BBC Dracula co-creator Mark Gatiss visits Whitby Abbey in documentary which airs this evening

Mark Gatiss at St Mary's Church Whitby. Photographer: Huw Talfryn Walter

The final episode of Dracula, created by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat (the pair also write Sherlock), begins with Dracula in Whitby.

The documentary, which airs later on BBC Two, will see Mark travel the world in search of Bram Stoker's titular character to discover why we keep coming back to the Count.

In the programme, Mark visits Whitby Abbey, which plays a large part in Stoker’s book and was at the centre of a 1977 BBC version with Louis Jourdan as the Count.

A still from the documentary, Mark Gatiss gets up close to the Count. Photo: BBC/Dracula TV LTD/Huw Talfryn Walters

He begins at Orava Castle in Slovakia, the location used in the classic vampire film Nosferatu, then journeys to the London Library on the trail of Bram Stoker's newly discovered research literature.

From the UK, Mark then flies to Philadelphia where he is given permission to study Stoker's hand-written notes and examines the abandoned ideas, story lines and characters which went on to become his world-famous story.

Mark also meets with actors, including reuniting seven Hammer brides, film experts and historians as he explores the count's transition from page to screen, from Bela Lugosi's Hollywood to Christopher Lee's terrifying incarnation, then finally the new Dracula - Danish actor Claes Bang.

In Search of Dracula with Mark Gatiss airs on BBC Two from 10.35pm to 11.35pm on Friday January 3.

It is scheduled to be repeated on Friday January 10 on BBC Two from 12.15am to 1.15am.