Jonathan Creek 2008 Christmas special story details revealed

Alan Davies is set to return as Jonathan Creek for a one-off special written by David Renwick, due for transmission this Christmas on BBC One.

The popular, award-winning comedy drama about the adventures of Jonathan Creek begins filming this summer with guest star Sheridan Smith (Love Soup; Two Pints Of Lager And A Packet Of Crisps). Stuart Milligan also returns as illusionist Adam Klaus, Creek's employer.

When Creek is called in to solve unexplained events in a vast Gothic house following several disappearances from a gloomy old attic known as The Nightmare Room, Creek is completely baffled. Seventy years on from the first disappearance, the room continues to claim lives. Can the ghost of a madman who preys upon human flesh really be to blame?

When two young women take shelter in the attic from a raging thunderstorm, it's not long before the ominous "presence" has claimed another victim.

Determined to discover the truth about what has happened to her friend, the fearlessly sceptical Joey Ross finds herself working alongside veteran lateral-thinker Creek. Together, they embark on a complex, often dangerous, investigation into a mystery which only continues to deepen.

Can Creek shed light on the riddle and render the impossible possible? Or are his once-formidable powers of deduction about to be eclipsed by the sheer raw intuition of his younger counterpart?

Alan Davies says: "For the last five years whenever I've passed a locked room I've thought there might be a mystery lurking behind it, so I'm very happy to return to Jonathan Creek and to have something to actually solve. I'm also chuffed that Sheridan Smith is joining us, she's going to be great."

Writer David Renwick adds: "After a five-year break I think we're all looking forward to getting Creek back on the screen and the BBC appear to be quite excited, so fingers crossed."

Lucy Lumsden, Controller, Comedy Commissioning, says: "We're delighted to have Jonathan Creek back on BBC One and with the addition of Sheridan Smith we should be in for a real treat."