Rentaghost
Encyclopedia
Rentaghost is a British children's television
comedy show, broadcast by the BBC
between 6 January 1976 and 6 November 1984. The show's plot centred on the antics of a number of ghosts who worked for a firm called Rentaghost, which rented out the ghosts for various tasks.
, is run by Fred Mumford, a recently deceased loser who feels he can find work for ghosts whose lives were as failed as his. His first (and only) recruits are Timothy Claypole, a mischievous jester with a comical lack of knowledge about modern technology; and Hubert Davenport, a delicate Victorian-era gentleman who is morally shocked by the modern world. The ghosts work from an office, which they rent from Harold Meaker, who discovers the truth about them in the third episode.
Over the course of several series, other characters were added: Hazel the McWitch, a Scottish witch; Nadia Popov, a Dutch ghost who suffers from hayfever and teleport
s away when she sneeze
s; and the pantomime horse
Dobbin, who first appears in a one-off Christmas special called "Rentasanta" and is brought to life by Claypole, who is unable to cancel the spell afterwards – thus allowing Dobbin to remain in the show for the rest of the run.
Another key figure is a ghost from the Wild West called Catastrophe Kate (cf. Calamity Jane
), played by Jana Shelden, who is collected from outside a magic carpet shop in the Spirit World by Fred Mumford. The two ghosts are transported back to Earth on a flying broomstick, Catastrophe Kate having turned down the alternative of a flying vacuum cleaner
. It is Catastrophe Kate who later introduces Hazel the McWitch to the regulars.
Adam Painting, a local entrepreneur played by Christopher Biggins
, frequently appears in episodes and tries, with limited success, to involve the ghosts in his latest business enterprise.
When actor Michael Darbyshire
(who played the role of Davenport) died in 1979, Anthony Jackson (Mumford) declined to appear in the next series, leaving Michael Staniforth's Claypole the sole original ghost; Davenport and Mumford's absences were explained at the start of the series by them having acquired permanent haunting jobs at a stately home. After Mumford's departure, the business was taken over by Harold Meaker and his wife Ethel, who suffered from the various problems the ghosts brought to their lives.
The long-suffering neighbours of Rentaghost are the Perkins, who think the Meakers are mad.
RDF
. However, no new show was forthcoming.
Deadline
reported in December 2010 that "Warner Bros
had acquired the rights to RentaGhost and was going to develop it into a Beetlejuice
-style afterlife feature comedy vehicle for Russell Brand
as Fred Mumford.
However, in October 2011 it was reported that Ben Stiller
had now been signed for the project. Night at the Museum
writers Tom Lennon and Robert Ben Garant, have been hired to write the script, which will reunite the two writers with Stiller.
One of the more frequent running jokes in the last series was the cellar of the Meakers' house. The house's power was provided by a pantomime dragon
called Bernie St. John (note that "St. John" in this instance is correctly pronounced "Sinjun", making the dragon's name an obvious play on words); brought to life by Claypole – who served as a furnace. If anyone entered the cellar, typically all characters present would shout, "Don't go into the cellar!" all at once, and a few moments later whoever who went in would return charred and covered in soot.
Only the first series of Rentaghost has been released on VHS and DVD. It is unlikely that any other series will be released, due to complicated rights. A number of actors are blocking the release because their contracts at the time did not include video royalties. Some of the actors have been offered small one-off payments that have been rejected, and several cast members (or their families) are unable to be contacted to grant consent. Two minor actors, who have since left the profession, have blocked a number of episodes, and they are unlikely to be shown. In addition, the programme included extracts from many copyrighted songs, often played in the background. Clearance of these is becoming increasingly costly for DVD releases.
However, several episodes were repeated on the BBC Saturday morning show Dick and Dom
, all of which were from non-series one episodes. While complete series beyond series 1 may be out of the question, DVD releases of episodes that were allowed to be repeated may surface.
Some master copies of Rentaghost episodes were junked
by the BBC Archives
in 1993 on the assumption that they were 'no use' and that examples of some other episodes were sufficient. However, BBC Enterprises had requested copies of the first three series a couple of years earlier and indeed they were showing at the time on UK Gold – these were later recovered by the BBC Archive.
