Meet the cast of BBC One sitcom Ghosts

By Ben Allen

Published: Friday, 23 September 2022 at 12:00 am

Some of the most recognisable faces in British comedy join forces for BBC sitcom Ghosts, which tells the story of a dilapidated country manor infested with restless spirits from eras gone by.

When they unexpectedly inherit the property from a distant relative, married couple Alison and Mike suddenly become responsible for keeping them all happy – while also attempting to turn the place into a solid business.

In season 4, which premieres on BBC One and iPlayer this month, their plan is to list their home on Airbnb, with an outhouse intended as a cosy retreat for holidaymakers. It goes about as well as you would expect.

Charlotte Ritchie (Grantchester) and Kiell Smith-Bynoe (Stath Lets Flats) lead the cast as Button House’s only living residents, while the troupe behind Horrible Histories and Yonderland comprise their paranormal tenants.

In addition to a full fourth season, we’ll also be getting another Ghosts Christmas special in 2022, so look out for that on the schedules as we near closer to the festive period.

For everything you need to know about the Ghosts cast – which could be welcoming a new addition this year – read on.

Charlotte Ritchie plays Alison

BBC

Who is Alison? Alison is a young woman who finds out that she has inherited a country manor from her “step-great-auntie” – a distant relative who died leaving no direct descendants. In the first series, she has a near-death experience that gives her the ability to see ghosts, allowing her to get to know the larger-than-life personalities haunting her new home. She becomes more confident at keeping the spirits appeased over time, but life in Button House still has plenty of challenges.

Where have I seen Charlotte Ritchie before? She played Nurse Barbara Gilbert on Call The Midwife until making a heartbreaking exit in seaon 7, and previously starred in Channel 4 comedy Fresh Meat as Oregon. Since leaving Midwife, she has also co-starred in Netflix’s Feel Good and E4’s Dead Pixels, as well as making guest appearances in Doctor Who and Death in Paradise. Most recently, she joined the Grantchester cast for season 7, playing a love interest to vicar William Davenport (Tom Brittney).

Kiell Smith-Bynoe plays Mike

Who is Mike? Mike is Charlotte’s husband, who moves with her to Button House to help her renovate the dilapidated building. He isn’t able to see the ghosts like Alison can, but does believe that they exist and supports her in coping with them where he can. The writers of Ghosts have dismissed the idea of finding a way for Mike to see his paranormal tenants like his wife can, feeling it would change the premise of the show to radically and irreversibly. However, they have found workaround ways for Mike to interact with them in recent episodes.

Where have I seen Kiell Smith-Bynoe before? Smith-Bynoe is best known for playing Dean in acclaimed Channel 4 comedy Stath Lets Flats, while he has also appeared in Man Like Mobeen, Death in Paradise and Bloods. Most recently, he made a guest appearance in Daisy May Cooper comedy The Witchfinder.

Mathew Baynton plays Thomas

Who is Thomas? A failed romantic poet who now haunts Button House. He quickly becomes infatuated with Alison, and finds it hard to accept that she isn’t interested in him.

Where have I seen Mathew Baynton before? The Horrible Histories and Yonderland star first came to national attention in the Gavin & Stacey cast, where he played Smithy’s dim-witted friend and colleague, Deano. He teamed up with Corden once again on comedy-drama series The Wrong Mans. His other television credits include ITV’s Vanity Fair, The Split, Peep Show and Sky’s You, Me and the Apocalypse.

Lolly Adefope plays Kitty

Who is Kitty? One of the ghosts haunting Alison and Mike, Kitty is a Georgian noblewoman who is very kind, but a little bit too eager to be everybody’s best friend.

Where have I seen Lolly Adefope before? The comedy star played infuriating roving reporter Ruth Duggan in This Time with Alan Partridge, while she also stars in US comedies Shrill and Miracle Workers. She competed on the fourth season of Greg Davies and Alex Horne’s smash hit Taskmaster.

Simon Farnaby plays Julian

Who is Julian? A Conservative MP who passed away under embarrassing circumstances. Hint: he’s not wearing any trousers. Julian also has the ability to move objects in the real world, but only short distances and with great concentration.

Where have I seen Simon Farnaby before? As well as Horrible Histories and Yonderland, Simon Farnaby has also had roles in Detectorists and This Time with Alan Partridge, as well as a brief cameo appearance in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Behind the camera, he is known for co-writing family adventure Paddington 2, which received critical acclaim and was a box office hit. He’s reuniting with collaborator Paul King for Hollywood blockbuster Wonka, starring Timothée Chalamet, which will also see appearances from Ghosts actors Baynton and Ritchie.

Martha Howe-Douglas plays Lady Button

Who is Lady Button? A distant relative of Alison who passed away in Button House during the Edwardian era. She is extremely pompous and elitist, still considering the house to be her home above all else.

Where have I seen Martha Howe-Douglas before? The Horrible Histories and Yonderland regular also featured in Doctor Foster and made a surprise appearance on EastEnders back in 2018. More recently, she has guest starred in BBC One sitcom Motherland and Sky comedy Breeders.

Ben Willbond plays The Captain

Who is The Captain? A former army officer who fancies himself the leader amongst the spirits in the mansion. It has been heavily implied that the Captain is gay, with one emotional episode revealing he developed feelings for one of his fellow soldiers during the war. However, he did not come out of the closet before his death.

Where have I seen Ben Willbond before? Another Horrible Histories and Yonderland favourite, Willbond has also featured in comedies such as The Thick of It, Tracey Ullman’s Show, There She Goes and Alma’s Not Normal. He also appeared in Neil Gaiman’s fantasy series Good Omens. On the big screen, you may recognise him from belated sequel Bridget Jones’s Baby.

Katy Wix plays Mary

Who is Mary? A dim-witted “witch” who was burnt at the stake in the Middle Ages.

Where have I seen Katy Wix before? She played Daisy in Not Going Out, Fergie in The Windsors, and Carole in Stath Lets Flats. Wix has made memorable guest appearances in This Time with Alan Partridge, Sherlock and Death in Paradise among others. Most recently, she co-starred in acclaimed Channel 4 sitcom Big Boys.

Jim Howick plays Pat

Who is Pat? Another of the ghosts in Button House: a former scout leader who got an arrow in the neck during a day trip gone horribly wrong.

Where have I seen Jim Howick before? The Horrible Histories, Yonderland and Peep Show favourite has a memorable recurring role as teacher Mr Hendricks in Netflix’s Sex Education. He currently stars in another BBC sitcom, Here We Go, while he recently took a dramatic turn for ITV thriller Hollington Drive.