The sun was low, the house was dark, the atmosphere was perfect - We watched Ghostwatch yesterday afternoon.
For those who may not know what this is, it was a spoof phone-in and outside broadcast show in search of a poltergeist who was alleged to have been plaguing a house in north west London. It was first shown in 1992 on BBC1 on Hallowe'en, and involved a studio-bound Michael Parkinson, along with an expert Dr Lin Pascoe, watching live pictures from the house where Sarah Greene was hunting ghosts. Also in the studio was Sarah's husband Mike Smith manning the phones - 'waiting for your calls and ghostly experiences', while Craig Charles was outside the house in Northolt and not really serving any purpose at all other than to be annoying.
As the show went on, the ghostly experiences increased, and the mystery of the poltergeist was solved. Then things got really bad as the expert realised they'd created a mass seance, and it ended with the studio in meltdown and Sarah Greene being pulled into a cupboard by the ghost.
I remember when this went out on Hallowe'en, and for a while thinking it was real. However, the acting was so wooden (except from Parky, who was actually quite good), that it all became clear quite quickly. Some people however, thought it really was happening, and there was a bit of a hoo-ha about it.
I have to say though, watching it now, it was actually quite well-done and quite creepy. Afterwards I felt a bit edgy going upstairs. It's no secret that we've had a couple of mediums round to our house, who both saw the same things, and we've been told we've got a few ghosts and we've had some strange goings on. But nothing that makes you want to move out. It's all very friendly.
But I'm glad Mrs F-C was there. I can't watch this type of thing on my own anymore.
For years I rubbished Ghostwatch, but now I think it's a classic.
