Seasonal SPIRITS

JIM HOWICK and LAURENCE RICKARD on their spooky sitcom's festive farewell

- CAREN CLARK

GHOSTS

NEW CHRISTMAS DAY, 7.45PM, BBC1 COMEDY

The spectral residents of Button House have enchanted viewers since Ghosts debuted in 2019. But after five series, this Christmas it's time to bid farewell to the gang for ever as the hit BBC1 sitcom takes its final bow with a seasonal special.

The story sees the stately home's owners Alison and Mike Cooper (Charlotte Ritchie and Kiell SmithBynoe) welcome their first baby, much to the delight of the ghosts.

But when Mike's mum Betty (Sutara Gayle) turns up to lend a hand, she makes a shocking decision that could affect all the spectres.

Here, two of the show's cocreators - Jim Howick, 44, who plays 80s Scoutmaster Pat, and Laurence Rickard, 48, AKA Tudor nobleman Humphrey and caveman Robin - chat to TV Times about their haunting last hurrah...

Tell us about the swansong...

JIM It will be emotional, which is unavoidable when you're dealing with a last episode. But the idea was to keep it as upbeat as possible. We want it to resonate on a human level.

Knowing it'd be the final one, was this episode tough to film?