Filming on new episodes to start in early 2023

Ghosts will be back for a fifth series, the BBC has confirmed.

Filming on another six half-hour episodes will begin in the new year, picking up the story of Alison (Charlotte Ritchie) and Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe) trying to make ends meet at the haunted house they inherited, following the destruction of their gatehouse B&B at the end of the last series.

Writers and creators Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond will also return as the ghosts, along with Lolly Adefope as Kitty.

In a statement, the creators said: ‘We are delighted to confirm that Ghosts will be returning to BBC One and BBC iPlayer for a fifth series in 2023.

‘We’ve had much fun in the writers’ room and are hugely excited by the new stories we have to tell and further secrets we get to reveal. We've been getting back into practice walking through walls and can’t wait to start shooting again in the new year."

 The fourth series of the show was the year’s biggest TV comedy so far, attracting 5.7million viewers for episode one within its first month. An American remake has also proved a hit, with the audience for the ongoing second series regularly topping 9million viewers.

Alison Carpenter, creative director of programme-makers Monumental Television, said: ‘We can’t wait to return to Button House with our absurdly talented writers, cast and crew. It is a privilege to make Ghosts, and wonderful to receive such an enthusiastic response from the audience. We hope they will enjoy what we have in store in the fifth series.’

Jon Petrie, director of comedy at the BBC added: ‘We are thrilled to announce a fifth series of this modern British Comedy masterpiece. Ghosts continues to go from strength to strength and the BBC couldn’t be more grateful for the amount of laughter and love that the creators, and Monumental, pour into this unique show."

The Ghosts Christmas Special will be broadcast on BBC One at 7.25pm  on Christmas Day.

All previous episodes of Ghosts are available to watch via BBC iPlayer, which is also streaming the first series of the US version.

Made by: Monumental Television in association with Them There
Producer: Pat Tookey-Dickson
Director: Simon Hynd
Executive producers: Alison Carpenter, Debra Hayward and Alison Owen
Commissioned by: Jon Petrie, director of BBC comedy commissioning
Commissioning editor: Seb Barwell

Published: 15 Dec 2022