THE FADES - New Supernatural Drama Coming To BBC Three

Wednesdays are about to get more than a little spooky thanks to new supernatural drama, The Fades, on BBC Three. The Fades stars Iain De Caestecker(River City, Coronation Street) as Paul a teenage haunted by apocalyptic nightmares and if that€™s not bad enough he now started to see the Fades as well. But who or what exactly are the Fades? Just beyond the veil of the living lie the Fades, the spirits of the dead who haunt the living. They're all around but they can't be seen, smelt, heard or touched by living beings. Up until now the Fades have floated around not causing much trouble to us living folk, but now one of them has found away to break the barrier between the living and the dead, which can only lead to all manner of hell breaking loose. As the only person able to see the Fades, Paul, along with best mate Mac played by Daniel Kaluuya (Skins, Psychoville, Sucker Punch), gets caught up right in the middle of all the action. But Paul is just a regular teenager with enough problems of his own; can he really save the world from the apocalypse of his dreams?

Key cast also include: Tom Ellis (Miranda, Harley Street, Merlin) is Mark, a teacher under suspicion when his ex-wife Sarah is missing, feared dead. Johnny Harris (This is England '86, Spartacus) is Neil, a lone warrior against the forces of darkness, who becomes Paul's unlikely mentor. Daniela Nardini (This Life, A Street Car Named Desire) is Helen; like Paul she also has an extraordinary ability which will prove useful in the fight to save mankind. Lily Loveless (Skins) is Anna, Paul's twin sister, fierce and uncompromising, she finds being related to someone like Paul rather annoying; Claire Rushbrook (Ashes To Ashes) is Meg, Paul and Anna's mum; Theo Barklem-Biggs (Age Of Heroes, Miranda, EastEnders) is PC Phillip Firth; Jenn Murray (Day Of The Triffids) is Natalie and Sophie Wu (Kick-Ass, The Other Man) plays Jay.

Written by Jack Thorne whose other work includes This Is England '86 and Skins, he had this to say about the origins of the show,

"The Fades was born from a trip into executive producer, Sue Hogg's office €“ she asked me what drama of the last ten years I wished I'd written €“ I said the American cable show Freaks & Geeks €“ I was wearing a Ghostbusters t-shirt, she said 'what about Freaks & Geeks meets Ghostbusters'. And I smiled and nodded enthusiastically. But the further we've gone along, and it's been five years since that meeting, the more seriously we've taken the fantasy and the mythology and so the comedy is subtler and a newer, fresher, hopefully more exciting show has emerged. I feel so lucky to be part of the team that's bringing it to the screen €“ everyone from our location manager to our FX supervisor are so committed and we have such an amazing cast €“ I'm quite literally in dreamland right now."

Kate Harwood, BBC Controller Drama Series & Serials, adds:

"The minute I read Jack Thorne's script I realised we were in exciting new territory. This is a vision of great imagination and I am thrilled that we have such a talented cast and that we have director Farren Blackburn and a brilliant team who can bring this vision to life... or half life!"

The show undoubtedly draws comparisons with Being Human, BBC Three€™s other popular supernatural drama about a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost sharing a flat. But The Fades seems set to establish itself as a lot more scary, amping up the horror aspects. And with all that taken into account it looks like The Fades could turn out to be a great supernatural drama, but with a very British edge. But don€™t take my word for it check it out yourselves. The Fades premiers Wednesday 21st at 9pm on BBC Three.