TV Review Rentaghost

Preston, England
April 19, 2018 5:10am CST
Before Ghostbusters there was Rentaghost, a very silly BBC TV children’s comedy series that ran from 1976 to 1984. The premise was simple – they were an agency that hired ghost out to homes that had no ghosts of their own. The ghosts were invariably incompetent and utterly out of touch with modern life. The agency operated in secret so much of the farce involved neighbours of the proprietors noticing strange goings on, and thinking everyone was just mad. Season one had the strongest episodes, and just three ghosts, a miserable recently dead chap called Mumford who hires a Victorian host who finds modern people shockingly decadent and Timothy Claypole, a medieval court jester who is utterly clueless about modern technology and just about everything else. The actor playing Davenport (Michael Davenport) died early on, and his co-star, Anthony Jackson (Mumford) quit, so for much most of the run, Michael Stanniforth (Claypole the jester) was the only cast member to appear in all 58 episodes. Other characters introduced by Claypole included a witch, a Russian ghost (played by Coronation Street soap opera actress Sue Nichols) and a dubious ghost-hirer played by Christopher Biggins. The real star however was Dobbin, a non-speaking pantomime horse brought to life and having a tendency to stalk the neighbourly Meakers and eventually moves in with them once they find out about the ghosts. I always find Dobbin a little creepy as a pantomime horse is essentially two actors in a horse costume (front and back half). In bringing the costume to life it surely meant the actors were trapped inside it forever. Another joy of Rentaghost was its theme tune which stays with me to this day. I have added it here as a Youtube. Arthur Chappell
Opening titles to the TV series from the 70's & 80's. Additionally Includes the original song lyrics which were abandoned, sung by MIchael Stanniforth.
7 people like this
6 responses
@Courage7 (19635)
• United States
19 Apr 18
I do not know why I had never seen this one Arthur.
2 people like this
• Preston, England
19 Apr 18
@Courage7 1976-1984 it was a popular children's show though few children appeared in it
2 people like this
• Preston, England
19 Apr 18
@Courage7 it was probably only aired in the UK
2 people like this
@Courage7 (19635)
• United States
19 Apr 18
@arthurchappell Well I was there 70s and on..was it on then or was it earlier?
2 people like this
@Ronrybs (17771)
• London, England
19 Apr 18
Oh dear, remember this one. Sue made a dodgy choice going into Corrie!
2 people like this
• Preston, England
19 Apr 18
@Ronrybs ( yes, more Rentaghost would have been much better for her career lol
2 people like this
@Ronrybs (17771)
• London, England
19 Apr 18
@arthurchappell Whata mistaka to make!
2 people like this
@xander6464 (40696)
• Wapello, Iowa
24 Nov 18
This is yet another that I somehow missed so I went and watched the first episode. Not bad at all for a kid's show.
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
24 Nov 18
@xander6464 always one I enjoyed coming home from school to
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
25 Nov 18
@xander6464 I was quite a TV addict in my early teens
1 person likes this
@xander6464 (40696)
• Wapello, Iowa
25 Nov 18
@arthurchappell I would have loved it when I was in school, too.
1 person likes this
@rakski (112993)
• Philippines
19 Apr 18
oh nice. So it's not ghostbusters who came first? Nice to know but that time, there is no cable yet. we just watch the local channels,
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
19 Apr 18
@rakski some episodes may be on Youtube
1 person likes this
@rakski (112993)
• Philippines
20 Apr 18
@arthurchappell ok I will try to see some. I saw the one attached here. it is funny.
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
21 Apr 18
@rakski I enjoyed watching it again too
@Poppylicious (11133)
20 Apr 18
I loved Rentaghost. I particularly liked the Jester and Nadia Popov... I always hoped that I would transport elsewhere when I sneezed, but I never did. *sad face*
2 people like this
• Preston, England
20 Apr 18
@Poppylicious it was such a fun programme - lots of memorable characters
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109865)
• Los Angeles, California
19 Apr 18
I have never heard of this series. Sounds like goofy fun.
1 person likes this
• Preston, England
19 Apr 18
@JohnRoberts yes it was very enjoyably daft
Mr Claypole is made a genius and plans a mission into space. The Meakers invite the Perkins out to dinner. Rentaghost Opening titles full theme. A few episod...
1 person likes this