The Event Horizon

Oh, just so many strange portents and omens... each day brings new things based on powers beyond my control and the voices in my head...

[mystradepromptsandscenarios]

Mystrade Monday Prompts #96

For July 27, 2026

“Don’t pretend it’s such a mystery.”

The game is to write a flash fic this weekend and post it here (or with a link to the fic on AO3) on Monday with the hashtag Mystrade Monday.

Flash fiction is a complete story that is less than 1,000 words. 360mg is complete fic of 360 words with the last two beginning with “M” and “G” in any order. Please spread the word.

[notfspurejam]

My Favourite Play: Mark Gatiss

Which productions most inspired, moved and delighted our leading theatremakers? Actor, writer and director Mark Gatiss chooses a West End pr

Carousel, Savoy Theatre, London, 2008

It has never happened before or since – the feeling I had after seeing Carousel in 2008. It was a matinee and Michael Simkins and Julia Deakin took my partner Ian and I. Despite it being a little tricky these days because of the violence, Carousel is probably my favourite musical. An incredible piece of work. I’d seen the film many times and knew the score but I’d never seen it on stage.

It was full of joys for me. An actor named David Collings was the Starkeeper – he was the greatest Doctor Who we never had: a fine actor. That thrilled me.

And I’m obsessed with a thing I learned a long, long time ago: that Rodgers and Hammerstein came up with the idea of the conditional love song, which is what If I Loved You is. It’s one of the greatest songs: such a great idea, it blows my mind. They need a love duet but it’s too early in the character development and plot. Rodgers and Hammerstein had done it before in Oklahoma! with People Will Say We’re in Love. It’s as if they’re saying: “We can’t say so yet but here’s what we would feel if...” I love that song so much.

Obviously, Carousel is a show that affects people differently. It confronts you with your own emotions, and then some. If you’re not the sort of person who wants that tap turned on, it’s not going to get you.

You’ll Never Walk Alone was one of my late mother’s absolute favourites. She used to sing it after a couple of glasses of Carlsberg so the show is full of strangenesses for me. But the main thing – which we were totally unprepared for – came right at the end when the anti-hero, Billy Bigelow, comes back. It was so profoundly moving that when the show finished with the reprise of You’ll Never Walk Alone, Ian and I sat in our seats and we couldn’t speak. It sounds like theatrical bullshit but we were just speechless.

It’s a phrase you see in reviews all the time but it was true. It was like being poleaxed. And I remember thinking: ‘Well, this is what it’s about, isn’t it? Here we are, it’s a lovely afternoon and they’ve sung their hearts out in a fabulous show but that was the real thing.’ Julie just glimpses Billy, her dead love, and it makes your hair stand on end. It was a genuinely amazing experience and I’ve never forgotten it.

A little while later we saw another production expecting the same thing. Thanks to the worst kind of opera acting, it was truly terrible. It made the memory of the previous afternoon even more remarkable

[gravesdiggers]

NEW PROJECT - "Hudson & Maria"

According to articles in Variety and Collider, Rupert Graves is part of the cast of upcoming historical biopic "Hudson & Maria".

Per Variety:

Set during the Opium Wars of 19th-century China, “Hudson & Maria” follows the true story of Hudson Taylor, an English missionary who rejects colonial norms and adopts Chinese language, customs and dress as he seeks to share God’s love in inland China. The story follows him through his missionary work, travelling with his wife Maria and good friend, Wang Laijun. They endure hardship and persecution to tell a powerful story that has become legend.

William Moseley (“Chronicles of Narnia”) will play Hudson Taylor, with Poppy Drayton (“Charmed”) playing his wife, Maria, and Ludi Lin (“Power Rangers”) as Hudson’s friend, Wang Laijun.

