Ashley has also created dramas including Where The Heart Is, Wild At Heart and Moonfleet; Matthew’s original dramas include The Last Train, POW, Walk Away and I Stumble.

The series has been commissioned by Charlotte Moore, Controller BBC One, and Ben Stephenson, Controller BBC Drama Commissioning. It is a BBC Wales Drama production in association with Monastic Productions and co-produced with BBC America.

Somerset, England, 1888. A land and a community on the edge of monumental change, on the great hinge between ancient traditional ways and an industrial, scientific future. A land of ghosts and myths, poltergeists and demons – if there was ever a time for those ghosts to rise out of the ground, this would be that time. At the heart of this small community is Nathan Appleby, a reluctant gentleman farmer who is obsessed with proving the existence of the afterlife.

In BBC One’s new original drama this complex and compelling man will investigate hauntings, paranormal happenings, and ghostly visitations, encouraged by the Society for Psychical Research. But as these terrifying investigations become ever more frequent and ever more scary, Nathan starts to see and hear disturbing things that he simply cannot have imagined. Will Nathan’s interest in the occult begin to threaten his family, his livelihood and even his sanity?

Charlotte Moore, Controller BBC One, says: “From the creators of Life On Mars and Ashes To Ashes comes exciting new fantasy series The Living And The Dead, steeped in real history and mythology that will scare the audience and awaken the dead.”

Writer-creators, Ashley Pharoah and Matthew Graham, add: “We are as excited about this show as anything since Life On Mars and Ashes To Ashes – we want it to be moving, tender, sensual… and very, very scary.”

The executive producers are Ashley Pharoah and Matthew Graham for Monastic Productions, and Faith Penhale, Head of BBC Wales Drama Production, and Katie McAleese for BBC Wales Drama Production. It will be distributed internationally by BBC Worldwide.

It will shoot in the West Country next year and casting will be announced in due course.