As Series 4 begins, the writers and cast of Ghosts discuss the hit sitcom, why it's so popular, and what fans can look forward to.

Charlotte Ritchie

What has made Ghosts such a hit, do you think?

For a start, the writing is really good. Also, the ghosts and Kiell are so talented and funny and smart - everyone brings their own unique thing to the show. And it's ultimately very, very full of heart. The place it comes from is really loving, and people can feel that. Everyone I speak to says it makes them feel really warm. What more could you want?

Perhaps particularly in difficult times people, love that sense of warmth that it generates, don't they?

Yes. Without getting too hippie-dippie about it, there's definitely a real sense of community breakdown at the moment. And so to watch a dysfunctional community function in the way that their household does is really heartening. The idea that such different people have to live together and make it work is on some level very profound. It's important that we try and get our society to be like that.

What's going on with Alison in this series?

The ghosts are driving her crazy! As usual, she's losing the plot because she's got to deal with essentially grown-up children who are stuck in a time warp and also a leaking house and a very sweet husband, to be fair, who's endlessly supportive and also slightly impractical. She's also a bit nervy and has got high expectations for their new guest house, so she's her own worst enemy. She's constantly frantically trying to make everyone have a nice time. Nothing like me, who is chilled and aloof and doesn't care!

People love Alison. Why do you think that people are so drawn to her?

The reason I like her is because she's ultimately very warm and she's very optimistic. She really does try to make the best of things all the time, and I think that's a lovely quality in a person. Also, she's never afraid to say how she feels, which I think is really cool. There's a freedom there with the ghosts. But what really touches me about that is that she's so much fonder of the ghosts that she would ever admit. I love that because there's an undertone of real love that is completely reluctant because they drive her up the wall and make things so difficult for Mike, too. Imagine! He's the most patient man. He's so long-suffering. It's just crazy. It is so lonely for him. That relationship really stands the test of time.

How does Alison and Mike's relationship evolve in this series?

Alison and Mike are tested in this series. They do row and get on each other's nerves a bit. But they're still very, very strong as a couple. They are trying to make a bit of time for each other. Mike very sweetly in one episode tries to get Alison to relax. He's so caring, and that's really lovely. I love it when you get to see them unite. That's very sweet. Especially as Alison does not have a family, it really means a lot for her to have him as a support.

What do you hope that viewers will take away at the end of this series?

It shows that the ability to see the humour in things is essential. It manages to pepper a very silly comedy with pathos. Of course, there's nothing funny about death or the reality of our very short lifespans. But what's wonderful about Ghosts is that there's so much humour in it. Anything that can encourage people to lean into that is a good thing. Because humour is the quality that helps get everybody through all this terrible stuff we have to endure.

Finally, another reason for the show's success is that it has a very broad family appeal, doesn't it?

Absolutely. And that's been something that people overwhelmingly do say to me. They tell me that they love the fact they can watch it with their kids. They are delighted to have something they can watch all together that isn't algorithmically pointed towards their generation. That is really nice. There is also just the satisfying thing of watching with a 10-year-old when the 10-year-old doesn't know why Julian has got no trousers on. My nieces asked me that question. I said: "That's one for your parents, I think!"

Kiell Smith-Bynoe

Why do you think audiences find Mike so lovable?

It's because he's so long-suffering. People put themselves in Mike's shoes and ask, "What would I do in that scenario where I can't see the ghosts?" The frustration is also something that people love. Mike's exasperation as he tries to see the ghosts and to be in the same position as his wife is very enjoyable to watch.

What's the big storyline for Mike in Series 4?

Series 4 is about the guest house and trying to create the perfect B&B experience. Mike and Alison are trying to get the best reviews - that is their main goal for the series. In the first episode, they get their first customers, and we see how Mike and Alison respond in their own different ways to praise and complaints.

Presumably the ghosts aren't too happy about B&B guests coming to stay?

They've only just started to accept Mike and Alison! So the idea of having even more people in the house - for Lady Button especially - is really not what the ghosts want. But Lady Button soon gets involved in the guests' business and has strong opinions on how they're conducting themselves in the house.

The idea of being trapped is very topical, isn't it?

