BBC’s Ghosts, on Which CBS Hit Is Based, to End This Year
Button House is closing its doors.
The hit BBC comedy Ghosts, on which the Rose McIver-led CBS sitcom is based, will end with Season 5. The announcement was made in a joint statement by executive producers Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond, which reads as follows:
“After five incredible years haunting the halls of Button House, we have decided that the time is right to let our beloved sitcom Ghosts rest in peace. We have just wrapped filming on our fifth and final series and can’t wait to share it with you all later this year. We could never have imagined the reception the show has enjoyed, or the fun we have had making it, and we would like to thank our amazing cast and crew as well as everyone at BBC Comedy, BBC1 and Monumental Television for their tireless support. But most of all we’d like to thank everyone who watches.”
The UK Ghosts first premiered in April 2019, and produced 24 episodes over its first four seasons. Seasons 1-3 are available to stream Stateside on HBO Max; a release date for Season 4 is TBD. The series stars YOU‘s Charlotte Ritchie as Alison, Kiell Smith-Bynoe as Mike, Lolly Adefope as Kitty, Baynton as Thomas, Farnaby as Julian, Howe-Douglas as Fanny, Howick as Pat, Rickard as Robin, Willbond as Captain and Katy Wix as Mary.
The U.S. version, meanwhile, resumes Season 2 on Thursday, April 13 (CBS, 8:30/7:30c). It was previously renewed for Season 3.
Are you sad to see the UK version of Ghosts come to an end? Sound off in Comments.
Such a good show. Good to know we still have two seasons to look forward to at least. We didn’t recognize Mary when she showed up on Ted Lasso not covered in ashes (She’s Keeley’s CFO).
I realized this during last week’s episode! She cleans up nice. Glad she landed a gig on another great show.
I had to look her up during the episode because I couldn’t place where I knew her from and it was driving me crazy! Sad to see Ghosts end but very glad in the US we have two more seasons to come.
The hilarious Betsy Sodaro plays Nancy on Ghosts US Ed. She does bear a resemblance to but is not Keeley’s CFO on Ted Lasso.
The British Ghost’s Mary is Keeley’s CFO in Ted Lasso.
I was thinking I’d check this out as I like the CBS stateside version.
Definitely more of a British comedy, slightly different characters, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless
I’ve been meaning to check this out since I absolutely love the US version. I didn’t realize that Barbara from “Call the Midwife” was one of the leads!
I absolutely adore the BBC version and watched the US version (also so fun) because of it. Highly recommend. Fingers crossed that HBO Max picks up 4 and 5.
I watched the first few seasons of the original via HBO Max before the US version premiered. I thought at the time – How would such a British show even work in the US?…but they found a way. I’ll definitely get back to the original series sometime in the coming months after the season finale of the US version.
I think the concept is so flexible that it would work with ANY nationality.
Charlotte Ritchie is becoming too famous and expensive probably. That and British shows for the most part don’t run too long. Good show, will miss it.
Love this show! I respect them for going out on top and not dragging it out though. I hope s5 is a bit longer; I breezed through s4. Perhaps now I can get over my crush on Thomas the poet.
You should check out You, Me and the Apocalypse, then.
I wouldn’t expect a longer season, british shows in general have short seasons, I’d expect season 5 to be the normal amount of episodes plus a christmas speical…i hope season four makes it to the states soon…seasons 1-3 on HBO MAX are awesome…i much prefer the british version for a variety of reason
Agree wholeheartedly. ThinkBBC original one is heads and shoulders above USA one.
Totally agree! The US version doesn’t do anything for me. I didn’t get past the first few episodes
I really also hope S5 is longer, but given 6 episodes is usually the length of most British sitcoms (Fawlty Towers was 2x 6-episode series’) I’m not sure.
If you have a crush on Mat (Thomas) check out him in Horrible Histories parodying Adam Ant (complete with guyliner) singing about Dick Turpin. Think that was a bit of a sexual awakening for most of the girls (and some boys obviously) who grew up with Horrible Histories (the first 5 series of it is all 6 of them and utterly brilliant. The later ones – the reboot feel dragged out and arent as good). Personally, having been there, 15 years later I can say Mat is the babyface one and Ben is the most attractive, especially in the #AskTheGhosts pandemic Q&A Zoom he did with long hair)
Well damn. Im gonna miss this bunch of spooks. Robin is my fave of both versions
simply a funny great series, i caught the first three season on HBOMax one weekend when i wasnt feeling well and binged all three seasons! i cant wait for the final two seasons to be added to HBOMax!
Bummed to hear the news, but prefer this show so much more than its US counterpart. Series 4 was a bit of a disappointment in my opinion, but probably because the bar was set so high in the previous series.
Wondering when we will get a Spain Ghosts, followed by the German version :)
All shows should end with S5, maybe S6, but American broadcast networks refuse to believe this, even though history is not on their side.
Would love UK’s Alison and Mike to visit the US Ghosts. Maybe they could stay at the B&B during a tour of America.
You make a great point. Will we ever see a B&B guest who also has the ability to see and talk to ghosts? Would Alison/Sam pick up on it? Would the ghosts play them off each other? Would they put one over on the ghosts? Would hjinks ensue?
Today I discovered on Youtube that this premise has already been done by the British Ghosts series for Red Nose Day 2023, published 2 weeks ago.
.
Kylie Minogue, as herself, visits the British B&B, pretends to be normal person, then as soon as everyone leaves the room engages with the ghosts. Hi-jinks do ensue.
This is the best series so much better than the American version. I binged the UK version and then the American started. It was no way near the great acting or story line as the UK. I’m so sorry the series is ending. Much rather look at this one.
Great show both uk and us versions.
Love this show. High quality entertainment. Cast is perfect. Will definitely miss it.
I am stateside and am so sad to hear this news!!! I watch Ghosts every night on HBO and it never loses its lol effect on me. Sad to see you go and can’t wait for season 4 and 5 to make it over here
Such a great show–sorry it’s coming to an end. Everyone is superb, but Ben Willbond as the Captain is the best!!
I am so depressed to see such a brilliant talent of writing and acting come to an end. Please don’t end the show.