Classic Tales Of Cryptozoology: Does The Creature Really Walk Among Us?

Written By: Ken Hulsey

For centuries people from all corners of the globe have claimed to have seen all kinds of creatures ranging from dinosaurs to werewolves and if you are inclined to believe so, a real life "Gill-Man".

Way back in the summer of 1972 two young men claimed that they were chased from the beach at Thetis Lake, British Columbia, Canada by the "Creature From The Black Lagoon" or at least something that looked very much like it.

Was it a case of mistaken identity or overactive imaginations run wild after an afternoon of watching monster movies?

At the time the local police believed the two youths and began a search for the monster. Four days later the story seemed to be validated when two fishermen spotted the monster on the opposite side of the lake. Of course the search didn't turn up any man-fish at the time yet reports of the aptly named "Thetis Lake Monster" continued on for two more decades.

Initially the reported sighting was blamed on an escaped pet Tegu lizard which can grow to the size of a small alligator. That explanation seemed to be enough for most people but some hardcore cryptid hunters believed the creature to be a relative of the legendary "Loveland Frog" (another reported man-fish) or just another of the numerous lizard-man sightings from across North America. As most monster historians (or uber geeks like me) know lizard-men are reported to live under the mountains and cities here in California and in the swamps of South Carolina most notably.

Is there a REAL "Gill-Man" in Thetis Lake?

Well .... probably not.

In 2009 a reporter for the "Junior Skeptic Magazine" (Daniel Loxton) tracked down one of the original witnesses named Russell Van Nice who finally fessed up to hoaxing the whole affair with his buddy Mike Gold to get a little attention. Van Nice also mentioned that their description of the creature had been taken from the film "Monster From The Surf" (Beach Girls and the Monster) which had aired the prior weekend on a local television station.

Funny that no one noticed that little tidbit at the time ... then again there were probably very few people over the age of ten watching Monster from the Surf that day? Of course I would have been one of those people ... and odds are you would have been too.

Well no need to go to Canada (eh) to look for lizard-men ... guess I'll just go back to searching the catacombs here under Los Angeles. Reportedly they got a city made of gold down there!

Two Jet Fighters Chasing A UFO?

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Youtube

Anonymous videos like this pop up on Youtube all the time and with the level of computer generated special effects available to just about anyone these days it is hard to tell if a video like this is the real McCoy or a real pile of mule muffins?

There was no description or information of any kind posted with the video but according to a few sites I found ... allegedly... a hiker was enjoying a lakeside stroll, just filming the scenery, when the silence is broken by the sound of jets overhead. What happens next speaks for itself. Two jet fighters either chasing or escorting a UFO.

If it's a fake .... well it's pretty good!

UFO Earth Base - Video Update 11/19/11

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Youtube

It has been a very long time since I posted anything about UFOs so I decided to go trolling through Youtube to see if I could find any decent video evidence. After about an hour or so I found two that seemed legit in a sea of obvious hoaxes and amateur CGI effects work.

The first is of a group of three lights shot during the daytime. Who shot the video? I don't know. Where was it filmed? I don't know.

Looks pretty legit though ...



This second video again comes from anonymous source but from the title of the clip I can ascertain that it was shot over Sacramento, Ca sometime this month (November 2011). I really like the movement of the object being filmed. I doubt that a plane would attempt such maneuvers over a town and helicopters don't fly like that.

What is it? Your guess is as good as mine.

Oh and since you've been very patient in regards to posts about UFOs I have another mysterious vid for you to think about. Bigfoot's head or another fake?

Compelling New Bigfoot Video AWOL For Now

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Bigfoot Evidence

I was hoping to begin today's postings with a brand new video of Bigfoot that reportedly is quite compelling, however that video has now been taken down.

As the story goes a life-long Bigfoot researcher named Larry Surface has been setting up his video camera in strategic locations where he believed the elusive creature had been lurking. Last week he got his money shot when allegedly the beast walked right in front of the camera. Here is a description of what happened from Larry's website "Bigfoot Evidence":

"Success at last!! After many months of patient waiting, I caught a Bigfoot on Video! Those who have followed my blog may remember that I said it would be necessary to use moon light without any infrared lighting, well that has been the case.

