BBC One has ordered a second series of Ghosts, the top comedy series on UK television so far this year, with a consolidated series average of 3.6m.
The hugely successful house-share sitcom is about a young couple who unexpectedly inherit a grand country estate, only to find it is both falling apart and teeming with the ghosts of former inhabitants.
The crumbling country pile of Button House is home to a troupe of restless spirits who have died there over the centuries, each ghost very much a product of their time, resigned to squabbling with each other for eternity over the most inane of daily gripes. Their lives - or, rather, afterlives - are thrown into turmoil when a young couple - Alison (Charlotte Ritchie) and Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe) - inherit the peaceful derelict house and make plans to turn it into a bustling family hotel.
Ghosts was the first BBC One project for original stars of Horrible Histories and creators and stars of Yonderland: Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond.
The creators of the show said: “We are DEAD excited to be returning to BBC One for a second series of Ghosts. We could not have asked for a more enthusiastic response to the show, and can’t wait to get haunting Button House once again. We’d like to thank Charlotte, Kiell, Lolly, Katy and our fantastic crew for helping us realise such a hugely ambitious project. And thanks also to everyone at Monumental and the BBC for their tireless support of what is clearly a ridiculous idea. We are already hard at work on stories for series two, and can’t wait to share them with you.”
Shane Allen, Controller of Comedy Commissioning said: “Ghosts gave us all a very pleasant shock in landing so fully formed as an instant mainstream hit. This very special gang of writer-performers have created a rich character world shot through with their trademark wit, warmth and mischief.”
Alison Carpenter, Head of Television, Monumental Television said: “We are immensely proud of Ghosts, and it's been wonderful to see the audience embrace the show. We can't wait to gather our hugely talented team back together and return to Button House.”
The series is commissioned by Shane Allen, Controller of Comedy Commissioning and Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content. The Commissioning Editor for the BBC is Kate Daughton.
As well as being the top comedy series on UK television so far this year, it is the second-top BBC comedy series so far this year for 16-34 year olds after This Time With Alan Partridge which launched in the same slot.
Ghosts is a Monumental Television production in association with Them There for BBC One. The producer is Matthew Mulot, the director is Tom Kingsley, and the creators serve as Executive Producers alongside Monumental's Alison Carpenter, Debra Hayward and Alison Owen.
The whole first series is available on iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m00049t9/ghosts
TX details will be confirmed in due course.
