We've suspected it for a while, but Charlie Brooker has revealed to Digital Spy that Black Mirror season 4 will "explicitly" confirm the shared universe theory.

Eagle-eyed fans have long thought that individual episodes of the chilling Netflix anthology series all take place in the same universe, with Easter eggs appearing to link them together.

In our exclusive interview, Brooker reveals the surprising reason why the Easter eggs started, and how upcoming episode 'Black Museum' connects Black Mirror's disparate strands.

"It does actually now seem to imply that it is all a shared universe," he reveals.

Brooker and producer Annabel Jones also delve into the evolution of Black Mirror over the past six years.

"[Season 3 episode] 'San Junipero' proved that the show doesn't just have to be depressing and horrible," Brooker explains. "Which isn't to say it's sunshine and rainbows now, but we are certainly playing with the tone a little more."

Netflix

That means that season 4 will include a few "more comedic" episodes, but also some of the "most horrible" episodes yet.

Black Mirror season 4 will be available to stream exclusively on Netflix from Friday, December 29.

Be sure to check back on Digital Spy on the day, when we'll have reviews of all six episodes, from the space opera 'USS Callister' to the twisted rom-com 'Hang the DJ' to the taut and brutal 'Metalhead'.

Want up-to-the-minute entertainment and tech news? Just hit 'Like' on our Digital Spy Facebook page and 'Follow' on our @digitalspy Twitter account and you're all set.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io