The star of the video however, did not follow the script. I expected him to come from the woods in the background, and had the focus set for about 50 yards. But he/she appeared suddenly right in front of the camera at 2 or 3 feet, and backlighted by the moon, both of which prevented a clear view of the face. And the resolution of this video is reduced to make a more manageable upload.

The subject passed in front of the camera and apparently peered around the corner where the cats are fed, either looking for cat food or a cat, then turned and went back the way it came.

The color of the body fur appears white in the video, but it may be a light brown or tan
highlighted by the moon light. I will attempt to do some follow up testing to determine what colors look like in the green night vision. Also will do some follow up photos to determine the size.But I get the impression that it is not very large.

Skeptics, don't bother to send me your claims of fakery, I won't waste my time arguing, if you don't believe, that is your problem. But I want to present this to the ones who have followed me and been supportive."

Apparently Sasquatch was ready for his closeup.

It was soon after that initial post that Surface took down the video in hopes of cleaning it up a bit:

"Sorry, I have to pull the video for now. But have patience, I will in the meantime get it enhanced as much as possible and it will come back better than ever."

Immediately after the video was pulled down the skeptics went on the war path posting remarks accusing Surface of trying to pull off a hoax. Apparently the comments really were very mean spirited, so much so in fact that the researcher has opted to keep his video to himself until the heat dies down:

"The critics have beaten me down. I guess they can celebrate now. But one of my lifetime goals has been achieved, I have gathered enough evidence to prove to myself that the "Wild Man"exists. That is in the form of track casts, audio files, dna, and a video sighting. My mistake was in trying to share it with everyone. Although the comments were 90% enthusiastically supportive, that changed when I pulled the video for reasons which will have to remain unspecified. After that, the pack used it as amunition to support their claims of fakery.

To one who has spent his life truthfully, and now in weak health, it is just too much to put up with. Life is too short.

The video will come out again when the time is right. I won't post anything else here. I may post on facebook where I can block out the ignorant.

Thanks again to all the supporters."

If Surface's video shows what he claims than the researcher may have the best video evidence of Sasquatch to surface since the famous Patterson footage was shot way back in 1967. It's too bad that he has let the words of a few skeptics influence his thinking and prevent the rest of us from getting a chance to view this new evidence and draw our own conclusions.

Is this new footage really Bigfoot? It will be impossible to know for sure and I'm not saying that it is or isn't. It could either be great new evidence or another of a long line of hoaxes. Hopefully someday Surface will change his mind and release his video so that we can forge our own opinion on it's validity.

ODD ENCOUNTERS Is Open And Ready For Unearthly Business

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Ray Fox

Back in July I posted some press information about a new paranormal website called "Odd Encounters" where people can post their own stories about monsters, UFOs and ghostly visits. Earlier this week the site's founder Ray Fox shot me an email stating that he loved Monster Island News and he was thrilled that I had posted the info on his site.

Ray also went on to note that Odd Encounters was now up and running and ready for people to submit their stories.

Here is an updated press release:

OddEncounters.com is seeking true tales of the paranormal--real ghost stories, ufo reports and reports of brushes with strange creatures. The first edition of bizarre stories has been published and is now live on the site. Now we want to hear your story!

Along with the stories, photos and videos of the paranormal, an Odd Encounters Forum has been established to allow visitors to discuss the features posted on the site, as well as talk about their own odd encounters.

Visit the site at http://www.OddEncounters.com and delve into the world of the supernatural. If you've had a real paranormal experience of your own, submit your story to Odd Encounters today.

The truth is out there. Bring it into the light.

For more information, email info@oddencounters.com.

On a side note Ray's brother Mike runs a Halloween prop company called "Night Frights" that looks pretty cool. If you need anything for your haunted house go HERE

A Scottish Monster Legend Revisited In BROCKEN SPECTRE

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Sources: Carrbridge Films / Avery Guerra

A little over a year ago I broke the story about a very interesting independent film being produced in Scotland called "Brocken Spectre." As many of you know monsters resembling Bigfoot or the Himalayan Yeti have been spotted all over the globe for centuries, what you may not know is that Scotland has such a monster legend often times referred to as "Fear Liath Mor" or "Big Grey Man of Ben MacDhui".

