Scripted series · BBC One
Ghosts
It's a live-in nightmare.
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
Charlotte Ritchie
Alison Cooper
30 eps
Kiell Smith-Bynoe
Michael 'Mike' Cooper
30 eps
Mathew Baynton
Thomas Thorne
30 eps
Simon Farnaby
Julian Fawcett
30 eps
Martha Howe-Douglas
Stephanie 'Fanny' Button
30 eps
Jim Howick
Patrick 'Pat' Butcher
30 eps
Laurence Rickard
Robin / Humphrey's Head
30 eps
Ben Willbond
The Captain
30 eps
Lolly Adefope
Kitty
30 eps
Katy Wix
Mary
24 eps
Paul Cawley
Dead Doctor
1 eps
Angela Yeoh
Doctor
1 eps
Ed Kear
Dave Houses
2 eps
Simon Bubb
Malcolm Surveyor
1 eps
Rosie Cavaliero
Fiona Legge
1 eps
Florian Schwienbacher
Pilot Wolfgang
1 eps
Simon Stache
Pilot Helmut
1 eps
Sophie Thompson
Bunny Beg-Chetwynde
1 eps
Caoilfhionn Dunne
Director
1 eps
Rory Fleck-Byrne
Toby Nightingale
1 eps
Elisabeth Hopper
Miss Jane
1 eps
Tom Mackley
Manservant
1 eps
Nicholas A. Newman
Sound Guy
1 eps
John Omole
Best Boy
1 eps
Caroline Guthrie
Cathy
1 eps
Richard Thomson
Adam
1 eps
Steve Oram
Terry
2 eps
Imran Adams
Kevin
1 eps
Ethan Alston
Colin
1 eps
Tom Grey
Keith
1 eps
Tim Plester
Wixy
1 eps
David Ahmad
Anthony
1 eps
Ben Ashenden
Captain of the Guards
1 eps
Sujaya Dasgupta
Zara
1 eps
Chloé Delanney
Sophie
2 eps
Alexander Owen
Sheepish Guard
1 eps
Guido Mandozzi
Spanish Conspirator
1 eps
Jessica Knappett
Lucy
3 eps
Sara Powell
Jacqui
1 eps
Rachel Denning
Jo
1 eps
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How Ghosts actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
Ghosts reads strongest on World Building, Bingeability and Humour.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
The story
What it's about
A cash-strapped young couple inherits a grand country house, only to find it is both falling apart and teeming with the ghosts of former inhabitants.
The run
Seasons
5 seasons · 30 episodes.
Season 0 · Complete
Specials
202024 episodes
Best episode · S00E03 It's Behind You
Season 1 · Complete
Series 1
20196 episodes
7.4IMDbCash-strapped Alison and Mike think their dreams have come true when they inherit a grand country house, unaware that it's falling apart and teeming with the ghosts of former inhabitants...
Best episode · S01E03 Happy Death Day
Season 2 · Complete
Series 2
20206 episodes
7.5IMDbAlison and Mike are trying to find a semi-harmonious routine with the ghostly housemates of Button House.
Best episode · S02E04 The Thomas Thorne Affair
Season 3 · Complete
Series 3
20216 episodes
7.1IMDbAlison and Mike are working hard to bring their new 'guest house' plans to fruition.
Best episode · S03E06 Part of the Family
Season 4 · Complete
Series 4
20226 episodes
6.9IMDbAlison and Mike try to make a success of their humble B&B.
Best episode · S04E04 Gone Gone
Season 5 · Complete
Series 5
20236 episodes
5.6IMDbBest episode · S05E01 Fools
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.
S00E03
It's Behind You
A festive trip down memory lane prompts Pat to question his very identity. The ghosts come up with a surprise Christmas present for Alison whose family lunch does not go to plan.
- Directed by Simon Hynd
- Written by Jim Howick, Mathew Baynton
S00E04
A Christmas Gift
Mike's mum visits, but her attempts to lend a hand drive Alison and Mike mad. To make matters worse, Betty soon senses something is awry with Button House, but does she know what?
S00E01
The Ghost of Christmas
It's Christmas at Button House, and Mike is determined to make it perfect for his family. Alison is also determined to deliver the best Christmas ever for the living and the dead, although the latter aren't filled with festive cheer.
- Directed by Tom Kingsley
- Written by Simon Farnaby, Ben Willbond
S02E04
The Thomas Thorne Affair
Thomas goes down memory lane with Alison, however, the truth is muddied when the other ghosts tell their version of events. Mike struggles with his own memories of Alison's past.
- Directed by Tom Kingsley
- Written by Jim Howick, Mathew Baynton
S01E03
Happy Death Day
With Pat's family coming to commemorate his death, Pat begs Alison to pass on a message from beyond the grave, while she attempts to befriend the new builder.
- Directed by Tom Kingsley
- Written by Ben Willbond
S02E01
The Grey Lady
Alison and Mike are trying to find a semi-harmonious routine with the ghostly housemates of Button House. The ghosts have found a way to make their new situation work for them, while the couple are working towards a new money-making venture.
- Directed by Tom Kingsley
- Written by Laurence Rickard, Martha Howe-Douglas
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.
Simon Farnaby
Creator
Laurence Rickard
Creator
Jim Howick
Creator
Ben Willbond
Creator
Martha Howe-Douglas
Creator
Mathew Baynton
Showrunner
- Photo unavailable
Alison Carpenter
Executive producer
Debra Hayward
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Imogen Cooper
Executive producer
- Photo unavailable
Kate Daughton
Executive producer
Alison Owen
Executive producer
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- Alison CarpenterExecutive Producer
- Simon FarnabyExecutive Producer
- Laurence RickardExecutive Producer
- Jim HowickExecutive Producer
- Debra HaywardExecutive Producer
- Ben WillbondExecutive Producer
Writing
- Simon FarnabyWriter
- Laurence RickardWriter
- Jim HowickWriter
- Ben WillbondWriter
- Martha Howe-DouglasWriter
- Mathew BayntonWriter
Direction
- Tom KingsleyDirector
- Nick CollettDirector
- Simon HyndDirector
Cinematography
- Will HankeDirector of Photography
Music
- Arthur SharpeOriginal Music Composer
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
- Amazon VideoBuy
- Paramount Plus PremiumStreaming
- Paramount Plus EssentialStreaming
- Google Play MoviesBuy
- Paramount Plus Apple TV Channel Streaming
- Paramount+ Amazon ChannelStreaming
- Fandango At HomeBuy
- Paramount+ Roku Premium ChannelStreaming
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