Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtains

The little red light's on...

2011-10-31T22:53:00.000Z

In celebration of our favourite Hallowe'en Hoax's nineteenth birthday (and not forgetting, a second, wonderful National Séance!), we thought you might like to check out this sneak peek of a certain work in progress...

Stay tuned for 2012, Ghostwatchers.

♫ It's the most wonderful time of the year... ♫

2011-10-24T00:00:00.000+01:00

Greetings Ghostwatchers!

Yes, the nineteenth anniversary of Ghostwatch's first and (as-yet) only full UK television broadcast is almost upon us and you know what that means... National Séance 2011!

All you have to do to take part in our annual event is set your own personal copy of Ghostwatch to start at 21:25 on Hallowe'en Night (Monday 31st October) and then join us on Twitter to comment on the proceedings (not forgetting to use the #Ghostwatch hashtag after each message).

For anyone who missed our last event, it really was a lot of fun... less the sound of wailing cats coming from upstairs, spontaneous somnambuliform possession, bits of exploded coffee table landing in our tea, perfectly oval puddles appearing on the carpet, and the inexplicable streams of warm blood dripping down the (brand-new!) wallpaper. Saying that, we hope to hear from you all again, this year.

And remember, for added authenticity, you can play the original Ghostwatch continuity announcement below about a minute before we start (or for the purists, 21:24:14).

The event starts @ 21:25 GMT, Monday 31st October

...Thumbs at the ready, Net-Phreaks!

Follow @Ghostwatch

It's in the machine... again.

2011-10-18T21:25:00.002+01:00

So... yesterday, I was strolling around Morrisons. Picked up the papers, a loaf of bread, some milk and a brand-new copy of Ghostwatch on DVD..!

First off, let me say a big thank-you to everyone who got in touch to let us know our favourite Hallowe'en Hoax was being re-issued on DVD this month. And whilst it's great to see the show getting some much-deserved attention in time for the 19th Anniversary, we've also had a lot of emails asking if this is related to the Behind the Curtains project, and just to be clear, it is not.

We've also been getting a lot of questions regarding whether the new disc has any extra content or special features. While this release does only contain the main feature, one change you might notice from the previous BFI DVD is that this version reinstates the rather fantastic Screen One 'boulder' ident that came before the pre-titles, just as it was on the night of transmission.

More soon, Ghostwatchers!

Ghostwatch & The Awakening Screenings in Nottingham

2011-09-24T15:03:00.000+01:00

Greetings, Ghostwatchers!

Two new items have been added to the events list - both of which are taking place in Nottingham, and also featuring appearances from Ghostwatch writer, Stephen Volk.

The first event is a screening of The Awakening on Thursday 27th October.

The second is a screening of Ghostwatch on Sunday 30th October. Both will include Q&As with Stephen, and for The Awakening screening, director and co-writer, Nick Murphy, too.

The venue is the Broadway Cinema, which will be home to the Mayhem Horror Film Festival - a five-day event which promises "ghosts. gore, extreme cinema, haunted TV, weird science and much much more".

For ticket prices/more info, check out the links above. And if you're able to attend, be sure to let us know how everything goes!

Target Ovarian Cancer

2011-08-31T19:44:00.000+01:00

On Sunday, 11th of September, Target Ovarian Cancer will be at the Adidas 5K Women's Challenge in Hyde Park, London, in what promises to be a great day out.

Captaining the team is the inimitable Sarah Greene, and she has this message for you...

‘As Team Captain for Target Ovarian Cancer at this year's Adidas 5k Women's Challenge, I would like to invite you and your friends and family to join us. I would love you to be a part of our team at this magnificent and crucial event in London's Hyde Park, to raise as much money as possible for a cause very close to my heart.

Whether you choose to run, jog or walk - I'll be walking! - the money we raise in sponsorship will fund Target Ovarian Cancer's vital work improving diagnosis, treatment and quality of life for the 6,800 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year in the UK.

Please join me and all of us on the Target Ovarian Team in supporting every woman living with ovarian cancer.’

- Sarah Greene

The time and place to meet is around 10.00am under the Target Ovarian Cancer banner at or near the Princes Gate. It goes without saying, this is a really worthy cause, and a wonderful event to be part of, so let's all get behind Sarah and her team and help to raise as much money as possible. Good luck to everyone taking part!

You can check out the course map here:

http://static.womenschallenge.co.uk/pdf/awc_coursemap.pdf

And for more details on the event, please visit:

www.targetovarian.org.uk
www.womenschallenge.co.uk/charity_listings/target_ovarian/
www.womenschallenge.co.uk/onlineentry/entry/London/

Also, for all you Tweeters out there, keep up to date with news from Sarah and her husband/Ghostwatch co-star, Mike Smith on their official Twitter feeds:

@RealSarahGreene
@MikeSmithFTV

...I think they're more interested in my epididymis.

2011-08-25T23:43:00.000+01:00

We very rarely report on non-Ghostwatch matters around these here parts, but this particular news bite seemed just too good to pass up. Plus, it's got the word 'Ghost' in it. So there.

Living legend, Dan Aykroyd has been flying the flag for a third Ghostbusters movie now for so long, it appears that time has finally taken its toll on his beloved band of paranormal investigators and eliminators. It goes without saying, the original flick is an undoubted classic which managed to spawn a kooky sequel and remarkably impressive, first wave animated series, The Real Ghostbusters, but even the finest trilogies rarely end on the best movie...

