Its a set-souvenir fromAshes To Ashes, the time-travel police drama he co-created to followLife On Mars.

Set in 1894 Somerset,The Living And The Deadis in the tradition of thedark English pastoral.

The major conflict is as described in the title, a clash between the present and the past.

In short, here be ghosts.

The 1894 setting was inspired by Pharoahs love of Thomas Hardy.

In a decade, its gone, really.

Those two traditions in English cultural tradition clashed through Nathan Appleby.

He starts off a man of science and he ends off, who can say?

Pharoah can of course, but hes not telling.

Original UK fantasy can struggle to find viewers, Pharoah admits.

Weve always had a strong tradition of realism in this country.

Thats one of the reasons we calibrated it very carefully that its not too… its nothorror.

The word we used on set a lot was eerie.

Im hoping that we wont freak out a BBC One audience!

I always loved M.R.

I must have been thirteen and I have a vague memory of watching it.

It is the weirdest, oddest thing.

You cant believe that was on mainstream television.

Its sort of a kids coming-of-age movie but there are demons and devils.

It really stayed with me.

This was an opportunity to tell stories in that tradition.

It was also an opportunity to tell local stories.

As a West-Country native, Pharoah wove home-grown tales into Nathan Applebys life.

I grew up in Somerset.

I live there now.

Its always been full of stories.

Were focusing a lot on the supernatural, but its hugely emotional.

The historical context too, has layers and resonance according to Morgan.

All that changedoesthings to people.

It did things to people.

People are being replaced by new technology.

I dont think weve seen the full effects of it yet, but it creates depression, psychological issues.

Theres existential and psychological terror as well as the creaking-door variety inThe Living And The Dead, then?

The tagline from the show is What lies beneath should be kept beneath.

That works for the people and the land.

There is scepticism and doubt says Morgan.

Theres a young boy is he experiencing abandonment issues or is he really seeing things?

The show does tread that line but errs more on the eerie side of things.

Theres a hook at the end of the first episode thats sure to draw viewers back for the second.

People will want to gulpThe Living And The Deaddown in one sitting, says Spencer.

But no spoilers remember!