Definitely. We were very fortunate to be able to get Series 2 in the can just before the whole world shut down. And that meant that it was broadcast in September 2020 when there weren't many shows coming out because things hadn't been finished or weren't being made. Being stuck in the house is the theme of the show, so it's definitely relatable in that sense. That theme has been a part of everyone's reality in the last few years.

Why do you think the show has been such a success?

Because there's definitely going to be a character in Ghosts that you can relate to. One of the characters will be like someone in your family or someone you live with. There will always be a character that will resonate with you. Everyone's got their favourites and for their own reasons. The show is also full of so many things - stories, backstories, characters, personalities, jokes, different types of humour - that there's something for everyone.

Is another reason why Ghosts has been such a hit because you work so well as a team?

Definitely. I genuinely think this show has some of the best comedy performances in the UK. It's such a delight that we all get to be in it together. It's just an incredible ensemble of comedy performers who are intent on finding the funniest thing. No one's there phoning it in or just there for the day rate. Everyone really wants to do their best work, and that is why the show is so funny. We know that if we genuinely make each other laugh on set, we can bring laughs to an audience as well.

Do fans come up to you and say how much they love the show?

Yes. One of the things that is different to any other programme I've been involved in is that fans quite often say it's the only show they watch as a family. Sometimes adults will tell me it's the only show that their kids will sit and watch with them. That's one of those times where you go, "Actually, this job is important." I toy with that myself. I sometimes ask myself if being an actor is important. Some of these things don't matter at all. But occasionally, you'll meet someone who says something like that, and you'll think, "Yes, this job is actually really worthwhile."

Can you amplify that?

It's one of those moments where you're proud of what you do. I know that there are various people in the industry who have different ideas about awards. It's very easy to be annoyed if something didn't get the accolades that you think it should have. But I think someone stopping you in the street to tell you your show brings their family together is as high as an accolade as you can get.

How have you found it working with Charlotte?

She will eat a lot of Monster Munch if there's a scene where we have to kiss. She's going to go through a multipack of Monster Munch. I'm talking all ten of them. Take from that what you will. Everyone says, "Oh, she's such a nice girl." But they don't know how much money she spends on Monster Munch, just to get at me! She doesn't even like them!

Martha Howe-Douglas

Why has Ghosts become so popular with audiences, do you think?

As we move into Series 4, people are falling in love with the characters individually and as a group. They are drawn to that kind of camaraderie. Whether the characters are getting on or not, it's fun to watch their scenarios unfold. By now, audiences are so aware of everyone's foibles and flaws that when certain scenarios pop up, they almost know how the characters are going to react. But it's still really fun to see that play out.

How are things evolving in the fourth series?

The relationships between the ghosts are changing. What we are enjoying doing in writing the show now is finding duos that haven't necessarily had many scenes together. We find stories for them and little themes that they can explore together. There's one we're writing now where Thomas and Lady Button have a bit of a to-do. It's fun to go, "We don't hang out much as characters. So let's find something to do together." In Series 4, there are relationships emerging that perhaps we haven't seen before.

Is the idea of being trapped crucial in Ghosts?

Yes. When we started making the show, we were all trapped in our own houses because of lockdown, so people warmed to that idea. One thing we definitely talked about in the early days of creating the series was the idea of a flat-share and the different personalities that you can put into that. And obviously, what we managed to do, which is unique to the show, is include people from different eras. That brings interesting scenarios in itself.

Is that enjoyable to write?

Absolutely. A really fun part of the writing is to try and get the language to suit each character. It's a real pleasure to find the flowery language of Thomas, as against the very military-base language of The Captain. That really pinpoints the characters for us and for the audience. It's so much fun to delve into the language of the past and match it up with the characters that you're writing for. That's one of the many things I love about this job.

What is happening to Lady Button in this series?

The massive change for her is the fact that Alison and Mike have launched the gatehouse as a B&B. Lady Button is obviously absolutely furious about the idea of random people strolling through the grounds. She's stalking the guests to see what they're up to. So she's in detective mode.

There's a vein of sadness that runs through her as well, isn't there?

