The spirits of Button House are officially rising again. Following yesterday’s mysterious social media tease, the BBC has now confirmed that ‘Ghosts’ is returning not for a sixth series, but for a feature film titled Ghosts: The Possession of Button House.
BBC Film, Lionsgate and BBC Studios have given Monumental Television the greenlight to bring the beloved sitcom to cinemas, with filming set to begin next month at West Horsley Place in Surrey, alongside locations in the surrounding area.
In what will delight fans, the original stars, writers and creators Mathew Baynton (Horrible Histories), Simon Farnaby (Paddington 2), Martha Howe-Douglas (Horrible Histories), Jim Howick (Horrible Histories), Laurence Rickard (Horrible Histories) and Ben Willbond (Horrible Histories) have written the feature-length family adventure. They are joined on screen by Lolly Adefope (Miracle Workers), Charlotte Ritchie (Fresh Meat) and Kiell Smith-Bynoe (Back).
If you read our piece yesterday about the cast sharing that cryptic clip of Button House’s door opening by itself, yes, this is what they were teasing. The ghosts were never going to rest quietly, were they?
Simon Hynd directs the film, having previously helmed episodes of Ghosts, Motherland and Can You Keep a Secret? Producers are Alison Carpenter and Andy Brunskill, with Alison Owen and Debra Hayward also producing. BBC Studios will handle international distribution, while Lionsgate distributes in the UK.
The creators/writers say:
“We thought we had said goodbye to Button House at the end of the final series. We never planned to come back. But when we had the idea for this story, we all got so excited that we couldn’t resist returning to our haunted home for one more adventure. We can’t wait to be together and to welcome some brilliant new faces, to tell this soul-stirring tale of life and death.”
Owen and Hayward add:
“We are thrilled to be bringing this hit comedy to the big screen for an even bigger audience to enjoy.”
Carpenter says:
“We couldn’t be more excited to be working with this exceptionally talented team once again, and with Simon at the helm. Die-hard fans and newcomers are in for a real treat”.
Eva Yates, Director of BBC Film says:
“At BBC, we are overjoyed to be bringing our beloved ‘Ghosts’ back once again, this time for a hilarious and cinematic adventure, for the enjoyment of audiences on big and small screen alike.”
Marie-Claire Benson, EVP, Head of the Motion Picture Group at Lionsgate UK says:
“We’re proud to champion outstanding British filmmaking and excited to work with the remarkable Ghosts team to bring Button House to UK Cinemas.”
Richard Acton, EP for BBC Studios says:
“We are delighted to be partnering again with Monumental and the Ghosts team and can’t wait for international audiences both new and old to see this brilliant latest chapter in the Ghosts story.”
Originally running for five series on BBC One, with a Christmas special closing things out in 2023, the show became the most-watched comedy series of that year in the UK, with its final episode pulling in 7.2 million viewers. Since then, the format has travelled globally, spawning adaptations in multiple territories, and the US version is currently heading into its sixth season.
For fans who genuinely believed Button House had closed its doors for good, this feels like the perfect afterlife twist.
‘Ghosts: The Possession of Button House’ does not yet have a premiere date but will be released in UK cinemas.
Login to Geektown