Ahead of the premiere of his eagerly-anticipated new Dracula series, Steven Moffat has spoken about the title character's sexuality.

It's been reported that Dracula, which former Doctor Who showrunner Moffat created with Mark Gatiss, also his creative partner on Sherlock, will suggest there's a sexual relationship between Claes Bang's vampire and Jonathan Harker, a character from Bram Stoker's original Dracula novel who's played in the new adaptation by John Heffernan (Luther, The Crown).

However, Moffat told The Times that it's incorrect to describe Bang's Dracula as "bisexual," explaining: "He’s bi-homicidal, it’s not the same thing. He’s killing them, not dating them.”

Meanwhile, Gatiss suggested that some elements of their Dracula adaptation, which premieres in January, could prove shocking to viewers.

“Horror should be transgressive, it should not be cozy,” he said. “I think there are some really, really weird things in this, and I’m very proud of that.”

The first of Dracula's three feature-length episodes will premiere on New Year's Day on BBC One in the U.K. The second and third episodes will then follow on consecutive days. In the U.S., they'll be released on Netflix over the first weekend of 2020.

When Danish actor Bang was cast as the blood-loving count in November 2018, he said of his version of the iconic villain: "Yes he’s evil, but there’s also so much more to him: he’s charismatic, intelligent, witty and sexy. I realize that there’s a lot to live up to with all the amazing people that have played him over the years, but I feel so privileged to be taking on this incredible character."

The first trailer for the series certainly suggests Bang's Dracula is both sinister and stylish at the same time – surely a deadly combination.

Are you looking forward to Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss's Dracula?