Yes, The Loch Ness Monster grabs all the press and limelight while the ape men of Ben MacDhui wander around in obscurity.

A group of young film makers at Carrbridge Films thought that the local legend would make the perfect subject for a film centering on possible rational explanations for the strange sightings.

Director Fergus Thom just shot me press release stating that filming on "Brocken Spectre" is now completed and a trailer is forthcoming:

Shooting has now “wrapped” for Brocken Spectre, a feature film being made in the Scottish Highlands by young filmmaker, Fergus Thom (19)

ʻBrocken Spectreʼ is based loosely on the legend of the Big Grey Man of Ben MacDhui and takes itsʼ name from the natural phenomenon most often used to explain sightings of the Big Grey Man – a brocken spectre being the magnified shadow of an observer cast upon the upper surfaces of clouds opposite the sun.

The film follows the story of Olivia, a young adult, as she leaves her city life behind in pursuit of a new start in the Highlands. Buying a remote bothy nestled in the mountains, she settles in with little drama. However, itʼs not long before the echoing footsteps on Ben MacDhui find their way to her.

Fergus Thom, the aspiring filmmaker behind the lens from Carrbridge, decided in 2010 that after leaving school, as well as starting his own business and continuing to run award winning news initiative ʻCarrbridge Newsʼ, he would make this feature film.
He said: “Itʼs been a lot of fun putting together this film, but also a lot of work. We started filming in late February, with the snow still on the ground, and finish now in Autumn as the Summer draws to a close!”

Continuing, he added: “There are so many amazing locations in the area that we really were spoilt for choice when it came to deciding where to film and it was always part of our ambition to try and capture the natural beauty of what weʼre lucky enough to have on our doorstep.”

Fergus roped in his friends to take on roles and play characters in the film and, reflecting on this, he said: “A great big thank you is very much due to the cast of the film, all of whom have shown such enthusiasm and been so tolerant of everything from the amount of time it takes to shoot each scene to putting up with filming in some really nasty weather conditions, they really have been great and their involvement has been hugely appreciated.”

Now entering post-production, a trailer is due to be released online very soon, and while no completion date has been announced, editing and production progress can be followed on the website www.brockenspectremovie.co.uk and on the filmsʼ Facebook page – search “Brocken Spectre”

A New Paranormal Website ODD ENCOUNTERS Wants To Hear Your Story

Source: PR.com

Just what are UFOs? Who is Bigfoot? What are ghosts? A new website, OddEncounters.com, hopes to answer these questions by publishing eye-witnessed accounts of paranormal activity.

For centuries, people from all walks of life have had experiences that defy explanation—strange lights in the night sky, ghostly apparitions, brushes with bizarre creatures. Tales of alien encounters, Bigfoot sightings and other paranormal activity have long been the fodder of Hollywood blockbusters, but thousands of people have had real-life experiences that can't be easily explained. Odd Encounters delves into the unknown to explore this unexplained phenomena, publishing real-life accounts of the strangest of the strange, from every day people across the United States and beyond.

Odd Encounters is currently seeking accounts of sightings of UFOs; brushes with strange creatures such as Bigfoot, El Chupacabra and the Loch Ness Monster; and first-hand accounts of ghostly apparitions and mysterious orbs.

Along with the stories themselves, users are able to upload supporting media files, such as videos of UFOs, ghost photographs and EVP audio recordings (voices from the afterlife caught on tape). A discussion area will be established for visitors to comment on each story, and a podcast featuring the Odd Encounter of the Week will be featured on the site. Stories are currently being compiled and are scheduled to be published on the website by the end of Summer 2011.

If you've had a real paranormal experience, submit your story to Odd Encounters today at www.oddencounters.com. You may remain anonymous if you prefer.

The truth is out there. Help bring it into the light.

For more information, send an email to info@oddencounters.com

Real Or Hoax? Youtube Videos From The Other Side (05/28/2011)

Written By: Ken Hulsey

I think that everyone has probably seen the popular series "Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files" on the SyFy Channel by now. To make a long story short (in case you haven't seen the show) the series revolves around a group of investigators who find UFO, paranormal and crytozoology based videos online then go out and try to stage the events depicted in them to prove if they are real or BS.

