Hidden amongst a cluttered schedule of repeats and compulsory Christmas specials, it was a relief to see an original, engaging, if slightly disturbing drama on BBC2: a much needed antidote to festive overload.

Based on Diane Setterfield’s novel of the same name, The Thirteenth Tale tells the story of Vida Winter (Vanessa Redgrave), a dying author who commissions Margaret Lea (Olivia Colman) to write her biography. Margaret’s job takes a dark turn as Vida narrates her life story, dragging up ghosts and sinister secrets from the past which collide with Margaret’s own tortured history.

Flashing back to the 1940s, the narrative focuses on a pair of red-haired, wild and dangerous twins: Adeline and Emmeline March. Left to themselves in the brilliantly gothic Angelfield House, the two terrorise the locals and develop their own secret language while seemingly cut off from civilisation. Although it is difficult to explain the plot without spoiling its intricacies and twists, it is safe to say that the tale of the March twins and the ghost that haunts their house reverberates for years to come, tormenting Vida in her old age.

The strength of this adaptation lay in its cast. Vanessa Redgrave was commanding as Vida, her flame-like hair and black fingernails giving her something of a gothic splendour. As always, Colman delivered a strong performance, seamlessly blending incredulity and sympathy for Vida’s tale.

Readers of Setterfield’s novel will understand the potential pitfalls of adapting a story filled with illusions, twists and tricks for television. Reassuringly, this adaption stayed true to the novel while also making a brilliant piece of television drama in its own right. Unfortunately, the conclusion was somewhat of an anti-climax: a neat ending which lost much of the ambiguity and uneasiness of the original.

On the whole, this was a piece of unsettling and haunting drama in the best possible sense. You may never be able to look at twins in quite the same way ever again.