Ghosts has been one of the warmest and most consistent comedies of the last few years. One of the many feathers in its extremely feathered cap is that its Christmas specials have proved to be the only truly essential festive viewing left. Still, all good hauntings must come to an end, and this fifth series is the last.
In many ways, its end point is arbitrary. The formula is so good, and so well-oiled, that you get the sense it could have gone on for ever. There is a Simpsons-esque longevity built into its bones that would have been hampered only by its actors getting older, since the ghosts are supposed to remain as they were when they died. The only upside to the creators calling time on Button House now is that there is no danger of it outstaying its welcome.
There is a hint of what a future without Ghosts might look like early on in these final episodes, as Alison (Charlotte Ritchie) wakes up to a house without any ghosts in it. It is a reminder that this is how it must look to her husband, Mike, (Kiell Smith-Bynoe), who can’t see the ghosts at all. But it is only an April fool, a prank played on Alison by the ghosts who plainly adore her. She spends the first episode attempting to take her revenge, picking them off one by one, using scotch eggs, tattoos and balloons to target their weak points. The only nut she can’t crack is Pat, the scout leader, who is used to the horrors of teenagers en masse. “Been there, done it, got the T-shirt, mate,” he says; the way Jim Howick delivers the line had me in an inexplicable fit of giggles. The language is luscious, as always, particularly when it comes to Lady Button, who disapproves of Alison’s “new” tattoos. “My own kith and kin, branded like some lowly navvy, painted like a tawdry jezebel,” she hoots, ripely.
The episodes are beautifully structured, too. As Alison makes her way through the pranking list, Mike has to deal with a “loss adjuster” from the insurance company, there to investigate the Gate House fire. Naturally, all worlds collide. There is talk of selling the land, a ghostly gameshow, a mishap with a walk-in safe and, towards the end of the run, a secret that threatens to unsettle everything. There is also a lot of talk of Is It Cake?, which is, obviously, Kitty’s favourite show.
Ghosts is the ultimate in comfort television, without ever seeming as if it is trying too hard to be that. It is often moving, and can catch you by surprise. There’s nothing in this season with quite the same emotional impact as the departure of Katy Wix’s Mary, though the Captain’s backstory comes close. It is as silly as it is touching, but ultimately, every catastrophe or upset or chaotic decision ends with a gentle triumph, and every mess made by the ghosts or the humans becomes an opportunity to learn and grow. And still, it manages to avoid being cheesy.
There are bigger storylines here, as life changes for Alison and Mike, and decisions must be made about the future of the ever-crumbling Button House. We rarely get to see stories on TV about people struggling financially, in any ordinary sense. Most fictional characters seem to live in pristine Victorian semis with vast kitchen extensions, no matter whether they are an investment banker or a teaching assistant. And if they are evidently strapped for cash, it’s usually because they’ve gambled their lives away or rejected their former life as a gangland boss. While it’s a stretch to call Alison and Mike’s setup recognisable, what with all the ghosts, and the mansion, they are broke at a time when much of the country is feeling broke, too. Ghosts is often far more relatable than you would imagine for a show about historical dead people, and this adds to the notion that it really is a show for everyone.
There is a neatness to proceedings, too. Kitty and the Captain are given flashbacks to their deaths, completing the deck of backstories. I was wondering if the final episode would do something profound, like Blackadder or Derry Girls. I won’t give it away, but it sends itself off in a more humble style, with an episode that feels very much like an episode of Ghosts. It certainly doesn’t feel too final, just in case there is ever any desire to revive it. Television has grown very tense in recent years, but there is a lot to be said for TV that is sweet, funny, clever and warm. I hope that one day Ghosts comes back to haunt us.
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Ghosts aired on BBC One and is available on iPlayer