Yes. Through the Christmas special, we've got to learn a little bit more about why she became the way she is. That was really lovely to do, actually, because what I didn't ever want was Lady Button to be just a one-note nag. What we've managed to do with her is find those quieter moments where we can show her softer side. It's really important that it doesn't just become, "Oh, here she comes again, shouting at everyone." Over the past three series, we have really got to the bottom of why she is so frustrated, and that's basically because she feels very unfulfilled.

What is your opinion of Lady Button?

She's such a great character. I adore playing her because she's so extreme and ridiculous. I absolutely love her!

Finally, is it quite a fandango getting in and out of Lady Button's corset?

Definitely. I only realise when I go back to filming - "Oh Lord, this corset! I shouldn't have had that toast for breakfast." It's quite a thing when you haven't worn a corset for nine months and then suddenly you are strapped in on the first day. It's quite a lot. From time to time, they release me. "Can you release me for lunch? Oh no, I shouldn't have done that. Now my stomach's grown and I'm going to get stuck!" You never like it. Lolly and I have to endure the corset, but at least we've got each other!

Mathew Baynton

What major things happen to Thomas in this series?

At some point, Thomas has got to realise that he's a bit of a pest. Since Series 1, I've been having conversations with Charlotte on set about, realistically, at what point does Alison just go, "Stop it now"? We felt like we'd come as far as we could without reaching that point. So now there is an episode in this series where that point comes. Thomas is confronted with the paradox of, "If you love someone and they're telling you to stop pursuing them, the real test of that love is, can you stop doing it?" So, that is a question that we address in this series.

Do you think Ghosts has something important to say about unity in these divisive times?

Definitely. The show is about people being stuck together and having to get along. They have more of a sense that they don't know if they do see eye to eye with their neighbours. So at the moment having a show that has a real sense of optimism is great.

Can you expand on that?

It shows that the things we have in common outweigh the things that divide us and that you can see the world entirely differently from your neighbours and nonetheless you can find a way to rub along. That is the show's message. Although these characters are in constant conflict, ultimately comedy brings them towards resolution quite naturally. My hunch says that's why Ghosts strikes a chord. It offers a little sense of hope that we can be more united than maybe we feel right now.

The show also underlines the positive contribution that comedy can make in hard times, doesn't it?

Yes. I think comedy is always welcome, frankly. It's enduring. I feel like all my life I've been reading articles about how comedy is about to die. They say sitcoms are dead, sketch shows are dead, and comedy is dead, and it never is. There are always people making funny things, and there will always be people who want to watch funny things.

It's very moving when you examine the ghosts' backstories, isn't it?

Yes. They are such universal themes that you don't really have to do much to tap into people's own experiences of them. They are ghosts, so their mortality, their concept of death, their idea of legacy and being forgotten are really front and centre. Who remembers you? And what mattered in your life? We often find it takes the lightest of touches really just to allude to these things, and it resonates quite deeply with people.

Why do you think you have worked so well as a team for so long?

I think we complement each other. We have different tastes and different strengths and different sensibilities. I suppose that might be part of why there's a broad appeal there because my favourite joke in an episode won't be the same as Larry's favourite joke, and it won't be the same as Martha's favourite joke. That is perhaps why it feels like there's something for everyone.

Why else does the ensemble function so successfully?

We pick each other up. If one person is down on things one day, that's fine. Everyone else will keep the wheels turning. If two people are arguing, there's four other people there to arbitrate. And when I say arguing, I mean over material. We can argue passionately about the most absurdly specific detail in a script. But to date, I don't think that we've ever had an argument about anything apart from material. So the friendships are a bedrock that doesn't change. I hope that ensures our longevity as a team. I think we all feel that we'll work together as long as we can and as long as people pay us to do silly things.

Jim Howick

What's going on with Pat this series?

Pat is Pat. Part of his character is that he's always on an even keel and is very much the sunny gel for the group. And so from a character point of view, he doesn't really get to go on many journeys. It's often the characters that are reactionary or prudish in some way and not open to change who get the huge, meandering stories, and Pat is more of a mediator in the group.

Is it all plain sailing for him this series, then?

No, there are some ups and downs for Pat this year. There's a trip down memory lane for him in the form of a flashback later on in the series, which I can't say too much about, but it's quite emotional. And we also get to see his mean streak a little bit. He gets to exercise a tough role. I won't say any more than that. All will become clear very soon...

