How accurate is BBC sitcom Ghosts? History experts and creatives weigh in

The popular sitcom Ghosts is known for being a funny show everyone in the family can watch together. But does its silly take on British history and common character types actually teach viewers anything?

The story starts with Alison (Charlotte Ritchie) and Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe), a newly married couple, unexpectedly inheriting Button House – a run-down mansion (actually West Horsley Place) – from a far-off relative.

After a close brush with death, Alison starts seeing ghosts of people who died on the estate. For some reason, these spirits can’t seem to find peace and move on to the afterlife.

The show features characters from various points in history, including a caveman named Robin (played by Laurence Rickard), an Edwardian manor lady called Fanny Button (Martha Howe-Douglas), and a politician from the Thatcher era, Julian Fawcett (Simon Farnaby).

Maintaining a level of historical accuracy was important for the show’s credibility, but co-creator Rickard explained at MCM London Comic-Con 2025 that ‘Ghosts’ wasn’t meant to be a history class.

“Having done Horrible Histories, where the rule was you couldn’t lie, there would be times when we’d come up with a really funny punchline, and then go, ‘but we can’t do that because that’s not what happened’,” he explained.

The idea for our 2015 Shakespeare comedy, Bill, came from wondering what would happen if we didn’t have to worry about being accurate. The movie is set in a historical period where, essentially, history doesn’t exist, giving us the freedom to make up anything we wanted!

This often-overlooked aspect of the play explores the playwright’s early life and, as Rickard points out, essentially laid the groundwork for Ghosts. It established a pattern of using carefully researched historical settings to support stories that were, surprisingly, mostly lighthearted.

In many respects, Ghosts represented the peak of the team’s previous work, blending the historical accuracy of Horrible Histories with the imaginative freedom of Bill and the playful humor of Yonderland.

Although the show had creative freedom, Mulot warned against being careless with historical details. Obvious mistakes, he explained, would distract viewers and ruin the fun, fast-paced humor.

This raises a key question: how believable is the historical backdrop of the show Ghosts? To find out, we consulted Elinor Evans from History Extra, explored our sister site’s resources, and spoke with the show’s writer, Mulot, and costume designer, Lucy Williams, for their insights.

Here’s what we learnt about each historical figure in the much-loved series.

Humphrey Bone

I’ve learned that Sir Humphrey Bone, played by Rickard, is one of the oldest residents at Button House! It’s a bit of a story, but he lost his head way back during Queen Elizabeth I’s time – though not in the dramatic way you’re probably imagining.

The Tudor period is often associated with executions, especially because of King Henry VIII and the tragic deaths of two of his wives. However, in keeping with the show’s style, Humphrey’s death is actually much stranger than anything seen in historical dramas like Wolf Hall.

Humphrey’s wife, Sophie (Chloé Delanney), was secretly working against the king, but he didn’t realize it because he didn’t understand French. To put it mildly, Humphrey wasn’t very perceptive.

It was a strange twist of fate: the very sharpest sword hanging on the wall caused his unexpected death. It fell from its display above the fireplace and cut him in half. The royal guards claimed responsibility for it, which was typical behavior back then.

We learned all of this in season 3, episode ‘The Bone Plot’ – a fitting title, considering the Tudor period was full of conspiracies. These plots were mostly driven by the violent fight for control between Catholics and Protestants.

According to History Extra’s Evans, Humphrey’s narrative is combining many of these influences, with a striking similarity found in the story of Thomas and Anne Percy.

This prominent couple played a key role in the Northern Rebellion, an attempt to liberate the Catholic Mary, Queen of Scots, and replace the Protestant Queen Elizabeth I. It was one of the most significant rebellions during Elizabeth’s rule.

According to Evans, Anne took a surprisingly active part in the unfolding events. She actively gathered support from Catholic nobles, wrote letters, and engaged in much of the covert, rebellious activity typically associated with Humphrey’s wife.

“It’s quite unique because, a lot of the time, it was groups of male nobles who would do this.”

Evans also notes a historical detail that some viewers might miss: Button House contains a “priest hole.” These were secret rooms used to hide Catholic priests and those who helped them, offering a safe haven during dangerous searches.

Mary

Mary, a victim of the witch trials, differs significantly from historical accounts in how she died. Unlike most victims, she was burned at the stake in a gruesome execution, and legend says she carried the smell of smoke with her even after death.

Evans, a dedicated fan of the band Ghosts, always makes sure to preface any criticism with a statement of affection. However, he does find the fate of the character Mary to be a bit of a plot issue, pointing out that relatively few people accused of witchcraft were actually executed by burning in England.

While hangings were a common punishment, showing them wouldn’t be suitable for a show aimed at families. Interestingly, Mary Lakeland, a woman who was accused of a crime, stands out as a possible source of inspiration for the character played by Katy Wix.

