The Ghosts of Motley Hall

Anything with Richard Carpenter behind it is bound to be worth watching. Carpenter is perhaps better known for creating "Catweazle" and the dramatised adventures of "Dick Turpin." The Ghosts of Motley Hall is fun from beginning to end, and what a shame it only lasted for three series. Four of the five central characters are, for the most part, confined to the inside of Motley Hall, the ancestral home of the Uproar family. However, Matt, the ghost of the stable boy is able to transcend the confines and wander about the grounds of the mansion. Every member of the cast is excellent in their roles. Sheila Steifel as the White Lady is wonderful and despite the tragedy of her existence (not knowing who she was in life) plays the part with comedic aplomb. As someone who works with the paranormal on a daily basis, I can assure you that this series is brilliantly observed and although played for laughs, contains much that is accurate. Special credit has to be given to Sean Flannigan who, as the stableboy Matt is incredibly likeable and often proves to be the only totally sane one amongst them!