{"id":42547,"date":"2023-12-26T08:00:03","date_gmt":"2023-12-26T07:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1948873"},"modified":"2023-12-26T09:43:37","modified_gmt":"2023-12-26T08:43:37","slug":"ghosts-writers-on-why-no-one-was-sucked-off-to-afterlife-in-finale","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/ghosts-writers-on-why-no-one-was-sucked-off-to-afterlife-in-finale\/","title":{"rendered":"Ghosts writers on why no one was \u201csucked off\u201d to afterlife in finale"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jim Howick revealed the idea of a more permanent farewell was “floated”. *SPOILERS FOR THE GHOSTS FINALE* <\/p>

By David Craig\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 26 December 2023 at 07:00 AM<\/p>

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The writers behind BBC One\u2019s Ghosts<\/a> have revealed why no characters were \u201csucked off\u201d to the afterlife in the recent Christmas special \u2013 which serves as the grand finale to the acclaimed series.<\/p>\n

Of course, in this context, the term \u201csucked off\u201d \u2013 as coined by witch trial victim Mary (Katy Wix) \u2013 refers to a ghost being suddenly transported from one plain of existence to the next. (The writers of the show love a good innuendo.)<\/p>\n

This happened to Mary herself<\/a> in a shocking season 4 episode \u2013 titled Gone Gone \u2013 which was praised for dealing with themes<\/a> of loss and grief in a sensitive and accessible way.<\/p>\n

So enthusiastic was the reception to that particular chapter that many fans anticipated at least one other ghost would be dealt the same fate in the finale \u2013 and, according to co-creator Jim Howick, it was on the cards at one stage.<\/p>

\u201cI think the idea was always to keep it sort of as upbeat and light as possible, and not venture too much into the supernatural that perhaps we have in the past \u2013 with the ghosts being sucked off,\u201d he told RadioTimes.com<\/a> and other press.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think maybe the idea of all the ghosts being sucked off was perhaps floated, but I don\u2019t think it really stuck around too long.\u201d<\/p>\n

Besides protecting the tone of the last ever Christmas special, co-creator Laurence Rickard explained that staging a mass exodus of all the ghosts in Button House would have broken a key rule \u2013 \u201cthere is no reason that they go\u201d.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cTo have gone, \u2018Something happens which means they\u2019re all then free to move on,\u2019 would have been betraying the logic and the lore as we\u2019d set it up. So that was quickly dismissed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The\n<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/div>
(L-R) Ben Willbond, Lolly Adefope, Mathew Baynton, Martha Howe-Douglas, Laurence Rickard, Simon Farnaby, Jim Howick and Charlotte Ritchie.<\/span><\/figcaption> BBC\/Monumental\/Guido Mandozzi<\/i><\/span><\/div>\n

Once in agreement that none of the ghosts would be \u201csucked off\u201d anywhere, co-creator Mathew Baynton revealed that the team sought \u201can opportunity for the jeopardy of the idea that they all go\u201d.<\/p>\n

He continued: \u201cIf that\u2019s in the audience\u2019s mind \u2013 that that might be how the show ends \u2013 it was really pleasing to then have an exorcism. We could think, \u2018Maybe they are all going to go,\u2019 and sort of play with that expectation.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut ultimately, I think on the face of it, it\u2019s a concept show about a supernatural thing \u2013 ghosts \u2013 but underneath that, it was always just a show about people. And that\u2019s how it should end.\u201d<\/p>\n

Baynton added: \u201cIt should be a human ending, not a supernatural one, because that\u2019s what the show always was.\u201d<\/p>\n

For more on the final episode, check out our full recap of the Ghosts ending<\/a>, including insight into that surprising time jump.<\/p>