Marion Gibson, a professor at the University of Exeter specializing in Renaissance and magical literature, recently gave a public talk on witch trials as part of a History Extra course. The talk is available to watch on YouTube.

In Salem, Massachusetts – a British colony and the site of some of the most well-known witch trials – Mel Gibson drew inspiration from two historical figures for the character of Mary in Ghosts, noting similarities between their stories and hers.

One of the accused was Sarah Good, who was extremely poor and homeless in the area. The other was Sarah Osbourne, who, like Mary, had lost her husband before the accusations began.

Mary’s difficult circumstances are shown through her inability to read and write and the way she speaks, which is very different from the way wealthier characters like Kitty, Thomas, and Lady Button communicate.

Mary likely would have been among the last to learn to read and write, given her upbringing in a poor, rural area,” explained Evans. He was referring to a significant shift that started in the early 1500s, driven by the introduction of printed books like the Gutenberg Bible.

Evans pointed out that widespread literacy for men didn’t appear until the latter half of the 1600s, and even then, women were far less likely to be able to read and write. This means someone like Mary would have been very low on the scale of literacy at that time.

Martha Howe-Douglas, co-creator of the show Ghosts, recently shared at MCM London Comic-Con that she particularly enjoyed writing the different ways the ghosts spoke, and found researching their language to be a really fun part of the process.

When designing Mary’s costume, Williams drew inspiration from Johannes Vermeer’s painting, The Milkmaid. The 17th-century artwork shows a woman in a kitchen wearing colors—blues and yellows—similar to those seen on Mary in the Button House.

I really liked the colors and selected natural fabrics that fit the time period and would easily show signs of damage,” she said. “I carefully burned parts of the costume with a candle, sending photos to director Tom Kingsley to make sure the effect looked just right.

Kitty

I have to say, the character of Kitty in Ghosts really stood out to me. She’s the only person of colour among the ghosts we see, and while it’s historically accurate that seeing someone of colour in British upper class society in the 1700s would have been unusual, the show’s writers clearly drew inspiration from a real historical figure when crafting her story. It adds a fascinating layer to the show, knowing there’s a basis in reality for her inclusion.

According to the Ghosts wiki, Kitty was born in Jamaica, which was then a British colony, and later adopted by a rich English family. The details of how this adoption came about remain unclear.

The film is based on the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, a woman of mixed race. Her mother, Maria, was an enslaved teenager, and her father was Sir John Lindsay, a naval officer about nine years older than Maria.

The significant age and social differences between her parents create serious issues to consider, and no matter how you look at it, Lindsay’s life was marked by hardship.

Like Kitty, Belle also enjoyed a life of freedom as a member of the British aristocracy. She moved at a young age from Spanish Florida to Kenwood House in north London, the family estate of her guardian.

Though Belle wasn’t officially recognized as Lindsay’s daughter – which is why they had different last names – she enjoyed a privileged life as a member of the nobility. Her father left her a substantial inheritance, ensuring she could maintain this lifestyle even after he passed away.

Tamara Morgan recently wrote for Black History Month that the story of Dido Elizabeth Belle forces us to reconsider how we define and understand history.

Although she wasn’t enslaved herself, the effects of slavery heavily influenced her life. Despite her privileged background, she faced prejudice. And as a member of a very wealthy and influential British family, her existence challenged the foundations of their fortune.

Looking at her portrait offers a glimpse into a life that was both deeply personal and broadly relatable. It tells the story of a woman who navigated multiple cultures and whose experiences continue to resonate with our current conversations about who we are, what is fair, and where we belong.

In 2013, a movie titled ‘Belle’ was released, starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who is also known for her roles in ‘Loki’ and ‘The Woman in Cabin 10’. The film served as inspiration for the costume designer on ‘Ghosts’, Williams.

Thomas

Thomas Thorne was a poet living during the Regency period, and while he dreamed of becoming famous, he never quite achieved the level of recognition he believed he deserved.

Season 2’s ‘The Thomas Thorne Affair’ details his tragic death. He’s lured into a duel by a jealous rival, who then deliberately misleads him about when to draw his weapon, leading to fatal consequences.

Today it seems strange, but duelling was actually common among the upper class when Thomas lived, according to Evans. There was a specific set of rules that had to be followed, and those who broke them could face legal consequences.

Alas, the sabotage that costs Thomas his life went undetected as far as we know.

According to Evans, ‘The Thomas Thorne Affair’ mirrors the way historical debates actually unfold. He draws a parallel between the differing accounts of the ghosts at Button House and the common disagreements found among scholars.

She explains that the unique perspectives of each ghost highlight how history itself is interpreted. She particularly enjoys how Alison, the living character, acts like a historian, carefully separating truth from falsehood and identifying the biases within different accounts.

