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| Rentaghost |
Rentaghost was childrens TV at its very best, it was camp, anarchic and totally stupid!
I was there when the first episode was broadcast on the 1st June 1976, and 8 years later to tune into the final show!
I was really into ghosts about that time and after watching the first show I went out and purchased the Rentaghost book by Bob Block. I idolised the characters and never missed one episode!
The first show introduces Fred Mumford, a slightly porky middle aged loser, recently deceased, who has decided to start an agency for ghosts who were also failures in life. His first signing is a medieval jester called Timothy Claypole (who is wonderfully played by the incredibly gay Michael Staniforth) and shortly afterwards a priggish Victorian ghost, Hubert Davenport (Michael Darbyshire). Mumford and the ghosts operate from an office which is owned by Harold Meeker (who ends up in hospital in episode 3 after he discovers his tenants are ghosts!)
The first series is slapstick based comedy, which looks quite dated to 21st century eyes, but this method was phased out in subsequent seasons and replaced by farce.
Season 1 also features Ethel Meeker, Harold's loopy wife, and Fred's parents who persistently cold call the office seeking him, (unaware that he is dead).
Elderly Scottish spook Hazel the McWitch, and entrepreneur Adam Painting (Christopher Biggins) make their debut in season 4, and Dobbin, the pantomime horse joins the cast in the Rentasanta Christmas special of December 1978, after being brought to life by Claypole's spell.
Before the fifth season began shooting, Michael Darbyshire, who played Davenport, died, and Anthony Jackson (Fred Mumford) declined to return. This left Michael Staniforth (Claypole) as the only original ghost. I remember being pretty upset about this at the time!
The later episodes were set in the Meeker household after Claypole, Dobbin, McWitch, Nadia Popov, and a collection of other spooks move in and create weekly havoc, much to the annoyance of Arthur and Rose Perkins, the Meeker's, long suffering next door neighbours!
The 1982 Christmas special saw the ghosts act out a pantomime in which Ethel Meeker sings 'Tangerine' while a roller disco takes place around her! This episode is also my personal favorite!
The final episodes introduce Whatsisname Smith (Kenneth Connor), Susie Starlight, Rover the tortoise and Jeremy (a robotic cleaning machine).
Tragically all of the original cast are now ghosts themselves, Davenport, Mumford, Harold Meeker and Claypole, have all joined the spirit world for real! Davenport (Michael Darbyshire) died in 1979, Michael Staniforth who played Claypole died of AIDS in 1987 and Anthony Jackson (Mumford) died in 2006. I remember meeting Jackson at Eastbourne station a couple of weeks before he died, I told him that I was a big fan of the show, but accidentally addressed him as Mr Meeker!, he quickly corrected me by replying in a hushed voice "I was Mumford actually", He looked a bit hurt to be remembered from Rentaghost (no doubt bitterness must of crept into his thoughts for resigning from the show and missing out on 5 years guaranteed work!) As I watched him shuffle (rather dejectedly) onto the 1431 to Victoria, I felt a sadness that the show would never come back!
Rentaghost did return in 2006 as an unsuccessful stage production, without any of the original cast (obviously!) and written by that talentless cunt, Joe Pasquale!
There are also plans to make a Hollywood movie version starring Ben Stiller, but this would be a disaster..as we all know what happens when the Yanks get their hands on something good!
I'm afraid most of us who remember the series would never settle for anything less than the original cast, and as 80% of them are now dead, we can forget it!
Season 1 is available on DVD, but many of the other episodes were destroyed by the BBC (who also famously did the same with many historic Dr Who episodes!)
The Cast
- Timothy Claypole (Michael Staniforth) (1976-1984) *
- Harold Meaker (Edward Brayshaw) (1976-1984) *
- Ethel Meaker (Ann Emery) (1976-1984)
- Fred Mumford (Anthony Jackson) (1976–1978) *
- Hubert Davenport (Michael Darbyshire) (1976–1978) *
- Hazel the McWitch (Molly Weir) (1978–1984) *
- Nadia Popov (Sue Nicholls) (1981–1984)
- Adam Painting (Christopher Biggins) (1977-1983)
- Rose Perkins (Hal Dyer) (1978–1984) *
- Arthur Perkins (Jeffrey Segal) (1978–1984)
- Tamara Novek (Lynda La Plante) (1980)
- Dobbin the Pantomime Horse (William Perrie, John Asquith)
- Mrs Mumford (Betty Alberge) (1976–1978) *
- Mr Mumford (John Dawson) (1976–1978)
- Whatsisname Smith (Kenneth Connor) (1983-1984) *
- Susie Starlight (Aimi MacDonald) (1984)
* These actors are now real GHOSTS!
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