!”
Sam Heughan and Tobias Menzies in Outlander
The new ghost story has stirred up excitement among fans, with one commenting: “Oh, so glad there’s another, I was worried there wouldn’t be. Bravo!”
Another fan shared: “Oooh, I love these ghost stories. I look forward to them EVERY year at Christmas.”
A third chimed in: “Best thing on Christmas TV. Keep on making them Mr Gatiss.”
A Ghost Story for Christmas – The Room in the Tower airs on iPlayer and BBC Two from 10pm on 24 December