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
comedy show, broadcast by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
between 6 January 1976 and 6 November 1984. The show's plot centred on the antics of a number of ghosts who worked for a firm called Rentaghost, which rented out the ghosts for various tasks.
Background
The company, located in South EalingEaling
Ealing is a suburban area of west London, England and the administrative centre of the London Borough of Ealing. It is located west of Charing Cross and around from the City of London. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. It was historically a rural village...
, is run by Fred Mumford, a recently deceased loser who feels he can find work for ghosts whose lives were as failed as his. His first (and only) recruits are Timothy Claypole, a mischievous jester with a comical lack of knowledge about modern technology; and Hubert Davenport, a delicate Victorian-era gentleman who is morally shocked by the modern world. The ghosts work from an office, which they rent from Harold Meaker, who discovers the truth about them in the third episode.
Over the course of several series, other characters were added: Hazel the McWitch, a Scottish witch; Nadia Popov, a Dutch ghost who suffers from hayfever and teleport
Teleportation
Teleportation is the fictional or imagined process by which matter is instantaneously transferred from one place to another.Teleportation may also refer to:*Quantum teleportation, a method of transmitting quantum data...
s away when she sneeze
Sneeze
A sneeze is a semi-autonomous, convulsive expulsion of air from the lungs through the nose and mouth, usually caused by foreign particles irritating the nasal mucosa...
s; and the pantomime horse
Pantomime horse
A pantomime horse is atheatrical representation of a horse or other quadruped by two actors in a single costume who cooperate and synchronize their movements...
Dobbin, who first appears in a one-off Christmas special called "Rentasanta" and is brought to life by Claypole, who is unable to cancel the spell afterwards – thus allowing Dobbin to remain in the show for the rest of the run.
Another key figure is a ghost from the Wild West called Catastrophe Kate (cf. Calamity Jane
Calamity Jane
Martha Jane Cannary Burke , better known as Calamity Jane, was an American frontierswoman, and professional scout best known for her claim of being an acquaintance of Wild Bill Hickok, but also for having gained fame fighting Native Americans...
), played by Jana Shelden, who is collected from outside a magic carpet shop in the Spirit World by Fred Mumford. The two ghosts are transported back to Earth on a flying broomstick, Catastrophe Kate having turned down the alternative of a flying vacuum cleaner
Vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner, commonly referred to as a "vacuum," is a device that uses an air pump to create a partial vacuum to suck up dust and dirt, usually from floors, and optionally from other surfaces as well. The dirt is collected by either a dustbag or a cyclone for later disposal...
. It is Catastrophe Kate who later introduces Hazel the McWitch to the regulars.
Adam Painting, a local entrepreneur played by Christopher Biggins
Christopher Biggins
Christopher Kenneth Biggins is an English actor and media personality.-Career:Biggins was born in Oldham, Lancashire, England and brought up in Salisbury, Wiltshire, where he took elocution lessons and participated in local drama groups...
, frequently appears in episodes and tries, with limited success, to involve the ghosts in his latest business enterprise.
When actor Michael Darbyshire
Michael Darbyshire
Michael Darbyshire was a British television actor most famous for his portrayal of Hubert Davenport, the Victorian ghost in the long-running BBC TV children's comedy series Rentaghost...
(who played the role of Davenport) died in 1979, Anthony Jackson (Mumford) declined to appear in the next series, leaving Michael Staniforth's Claypole the sole original ghost; Davenport and Mumford's absences were explained at the start of the series by them having acquired permanent haunting jobs at a stately home. After Mumford's departure, the business was taken over by Harold Meaker and his wife Ethel, who suffered from the various problems the ghosts brought to their lives.
The long-suffering neighbours of Rentaghost are the Perkins, who think the Meakers are mad.
Remakes
In September 2008, it was reported that the show could be returning to television after the rights to the programme were obtained by the UK production companyProduction company
A production company provides the physical basis for works in the realms of the performing arts, new media art, film, television, radio, and video.- Tasks and functions :...
RDF
RDF Media
Zodiak Media is a Anglo-American television production company. It was formed in 2010 when RDF Media Group was acquired by, and merged with Zodiak Entertainment...
