Ghosts comes to an end

Hit sitcom disappears into the ether after series 5

The next series of Ghosts will be the last, the comedians behind it have revealed.

Filming has just finished on the fifth series of the BBC, and the creators have said it’s now time to move on new projects.

They announced on social media today: ‘After five incredible years haunting the halls of Button House, we have decided that the time is right to let our beloved sitcom Ghosts rest in peace.

‘We have just wrapped filming on our fifth and final series and we can't wait to share it with you all later this year.

‘We could never have imagined the reception the show has enjoyed, or the fun we have had making it, and we would like to thank our amazing cast and crew as well as everyone at BBC Comedy, BBC One and Monumental Television for their tireless support.

‘But most of all we’d like to thank everyone who watches.’

The message was signed by Mathew Baynton, Martha Howe-Douglas, Simon Farnaby, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond who also play Ghosts in the series.

Jon Petrie, director of comedy at the BBC said: ‘We are officially in mourning for the end of this BBC comedy classic.

‘We can’t thank the Ghosts team enough for five incredible series (not to mention some perfect Christmas specials) and we can’t wait for BBC viewers to see the final series. We look forward to working with the team on new projects.’

Alison Carpenter, creative director at programme-makers Monumental says: ‘We are so proud of Ghosts, and particularly the way that audiences have taken it to their hearts.

‘We couldn’t be more grateful for the creativity, talent and hard work that every single cast and crew member has brought to it over the five series, starting with the brilliant creators and stars of the show. The Ghosts family is a very happy one, and we’ll miss it."’

The show also stars Charlotte Ritchie, Kiell Smith-Bynoe and Lolly Adefope.

In the upcoming fifth series, Alison (Ritchie) and Mike (Smith-Bynoe) begin exploring other means of making ends meet and contemplate a new chapter that could have a huge effect on the Ghosts’ (after) lives.

The fourth series launched in autumn 2022, and has been nominated for a BAFTA for best scripted comedy. It was the biggest comedy series of the year in terms of audiences across broadcast TV with 5.7million viewers tuning in for episode 1 in the months after it first aired.

The show will continue in America. The second series of the remake – which features the British creators as executive producers – runs until May and a third season has already been commissioned by the CBS network. Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar play the couple who inherit a dilapidated mansion, only to find it’s haunted.