Ghosts US: How the American version differs from the BBC original

The set-up of Ghosts US will be familiar to anyone who has watched the BAFTA-nominated original. A couple inherit a mansion, but it comes at a price: it is haunted by ghosts from across history. After one of the couple has a near-death experience, she gains the ability to see and hear the dead inhabitants of her new home.

Things on the American spin-off start similarly to the original but Ghosts US soon develops its own personality, meaning there are plenty of new things to enjoy in the show for people who have already watched the UK version.

Here are all the biggest changes between Ghosts UK and US. But be warned, there are some light spoilers ahead…

Ghosts US includes a new cast of characters

Some of the US character types are recognisable from the UK version. The uptight Victorian Lady Fanny Button (Martha Howe-Douglas), for example, becomes the similarly highly strung Hetty Woodstone (Rebecca Wisocky), the wife of a robber baron during America’s Gilded Age in the late 19th century. Both versions of Ghosts also have a Scoutmaster who was killed with an arrow to the neck – Pete (Richie Moriarty) in the US version and Pat (Jim Howick) in the UK.

Other characters are slightly different. The disgraced politician Julian (Simon Farnaby), from UK Ghosts for example, becomes banker bro Trevor (Asher Grodman). Both, however, have the ability to (sometimes) move objects, and both have the sad fate of having to spend eternity with no trousers on.

Some American characters, meanwhile, are completely new. British Ghosts has caveman Robin (Laurence Rickard), romantic poet Thomas (Matthew Baynton) and witch trial victim Mary (Katy Wix). The US Ghosts, for example, includes Native American Sasappis (Román Zaragoza), Viking Thorfinn (Devan Chandler Long) and Jazz Age singer Alberta (Danielle Pinnock).

Completing the spectral cast for Ghosts US are hippie burn-out Flower (Sheila Carrasco), and Isaac (Brandon Scott Jones), the 18th century general from the American Revolutionary War.

Does Ghosts US have the same plot as the UK version?

Though the two shows start similarly, the US edition quickly develops its own plotlines.

The first two episodes of both shows follow the same storyline with slight differences.In Ghosts UK, for example, Alison falls out of a window before she gains her powers, while Sam falls down the stairs.

From episode three, the shows start to diverge a little more. Both versions of the show have a third episode that features the central couple having to deal with builders in their home. Alison, however, never has to deal with one of the ghosts wanting the Viking funeral they never had when they died.

American TV series are usually longer than British ones, and Ghosts is no exception. The US show’s first season has 18 episodes, compared to the six in series one of the British version.

This means the US version quickly starts to have plotlines that fans of the British version have never seen before. Episode five, for example, is a Halloween special. Both shows, however, have Christmas specials, with the US edition having its first festive episode in series two.

What changes are there in Ghosts US series two?

Ghosts US’s first series finale left viewers on a cliffhanger. Just as Sam and partner Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar) manage to turn their mansion home into a bed and breakfast, Jay has a near-death experience of his own as he falls through some rotten floorboards.

When Sam had a similar incident, of course, she ended up with the ability to see and hear ghosts. Viewers can tune into Ghosts US series two to see if Jay ends up with similar powers after his ordeal.

Whether or not Jay will end up seeing the ghosts, series two will see them face plenty of obstacles as they deal with the day-to-day problems of running a B&B. This is already a big change from the UK version – in four series, Alison and husband Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe) have never managed to bring their B&B plans to fruition.

How to watch Ghosts US online

All 22 episodes of Ghosts US series two arrive on BBC iPlayer on Monday August 21 at 6am. The first series is available to watch in full now.

Series one to four of the original Ghosts are also available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.