Ferdinand Lyle

Ferdinand Lyle is a fictional character featured on the Showtime television series Penny Dreadful. He first appeared in the premiere episode of the show, "Night Work" where he was played by actor Simon Russell Beale. Ferdinand Lyle became a series regular on the show with season two.

Ferdinand Lyle was a middle-aged British scholar who lived during the late 19th century. He was a high ranking member of the British Museum and was known for his knowledge on Ancient Egyptian culture.

In September, of 1891, Sir Malcolm Murray brought him a sample of hieroglyphs for him to decipher. Ferdinand was both intrigued and disturbed. He told them that the glyphs depicted the gods Amun-Ra and Amunet. He concluded that the piece was transcribed from the original Book of the Daed.

Enthralled by Sir Malcolm, as well as his colleague, Vanessa Ives, Ferdinand invited them over for a party at his estate. Lyle invited a medium named Madame Kali to perform a séance at the party. During the séance, Vanessa Ives was overtaken by a demonic spirit that had lied coiled within her.