For eight wonderful years in the 1970s the BBC had a tradition of broadcasting a ghost story on Christmas Eve (or thereabouts). You might not think ghost stories are especially Christmassy but for me it was the perfect start to the main event. A late broadcast – as close to midnight as possible – was essential so you could turn off the lights and be creeped out to The Signalman, The Ice House, or A Warning to the Curious before retiring nervously to bed to await the coming of Santa. Between then and now the stories have been repeated sporadically, and more recently BBC Four has steadfastly attempted to revive (or, given the subject, perhaps I should say exhume) the stories, albeit with almost no publicity – I missed this year’s short run for instance, which finished a few days ago.

Now? On Christmas Eve itself? It’s the absolute antithesis of chills. We’re “treated” to wall-to-wall comedy, with BBC Two’s late night schedule filled with Ken Dodd, Blankety Blank, Dawn French and Comedy Connections, BBC Three showing Shrek and multiple reruns of Family Guy, and BBC Four offering a weak rom-com and yet more Dawn French. Hardly the stuff of nightmares is it? Well actually, come to think about it…