Over the past couple of days I have been posting videos from Youtube on my Facebook page and asking my friends to rate them as "Fact or Faked?"

Most of these get a lot of "faked" votes, but there have been a few that left people scratching their heads. Either people really captured the "real deal" or they have a future in the movie industry.

I thought it would be fun to move the subject off of Facebook to Monster Island News where more people could enjoy these videos and respond with their own two cents about whether the videos contain something paranormal or are just the work of bored people with cinematic talent.

To keep the legal eagles out there happy I have changed the name of this feature from "Fact or Faked" to "Real or Hoax".

Here are the videos with their descriptions from Youtube:

Outstanding UFO Sighting Alien Encounter Caught On Tape 2011

Outstanding UFO Sighting Alien Encounter Caught On Tape 2011 A Closer Look of what apears to be an ALIEN or TROLL Caught on tape you decide?

Note: It has been pointed out that the people who made this one run a movie production company .... so it is a hoax. Regardless .... it freaked the shit out of me!

BIGFOOT SIGHTING!!!

Uploaded by samantha13950 on May 23, 2011



While hiking, we accidentally caught an image of bigfoot walking through the woods. I didn't even notice until I got home and saw it on the computer! This scarred the crap out of us!

UFO's making Crop Circle

Daytime Gold Sphere UFO Over Chicago 27 May 2011

Uploaded by guttergawker on May 28, 2011

I saw this gold shape shifting UFO sphere flying over Chicago May 27, 2011. This is the 3rd time this year I have seen it. It also flew over on 4/29 and 5/22. It appeared as a point of light looking East towards the Downtown. It was a gold sphere then a diamond shape back to a sphere it seemed to flicker and change from copper to burnt orange back to gold color. I saw to seperate MUFON reports of this being seen over Chicago I will include the links to those sightings and my own here in the description.

UFO Japan May 28, 2011

Something Big (and blurry) On Security Cam



Uploaded by lucysandini on May 26, 2011

This is security video captured on 5/25/11 at my house. Keep your eye on the tree next to the vehicle across the street. Watch as the blurry object descends the tree, seems to attack something in the driveway and then climbs back up the trees actually going from tree to tree.

Tatra Mountain Yeti

The Tatra Mountains are a range of mountains that form a natural border between Slovakia and Poland. They are the highest mountain range in the Carpathian Mountains. In the summer of 2009, a rock climber named Piotr Kowalski captured an unexplained humanoid creature in the Tatra Mountains. Piotr is quoted as saying, "I saw the huge ape-like form hiding behind the rocks. When I saw it, it was like being struck with a thunderbolt." The footage is shocking and confirms a Sasquatch on multiple levels.

New Yowie Sighting Sparks Interest In Australian Bigfoot

Written By: Ken Hulsey

Oh yes there are all kinds of alleged creatures wandering around out in the Australian wilderness. There are dinosaurs, the once believed extinct Thylacine, giant spiders, reptiles of shapes and sizes and of course Bigfoot.

Not as well known around the globe as the Yeti of Tibet, the Sasquatch of Canada or the Bigfoot from here in the good old US of A the Yowie has been a staple in folklore from the land down under for centuries.

As a matter of fact the Yowie doesn't get seen too often, due mostly to the fact that Australia has hundreds of miles of wilderness where man seldom ventures to hind in, so likewise he normally doesn't get much press.

A recent sighting, however has sparked new interest in the wild man of the outback .... no not Yahoo Serious .... what? Never heard of him? .... "Young Einstein"? .... it's a film.

Anyway, a motorist, who wanted to only be identified as Dean, was busy Tuesday morning at about 2:30 am on his usual route (Pacific Hwy, north of Grafton) as a truck driver when he spotted something strange.

“I reached the top of the hill and I was coming around the sweeping corner to the right when I noticed something a lot larger than a kangaroo in the middle of the road – my headlights weren't on it yet but it was a bright night and I saw what looked like a large person stooped over, with a big overcoat on,” Dean explains.

“At the time I thought ‘you silly old thing, what are you doing in the middle of the road at this time of the morning', but next thing I knew my headlights started to light it up and it took one giant step off the road, it went from standing up like a person to going down on all fours and then it disappeared into the scrub in about three bounds.”