What other new plot lines are there in this series?

The series begins with Alison and Mike embarking on a new project, which is them having guests for the first time in the gate house in the grounds. And so that allows the ghosts to react to visitors. That brings excitement and of course it also brings protests!

Why has Ghosts chimed with viewers to such an extent?

I think that settling in and watching a gang dynamic is something that appeals to everyone. Everyone was either in a gang or group of friends and had an identity in that group, or at least wanted that. And so, regardless of where these characters are from in history, or their politics, or their sensibilities, I think that we've been able to form a dynamic, like Toy Story or The Bash Street Kids, or any of these kinds of things that are timeless. I think that's key.

Watching Ghosts is actually quite a bonding experience, isn't it?

Yes. Lots of parents who are middle-aged and beyond see it as a really valuable thing to have something in common with a teenager or a young adult child. Very often, teenagers are embarrassed by their parents' very existence and will do everything they can to separate themselves from their parents in social situations. But for most of the parents in our audience, that ability to watch it with their teenagers is what's most valuable to them is about the show. That means a lot to us.

Tell us more...

When we were kids growing up, TV was a real event. You couldn't record stuff and you couldn't catch up. You had to wait for it to come out on VHS, and that could take years. Shows like Blackadder and Bottom and all the other things I used to love watching - they were a family event. You talked about them the next day at school, and the audiences were huge. Now obviously, there are a lot more platforms and a lot more choice, and that's fantastic. But it's also really nice to gather around the television and treat a TV programme almost like a theatre show. It's great to be there all together at the same time.

Ghosts provides great escapism for people, doesn't it?

Absolutely. The news is mostly terrible at the moment, and it's very likely to get worse. So yes, it's vital to remain mentally well. That is a deeper sort of subject, really, but I think that everyone deserves to be able to escape for half an hour and enjoy people dressing up and being professional idiots.

Laurence Rickard

Why have viewers warmed to the show so much?

I think we have found a tone that works for the whole family, which is nice and relatively rare in sitcoms. Our aim was to make something that kids would watch which their parents wouldn't roll their eyes at, or the other way around. We wanted to produce a show that neither would find embarrassing.

Families do watch it together, don't they?

Yes. We always hoped that would be the case because so much of what we watched growing up, we would watch like that. And then over the last 15 to 20 years, there was less and less of that. Comedy got a bit ghettoised. Comedy was a thing for grown-ups and then there were kids' shows, and ne'er the twain shall meet. We were keen insofar as possible to blur that line.

What is it about the characters in Ghosts that people love?

The fact it's an ensemble means that you can pick your favourite. One of the nice things about the show is that when you meet people in the street, they say, "We really love Ghosts, and our favourite character is X." You very seldom hear the same name. Everyone's got their own favourite. That's one of the advantages of having a real ensemble piece. It's written in such a way that each character is given enough room to breathe, so that you can understand each of them and pick your favourite.

Do you think the ghosts themselves are a bit like a dysfunctional family?

Absolutely. When we were first planning for Series 1, there was that sense that we approached them in that way and broke down who's the annoying older brother and who's the weird, slightly unpredictable uncle. Obviously, we had Lady Button and the Captain as the starchy parents.

Does it also conform to the sitcom trope of characters being trapped together?

Definitely. In some ways, it is just that classic sitcom thing of unalike people who are stuck together in a situation they can't leave. Our characters are obviously very unalike and very stuck! But also, there is that family dynamic. They're not technically family, but they may as well be because they're people stuck together, whether they like it or not.

How would you sum up Robin?

He's such a wild card. Sometimes he's like a very base family dog. And at other times, he's like the smartest guy in the room. Because even though the speech centre of his brain is the size of an acorn, he's seen everything. So in terms of amassed knowledge, there's very little that he hasn't come across before. In this series, we get to explore grief with each of the characters and how they view it. And Robin's view of grief is so different to everyone else's because he's just seen a lot of people dying and he's had to grow quite a thick skin.

Do you think escapism is very important in these difficult times?