Also starring in the film are Jeremy Swift (“Ted Lasso”), Tan Kheng Hua (“Crazy Rich Asians”), Rupert Graves (“Sherlock”), Darren Lim (“The Little Nyonya”), Jemma Donovan (“Jimmy”), Catriona Munro (“NCIS: Sydney”), Ben Van Lier (“M3GAN 2.0”), Wang Wei (“Unexpected Falling”), Matt William Knowles (“Son of the South”), Kate Sullivan (“The Season”), Vanessa Yao (“Kung Fu”) and Cedric Gegel (“Capture”).

Production is set to start filming in Malaysia this August.

[notfspurejam]

Bookish season 2 "dangers" teased by Mark Gatiss – as Gabriel and Tottie’s marital arrangement under threat

Actor Mark Gatiss tells Radio Times about the “dangers” in Bookish season 2 – as Gabriel and Tottie’s marital arrangement is under threat.

Mark Gatiss has always enjoyed sleuthing in the sun. Yes, the Sherlock co-creator agrees murder mysteries are most often associated with dark winter nights, but also notes that “a lot of the famous ones have big, exotic, foreign settings”.

“When I was in Poirot 100 years ago, I absolutely couldn’t believe I was doing Appointment with Death, because we went to Morocco,” the Bookish creator and star tells RT.

“I got to wear linen – that’s what it’s all about! So I think it actually goes both ways.”

Admittedly, the real reason Gatiss is returning with his own murder mystery during the summer months is more prosaic: “It’s when we’re on.” The U&Alibi crime drama Bookish returns for its second outing in August, and while the new series doesn’t visit sunny climes, it does move away from its bookshop setting in Archangel Lane.

“The whole thing has a slightly broader canvas,” Gatiss explains. “In episodes 5 and 6 we go to Germany. I also think it’s more intriguing emotionally. Some of the secrets are unlocked and some questions are answered.”

Of course, some of that comes from the nature of the genre. “A murder mystery is a puzzle, and we have for a long time liked a puzzle with a dead body,” Gatiss muses. “The key, though, is that it’s not just that. You can explore all kinds of things, as the show does. I’ve been very chuffed with the response to the lavender marriage, and the whole set-up of the show.”

In the first season, we discovered that Gatiss’s bookseller detective Gabriel Book is gay in 1946, when homosexuality was still illegal.

His marriage to his best friend Trottie (Polly Walker) is a mutually beneficial arrangement, but heading into season 2, it will also be a source of jeopardy.

“Their arrangement suits them both, but it’s not without its dangers,” Gatiss teases. “We’ll see a bit of that, and we do see a bit more of it fraying at the edges.”

As for the cases, viewers can expect to see a murder at a séance, a mystery in the world of off-Savile Row tailoring, and the aforementioned trip to Germany, which is set at Christmastime.

Yes, a chilly Christmas story in August. As we sweat our way through back-to-back heatwaves, that sounds like some serious counter-programming.

[ghostbees]

The Veiled Lodger

More of a confession by a third party than a proper story from the pen of Dr Watson, this recollection of a mysterious lodger with a devouring secret is the shortest of all canonical tales. Imbued with melancholy and a philosophical cynicism that characterises the late adventures, it deals with harrowing themes: domestic violence, animal abuse, cowardly betrayal, facial disfigurement, and suicidal ideation.

As the penultimate entry in the saga, it gives us a last glimpse at the two friends in the late 1920s. In the final adventure, the mood is slightly lighter and Watson does not supply any exposition. But here, even as he has seemingly drifted away from Holmes, he is still dutifully acting as his biographer, writing back to old clients and readers, reviewing and selecting stories for publication.

Our Little Adventures 59/60 | Tumblr | RSS | Newsletter

[notfspurejam]

Mark buried in the sand reminds me of Mark in Ibusuki.

[mystradepromptsandscenarios]

Mystrade Monday Prompts #95

For July 20, 2026

“I needed a reason.”

The game is to write a flash fic this weekend and post it here (or with a link to the fic on AO3) on Monday with the hashtag Mystrade Monday.

