NEW EPISODE

"Here on OH!CAST there are some sacred cow properties where we all agree that they are simply wonderful. We’re delighted to be able to welcome the creator of at least two of those on to the show tonight as Stephen Volk - the writer of BBC’s 1991 Halloween special feature, Ghostwatch, and the novella Whitstable which depicts 68 year old Peter Cushing being mistaken for Van Helsing joins the show.

"Cal, Hereward, Ralph, and Graeme have one of their favourite conversations yet with Stephen as they grill him on not only the things he has written, but his inspirations, and his ideas about what makes a good horror story. As huge fans of Stephen’s rich catalogue of work – both on page and screen – we had lots to talk about – not just the most famous entry on his CV.

"Behind the scenes note – time really did fly during this episode and Stephen is such a wonderful raconteur that we could probably have chatted for the same amount of time again!"

00:00 The Roots of Horror: Personal Influences
04:05 Cinematic Inspirations and Touchstones
11:02 The Impact of Ghostwatch
20:58 Exploring Doubt in Supernatural Stories
25:38 Exploring Themes of Grief and Fear
30:17 The Art of Twists in Storytelling
34:06 The Creative Process Behind Scripts
39:36 The Journey of Peter Cushing
48:02 Connecting Horror Icons

• GHOSTWATCH at 1532 Theatre
  
• Tuesday, October 27, 2026
• 6:00 PM  8:45 PM

• Elton Rd, Bristol, England, BS8 1SJUnited Kingdom

“A masterstroke, more unsettling than any amount of explicit horror [...] Even today, when we can feel safe in the knowledge that it’s all fiction, ‘Ghostwatch’ is still an incredibly effective piece of experimental television. Just don’t watch it alone”
— Paul Whitelaw (The Guardian)
​
DOORS: 18:00 | FILM BEGINS: 18:30
For our 10th anniversary celebrations, we’re bringing a truly legendary phenomenon to the big screen, plus a Q&A with the man who wrote it…
We’re absolutely thrilled to have been granted kind permission to screen Ghostwatch this October. Originally aired on BBC1 on Halloween 1992, this pseudo-documentary depicting a paranormal investigation gone horribly awry “live” on national television proved to be so controversial and disturbing that 33 years on, it’s still yet to be repeated on any UK-based television channel. Years ahead of its time, it’s rightfully the stuff of television legend - and for some of our audience, likely still the stuff of nightmares!
In addition to an introduction from Festival Director Owen Franklin explaining the context and cultural impact of the film, we’re honoured to be joined by Ghostwatch writer (and Bristol University alumnus!) Stephen Volk, who will be taking part in a post-film Q&A session. It promises to be one of the most memorable Halloween events in the Festival’s history - make sure you book early, and bring someone for company, for when the chills get real…!

Out of print for decades, The Hammer Horror Omnibus returns.

Featuring eight novelisations across two volumes, this curated collection captures some of horror’s most enduring icons from Hammer’s classic era of macabre storytelling - from Frankenstein and The Reptile, to The Gorgon and Dracula.

Written by John Burke, these novelisations also showcase brand new cover artwork in beautifully presented editions - an essential for fans of gothic horror and film fiction.

With Introductions and Afterwords by Stephen Gallagher, Ramsey Campbell (vol 1) Stephen Laws and yours truly (vol 2). A great honour to be asked. For all the reasons I give in print! 

Order page here

Karen Hamilton-Viall interviews Stephen Volk on "The Confirmed Bachelors", his new chapbook from Black Shuck Books, the notorious Ghostwatch, the attraction of ghosts and horror, and a life of writing for the page and screen. 

From 2.00 in. (Scarred for Life podcast) 

I really enjoyed chatting to critic and writer John Bleasdale about film, life, writing and a life of loving stories. We had a surprising amount in common, not least our love of Horror movies and Don't Look Now.  John's books include Darkness Visible, a remarkable study of film director Jonathan Glazer, and, more recently, the novel Connery. 

Hear our conversation here

Dr Alessandra Pino introduces a new episode of "A Curious Appetite" (link below)...

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6qC4WdhRvvgDlfmc1Cup4u...

"Today’s guest is the brilliant screenwriter behind Ghostwatch, Afterlife, Gothic, The Guardian, and one of my favourite supernatural films, The Awakening. We talk about séances as the perfect storytelling device, Dickens and “The Portrait-Painter’s Story” and how it inspired one of his stories, belief and doubt as the engine of ghost stories, food, eggs, and everyday objects in horror. Volk also discusses his excellent short story collections The Good Unknown (2023) and The Confirmed Bachelors (2025). 

"There is a moment from Ghostwatch that has stayed with me since childhood. The poltergeist makes itself known through a ruined dinner when the family’s mackerel suddenly appears covered in something that looks disturbingly like saliva. I remember thinking how awful it was that not only were they experiencing something terrifying, but they now could not even sit down and eat their meal. Because horror does not just interrupt fear. Sometimes it interrupts dinner!

"Part of this conversation also appears in Haunted Magazine #49, out now. Listen now and let me know what you think. If you enjoy it, please share and follow the podcast."