Remake already has more episodes than BBC original

The US version of Ghosts has been recommissioned for a third season.

Executives at CBS renewed the show as its audience continues to grow. It started as the network’s most popular new comedy, attracting an audience of 7.76 million, while the current second series is averaging 9.15million per episode – or more than 11.5million when catch-up viewing is added.

The recommission is good news for the show’s British creators –  Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard and Ben Willbond – as they act as executive producers on the US version. They also play the ghosts in the BBC original.

‘This season, executive producers Joe Port, Joe Wiseman and the brilliant cast delivered episodes that far surpassed our expectations,’ said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment.

‘From the opening of the Woodstone B&B to epic Halloween and Christmas episodes, we have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know our Ghosts even better. Much like our viewers, we love them more each and every week.

‘As the series continues to win fans on broadcast and streaming, we’re thrilled to bring back this touching and hilarious comedy for a third season.’

The US version stars Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar as Samantha and Jay as the couple who inherit a beautiful country house, only to find it inhabited by many of the deceased previous residents, visible only to Samantha.

It has already exceeded the UK original in terms of the number of episodes aired. Episode 30 was screened last night, with one more to come in the present series, while the BBC's Christmas Day special was the 26th British episode.

Also in the American cast are Brandon Scott Jones, Rebecca Wisocky, Richie Moriarty, Danielle Pinnock, Asher Grodman, Román Zaragoza, Sheila Carrasco, and Devan Chandler Long.

Series one of the US Ghosts is available on the BBC iPlayer.

Published: 13 Jan 2023