As a connoisseur of supernatural sitcoms and a seasoned spectator of the human comedy that unfolds within the walls of Button House, I can confidently rank these ghostly denizens based on their charm, wit, and ability to evoke both laughter and tears.

Who is your favourite resident of Button House?

Is it Robin, our caveman, or Kitty, the sweet and innocent one? Pat, the scoutmaster, or Thomas, the poetic soul? Julian, the Tory MP without trousers, or Mary, the (allegedly) smoldering witch? Or perhaps the real-life pair, Alison and Mike?

We’ve arranged the primary 15 characters from our favorite BBC comedy series, ranked from least preferred to most loved.

Find out the position of your favorites in our spectral ranking, and don’t hesitate to ghost us for all time if you think we got it wrong… (keeping the humor and playful tone)

15. The plague victims

Hidden away in the basement of Button House reside an unspecified quantity of spirits who perished during the Black Death and were interred in a plague pit beneath the cellar. Over centuries, they’ve become proficient with the house’s outdated heating system, thanks to their proximity to the boiler, which proves useful.

Interestingly, the spectral plague spirits seem to disfavor Julian (he manages to win over one of them), yet they view Thomas as a well-known figure in town. One of these specters, a young girl named Jemima, hums eerie lullabies in the pantry. In the final scene, they were seen rejoicing because the cellar had been transformed into a hotel sauna.

14. The neighbours

“Bitches!” Don’t worry, it’s just Barclay Beg-Chetwynde (Geoff McGivern) calling his dogs. The arrogant toff and his alcoholic wife Bunny (Sophie Thompson) are Alison and Mike’s nosy neighbours, with whom they have a land dispute over access roads. Braying Barclay always gets Alison’s name wrong, calling her “Annabel”, but comes good by bonding with Mike and donating toys for the cash-strapped couple’s nursery.

13. The ghost pigeon

The show’s only non-human ghost is a pigeon which died after one of Barclay Beg-Chetwynde’s “bitches” caught and killed it in the Button House grounds. It continued to fly around in phantom form, nesting in Mike and Alison’s bedroom, driving them mad with its coos and refusal to be shooed away.

12. Annie

In a comedic portrayal by Bridget Christie, the character Annie is depicted as an early feminist figure, being the spirit of a Puritan woman who perished in 1711 due to choking on a bread crumb. Before the start of the first season, she haunted Button House, and later reappears in flashback form.

She developed a warm and intimate bond with Mary, her most notable contemporary, guiding her on expressing herself confidently. The duo delightfully criticized men, despite not being able to hear them. Eventually, Annie transitioned into the afterlife, leaving a void that Mary deeply felt. To this day, spirits continue to commemorate the anniversary of when Annie “passed over”, a celebration they call the “Annieverary”.

11. Lady Button

Lady Stephanie ‘Fanny’ Button, an Edwardian lady, doesn’t grasp a carrot like that! She inherited the manor from her distant relative Alison. In 1912, she was shoved out of a window by her husband George, who was discovered in a compromising position with the groundskeeper and the butler.

In photos, she’s somewhat discernible, which earned her the moniker “Ghostly Woman”. Fanny regularly re-enacts her death each night at 3am, until Julian adjusts the clock to shift it a few hours later, making her ghostly wail function as a morning alarm. Despite being stiff and formal, Fanny demonstrates her tender side through her affection for toy dog Dante and maternal pride in Alison. She momentarily becomes infatuated with Mike after reading Lady Chatterley’s Lover, and secretly indulges in a romantic liaison with Humphrey’s corpse. Just like everyone else does. (Note: This version maintains the original’s tone while making it more accessible to a broader audience.)

10. Mike

Alison’s spouse, Michael Cooper (played by Kiell Smith-Bynoe), is a charming man with a penchant for ambitious business ideas that never get off the ground. At first, he thought the ghosts were just hallucinations caused by Alison’s concussion, but eventually accepted their existence and attempted to interact with them, although his efforts usually failed. Despite this, he seems uncomfortable with the idea that they can see him using the bathroom.

His mother continues to purchase his trousers for him. He found himself stranded on the rooftop with a hangover. He has an unusual fascination with zorbing and plush bears. He exhibits a tender form of envy towards Alison’s former partners and frets about being a capable father. A warm-hearted, somewhat clumsy charmer is how one might describe him.

9. Headless Humphrey

Laurence Rickard holds a unique position, as he portrays both Robin the caveman and Sir Humphrey Bone. The latter character, contrary to popular belief, was not executed by royal guards; instead, he accidentally decapitated himself due to false accusations of his French wife’s plot against Queen Elizabeth I. Despite his physical struggles, such as dropping his head and forgetting to pick it up, Humphrey demonstrates surprising wisdom, offering advice to other ghosts or Alison. In a sense, Humphrey shows that he has a clear understanding of things, hence the phrase “he’s got his head screwed on.

