Ghosts Guide: How the UK Characters Compare to American Counterparts
British Ghosts are soon going to be haunting CBS.
Beginning this Thursday, Nov. 16, the original BBC One comedy on which the hit American iteration is based will make its Stateside broadcast debut, with two back-to-back episodes airing at 9/8c (following repeats of the U.S. Ghosts at 8:30 pm).
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Naturally, the two series have plenty in common when it comes to their premises: Like Sam (Rose McIver) and Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar), Alison (YOU’s Charlotte Ritchie) and Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe) inherit a giant estate from her distant relative, which they plan to fix up into a B&B. And of course, Button House is also home to a motley crew of spirits, with whom Alison can communicate after a knock to the noggin.
Alison’s new ghostly friends range from the lady of the manor Fanny Button (aka her disapproving ancestor) and sweet, skewered scout leader Pat, which should sound very familiar to fans of the American Ghosts. But while the UK and U.S. characters share DNA, so to speak, there are also deviations between them, both big and small.
With the invasion of the Brits upon us, TVLine has compiled a guide to who’s who on Ghosts UK and who’s like who from the remake.
Alison & Mike Cooper (Charlotte Ritchie & Kiell Smith-Bynoe)
Like Sam and Jay, Alison and Mike are cute, young, married and have to contend with her newfound ability to see the dead. But we’d argue that Sam is quicker than Alison to warm up to the ghosts — those Brits are prickly — and Utkarsh Ambudkar is having the most fun as Jay, the hubby who can’t see his wife’s new pals.
Kitty (Lolly Adefope)
A na?vely innocent 18th century Georgian noblewoman, Kitty doesn’t have a direct counterpart. But her bubbly and sweet personality is reminiscent of hippie Flower’s sometimes clueless joyfulness. Just don’t go comparing them when it comes to romance and sex.
Kitty also comes from a complicated background, complete with familial drama, like Prohibition-era singer Alberta. (No spoilers here!)
Thomas Thorne (Mathew Baynton)
While the wordy Romantic poet couldn’t be more different than the bro-tastic, ’90s stockbroker Trevor, they do share one thing in common: a very unrequited crush on the new lady of the house. Meanwhile, Thomas and Native American storyteller Sasappis have a gift with words.
Julian Fawcett MP (Simon Farnaby)
Just as mysteriously pantsless and obnoxiously humorous as Trevor, the disgraced Tory MP can also just barely move things in the real world with his power. Like his American equivalent, he’s the most recently deceased ghost, having died in 1993.
Lady Stephanie ‘Fanny’ Button (Martha Howe-Douglas)
The Edwardian lady of the manor and Hetty would definitely get along — that is if they didn’t kill each other with judgmental remarks and disapproving stares first. (Neither Alison nor Sam are safe from those withering comments either.)
Patrick ‘Pat’ Butcher (Jim Howick)
Pat and Pete are probably the most similar characters: Both are scout group-type leaders who were shot in the neck with an arrow. Both are kind and patient to a fault. And both love improv comedy.
Rogh/’Robin’ (Laurence Rickard)
Rather than a Viking like Thorfinn, the UK comedy’s oldest ghost is caveman Robin, who shares Thor’s penchant for monosyllabic dialogue and his ability to control electricity. Underneath their gruff exteriors, both are also secret sweethearts (with a potential ghostly romance).
The Captain (Ben Willbond)
Long after Isaac fought in the Revolutionary War, the stern Captain was an army officer in World War II. To this day, he commands the other ghosts like he’s still in charge — and like Isaac was for much of his afterlife, he’s still in the closet.
Mary (Katy Wix)
As a witch trial victim from the 1600s, Mary truly stands on her own — except for her ability to give off the smell of smoke, which is akin to the stink that Isaac gives off when people pass through him.
Sir Humphrey Bone (Laurence Rickard)
Good news for fans of the American Ghosts who are constantly asking about the headless greaser: You’ll see plenty of the Tudor nobleman’s decapitated noggin. And yes, that is the same actor who also plays caveman Robin.
The Basement Ghosts
While Sam and Jay’s downstairs is occupied by Cholera victims, Alison and Jay have their hands full with a bevy of ghosts who died of the plague during the Black Death.
Eight of the basement dwellers — fun fact alert! — are played by the show’s co-creators/stars: Mathew Baynton (Romantic poet Thomas Thorne), Simon Farnaby (disgraced MP Julian Fawcett), Martha Howe-Douglas (lady of the manor Fanny Button), Jim Howick (scout leader Pat Butcher), Laurence Rickard (caveman Robin) and Ben Willbond (WWII Captain).
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