Evans also points out that Thomas might find some solace in the fact that his early death resembled those of famous poets like Lord Byron, John Keats, and Percy Bysshe Shelley. Their deaths, arguably, contributed to their legendary status and the idea of them as tragically brilliant figures.

Thomas’s visual style was inspired by portraits of Romantic poets, and costume designer Williams also looked to Jane Campion’s film Bright Star – which was nominated for an Oscar for its costumes – for guidance.

Lady Button

Lady Button is a fan favorite in Ghosts, known for her over-the-top facial expressions and funny noises when she’s surprised or doesn’t approve of something.

We find out early on that her husband pushed her out of an upstairs window when she found out he was having an affair with another man. We’ll discuss the implications of this later.

A difficult start leaves her initially biased, though this improves during the show’s first few seasons. However, she never loses her funny and persistent focus on proper manners, etiquette, and a deep fondness for Button House.

It makes sense that she’d be this way, considering she grew up in a time when women of her status were expected to focus on managing their households and overseeing staff, even though she once dreamed of having a career.

According to Evans, the character embodies the expectations placed on women during the late Victorian and early Edwardian eras – the idea of what she should become as she matures. This creates internal conflict, which plays out in the story with humor and charm.

The Captain

Captain Benwick is known for having caused a lot of heartbreak at Button House – even more than Thomas, some might say. Throughout the series, subtle clues about his hidden feelings eventually became more obvious in season 5, revealing his homosexuality.

During World War II, the man meets another soldier, Havers (played by Peter Sandys-Clarke), while they’re temporarily stationed at a reportedly haunted estate. Their strong bond stays with him for the rest of his life.

After the war ended, the Captain crashed a party meant for soldiers who had actually fought in the conflict, hoping to find Havers. However, his unwelcome appearance caused an angry reaction, and he suffered a heart attack from the shock.

Given that homosexual acts were illegal in Britain at the time, any romantic involvement between The Captain and Havers carried significant danger and potential consequences.

During the war, the Armed Forces had a complicated approach to openly gay men. While some were quietly accepted, others faced harsh consequences, including court-martials and imprisonment, as Stephen Bourne notes in History Extra.

After the war ended, British society largely wanted things to return to how they were before. This meant women were pressured to resume traditional roles at home, Black soldiers were expected to return to their countries in West Africa and the Caribbean, and gay men faced harsh laws – even those who had contributed to the war effort – that could lead to imprisonment.

The Captain’s fear of being exposed as gay, combined with his personal guilt about not having served in combat, created a deeply stressful situation. This combination of factors ultimately led to his fatal heart attack.

So, how accurate is Ghosts?

Look, let’s be real, if you’re looking for a history lesson, ‘Ghosts’ isn’t it. But don’t let that fool you – the show actually does a surprisingly good job with the basic historical settings and, more importantly, really develops its characters. It’s not a documentary, but it’s definitely not skimping on the details that matter for a good story.

According to producer Mulot, any simplification of past time periods in the show is due to the limitations of creating a comedy for BBC One.

We’re working with a limited timeframe and budget, and the historic setting of West Horsley Place adds another constraint. We can’t make major structural changes, which affects what we’re able to achieve practically.

He ultimately feels the location was a huge benefit to the show, and believes it would have been impossible to create the same realistic atmosphere on a soundstage.

Williams emphasized that historical accuracy was essential to her work designing the ghosts. This created a lot of pressure, as any significant changes to their appearances weren’t possible after they were first introduced in the show.

The costumes were historically accurate for the time period, right down to details like Humphrey’s velvet jacket and Kitty’s dress. Demonstrating their dedication to the roles, actresses Howe-Douglas and Adefope even wore corsets, despite how uncomfortable they are.

Ghosts isn’t meant to be completely realistic, and even with some inaccuracies, its general storyline is still engaging, especially for younger audiences.

As a film buff, I think it’s okay to take liberties with history for the sake of a good story, but Evans makes a really good point: filmmakers have a duty to be upfront about it. They should be aware of what they’re changing and make sure the audience knows it’s not a strictly accurate portrayal. Transparency is key, in my opinion.

She explained that the work is clearly meant as parody and satire, so the details aren’t meant to be historically accurate. She added that if it sparks discussion about actual events and people, as long as it’s understood to be fiction, that’s a positive outcome.

Evans explained that the biggest challenges arise when films claim to be ‘based on a true story’ or ‘really happened.’ These claims ignore the fact that we can never fully know what actually happened, losing the complexities of real life.

People will always understand things differently. Nowadays, you often see movies or books described as ‘inspired by true events’ or ‘based on a true story,’ and that phrase can be used very broadly to allow for a lot of creative license.

She finished by saying that creators can absolutely take inspiration from someone’s life without feeling the need to accurately recreate it. And that’s a positive thing, she added, because a truly faithful retelling would likely be impossible anyway.

Ghosts is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

2025-11-14 11:13