Reece Shearsmith has announced when the first ever festive episode of Inside No. 9 will be shown.

Written by and starring Shearsmith with Steve Pemberton, BBC Two’s anthology comedy series launched in February 2014 and is returning for a third season this winter.

Buy Season 1 on DVD on Amazon.

Buy Season 2 on DVD on Amazon.

‘The Devil Of Christmas’ will air at 10pm on Tuesday 27 December on BBC Two, Reece Shearsmith has confirmed on Twitter.

The official synopsis reads: “It is Austria, Krampusnacht, December 1977. Julian Devonshire (Steve Pemberton), his pregnant wife Kathy (Jessica Raine), their son Toby and mother in law Celia (Rula Lenska) arrive at the alpine chalet for a family holiday.

“They are shown around by Klaus (Reece Shearsmith) who tells the family about the local legend of The Devil Of Christmas. All the good children are given gifts by St. Nicholas, and all the bad ones are punished by the demonic Krampus. But who has been good, and who has been bad?”

Guest stars in Season 3 will include Keeley Hawes (Line Of Duty), Felicity Kendal (Rosemary And Thyme), Fiona Shaw (True Blood), Jason Watkins (Being Human), Philip Glenister (Life on Mars), Mathew Baynton (The Wrong Mans), Rula Lenska (Coronation Street), Sarah Hadland (Miranda), Tamzin Outhwaite (EastEnders), Javone Prince (The Javone Prince Show), Montserrat Lombard (Ashes To Ashes), Morgana Robinson (House Of Fools) and Alexandra Roach (The Iron Lady).

Pemberton previously teased: “We’ve done quite a dark series this time around. There’s two or three episodes where we’ve pushed the horror element.”

Settings in the new season will include a restaurant after closing time, an art gallery, an alpine chalet in 1978 andan episode set entirely in a karaoke booth.

Are you looking forward to Season 3? Let us know below…