. However, no new show was forthcoming.
Deadline
Deadline.com
Deadline.com, part of Jay Penske's PMC, is an online magazine, founded and edited by Nikki Finke.-Publication:The site is updated several times a day, with the infotainment industry as its focus.-History:...
reported in December 2010 that "Warner Bros
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
had acquired the rights to RentaGhost and was going to develop it into a Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice is a 1988 American comedy horror film directed by Tim Burton, produced by The Geffen Film Company and distributed by Warner Bros...
-style afterlife feature comedy vehicle for Russell Brand
Russell Brand
Russell Edward Brand is an English comedian, actor, columnist, singer, author and radio/television presenter.Brand achieved mainstream fame in the UK in 2004 for his role as host of Big Brother spin-off, Big Brother's Big Mouth. His first major film role was in the 2007 film St Trinians...
as Fred Mumford.
However, in October 2011 it was reported that Ben Stiller
Ben Stiller
Benjamin Edward "Ben" Stiller is an American comedian, actor, writer, film director, and producer. He is the son of veteran comedians and actors Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara....
had now been signed for the project. Night at the Museum
Night at the Museum
Night at the Museum is a 2006 fantasy adventure-comedy film based on the 1993 children's book The Night at the Museum by Milan Trenc. It follows a divorced father trying to settle down, impress his son, and find his destiny...
writers Tom Lennon and Robert Ben Garant, have been hired to write the script, which will reunite the two writers with Stiller.
Running jokes
In an early series, the Perkins are given a magical amulet that grants all their wishes. They do not realise this, however, and persist in expressing odd wishes, which the amulet then proceeds to grant.- Mr. Perkins: (referring to Mr. Meaker) I wish he was here now. For two pins, I'd tell him what I think of him!
- The amulet is seen glowing. Mr. Meaker immediately walks into Mr Perkins's living room.
- Mr. Meaker: (in a strange monotone) I am here.
- Mr. Meaker produces two enormous 'prop' pins and hands them to Mr. Perkins, who accepts them in the same somnambulistSleepwalkingSleepwalking, also known as somnambulism, is a sleep disorder belonging to the parasomnia family. Sleepwalkers arise from the slow wave sleep stage in a state of low consciousness and perform activities that are usually performed during a state of full consciousness...
way.
- Mr. Perkins: You are a nutter.
- Mr. Meaker: Thank you.
- The pair bid each other farewell and Mr. Meaker leaves. Mr. Perkins returns to normal and is confused and somewhat distressed by what has just happened.
One of the more frequent running jokes in the last series was the cellar of the Meakers' house. The house's power was provided by a pantomime dragon
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
called Bernie St. John (note that "St. John" in this instance is correctly pronounced "Sinjun", making the dragon's name an obvious play on words); brought to life by Claypole – who served as a furnace. If anyone entered the cellar, typically all characters present would shout, "Don't go into the cellar!" all at once, and a few moments later whoever who went in would return charred and covered in soot.
List of series
- Series 1 (1976)
- Series 2 (1976)
- Series 3 (1977)
- Series 4 (1978)
- Series 5 (1980)
- Series 6 (1981)
- Series 7 (1982)
- Series 8 (1983)
- Series 9 (1984)
DVD releases
However, several episodes were repeated on the BBC Saturday morning show Dick and Dom
Dick and Dom
Dick and Dom are a children's comic double act consisting of the presenters Richard McCourt and Dominic Wood. They are primarily known for presenting children's television, such as Dick and Dom in da Bungalow for 5 series between 2002 - 2006...
, all of which were from non-series one episodes. While complete series beyond series 1 may be out of the question, DVD releases of episodes that were allowed to be repeated may surface.
Some master copies of Rentaghost episodes were junked
Wiping
Wiping or junking is a colloquial term for action taken by radio and television production and broadcasting companies, in which old audiotapes, videotapes, and telerecordings , are erased, reused, or destroyed after several uses...
by the BBC Archives
BBC Archives
The BBC Archives are collections documenting the BBC's broadcasting history.- Overview :The archives contain 1 million hours of media material dating back to the 1890s, with early material on wax cylinder. With other materials such as photos and written documents the archive contains 11 million...
in 1993 on the assumption that they were 'no use' and that examples of some other episodes were sufficient. However, BBC Enterprises had requested copies of the first three series a couple of years earlier and indeed they were showing at the time on UK Gold – these were later recovered by the BBC Archive.
