Original title
Rentaghost
Released
1/6/1976
Origin country
GB
Genre
Comedy, Family
Production companies
BBC
Status
Ended
Number of seasons
9
Number of episodes
58
Rentaghost was 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.
Fred Mumford returns to earth from the spirit world to open a business called 'Rentaghost' which offers ghosts and poltergeists on a dialy or weekly rental basis. He is sometimes helped, but more often hindered, by Davenport, a fussy Victorian ghost, and Claypole, a mischevious medieval poltergeist.
Fred Mumford and his fellow ghosts set out to exercise a ghost which has been terrorising London's Heathrow Airport.
Mumford and his colleagues decide to tell their landlord, Mr. Meaker, that they are really ghosts. The shock of this lands Mr. Meaker in the local hospital where the Rentaghost team offer to provide a conjuring act for the centenary celebrations. As ghosts they find it easy to vanish - but Mumford has some difficulty becoming visible again.
The Rentaghost team are engaged by a security firm to patrol a large department store and stop shoplifting. Claypole goes through a mischevious phase when his poltergeist powers are at their strongest.
Haunting a stately home proves to be something of a trial of strength for Mumford. His ghostly Uncle Arthur provides him with an assorted bunch of spooks to help the haunting, then calls them out on strike.
Rentaghost try their hand at being private detectives. Harold becomes a suspect.
Public transport is the latest brainwave for Rentaghost, involving taxis, busses and a removal service. Unfortunately, when the Meakers talk about moving house, Mr Claypole takes things literally.
Rentaghost holds a concert that features Leonardo Da Vinci.
The Rentaghost team try their hand at the storage business, meanwhile Harold and Mr Mumford get shrunk.
Everything Harold touches turns to gold, not unlike a certain king. Back in the office a ghost efficiency expert, one Cedric J. Fosdyke, is put in charge and then sacks Fred Mumford.
Rentaghost starts a news agency and attempts to gain an interview with the elusive Dr Springveldt. Fred's mother is convinced that he should see a psychiatrist.
The ghosts try their hand at controlling the weather and all fall in love with Catastrophe Kate, a wild west ghost.
Mr. Claypole loses his memory when he is too mischievous. Mr Meaker is turned into a budgie.
Harold and Ethel Meaker try to put on a theatre production.
The Rentaghost office finds itself with squatters of the supernatural kind.
Mr Meaker grows a 12ft beard whilst the Mumfords have to deal with a giant parsnip.
The ghosts plan to send the Meakers on holiday after coming into money, but Harold and Ethel think that they are trying to get rid of them.
Hazel the McWitch starts Rentapotion, which makes potions to order. Not all goes to plan though when Ethel's legs grow to be 12ft long and Harold behaves as if he is 10 years old.
Harold Meaker opens a clothes shop and is turned into a tailors dummy by Mr Claypole. The ghosts give themselves a holiday.
The ghosts try to stop the Meaker's arguing by using a love potion. Mr Davenport is made the Phantom of the Phone Booth.
Hazel the McWitch creates meals that cook themselves in their new restaurant while the Meakers have to deal with an unexploded haggis.
Mr Meaker gets involved in a boxing match with magic gloves and Mrs Mumford is given super-human strength. Mr Claypole offers Ethel endless cups of tea.
The Rentaghost team hold a fete.
(Christmas Special) With the help of Adam Painting, the team try to stage a Pantomime. Mr Claypole brings a pantomime horse to life and so Dobbin is born
The Meaker's latest money-making scheme comes to be in the form of Rentananny. Harold tries to use a copying spell to give Ethel driving lessons.
At the Meakers, Harold is ill in bed and Ethel's singing voice can break glass (literally!). The Perkins hire a private detective to spy on their neighbours.
Ethel's voice can now break wood. The ghosts try to protect Adam Paintings roller disco from being burgled.
Rentaghost work in Mr Painting's beauty parlour. Ethel becomes an agony aunt and gives advice to her husband.
Mr Claypole and Hazel the McWitch compete to create the best invention. Mr Meaker is transformed into a sunflower and Mr Painting is shrunk. The Perkins decide to move away from the Meakers.
The Meakers move into Mr Painting's old house which just happens to be next door to their old neighbours, the Perkins.
Mr Meaker becomes an ice skating champion while Claypole and McWitch contract a psychic illness. Meanwhile, Mr Perkins' moustache turns into a sausage.
Mr Claypole gives the Perkins a magic talisman that grants wishes, which results in a geranium growing on Mrs Perkins' head.
The Meakers and ghosts discover what it's like to be toys.
Queen Matilda, a ghost from when Mr Claypole was alive, decides to hold court at Rentaghost.
The Meakers celebrate their wedding anniversary and Harold opens a gardening store at the Rentaghost office.
This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.