Flash fiction is a complete story that is less than 1,000 words. 360mg is complete fic of 360 words with the last two beginning with “M” and “G” in any order. Please spread the word.

Hot tip: if you tag @mystradepromptsandscenarios , we’ll reblog it.

[ghostbees]

A very special @fandomtrumpshate piece for @spacemutineer, to illustrate their incredible time-loop story The Scientist's Method. I've always wanted to do a first meeting piece, and this was the most perfect opportunity to blend this iconic scene (featuring background redrawn from the original Hutchinson illustration) with spacemutineer's wonderful words. A long time ago, I did a few bits for some of their classic 60 for 60 stories, and it was fantastic to get the opportunity to work on something together again. Truly a marvellous project and we raised $150 for LA Foodbank!

[morphmaker]

The Immortals No. 10: The Battle of Port Legann

[titsay]

[ghostbees]

The Retired Colourman

“Sherlock Holmes was in a melancholy and philosophic mood that morning. His alert practical nature was subject to such reactions.”

Our Little Adventures 58/60 | Tumblr | RSS | Newsletter

[titsay]

Munchlax and Snorlax napping

[notfspurejam]

Bookish is finally launching in Japan!

『SHERLOCK／シャーロック』キャストが探偵に！『書店探偵ブック』独占日本初放送

大ヒットドラマ『SHERLOCK／シャーロック』でクリエイタ ...

[notfspurejam]

The Mark Milsome Foundation is delighted to announce that actor, writer, director and producer Mark Gatiss has joined the Foundation as a Patron alongside existing Patrons, actor Rory Kinnear and writer/director Kirk Jones. We are thrilled to welcome Mark to the team 😊

Mark Gatiss said:

“It is a huge honour to become a patron of the Mark Milsome Foundation. I was privileged to know and admire Mark. We worked together on ’Sherlock’ and I have many happy memories of his creativity, endless enthusiasm and beaming smile. He was the embodiment of a ‘can do’ approach. I did some of my very first directing on the second unit of ‘Sherlock’ and couldn’t have asked for a kinder or more collaborative teacher. The work that continues in Mark’s name, fighting for higher standards in an often careless and ever-changing industry has never felt more urgent.”

Abbi Collins (MMF Chair) said:

“We are proud to welcome Mark to the Foundation and look forward to working with him as we continue to grow and further our mission to improve health and safety across the film and television industry.”

#markmilsomefoundation #bemoremark #patron #safetyfirst #healthandsafety | Mark Milsome Foundation

The Foundation is delighted to announce that actor, writer, director and producer Mark Gatiss has joined the Foundation as a Patron alongsid

[titsay]

[notfspurejam]

The Mark Milsome Foundation is delighted to announce that actor, writer, director and producer Mark Gatiss has joined the Foundation as a Patron alongside existing Patrons, actor Rory Kinnear and writer/director Kirk Jones. We are thrilled to welcome Mark to the team 😊

Mark Gatiss said:

“It is a huge honour to become a patron of the Mark Milsome Foundation. I was privileged to know and admire Mark. We worked together on ’Sherlock’ and I have many happy memories of his creativity, endless enthusiasm and beaming smile. He was the embodiment of a ‘can do’ approach. I did some of my very first directing on the second unit of ‘Sherlock’ and couldn’t have asked for a kinder or more collaborative teacher. The work that continues in Mark’s name, fighting for higher standards in an often careless and ever-changing industry has never felt more urgent.”

Abbi Collins (MMF Chair) said:

“We are proud to welcome Mark to the Foundation and look forward to working with him as we continue to grow and further our mission to improve health and safety across the film and television industry.”

#markmilsomefoundation #bemoremark #patron #safetyfirst #healthandsafety | Mark Milsome Foundation

The Foundation is delighted to announce that actor, writer, director and producer Mark Gatiss has joined the Foundation as a Patron alongsid

[notfspurejam]