Regular cast
- Michael StaniforthMichael StaniforthMichael Staniforth , born in Selly Oak, Birmingham, was a British stage actor who entertained both children and adults alike as ghostly jester Timothy Claypole, a mischievous medieval poltergeist, in the long-running BBC children's television comedy series Rentaghost...
- Timothy Claypole (1976-1984) - Edward BrayshawEdward BrayshawEdward Brayshaw was a British actor.His television roles include the part of Rochefort in the 1966 serial The Three Musketeers and 1967's The Further Adventures of the Three Musketeers...
- Harold Meaker (1976-1984) - Ann EmeryAnn EmeryAnn Emery is a British actress. She is the sister of actor and comedian Dick Emery.Educated at Mrs Smith's School for Young Ladies and the Cone Ripman School, she excelled in tap dancing, which led to her first stage role as a Babe in Babes In The Wood at the King's Theatre, Hammersmith.During...
- Ethel Meaker (1976-1984) - Anthony JacksonAnthony Jackson (actor)Anthony Thomas Jackson was an English actor, who reached his widest audiences as founder of the eponymous ghost hiring agency in the long-running BBC children's comedy series Rentaghost. Jackson began his career with the Birmingham Repertory. He studied at Rose Bruford College and won the BBC...
- Fred Mumford (1976–1978) - Michael DarbyshireMichael DarbyshireMichael Darbyshire was a British television actor most famous for his portrayal of Hubert Davenport, the Victorian ghost in the long-running BBC TV children's comedy series Rentaghost...
- Hubert Davenport (1976–1978) - Molly WeirMolly WeirMary Weir, better known as Molly Weir, was a Scottish stage actress, most notable for her role as the long-running character Hazel the McWitch in the BBC TV series Rentaghost. She was the sister of naturalist and broadcaster Tom Weir.Born in Glasgow and brought up in the Springburn area of the...
- Hazel the McWitch (1977–1984) - Sue NichollsSue NichollsSusan Frances Harmar Nicholls is an English actress, best known today for her long-running role as Audrey Roberts in British soap opera Coronation Street.-Early life:...
- Nadia Popov (1981–1984) - Christopher BigginsChristopher BigginsChristopher Kenneth Biggins is an English actor and media personality.-Career:Biggins was born in Oldham, Lancashire, England and brought up in Salisbury, Wiltshire, where he took elocution lessons and participated in local drama groups...
- Adam Painting (1977-1983) - Hal Dyer - Rose Perkins (1978–1984)
- Jeffrey SegalJeffrey SegalJeffrey Segal is a British actor.He made his first screen appearance, as an extra, in the film Jud Süß .From the early 1960s onwards he appeared in many British TV series, notably Callan, Z-Cars, The Protectors, Terry and June, The Pallisers and Dad's Army.He played the part of 'Arthur Perkins'...
- Arthur Perkins (1978–1984) - Lynda La PlanteLynda La PlanteLynda La Plante, CBE is an English author, screenwriter and former actress, best known for writing the Prime Suspect television crime series....
- Tamara Novek (1980) (credited as Lynda Marchal) - William Perrie, John Asquith - Dobbin the Pantomime Horse
- Betty AlbergeBetty AlbergeBetty Alberge was an English actress best known for her soap opera roles as cornershop owner Florrie Lindley in Coronation Street and as Edna Cross in Brookside...
- Mrs Mumford (1976–1978) - John Dawson - Mr Mumford (1976–1978)
- Kenneth ConnorKenneth ConnorKenneth Connor MBE was an English comedy stage, radio, film and TV actor, best known for his appearances in the Carry On films.-Career:...
- Whatsisname Smith (1983-1984) - Aimi MacDonaldAimi MacDonaldAimi MacDonald is a British actress. She is best known for her role as "The Lovely" Aimi MacDonald in the television sketch comedy show At Last the 1948 Show ....
- Susie Starlight (1984)