IT: Welcome to Derry releases surprise episode for Halloween

Stranger Things may not have released a secret episode earlier this year despite all the speculation, but IT: Welcome to Derry decided to do a surprise drop of an unannounced episode, seeing as it's Halloween and all.

Following the first season, which was set in the 1962, the episode 'A Story of Derry' goes 100s of years back in time.

We won't go into spoilers, but let's just say there's a lot of lore that explains some of the mysteries behind the iconic dancing clown.

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The episode is only half an hour long, so hopefully you'll be able to squeeze it in between whatever other spooky stuff you're planning to watch before October ends.

And if you haven't really got anything on your Halloween watch list yet beyond Strictly's annual spooky special, we've rounded up a list of horror movies to stream from the main British broadcasters, as well as some truly scary flicks available across all the other big streamers.

Meanwhile, It: Welcome to Derry has been officially renewed for a second season after becoming one of the best-performing shows on HBO Max.

The season will be set in 1935 during the Great Depression, following a group of bank robbers known as the Bradley Gang. They stop in Derry to buy some ammo, and end up facing unimaginable horror along the way.

Related: A 'Halloween treat': BBC confirms release date for spooky mystery drama with first-look clip

Andy and Barbara Muschietti continue to serve as executive producers, and said: "Continuing to explore and expand on the amazing world Stephen King created is an absolute privilege... Boy do we love our jobs!"

However, Brad Caleb Kane will become the sole showrunner for season 2, after previously sharing the role with Jason Fuchs.

Sarah Aubrey, Head of HBO Max Original Programming, said: "We are excited to return to the chilling world of Derry and to further expand on Andy and Barbara Muschietti's horrifically iconic adaptation.

"Together with Brad Caleb Kane, they will break new ground in season two, deepening the terror, the mystery and the unforgettable Pennywise lore that fans love to devour."

It: Welcome to Derry airs on HBO Max and on Sky Atlantic in the UK, while also streaming on NOW.

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Joe Anderton is a freelance news writer at Digital Spy, having worked there since 2016. In his time, he's covered a host of live events and interviewed celebrities big and small. A big fan of TV and movies both mainstream and obscure, Joe also enjoys video games and in particular PlayStation. Joe currently does not use Twitter, but he only ever used it to tell people to watch the film Help! I'm a Fish.