The Ghosts of Motley Hall
What they can do when no one can see them
The Ghosts of Motley Hall is a British children's television series written by Richard Carpenter and produced and directed by Quentin Lawrence for Granada Television, and broadcast between 1976 and 1978 on ITV. Five ghosts occupy the titular Motley Hall. Each hails from a different era and all—with the exception of newly deceased Matt—are unable to leave the confines of the building.
Seasons
1. The Last Uproar
Air Date: 1976-04-25
There has always been an Uproar at Motley Hall, until now. The last Uproar, Sir Humphrey, has died, leaving caretaker Mr Gudgin facing two schemers plotting to steal Motley Hall out from under him. It's up to the ghosts to figure out a way to save their home and their way of life (death)!
2. Old Gory
Air Date: 1976-05-02
Old Gory is a Motley Hall Ghost who appears faithfully every five years and can be seen by all, living and ghosts alike. Unfortunately this year, his scheduled appearance is likely to be seen by a ghost hunter and his very perceptive wife staking out Motley Hall. The appearance of Old Gory to the Ghost Hunters would be disastrous for the residents by exposing them and threatening their happy home!
3. Box of Tricks
Air Date: 1976-05-09
The ghosts discover television abd the trouble it can cause when two bumbling crooks use Motley Hall to store eight boxes of stolen wireless TVs. The crooks are thwarted, first by the residents and then by a policeman who is able to see clearly into a crime, and a whole lot more!
4. Bad Lord William and the British Banana Company
Air Date: 1976-05-16
Mr Gudgin has sold Motley Hall to The British Banana Company, but their agent has accidentally released Bad Lord William, surely one of the worst of the Uproar Clan ghosts. It'll take Bodkin's sword skills and Matt's cunning to free Gudgin and contain Bad Lord William.
5. Perfida Blackart Rides Again
Air Date: 1976-05-23
It's just been discovered that Motley Hall is 400 years old, so to commemorate this, the ghosts decide to hold a Masque. But when Bodkin tries to write it, the pages of the history book that might finally identify the mysterious White Lady have disappeared! Was she somebody so horrible that she doesn't want it to be found out and her deep dark secret revealed?
6. Double Trouble
Air Date: 1976-05-30
Matt's joining the other ghosts has certainly made Motley Hall much more lively and interesting for all. However, hiding from the others is a second Matt, one with a secret agenda, and it's not good! And worse, which Matt is which?
7. The Pogmore Experiment
Air Date: 1976-06-06
Once again, poor Mr Gudgin finds himself roped into yet another newfangled way to rid Motley Hall of its 'spirited' occupants. This time, it's a scientist who says they're not ghosts, but merely hallucinations, simply electrical emanations. One by one, Matt watches as his new friends disappear and faces the prospect of eternity alone unless he can figure a way to stop the Pogmore 'solution'.
1. The Christmas Spirit
Air Date: 1976-12-24
There's not a lot of Christmas Spirit at Motley Hall this year. Everyone's depressed because Christmas is no different than any other day of the year. Suddenly, the house comes alive and recreates a lovely Christmas of 1848, only to be threatened by the cutting down of the haunted Blasted Beech for use as a yule log. It's up to our ghosts to save Christmas and the Motley family's future.
2. Sir Peveril's Hoard
Air Date: 1977-01-02
The roof needs mending and the ghosts are worried how Mr Gudgin will pay. They know that Sir Peveril has piles of loot hidden somewhere in Motley Hall but all they have for a clue to find it is the inscription on his bust that says he told the secret to his cat!
3. Where Are You, White Feather?
Air Date: 1977-01-09
The residents' happy existence rudely interrupted by Britain's top medium Emily Tiffin and her spirit guide, White Feather. In a plot to rid Motley of these unwelcome guests, Bodkin takes the place of White Feather temporarily but they soon find Bodkin permanently bound to Mrs Tiffin. A brash and bold plan is the only way they can get Bodkin back in Motley where he belongs.
4. Godfrey of Basingstoke
Air Date: 1977-01-16
Matt finds a ring that leads him to an upside-down ghost of a knight in armor hanging outside the hall. After being freed, he sees the White Lady and is sure that she is Matilda, his bride from long ago. Will the White Lady actually find out who she was and will this revelation be everything that she has been dreaming of for all these years?
5. Ghost of a Chance
Air Date: 1977-01-23
Mr Gudgin has always hated that he could hear and see the ghosts of Motley Hall. Today, after getting stuck in the stairrails, his only hope of being rescued is in the hands of those very ghosts. Unfortunately, the ghosts are unable to let anyone know of Gudgins predicament and save him. The ghosts themselves can't seem to get anybody's attention, but maybe A GHOST can!
6. Horoscope
Air Date: 1977-01-30
Motley Hall is sold to millionaire Mr Hives. Mr and Mrs Hamilton are his manipulative servants. When the ghosts see how they treat him, they come up with a plan to rid him of the Hamiltons, and set him free to do what he wants.
7. Phantomime
Air Date: 1977-12-26
There's no Christmas spirit this year. In fact, the residents have decided that there will be no Christmas, period! Their self-imposed isolation from each other is suddenly and noisily interrupted by the arrival of two older women and a teenage girl that Matt decides need to be sheltered from the cold weather. The three new guests, our five residents, and the surprising appearance of a Genie makes Christmas much more spirited than they ever could have imagined!
1. Family Tree
Air Date: 1978-01-29
American couple Darlene and Marvin Dewey are trying to trace Darlene's family tree; Sir George's brother Albert married Darlene's great-great grandmother, his older sister Alexandra never married but legend tells that his younger sister Clara eloped with an American and Mrs Dewey wants to know the truth. She has all sorts of gadgets to get in touch with spirits as she wants to ask Sir George.
2. Ghost Writer
Air Date: 1978-02-05
A film crew descend on Motley Hall as historian St John Desmond details the house's history for School television, but as they portray incidents from Motley's past, the ghosts notice that the historian has it wrong. Can they, with the help of faithful Mr Gudgin, set the record straight before the name of Uproar is blackened forever?
3. Skeleton in the Cupboard: Part 1
Air Date: 1978-02-12
The other ghosts feel that Sir George is becoming a tyrant and want to teach him some humility. Sir George seems to have an adverse reaction to his sister Alexandra's croquet mallet. The ghosts wonder what the story is behind this and if it can help them get out from under George's rule.
4. Skeleton in the Cupboard: Part 2
Air Date: 1978-02-19
Alexandra Uproar is cold towards the other ghosts and bosses over Sir George; Matt has an idea of how to get her out, if Sir George can do what is required.
5. Party Piece
Air Date: 1978-02-26
Mr Gudgin installs a piano in the hall and the ghosts plan a night of musical entertainment. The piano once belonged to composer Ludwig Stumpf, who doesn't want anyone else—dead or alive—to play it.
6. Narcissus Bullock's Bell
Air Date: 1978-03-05
Mr Gudgin is doing a spot of gardening and digs up an old bell buried by highwayman Captain Narcissus Bullock, (a former companion of Fanny Uproar. If the bell is rung, it banishes ghosts. Narcissus wants to ring it so that he and Fanny can preside over the hall and entertain all sorts of unscrupulous spirits, but the other ghosts are Fanny's friends.
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Rating
6.8/10
Release Date
1976-04-25
Episodes
20 (3 seasons)
Status
Ended
Cast
Videos
Production Companies
Granada Television