Introduction – Best Ghost Episodes
Ghosts is a scarily great show. It’s also a great reunion for the original (and best) Horrible Histories cast, alongside additions like Charlotte Ritchie and Kiell Smith-Bynoe. So with four seasons, multiple Christmas specials, and an unfortunate US spinoff, Ghosts has become a staple of British television in recent years. So before I get into the best Ghosts episodes list properly, here is some history about this TV show.
Best Ghosts Episodes – History Of The Show
Ghosts first debuted on BBC1 in 2018 and is currently in its fourth season. The show follows Alison and Mike, a couple who inherit Button House from one of Alison’s distant relatives. The one catch is the house is haunted by a myriad of ghosts of people who died in the house and its grounds. These include a caveman, a former politician who died on the toilet, and Lady Button: the former lady of the house and Alison’s ancestor. All the ghosts are played by the old Horrible Histories cast, with Simon Farnaby playing the politician’s ghost and Mat Baynton playing a Victorian poet. Without further ado, let’s count down the best episodes of Ghosts!
Best Ghosts Episodes – Top Ten
10. Bump In The Night (S2, E5)
Kicking off the list of the best Ghosts episodes is Bump in the Night. What makes this episode so good? Well, when Alison is away from the house the ghosts realise the house is being burgled. The only problem is the ghosts can’t tell Mike the house is being burgled. So naturally this leads to some hilarious moments, like Robin the caveman being the one to save the day.
9. Free Pass (S1, E4)
Next up amongst the best Ghosts episodes is Free Pass. This episode deals with a lot, but sets a running theme of the ghosts driving people away from the house. In this case, it’s a film crew making a period drama. This episode also establishes Victorian poet ghost Thomas’s crush on Alison. What follows is hilarious. Furthermore, the episode’s ending is absolutely brilliant, and incredibly funny. All of which explains why it makes our list of the best episodes of Ghosts.
8. The Bone Plot (S3, E1)
The series 3 opener focuses on another specific ghost’s death: headless Tudor Humphrey. When a Tudor documentary is being filmed at Button House, Humphrey recounts his death. It involves a very noble act of him trying to protect his French wife when she’s falsely accused of trying to assassinate Elizabeth I. You’re probably thinking he was beheaded for trying to protect her and you’d be right, but not in the way you think. Also, Mike’s disappointment at his Button House t-shirts being a let down is a lovely little subplot. Hence why this makes it onto our list of the best Ghosts episodes.
7. Happy Death Day (S1, E3)
Don’t worry, this episode is referencing the horrible film, but it is a great episode of Ghosts. So what makes it so good that it belongs on our list? Well, it’s an episode that focuses on a specific ghost: Pat. Pat is understandably emotional when it’s revealed that the current day in the episode is the day when he died. Now, while there’s a really touching moment where Pat meets his grandson there’s a lot of fantastic comedy in the episode. Just as one example, builders working on the house start quitting because Alison is weird and annoying. Obviously, this is the ghosts doing, but it doesn’t change the fact it adds some needed comic relief to the episode.
6. The Thomas Thorne Affair (S2, E4)
Ah yes, who doesn’t love a bit of Thomas Thorne and his ludicrously hilarious tales from Victorian England. This time he is recounting his death and his prior love for a woman who already had eyes for someone else. Anyway, this leads to all the ghosts having different memories of his death and a very touching and funny reveal about it. The subplot of Mike being nervous about meeting Alison’s previous boyfriend at a reunion rounds off a very good episode.
Best Ghosts Episodes – Top Five
5. Gorilla War (S1, E2)
At the halfway point of the best episodes of Ghosts is Gorilla War. Now that’s not a typo in the episode title, but it is exactly what you think. The ghosts aren’t backing down and keep trying to disrupt Alison and Mike’s plan. Naturally, this starts getting on Alison’s nerves so she desperately spends the episode trying to broker a somewhat stable peace with the ghosts. That, and the scene of Alison in the doctor’s office really make this episode. And yes if you’ve seen a supernatural comedy you’ve probably guessed that punchline…
4. Who Do You Think You Are? (S1, E1)
Narrowly missing out on the top three best Ghosts episode is the pilot: Who Do You Think You Are? Naturally, this episode sets up the show. This includes the politician’s ghost, Julian, pushing Alison out of the window, putting her in a coma. This enables her to see the ghosts in Button House. Then the episode sets up the war between Alison and the ghosts as she and Mike want to convert the house into a hotel. And the only problem for the ghosts is they experience great pain when people walk through them. Overall, a very solid episode.
Best Ghosts Episodes – Top Three
3. The Grey Lady (S2, E1)
So, we come to the three best Ghosts episodes. Let’s start with The Grey Lady at #3. Once again, this episode focuses primarily on one ghost: Alison’s distant ancestor Lady Button. This episode deals with a wedding photographer somehow taking a photo of Lady Button. Naturally, this leads to ghost hunters descending on Button House desperately searching for more evidence of ghosts. This results in a very funny withdrawal of the ghost hunters when they realise what Alison has been doing, as the ghosts aren’t too cooperative with the whole idea. It’s very Paranormal Activity parody at times, which isn’t a bad thing.
2. Something To Share? (S3, E5)
Once again we return to an episode that centres on a particular ghost. This time it’s the lovely Victorian ghost Kitty. This episode seems to draw a lot from Disney with her wicked stepsister being jealous of her father’s perceived preference for her. Honestly, it’s really good stuff with a wonderful revelation and performance from Lolly Adefope. There are also other highlights like Pat and Julian’s revelations, and Mike being thankful he can’t talk to the ghosts when they and Alison experience Mary’s nightmares. Top notch stuff all around, but it doesn’t top our list of the best episodes of Ghosts.
Best Ghosts Episode
1. Not Again (S4, E6)
And the best episode of Ghosts is… Not Again! Now, not only is this the most recent episode before the upcoming series 5, but it’s also brilliant. When Alison sends Mike to find some furniture at an auction, he somehow comes back with a stuffed bear. This terrifies Robin, the caveman ghost, who saw his friends murdered by a bear. What follows is a hilarious game of hide and seek where Robin keeps bumping into the bear no matter where Alison and Mike move it. Oh, and the ending is really touching with one of the ghosts saving Mike. So really there’s so much to love about it, and that’s why it heads up our rankings of the best episodes of Ghosts.