The eyewitness described the creature as being well over 6-feet tall and covered with jet blck hair or fur.

“It had an almost sort of a square, shaggy block head sitting straight on its shoulders – I'm a pretty big guy but it made me absolutely awe-struck how huge its body was – it had its arm up against a tree and it had about a foot of hair hanging from under its biceps.”

The sighting has left the eyewitness rather rattled and wanting desperately to come to terms with what he saw.

“Anybody who knows me knows I'm the ultimate realist but this was an awe-inspiring moment, it's definitely made me a believer,” Dean adds.

Since his encounter Dean has been in contact with local Yowie investigators who believe his story is legit.

Is what Dean saw a monster .... some other mammal possibly some huge koala? Was it possibly another of Australia's mythical creatures, the drop bear? Was it one of the members of Men at Work out looking for food ..... or a Fosters?

See Also: Does A New Video From Alaska Show Bigfoot? / This New Bigfoot Clip Is ABOMINABLE / Animal Planet Announces New Series - FINDING BIGFOOT / Bigfoot News - NIGHT CLAWS And The Face Of Sasquatch On Video? / "Credible" Bigfoot Sighting On Road In Pennsylvania / A Quick Update On NIGHTBEASTS / Yet Another Yeti Movie - CLAWS / The First Look At SNOW BEAST Coming Soon To SyFy / A New Bigfoot Movie In 3D From China? / Trailer Alert! THE MOUNTAIN WAILER / UNAWARE / Cole Bayford Serves Up A Little Bigfoot Australian Style In YOWIE / The Crypto Reporter - Monster Sightings From Around The World (Issue #7) / Borrego Sandman / Speedway Monster - Updates - California The Monster State - Part 4 / The Fontana Speedway Monster (1951 - 1992) - California The Monster State - Part 3 / The Borrego Sandman (1939 - Present) - California The Monster State - Part 2 / Classic Tales From Cryptozoology - Mass Flying Dinosaur Sightings In Texas Circa 1976 / The Long Beach Sea Monster (1909) - California The Monster State - Part 1 / The Crypto Reporter - Monster Sightings From Around The World (Issue #6) / The Crypto Reporter - Monster Sightings From Around The World (Issue #5) / The Crypto Reporter - Monster Sightings From Around The World (Issue #4) / The Crypto Reporter - Monster Sightings From Around The World (Issue #3) / The Crypto Reporter - Monster Sightings From Around The World (Issue #2) / The Crypto Reporter - Monster Sightings From Around The World (Issue #1) / Young Film Makers Taking On The Scottish Sasquatch In BROKEN SPECTRE / Bigfoot Movie News - Nightbeasts Premiere Info - The Bloody Rage Comes To DVD / Two Terrified Kids Unleash THE DEVIL AT LOST CREEK / Is It The Great Pumpkin? Or The MOMO Monster? / An Update On Jamie Belty, The LEGEND OF GRASSMAN Crew Member Who Was Assaulted With A Hammer / A Call Out To All Fans To Help THE LEGEND OF GRASSMAN Crew Member After Assualt / The New Poster For James Baack's BLOODY RAGE OF BIGFOOT - Cast And Crew On MNBRT Radio / Bigfoot Pummels Both Peter Graves And Mr Lobo

Does A New Video From Alaska Show Bigfoot?

Written By: Ken Hulsey
Source: Cryptomundo

I'm sorry that I haven't posted very many stories from the world of Cryptozoology lately, but my time to concentrate on the topic has been limited due to all the new movie news coming out lately.

This one really grabbed my attention though, and I really wanted to spend a couple of minutes on it.

The video above seems to show what looks like a Bigfoot moving very quickly through the woods. We don't get a very good look at the object that moves from left to right in the sequence, but it appears to be walking on two legs and covered with brown shaggy fur. If you look real close, the animal, or whatever it is, kinda looks like the Sasquatch from the infamous Roger Patterson film, but then again that is a stretch.

I think that my mind may be filling in the gaps here.

The voices that we here during the clip do sound genuinely scared/freaked out by the encounter so that may add some credibility to the clip but it's hard to say for sure.

