So, this week, Big Finish announced the plans for the next couple of years of Dark Shadows, and amongst those plans are two 13-part mini-series I’m involved with writing.

Dark Shadows: Bloodline

First off, Dark Shadows: Bloodline – which was first announced yonks ago – now has its release scheduled for April 2019. Like its predecessor – Dark Shadows: Bloodlust – it will be a 13-part miniseries, with two episodes released each week in a nod to the transmission of the original soap opera. It’s taken a fair few rewrites but finally release looms and it’s now available for pre-order.

You can buy the episodes individually or buy them in one of two CD or download packages containing episodes 1-7 and episodes 8 – 13 respectively. Or there’s a big bundle where you can get both of those sets together at even better discount.

It’s a great story written by Alan Flanagan, Will Howells, Aaron Lamont and me, with thorough script editing by Joseph Lidster. It’s also very different in tone to its predecessor and tells a very different kind of tale; in fact, it’s sort of mind-bending and we can’t wait for it to finally be heard. One episode in particular is such a massive roller-coaster that even re-reading it today left me breathless.

Dark Shadows: Windcliff

And there’s another 13-part mini-series scheduled for April 2020, going by the name of Dark Shadows: Windcliff. This one is set in Collinsport’s famous sanatorium/asylum which makes a great claustrophobic setting for a nerve-jangling tale. I’m joined again by Aaron on writing duties, this time with Penelope Faith and Paul Phipps-Williams – writers who’ve written some amazing stories for the range and who are bringing their own unique voices to the table, which is really invigorating.

Once again, it’s a very different beast, with terrifying amounts of planning and research and wine having gone into its initial planning. This one’s a while off so isn’t available for pre-order yet, but I’m sure more details will come out nearer the time. In any case I think it’s going to be a corker.

For anyone interested, this is a glimpse into the writing process. (It’s not a good pic of me, btw.)

But there’s more!

Stuff I’ve not been involved in was also announced and will also be brilliant. Series 2 and 3 of the Dark Shadows spin-off The Tony and Cassandra Mysteries are on their way and they’re going to be great fun. It’s a proper 1970s style will-they-won’t-they mystery series where a hard-bitten PI works to solve mysteries alongside a bona-fide witch. As the tagline says: “when they get together, it’s magic!” Series 2 will be out in October and I, for one, can’t wait.

And as the Windcliff Crew™ work on our serial, Joseph Lidster and Alan Flanagan are writing another 13-part mini-series to follow it, currently titled Dark Shadows: Thirteen because of… reasons.

Plus, another mysterious box set is in the works too which I know a little about but am sworn to secrecy over.

The full press release is available here if you want to take a look. I also strongly advise you to check out the trailers for Tony and Cassandra on that page as they’re great fun – and if those trailers tickle your fancy Series 1 is already available to buy here and is worth every penny, with pre-orders for series 2 and series 3 available too.

And while you’re at it pre-order Bloodline too. It’s going to be a blast!