Anyone who ever watched it will have a favourite, or familiar, era of Rentaghost, the long running BBC children’s sitcom of the 1970s and 80s. It was one of those shows that stated its premise in the haunting (geddit?) theme tune.
The series ran for 58 episodes over nine series, from 1976 to 1984. It was created by Bob Block.
Here’s how it was first announced in The Stage, as part of a wider article about children’s shows.
Jill Weekes was suitably impressed with the first series as it came to an end.
While cast member Ann Emery very quickly realised the success of the show and how it could help.
By the second series, ITV had launched a rival, which Kenneth Hughes thought superior to the BBC show.
The Ghosts Of Motley Hall ran on ITV for three series from 1976 to 1978, and was created by Catweazle writer Richard Carpenter. It didn’t have such a good theme tune, but it could boast Peter Sallis among the cast.
Series three of Rentaghost saw some cast changes, and also had some production difficulties.
But it saw of its rival, and kept running, until it began to break records.
