2016 marks fifty years since Dark Shadows first aired on ABC, and ten years since Big Finish Productions began releasing their own Collinsport audio adventures.

This year, Big Finish will be celebrating those anniversaries with three releases – anniversary special Dark Shadows: Blood and Fire, short story collection Dark Shadows: Echoes of the Past and a new 13-part serial, Dark Shadows: Bloodline. 

Today we’re pleased to reveal the cover of Dark Shadows: Blood and Fire and announce the final cast members.

Marie Wallace, who played numerous roles in the television series, joins the cast as fearsome housekeeper Dorothea Summers.

'We asked writer Roy Gill for a Mrs Danversesque housekeeper,' says co-producer Joseph Lidster, 'and that’s what we’ve got! She might only be a servant but you certainly wouldn’t want to argue with her.'

And finally, no Dark Shadows anniversary special would be complete without Nancy Barrett and David Selby. Nancy, who played Carolyn Stoddard, Charity Trask and many others, joins the cast as Isobel Collins with David (Quentin in the television series) starring alongside her as Isobel’s husband Theodore.

'Isobel and Theodore come to Collinsport for the wedding of Joshua and Laura,' continues Joseph, 'but it’s not long before they find themselves fighting for their lives.'

'These guys are stalwarts of both the TV series and the Big Finish audio range,' says co-producer David Darlington, 'and are always very supportive of what we do. David in particular is always busy, but they all found the time for us, as ever.'

Dark Shadows: Blood and Fire can be pre-ordered today for just £14.99 on CD or £12.99 to download, with Dark Shadows: Echoes of the Past also available. As with the majority of Big Finish releases, CD orders also contain a complimentary digital copy – allowing you to begin the celebrations as soon as the stories are released!

Pre-orders for Dark Shadows: Bloodline will open later in the year. You can explore Big Finish's entire Dark Shadows range on the product pages here.