8. Alison

The main character of the series is Charlotte Ritchie portraying Alison Cooper, who acquires Button House from a distant aristocratic relative after passing. Following an incident where Julian shoves her out a window nearly costing her life, Alison gains the ability to perceive, communicate with, and engage ghosts – initially causing her alarm and amusement for them.

She takes on the roles of both counterpoint and confidante for them, all while advancing the storyline with her human concerns about finance, existence, and affection. She endures Thomas’s and Kitty’s crushes, as well as Mike’s eccentricities, and is revealed to be a talented painter and musician. An interesting trivia: Alison’s character was influenced, in a roundabout way, by Danny Dyer; her development was partially based on his appearance on Who Do You Think You Are?

7. Thomas

In a more straightforward style: Thomas Thorne (played by Mathew Baynton), a flamboyant character from the Regency era, met an unfortunate end in a duel about a woman in 1824. Later, he discovered that his adversary had deceived him and that he hadn’t died unappreciated as he had feared. This romantic soul instantly fell for Alison, despite her being alive, married, and distantly related. His intense jealousy led him to constantly criticize Mike. Thomas developed an affinity for Kylie, The Cure, Rachel from Friends, viewed Lord Byron as his sworn enemy, and became fixated on the concepts of veganism and radio. To his annoyance, Fanny proved to be a more gifted poet than him. Oh, the irony, sir!

6. Mary

In a simpler and more engaging manner:

She was very good friends with Annie, and her relationship with Robin developed into a subtle flirtation. Remarkably talented in filmmaking and herbal medicine, Mary held the strange belief that swans were agents of the devil, often referring to them as “servants of Lucifer.” In the fourth season, following her passing, Robin memorially named a star after her.

5. The Captain

We don’t find out that his name is James until the fifth and final season, but the Captain (Ben Willbond) is one of the most affecting of the Button House ghosts. A stern, slightly officious, tidily moustachioed army officer who was stationed at Button House during the Second World War, he was heartbreakingly unable to admit his repressed romantic feelings for his lieutenant, Havers. Despite never seeing frontline combat, “Major-General Can’t-Sing” remains obsessed with the war and tries to organise the ghosts with military precision.

4. Julian

The recently departed spirit is Julian Fawcett MP (portrayed by Simon Farnaby), a disgraced Conservative politician who suffered a heart attack during a scandalous act in 1993, leading to an eternity without pants. He can interact slightly with the physical world, often using just one finger to move small items or press buttons. Despite his corrupt and greedy nature, Alison sometimes exploits his moral decay for her advantage. Interestingly, he takes secret pride in his daughter becoming a Green Party MP, and develops a sweet bond with Mike’s baby niece. As Julian often puts it: ‘Family, family, family.’

3. Kitty

The goofiest of the ghosts is Katherine ‘Kitty’ Higham (Lolly Adefope) – a highly excitable, endearingly naïve Georgian noblewoman. As the only non-white ghost, some have speculated that the character is loosely based on real-life figure Dido Elizabeth Belle (played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw in 2013 biopic Belle). Needy Kitty becomes convinced that Alison is her best friend. She has repressed unhappy memories of her adoptive family, especially her abusive elder sister, preferring to remain blissfully ignorant. Soppy and starry-eyed, she adores dancing, romantic fiction and Grease. Hysterical in more ways than one. Just don’t entrust her with any secrets.

2. Robin

The eldest spirit residing in the area where Button House stands is believed to be a Stone Age cave dweller. Known as Rogh during his lifetime, he met an untimely end when lightning struck the tree he sought refuge in to avoid a bear attack – thus explaining his fear of Mike’s taxidermy bear. In simpler terms, you could call him “Stone Age Ghost” or “Primitive Bear-afraid Spirit”.

Through an unusual circumstance surrounding his demise, Robin possesses the ability to control electricity. He engages in chess matches with Julian, fluently communicates in French, takes delight in a local dish known as “bum and chips”, reveres a deity called “Moonah”, and can be sensed by living creatures – a talent that proves quite beneficial. Despite his speech being rudimentary and fractured, the passage of 10,000 years of human civilization has instilled in Robin a profound sense of wisdom and soulfulness. Yet even with this ancient background, he remains enthusiastic about fire.

1. Pat

Translated more politely: “Goodness gracious, you fool! It’s unfortunate to remind EastEnders fans that Patrick ‘Pat’ Butcher met his end in 1984 on the Button House grounds. Tragically, he was struck by an arrow during an archery lesson.

This Yorkshire native has a fondness for Watneys ale, community theater, and Abba. He bears with Thomas’s airs, guides Mary with patience, and watches over Kitty in a caring manner. A particularly touching scene is the depiction of Pat’s “Day of Remembrance,” where his loved ones gather to honor him.

Affable, amiable, and compassionate, Pat stands out as the epitome of Ghosts’ heartwarming yet humorous spirit, earning him the top position among us. His comedic prowess is unquestionable, as evidenced by how actor Jim Howick can reduce his co-stars to fits of laughter simply with a glance. Ah, Pat! Every grand manor should have one such character.

Ghosts is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

2024-10-24 20:04

Best Ghosts characters, ranked