An arrival of ‘Ghosts’ from Christmas past!

If you wanted proof that Ghosts, the delightfully silly sitcom from the team behind Horrible Histories is a hit, here it is – it’s been given a Christmas special.

For anyone who has missed the first two series, it follows Alison (Charlotte Ritchie) and Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe), who inherit a dilapidated mansion, which they intend to renovate.

However, they discover the property comes with a collection of ghosts from different eras, which only Alison can see and hear.

Former Call the Midwife star Charlotte says she always thought the comedy had potential, but its success has still come as a pleasant surprise.

She says: “I loved this comedy from the moment I read it, so I felt like whatever happened, I thought it was a great show but I was so relieved and chuffed when so many people liked it but also particularly people with so many different comic sensibilities.

“Its popularity amongst such varied ages is an absolute dream because lots of people have said how nice it is to have a show they can watch with their kids and they can all enjoy it on different levels, which is wonderful because it feels very uniting.”

That broad appeal makes it perfect Christmas-special material – and also explains why the second series was so well received earlier this year, a time when most of us felt in need of a good, light-hearted laugh.

But has playing Alison convinced Charlotte that ghosts exist? It seems no, not entirely.

The actress says: “I wonder whether if I saw a ghost I genuinely just wouldn’t believe it. It may be that ghosts exist for some people and not others and it may depend on how open you are to it.

“I definitely believe there is stuff that goes on, energy wise, and that we all have a collectiveness and I believe people’s brains are incredibly powerful and there is a good chance you can manifest and see things that are not there.

“But in terms of ghosts, it can’t be a coincidence they’re all Victorian?”

Well, not in this series, which also throws in a caveman…

She adds: “However, despite the fact I don’t really believe they exist, I am absolutely petrified of the dark and of things that go bump in the night.

“I have seen enough films as a kid to get scared, even though rationally I don’t believe they exist, I still wouldn’t be brave enough to spend the night alone in West Horsley Place, the house we film this series in.”

Let’s hope Mike’s family are feeling a bit braver as in this episode they are due to arrive at Button House for Christmas.

Alison just wants everyone, living and dead, to have a nice time, but it turns out that it’s hard to feel festive when you’re deceased.

However, a new arrival in the house forces Julian (Simon Farnaby) to confront his own ghosts of Christmas past, and leads to a revelation that could help everyone rediscover the real meaning of the season.

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