Here is the account of the sighting from the eyewitness (putua76):

"I was on a logging road in Ketchikan hiking with my friend when I saw it! Boy did my heart start racing!! It was about 40 yards from the road! Not sure if it knew I was there or not, because the noise of flowing water from the stream. It seemed to travel fast! It made my hair stand up!! At one point you can see a whitish yellowish thing in it's hand! I believe it was skunk cabbage. Not sure, but it is in bloom.

You see it jump and after that point it just seems to disappear. There was a lot of brush and trees between it and I, I could not tell where it had gone. It was a scary sort of exciting feeling at the same time!! We went to search for tracks but the river bed where we thought it was walking was full of perfect skiping rocks, we found no prints! If there is a BigFoot, Sasquatch, or Kushtaka I swear I saw him!!"

Overall, the fact that we see very little of the alleged Sasquatch makes it hard to tell whether what we are truly witnessing is the real deal or a hoax?

Regardless, it's a pretty damn cool video!

UPDATE!

This may be the quickest update in the history of MIN!

I just found an "enhanced" version of the clip on Youtube.



Even "enhanced" it's just too hard to tell if it's Sasquatch, a bear, a hunter or crazy uncle Jeb running around out there.

See Also: This New Bigfoot Clip Is ABOMINABLE / Animal Planet Announces New Series - FINDING BIGFOOT / Bigfoot News - NIGHT CLAWS And The Face Of Sasquatch On Video? / "Credible" Bigfoot Sighting On Road In Pennsylvania / A Quick Update On NIGHTBEASTS / Yet Another Yeti Movie - CLAWS / The First Look At SNOW BEAST Coming Soon To SyFy / A New Bigfoot Movie In 3D From China? / Trailer Alert! THE MOUNTAIN WAILER / UNAWARE / Cole Bayford Serves Up A Little Bigfoot Australian Style In YOWIE / The Crypto Reporter - Monster Sightings From Around The World (Issue #7) / Borrego Sandman / Speedway Monster - Updates - California The Monster State - Part 4 / The Fontana Speedway Monster (1951 - 1992) - California The Monster State - Part 3 / The Borrego Sandman (1939 - Present) - California The Monster State - Part 2 / Classic Tales From Cryptozoology - Mass Flying Dinosaur Sightings In Texas Circa 1976 / The Long Beach Sea Monster (1909) - California The Monster State - Part 1 / The Crypto Reporter - Monster Sightings From Around The World (Issue #6) / The Crypto Reporter - Monster Sightings From Around The World (Issue #5) / The Crypto Reporter - Monster Sightings From Around The World (Issue #4) / The Crypto Reporter - Monster Sightings From Around The World (Issue #3) / The Crypto Reporter - Monster Sightings From Around The World (Issue #2) / The Crypto Reporter - Monster Sightings From Around The World (Issue #1) / Young Film Makers Taking On The Scottish Sasquatch In BROKEN SPECTRE / Bigfoot Movie News - Nightbeasts Premiere Info - The Bloody Rage Comes To DVD / Two Terrified Kids Unleash THE DEVIL AT LOST CREEK / Is It The Great Pumpkin? Or The MOMO Monster? / An Update On Jamie Belty, The LEGEND OF GRASSMAN Crew Member Who Was Assaulted With A Hammer / A Call Out To All Fans To Help THE LEGEND OF GRASSMAN Crew Member After Assualt / The New Poster For James Baack's BLOODY RAGE OF BIGFOOT - Cast And Crew On MNBRT Radio / Bigfoot Pummels Both Peter Graves And Mr Lobo / New Behind-The-Scenes Photos From Brian Jaynes BOGGY CREEK

A New Supernatural Horror THE FADES Coming To The BBC

Source: BBC

Filming has begun on The Fades, a new supernatural horror made by BBC Drama Production for BBC Three by 2011 RTS Award-winning writer, Jack Thorne (This Is England '86, Skins, The Scouting Book For Boys, Cast Offs).

Iain De Caestecker (River City, Coronation Street) is Paul, a young man who is haunted by apocalyptic dreams that neither his therapist or best friend, Mac, can provide answers for. Worse still, Paul is starting to see the Fades – the spirits of the dead – all around him.