Absolutely. That's one of the great things about comedy. There've been comedies that I've watched in darker times that feel like a comfort blanket. We've always wanted to do something that provides that. I remember a conversation when we started shooting a series in the middle of the pandemic. There was always that discussion about whether or not you should bring the pandemic into the show. And we thought, "People are coming to Ghosts to escape that sort of reality. We will keep to the reality where there's no overt reference to things like that." Ghosts is comforting and escapist. It is a magical version of now.

Ben Willbond

Can you outline The Captain's main traits?

The original idea for the character was that he should be a man who believes himself to be in charge. He's wearing his captain's uniform and during the war he used to run this possibly important requisitioned country house. When you first see him, you think, "Oh, he's clearly in charge." But he is the least capable of being in charge of anything! He's just not cut out for it. The war came along, and he thought, "We've got to run things properly. We've just got to crack on." But looking at him, you think, "Your life was just interrupted, as many other people's were."

The Captain is also troubled by his concealed sexuality, isn't he?

Yes. When the whole sexuality element came in, it suddenly felt like the right way to play it. It was like, "Oh, yes of course." He's had to bury his sexuality so far down, in the same way that he's had to bury pretty much everything, so that he can try to look as if he's in control.

Is The Captain based on anyone in particular?

Yes, all the terrible school teachers I had. I went to a very military school. Friday afternoons were CCF. These awful teachers would come out in their uniforms and say, "Right, stop messing about. Come over here." You'd just be thinking, "God, you have no authority and you really would rather be doing anything else. You're just ridiculous." And so, I do channel that as The Captain.

Can you expand on that?

The attitude of those people is, "This is The Establishment, this is how it's supposed to work." In the 40s, 50s, 60s, that was the stiff-upper-lip British way. "We have just got to get on." At no point did anyone tell those people to stop. "Can you just relax and have a really good think about what you're doing?" No one has given The Captain a break. He needs to give himself a break. But the beauty is that you know he's never going to. Like the other ghosts, he's trapped. You strive to create this perfect sitcom character, someone who keeps getting stuck up to their knees in whatever and can't get out.

What draws audiences to Ghosts?

Most of the feedback I get is that people love it because families can watch it together. There's something for everyone. Lots of people my age come up to me and go, "Oh, it's the only show I watch with my teenagers." That makes me so happy. Yes, yes! That's exactly what it should do because that reminds me of when I was growing up. We just used to watch The Comedy. It wasn't an issue. Nobody was bracketing comedy or saying, "This is a teen comedy, or this is a comedy for grown-ups." It was just a comedy that people watched. There was no judging.

What do fans adore most about Ghosts?

They tell me that what they love is the fact that it just looks like we're having so much fun. That's the key for us. If we're not having fun - and I think this is true of any comedians making comedy - audiences can see that, and then it ceases to be a comedy. It's either taking itself too seriously, or it's not doing what it should do. No matter what has happened in the writing process, we always try to get it to that point where as soon as you step on set, you're going to have fun.

Tell us more...

I see Mat out of the corner of my eye and I see Jim popping up, and then I see Simon without any trousers on, and I immediately think, "This is going to be fun." I have to pinch myself because I know it's just going to be ridiculous. "What am I doing here?" We're just trying to make each other laugh. That's all we want to do.

Lolly Adefope

Why do you think Ghosts is so widely loved?

Because the whole family can watch it together, it's a very unifying show. It's also a very uplifting and wholesome show. During lockdown, I think it helped a lot of people through. People seem to love the ensemble, too. There's something for everyone in that as well. The ghosts are like a family, and people at home can see themselves reflected in that family.

What role does Kitty play in that family?

I think she's definitely the baby. Sometimes she's the most intelligent. She's got good instincts, but she's definitely the baby!

Why is she such a popular character?

She's endlessly positive, which is a contagious thing. I think a lot of children watch the show and maybe they see themselves as like the Kitty in their family. She really resonates with children in that way.

What can you tell us about Kitty's special relationship with Alison?

She's obsessed with Alison. She wants her to be her best friend. She doesn't really have a best friend in the house, even though I can imagine that over the years she has gone through each of the ghosts and attempted to make them her best friend. Now Alison is the best candidate to be her best friend, so Kitty doesn't want her to speak to anyone else!

