Ghosts of Christmas Past (25 Dec. 2004)

Exactly nine years after Ferdy Villers killed himself, his entire family reunites for Christmas unaware that someone is out for revenge.

Director:

Renny Rye

Writers:

David Hoskins (screenplay), Caroline Graham (characters)

Stars:

John Nettles, John Hopkins, Jane Wymark

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
John Nettles	...	DCI Tom Barnaby
John Hopkins	...	Sergeant Dan Scott
Jane Wymark	...	Joyce Barnaby
Laura Howard	...	Cully Barnaby
Barry Jackson	...	Dr Bullard
Haydn Gwynne	...	Jennifer Carter
Margery Mason	...	Lydia Villiers
Bruce Alexander	...	Dominic Jones
Mel Martin	...	Kate Frears
Philip Quast	...	Ross Villiers
William Chubb	...	Digby Frears
Alice Patten	...	Emily Hide
Dominic Colenso	...	Aidan Carter
Rory Copus	...	Howard Frears
Lydia Leonard	...	Phoebe Frears

Storyline

With his parents-in-law visiting for the holidays, DCI Barnaby is almost relieved to be called out when Lydia Villiers claims she was pushed down the staircase. When she dies, the police have a possible murder case on their hands. The Villiers family has re-united for Christmas including a long lost brother, Ross, but there are many secrets in the house. One subject that is not talked about much is the suicide of one of the siblings, Ferdie, nine years previously. Several of the young adults in the house, children when their uncle took his life, have memories of the incident. When the police learn that Ferdie's fiancée also committed suicide soon after his death, they have a better understanding of who might be seeking revenge.

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Plot Keywords:

suicide | christmas | revenge | house | in law | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 December 2004 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Bentley Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min 95 min (DVD)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Goofs

On the tombstone of the magician's assistant, the name is Claire. In the credits, the name is Clare.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Jennifer Carter: All right, let's see if this'll stay up this time, unlike last year. Will you check the mince pies? I want to get the brandy butter done in plenty of time.

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Connections

Features Dead of Night (1945)

User Reviews

Christmas in the crumbling manor house

I delayed watching this episode on DVD until just before Christmas, and was glad I did. Its amusing but fairly tepid, and the acting isn't bad. There is a particularly well-written part played quite cleverly by a young boy. Despite the usual red herrings, it was rather easy to guess early on whodunit, and generally why; however I was relieved that, for a change, at least it wasn't another psycho killer! Its a bit Agatha Christie-like, as relatives gather at the old family manse -- servant-less and crumbling away -- for a forced and increasingly tense attempt at celebrating the holiday, as things begin to go ominously wrong.