A kids' show with real spirit...

MARION MCMULLEN looks at how children's television was spookily good 50 years ago

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Rentaghost cast members Sue Nicholls, Edward Brayshaw, Molly Weir and Michael Staniforth

EVEN the dead have to make a living and Rentaghost featured spooks of all shapes and sizes eager to find work.

The BBC children's TV series launched 50 years ago on January 6, 1976, and saw Anthony Jackson as the recently deceased Fred Mumford. He had perished in a shipping accident, but unfortunately his parents had no idea that he was now a ghost.

Fred wanted a second chance to make something of his existence and decided to set up a business called Rentaghost.