How do you find it wearing Kitty's period costume?

At the beginning of each series, there is a bit of getting used to it again because it's a corset, an underskirt, a petticoat, another skirt and then a dress on top of that. I've nailed taking it off in a rush at the end of the day. But in the morning, you do need someone else to put it on for you. It takes 15 minutes, and it's quite heavy. So that means that when we play the plague victims, even though there are loads of prosthetics and it's kind of gross, I am thrilled because I'm literally just wearing a big sack. I love the way that all you have to do is just sit there and get your makeup done. You don't have to be uncomfortable [wearing] a corset.

Why do you think the team's writing works so well?

I think they all have an incredible sense of humour. It's also quite useful having six of them because by the time we get the scripts, they're pretty perfect. They've worked out every nuance, and all of the logic makes sense. There is never a sense that something hasn't been thought about. They've definitely talked about it a lot and hammered it out to reach the best version of the script. Also, each of them knows their character so well, and they're so good at writing ensemble comedies. It was very easy for us four to just slot in. They're all incredible character actors as well, which always helps. And if you have a question about the script, the writer is right there.

What do fans in the street say that they love about the show?

A lot of people say that we saved their lockdown and that Ghosts was the only thing that their family watched together. A lot of people also say that they have seen it all three or four times. People just love to binge it, and then a few months later they love to binge it again. That's really nice.

When people say to you, "You saved my lockdown," does that make you feel proud?

Yes. It's quite overwhelming. It's a unifying thing because the lockdown was isolating for so many people. So to be told that you're in something that brings people together is obviously lovely to hear.

Katy Wix

Why do you think Ghosts has struck such a chord with people?

Its audience spans the generations. Everyone has a different favourite character. It's also a very escapist half-hour. You can lose yourself in an alternative reality. But in some ways, it's quite traditional as well. It's like The Odd Couple - people stuck together who wouldn't normally be stuck together. It's got genuine charm.

It's not an obvious subject for a sitcom, is it?

No. But even though it's about death, it has got a wholesomeness to it. It's an easy, cosy watch. I think it handles the subject in quite a light-hearted way. But it's also got a complex layer to it, if you want to read it that way. It's about what it's like to be stuck in a kind of purgatory.

What other messages does Ghosts contain?

It's about the relationships you have with the people you're stuck with. The ghosts are a sort of family. They squabble, but there's this understanding that if they don't have each other, they are going to be worse off. And so that is one nice message to take away from it: we're stuck together, but we've only got each other to help us through this.

How would you characterise Mary?

I think she's quite eccentric and also quite sensitive. She's definitely got PTSD from her past story, which we've done a little bit more about in this series. I always imagined she would have been illiterate when she was alive. She was working on the land, and I don't think as a woman she would have been going to school at that point. So the way she speaks has evolved over the centuries. She's learned how to speak with a more modern vernacular, but still get things wrong.

How does Mary view the world today?

At times, she is really confused and frightened by the modern world, but I think there's another side to her. When she was alive, I get the impression that she would have been a wise woman. It's hinted at that she was interested in herbology and using nature to heal things. So I think she's got this wisdom about things, and she's a little overlooked. She might not always know what to do, but she's a survivor. Life would have been so hard in the era where she was alive. It would have been such a struggle. She's gone through a lot. They should write a really feminist episode where it's just Mary, Lady Button and Kitty sitting around saying how terrible life was for women!

What happens to Mary in the new series?

She gets a new friend, which is lovely. They have a really lovely relationship. You get a bit more of her inner thoughts when she's away from the group and maybe a sense that if there's a slight injustice, she takes it quite personally.

There's a wonderful chemistry between the whole ensemble on Ghosts, isn't there?

Yes. That's one of the reasons why it works so well. We've all known each other for a long time, since the Horrible Histories days. Most of us have done stuff up at the Edinburgh Fringe. We all do a lot of live comedy as well. I did a gig with Kiell just a few weeks ago. And so it's nice because I think there's a kind of shorthand there. As soon as they explained the show to me, I knew the kind of tone they were going for. And, you know, I understood it straight away. We all come from a character background, so it was just quite easy to slot into their tone. We're all firm friends, and that makes for a really delightful atmosphere on set.