They're everywhere but they can't be seen, smelt, heard or touched by living beings. But now an embittered and vengeful Fade has found a way to break the barrier between the dead and the living and Paul, Mac and their friends and family are all right in the eye of the storm.

But the most terrifying twist is yet to come – the fate of humanity rests in the hands of the two friends who already have enough trouble getting through a day in one piece, let alone saving the world.

Jack Thorne says: "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."

Key cast also include: Daniel Kaluuya (Skins, Psychoville, Sucker Punch) playing Mac. 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.

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!"

Currently in production for transmission later this year, The Fades (previously titled Touch) is a co-production with BBC America. The 6x60 minute series from BBC Drama Production was commissioned by Danny Cohen in his previous role as Controller, BBC Three and Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning. The director is Farren Blackburn (Episodes 1-3) and Tom Shankland (Episodes 4-6); the producer is Caroline Skinner and executive producer is Susan Hogg.

See Also: TORCHWOOD: MIRACLE DAY To Premiere July 8th On Starz / BEING HUMAN Returning To BBC Three For Season Four / Your Invited To Frankenstein's Wedding /

BEING HUMAN Returning To BBC Three For Season Four

Source: BBC

Being Human, BBC Three's award-winning and critically acclaimed drama series, written and created by Toby Whithouse, will return for a fourth series next year.

Following the gripping series three finale – in which overnight figures show 1.1m viewers watched Mitchell fall victim to the wolf-shaped bullet – series four will see the aftermath as the housemates return to their home in Barry Island.

The series will also introduce some new faces following the success of recent guest artists Lacey Turner, Robson Green and Michael Socha.

Produced by Touchpaper Wales, part of Zodiak Media Group, the hit drama will fulfil the bloodthirsty appetites of its ongoing committed fan base, but also demonstrate BBC Three's commitment to original UK drama for 16-34 year olds.

Consolidated figures show series three had the biggest series launch to date, with 1.8m viewers. The series sustained an average of 1.4m viewers on television across the run and has an additional 0.4m requests per episode on iPlayer each week.

Becoming Human, Being Human's exclusive online extension drama also made by Touchpaper Wales, has also moved from online to BBC Three for its final episode airing on Sunday 20 March at 9.00pm.

This is BBC Three's most successful multiplatform commission, with over 1.5m views on the red button and online to date.

Harry Lansdown, Acting Controller, BBC Three, says: "Being Human's brilliant mixture of fantasy and everyday life continues to provide must-see, ground breaking drama for BBC Three, and I'm delighted to announce a fourth series for 2012."

Toby Whithouse, Creator and Executive Producer, says: "We were overwhelmed by the response to series three, and so we're absolutely thrilled that the BBC have given us this opportunity to continue our show into a fourth year.

"We've got another intense and epic story lined up for you, with some new faces and old, and even more horror and mayhem and mugs of tea. I can't wait to get started."

Rob Pursey, Executive Producer, Touchpaper Television, says: "Being Human feels like it's taken on a life of its own now, and we are delighted. I've never known a drama develop such a strong relationship with its audience. We're very excited to be making a fourth series."

Eleanor Moran, Executive Producer, BBC Cymru Wales, says: "Following such a dramatic finale, I am thrilled to have Being Human return for a fourth series."

The fourth series of Being Human has 8 x 60-minute episodes and has been commissioned by Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning and Harry Lansdown, Acting Controller, BBC Three.

Being Human is written by Toby Whithouse (Torchwood, Doctor Who) and the fourth series will be produced by Philip Trethowan. Executive Producers are Toby Whithouse, Rob Pursey, Touchpaper Television, and Eleanor Moran, for BBC Cymru Wales.

See Also: Lenora Crichlow Talks About The Third Season Of BEING HUMAN / The Top Ten Hottest Women Of 2010 / BEING HUMAN - Lenora Crichlow, Russel Tovey And Aidan Turner At Comic Con 2010 / BEING HUMAN Season 2 To Debut On BBC America July 24th / The Second Season Of 'Being Human' A Huge Success For The BBC / Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow And Aidan Turner Return For The 3rd Season Of Being Human / Lenora Crichlow Talks About Being A Ghost And Being Human / Can A Werewolf, Vampire And Ghost Share A London Flat?