Picturehouse Blog

Arriving just in time for Halloween, this cinematic rendition of the BBC's beloved sitcom (100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes!) promises to glow as warm as a jack-o'-lantern. If you thought that Ghosts' spirited mix of gentle chills, rollicking laughs and something-in-my-eye emotional beats was a treat on telly, just wait until you see all your favourite characters returning on the big screen. Do not fear if you've never seen Ghosts before – this movie will make you a believer. 

Debuting in 2019, Ghosts grew an ardent fanbase over five seasons and three Christmas specials, as wide-eyed newlyweds Alison and Mike (Charlotte Ritchie, Kiell Smith- Bynoe) inherit a crumbling manor named Button House.

The couple sink all their money into converting the dilapidated pile of bricks into a luxury hotel – an adventure, yes, but also hard, risky work that's made harder and riskier by the squad of squabbling spirits who, it transpires, reside at Button House. 

Katherine "Kitty" Higham (Lolly Adefope) is a Georgian noblewoman. Julian Fawcett (Simon Farnaby) is a disgraced Tory MP who's missing his trousers having died during a 1993 sex scandal. Grunting, gurning Rogh (Laurence Rickard) is a caveman. The Captain (Ben Willbond) attempts to lead the bickering group after being a stern, closeted WW2 officer.

Mary Guppy (Katy Wix) was burnt at the stake during the Stuart-era witch trials and Patrick Butcher (Jim Howick) is a kindly scout leader who suffers a permanent arrow through his neck after some outdoors activities went wrong. 

Together these phantoms set about ridding Button House of its pesky interlopers, even pushing Alison out of an upstairs window, but everything changes when Alison wakes from the fall with the ability to see and hear her hovering housemates. Gradually, the living and the undead form close bonds that see them through a series of misadventures.

Playing like a riveting property show spliced with an uproarious house-share sitcom and Tim Burton's Beetlejuice, the TV series is the creation of collective Them There, who worked on Horrible Histories and Yonderland (core member Farnaby also wrote Paddington 2, Wonka and The Magic Faraway Tree). Although the plot of Ghosts: The Possession Of Button House is firmly under wraps, you can be sure that it will bring warmth to the chills, conjuring crowd-pleasing spooky-season fun for all the family. 

Jamie Graham

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Ghosts: The Possession Of Button House is in cinemas from 23 October — Book Now!