Merlin and Harry Potter favourites confirmed for brand new gothic drama
The Haunted Library is about to open.
BBC
- James Hibbs
Published: Tuesday, 8 September 2026 at 12:47 pm
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BBC Studios has announced a new audio series, The Haunted Library, which will see principal narrator Colin Morgan (Merlin) and guest narrator Katie Leung (Harry Potter) bringing a host of classic horror stories to life.
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The series, which will launch on 21 September on BBC Sounds and release two new episodes each week, will "breathe new life" into literary masterpieces including Frankenstein, The Turn of the Screw, The Picture of Dorian Gray, Carmilla and The Invisible Man, as well as short stories by Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, Arthur Conan Doyle, Algernon Blackwood, MR James and more.
The series will start with The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.
The synopsis for the show says: "The Haunted Library is no ordinary reading room. Hidden among its shelves are infamous books, forgotten mysteries and spine-chilling stories that refuse to stay buried.
"From haunted houses and ghostly apparitions to dangerous scientific ambition and impossible transformations, listeners will be immersed in tales that defined and continue to shape the horror genre."
Katie Leung. BBC
Upon the announcement of The Haunted Library, Morgan said: "I’ve always been drawn to stories that explore the darker corners of the imagination, and it’s been a real pleasure to spend time with so many of the great works of Gothic literature.
"These are stories that have endured for generations, but there’s something particularly powerful about hearing them told aloud. I hope The Haunted Library gives listeners the chance to lose themselves in these extraordinary worlds and perhaps discover a few stories they haven’t encountered before."
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Meanwhile, Leung added: "There’s something irresistible about the idea of a mysterious library filled with stories that have frightened and fascinated readers for centuries. I love the atmosphere of The Haunted Library and the way it draws you into this strange, spooky world. I’m delighted to be joining Colin to bring these incredible stories to life."
Morgan was most recently seen in the Apple TV comedy Trying, as it returned for its fifth season, while Leung played a major role in Bridgerton season 4.
The Haunted Library will release two episodes weekly from 21 September on BBC Sounds.
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Authors
James HibbsDrama Writer
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
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