A frightful farewell: Our pick of festive comedy, including the Ghosts finale and Here We Go: Mum’s Classic Family Christmas

• This Christmas sees one last hurrah for hit sitcom Ghosts with a festive special 
• READ MORE: Peter Kay reveals plans for classic Channel 4 comedy Phoenix Nights to return as film and Christmas special

It’s the last-ever episode of the spooky hit sitcom, but will the Ghosts finally get to rest in peace?

GHOSTS CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Christmas Day, 7.45pm, BBC1

After five series, three festive specials and a Comic Relief short featuring Kylie Minogue, the spooky residents of Button House are about to be spirited away for good. This Christmas sees one last hurrah for hit sitcom Ghosts with a festive special, and the team behind it say it really is the end.

‘We don’t want to outstay our welcome,’ says Larry Rickard, who plays both the headless nobleman Sir Humphrey and Robin the caveman, two of the spectres who haunt the stately home having died on the land where it was built. ‘As a cast who also write the show, we wanted to go out on a high.’

Ghosts centres on Alison (Charlotte Ritchie), who inherited a rambling country property (the show is filmed at West Horsley Place in Surrey) from a distant relative and then suffered a bang on the head during her first visit, an accident that left her able to see the spooks who reside there for eternity. 

Ghosts Christmas Special cast (L-R): Kitty (Lolly Adefope), Pat (Jim Howick), The Captain (Ben Willbond), Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe), Julian (Simon Farnaby), Alison (Charlotte Ritchie), Robin (Larry Rickard), Thomas Thorne (Mat Baynton), Lady Button (Martha Howe-Douglas) and Humphrey (Larry Rickard) 

Long-suffering partner Mike (Kiell Smith-Bynoe) is aware of their presence but can’t see or hear the ghosts himself.

As well as Robin and Sir Humphrey, the Button House ghosts include Georgian noblewoman Kitty, trouserless MP Julian and former owner Lady Button, but the Christmas special adds another character to the mix. 

In the first episode of the final series in October Alison revealed she was having a baby, and here the infant Mia, played by twin girls, coos her way through the comedy. 

‘The ghosts realise that Mike, Alison and Mia are now a family and that, by default, they aren’t part of that family like some of them thought they were,’ explains Larry.

Mike’s mum Betty also arrives at Button House to help with the baby but stays too long when all Mike and Alison want is to be left alone to bring up their child. And they aren’t the only ones spooked by Betty’s presence – the ghosts fear for their futures when the  kindly woman makes a shocking discovery.

Martha Howe Douglas, who plays pompous old Lady Button, says she’s happy with the way the show finishes. 

‘I think we honour the programme with the end we give it, and I believe viewers will enjoy it too. Although filming that final episode was difficult because it was so emotional. I got sent back to the make-up truck at least once because I was crying so much, I was a wreck!’

The decision to bring the curtain down on Ghosts rather than let it fade away did at least give the cast the chance to have a proper end-of-show blowout and hand-pick props they could take away as souvenirs. 

The wrap party featured special tequila-based, Ghosts-themed cocktails and once the director had shouted cut one final time, Martha, Larry and Mathew Baynton (who plays lovestruck poet ghost Thomas) all took the framed oil paintings of their characters which had been commissioned for the walls of Button House.

All the cast, many of whom had worked together on Horrible Histories, say they’ll miss the show but plan to work together again in the future. 

‘It’s defined the last few years of our lives,’ says Jim Howick, who plays former scout leader Pat. 

‘We’d film from January to March and then start writing the next series, and that’s been the pattern for several years. But we enjoyed every minute and we’re going to miss it like crazy.’

A VERY BRASSIC CHRISTMAS 

Thursday 21 December, 10pm, Sky Max

Tissues at the ready for Imelda Staunton’s scene-stealing performance in this special festive episode of the long-running comedy-drama. 

She stars as the lonely aunt of Dr Chris (Dominic West), who needs some festive cheering up from Vinnie (Joe Gilgun). 

But Aunt Edie isn’t the only one facing Christmas misery. Tyler’s school nativity play is in doubt after a robbery and Vinnie’s determined to put things right, prompting a tussle with loathsome impresario Dick Dolphin (Taskmaster’s Greg Davies). 

Some of the language may be a bit fruity, but there’s a lovely warm-hearted glow to the story – and a beautiful tear-jerking ending.

HERE WE GO: MUM’S CLASSIC FAMILY CHRISTMAS

Friday 22 December, 8.30pm, BBC1

Mum Rachel (Katherine Parkinson) reckons she has the key to a cracking Christmas for the dysfunctional Jessop family, as one of the most promising new sitcoms in years gets its first Christmas special 

Mum Rachel (Katherine Parkinson) reckons she has the key to a cracking Christmas for the dysfunctional Jessop family, as one of the most promising new sitcoms in years gets its first Christmas special. 

Rachel wants everyone including husband Paul (played by Jim Howick who is also scout leader Pat in Ghosts) to adhere to a rigid timetable, starting with stocking-opening and followed by the unwrapping of bigger presents, then church, turkey, the King’s speech, charades, a family rendition of Hey Mr Christmas by Showaddywaddy and finally a family viewing of Shrek.

NOT GOING OUT: WILFRED

Christmas Eve, 10pm, BBC1

Lee, played by Lee Mack (right) picks up pensioner Wilfred from a care home to join his family for Christmas 

There’s an unfortunate case of mistaken identity when Lee (Lee Mack) picks up pensioner Wilfred from a care home to join his family – including wonderfully sarcastic father-in-law Geoffrey (Geoffrey Whitehead) – for a joyous Christmas. 

Add an excess of booze, and soon Lee’s wife Lucy’s orders to make this a drama-free celebration are tested in the 100th episode of this sitcom.

THE KEMPS: ALL GOLD

Friday 29 December, 10pm, BBC2

Spandau Ballet legends Gary and Martin Kemp were happy for the joke to be on them when they appeared in spoof documentary All True in 2020. 

Here we catch up with the brothers three years on, as the cameras follow them over a year while they get divorced, attempt to form a supergroup and work with Dexter Fletcher – director of films Rocketman and Bohemian Rhapsody – on a biopic about their lives. 

Tamzin Outhwaite and Citizen Khan star Adil Ray guest star.

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