Series synopsis
The Ghosts of Motley Hall is a British sci-fi & fantasy comedy family television series that premiered on ITV1 on April 25, 1976. It ended on March 5, 1978. It was created by Richard Carpenter. It stars Sheila Steafel, Sean Flanagan and Peter Sallis.
The Ghosts of Motley Hall is a British children's television series written by Richard Carpenter and produced and directed by Quentin Lawrence for Granada Television, and broadcast between 1976 and 1978 on ITV.
Five ghosts occupy the titular Motley Hall. Each hails from a different era and all—with the exception of newly deceased Matt—are unable to leave the confines of the building.
Premise
The Ghosts of Motley Hall is a British children's television series written by Richard Carpenter and produced and directed by Quentin Lawrence for Granada Television, and broadcast between 1976 and 1978 on ITV.
Five ghosts occupy the titular Motley Hall. Each hails from a different era and all—with the exception of newly deceased Matt—are unable to leave the confines of the building.
Premise: What they can do when no one can see them
Cast and characters
Leading cast
- Sheila Steafel as The White Lady
- Sean Flanagan as Matt
- Peter Sallis as Mr Gudgin
Guest cast
- Arthur English as Bodkin
- Freddie Jones as Sir George Uproar
- Nicholas Le Prevost as Sir Francis 'Fanny' Uproar
- Annie Ross as Darlene Dewey
- Joan Sanderson as Alexandra Uproar
- William Mervyn as Mr Brayling
- Gerry Cowan as Mr Penrose
- Reg Lye as Old Glory
- Gerald James as Mr Porter
- Margaret John as Mrs Porter
- Hugh Walters as Geoffrey
- Tony Haygarth as Ronald
Episodes
This series spans 4 seasons with 21 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 1 | ||
| Season 1 | 7 | April 25, 1976 | June 6, 1976 |
| Season 2 | 7 | December 24, 1976 | December 26, 1977 |
| Season 3 | 6 | January 29, 1978 | March 5, 1978 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phantomime |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Last Uproar There has always been an Uproar at Motley Hall, until now. The last Uproar, Sir Humphrey, has died, leaving caretaker Mr Gudgin facing two schemers plotting to steal Motley Hall out from under him. It's up to the ghosts to figure out a way to save their home and their way of life (death)! |
April 25, 1976 |
| 2 |
Old Gory Old Gory is a Motley Hall Ghost who appears faithfully every five years and can be seen by all, living and ghosts alike. Unfortunately this year, his scheduled appearance is likely to be seen by a ghost hunter and his very perceptive wife staking out Motley Hall. The appearance of Old Gory to the Ghost Hunters would be disastrous for the residents by exposing them and threatening their happy home! |
May 2, 1976 |
| 3 |
Box of Tricks The ghosts discover television abd the trouble it can cause when two bumbling crooks use Motley Hall to store eight boxes of stolen wireless TVs. The crooks are thwarted, first by the residents and then by a policeman who is able to see clearly into a crime, and a whole lot more! |
May 9, 1976 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Christmas Spirit There's not a lot of Christmas Spirit at Motley Hall this year. Everyone's depressed because Christmas is no different than any other day of the year. Suddenly, the house comes alive and recreates a lovely Christmas of 1848, only to be threatened by the cutting down of the haunted Blasted Beech for use as a yule log. It's up to our ghosts to save Christmas and the Motley family's future. |
December 24, 1976 |
| 2 |
Sir Peveril's Hoard The roof needs mending and the ghosts are worried how Mr Gudgin will pay. They know that Sir Peveril has piles of loot hidden somewhere in Motley Hall but all they have for a clue to find it is the inscription on his bust that says he told the secret to his cat! |
January 2, 1977 |
| 3 |
Where Are You, White Feather? The residents' happy existence rudely interrupted by Britain's top medium Emily Tiffin and her spirit guide, White Feather. In a plot to rid Motley of these unwelcome guests, Bodkin takes the place of White Feather temporarily but they soon find Bodkin permanently bound to Mrs Tiffin. A brash and bold plan is the only way they can get Bodkin back in Motley where he belongs. |
January 9, 1977 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Family Tree American couple Darlene and Marvin Dewey are trying to trace Darlene's family tree; Sir George's brother Albert married Darlene's great-great grandmother, his older sister Alexandra never married but legend tells that his younger sister Clara eloped with an American and Mrs Dewey wants to know the truth. She has all sorts of gadgets to get in touch with spirits as she wants to ask Sir George. |
January 29, 1978 |
| 2 |
Ghost Writer A film crew descend on Motley Hall as historian St John Desmond details the house's history for School television, but as they portray incidents from Motley's past, the ghosts notice that the historian has it wrong. Can they, with the help of faithful Mr Gudgin, set the record straight before the name of Uproar is blackened forever? |
February 5, 1978 |
| 3 |
Skeleton in the Cupboard: Part 1 The other ghosts feel that Sir George is becoming a tyrant and want to teach him some humility. Sir George seems to have an adverse reaction to his sister Alexandra's croquet mallet. The ghosts wonder what the story is behind this and if it can help them get out from under George's rule. |
February 12, 1978 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | ITV1 |
|---|---|
| First aired | April 25, 1976 |
| Last aired | March 5, 1978 |
| Runtime | 30 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Sunday |