The veritable Twinkie of a spoiler that Mr. Aykroyd recently revealed on the Dennis Miller Radio Show was such a wonderfully melancholic piece of character description for the aging Dr. Ray Stantz that my hopes (or should I say, 'spirits'?) are once more beginning to rise in anticipation of the 'upcoming' GB III. If you're a fan of the series, and don't mind being very slightly spoiled, do check out the sample clip on the above link.

Here's hoping the entire team will return this one last time to slug it out with some pesky poltergeists before staying on to dance the night away with some of the lovely ladies who witnessed the disturbance. This is Casey Kasem, now on with the countdown!

The Awakening

2011-08-25T13:52:00.001+01:00

Actress, Rebecca Hall

...A chilling new film written by Stephen Volk, you say? Yes, please.

Arriving this November (TBC), The Awakening tells the story of scientist, Florence Cathcart, a ghost-debunker who is called to a countryside boarding school to investigate rumours of an apparent haunting, only to find her own beliefs challenged.

Co-written and directed by Nick Murphy, the film's official blurb reads, 'A classic ghost-story in the tradition of MR James.' Boasting an impressive cast that includes among others, Rebecca Hall, Dominic West, Imelda Staunton and Joseph Mawle, this buzz surrounding this new project and its recent premiere at the Toronto Film Festival all sounds very promising indeed.

You can find out more about the film by visiting Stephen's official site.

Paranormal Activity 3 Trailer Hits

2011-07-21T18:15:00.000+01:00

Whatever this is... it thrives on fear.

Screening at the Star and Shadow Cinema

2011-07-06T22:45:00.002+01:00

On Wednesday 20th of July, the Alien Nation II event will be hosting a special screening of Ghostwatch at the Star and Shadow Cinema in Newcastle, featuring a guest appearance from writer/creator, Stephen Volk!

It's already been said many times before that there's something particularly special about watching Ghostwatch with an audience. With the added bonus of an introduction from Stephen, it looks set to be a very fun night out indeed.

More details can be found by clicking the picture above, or click below for this great article written by Thomas Bagnall for Narc Magazine.

Houston, they have a problem...

2011-06-25T15:54:00.000+01:00

An upcoming new entry in the Found Footage sub-genre, September 2nd marks the release of Apollo 18 - a spooky tale concerning a group of American astronauts sent on a secret mission to the moon in 1972, and found someone, or something, already waiting for them.

Looks interesting. As a kind-of retro/techno 'Blair Witch in Space', there are plenty of opportunities for shocks and surprises here. Being so far from home, the characters face an impossible fight for survival against this apparent alien threat, and from the looks of the trailer below, maybe even from each other...

Well, I had a bet on with your husband...

2011-06-21T16:15:00.000+01:00

Yes, it looks like Ghostwatch has (kind-of) finally entered into the world of equestrian events with a horse rather aptly named, Ghost Watch.

In our never-ending search for all-things related to the show, you can imagine our surprise on happening upon this listing for the three-year-old son of Gilded Time and Tucker's Watch, stating he is currently located in Pennsylvania, USA, and was also the winner in his latest start.

Check out the accompanying video below to see Ghost recently take home 1st place at Penn National Race Course!

There's been nothing on the news..!

2011-06-18T15:11:00.001+01:00

Thanks again to Ghostwatch-aficionado, Stephen Freestone, for unearthing this clip from the BBC Radio 2 comedy-satire show, The News Huddlines.

Remember, we're always on the lookout for long-lost mentions of our favourite Hallowe'en Hoax, so feel free to drop us a line if you have anything cool that you'd like to share.

All you have to do is head on over to our contact page and get in touch!

Shivers #101

2011-06-08T12:43:00.000+01:00

Anyone with a subscription to Shivers magazine around December 2002 will surely remember this great 2-page spread on Ghostwatch.

Marking the show's tenth anniversary and the (then-recent) BFI DVD release, writer/creator, Stephen Volk's piece joins the pantheon of retrospective-style articles that help paint a clear picture of the show, several years after it premiered on BBC One.

There's even a Top 10 Scary Things You Never Knew About Ghostwatch feature with one particular trivia tidbit, "in the tradition of the show", not entirely true... Can you tell which one it is? Answer in the comments section below!

Full Blown Visual Apparitions

2011-05-28T17:34:00.002+01:00

One more to add to the ever-widening online collection of Ghostwatch fan-art, check out this truly demonic custom DVD cover from customaniacs.org.

Taking its cues from the good-old Ceefax layout and, um... The Exorcist, the full-size image is available to download providing you first register with the site.

Quite an interesting design choice, I think you'll agree, from creators, 'Boonsaint' and 'heirofthedog' - particularly the television set border, and spooky static distortion...

Lots of questions there, that need answering...

2011-05-13T21:52:00.009+01:00

Back when the Behind the Curtains project was just a gleam in our eyes, there was Ghostwatch.info - the very first fan-site dedicated to everyone's favourite Hallowe'en Hoax.

To mark the recent updating of the BtC blog, we thought it might be interesting to look back and interview Stephen Freestone, the man behind the now sadly closed-down website, and find out what inspired him to take Ghostwatch for its first ride on the Information Super-Highway...

Hi, Stephen! So, what are your earliest memories of Ghostwatch?

My earliest memories were from the night itself – October 31 1992. Three of us were together at a friend’s house, Dinsdales – not his real name, but a nick-name taken from the chant of Spiny Norman in Monty Python’s Flying Circus!

We were just chilling; playing Sensible Soccer and Speedball 2 on the classic Amiga 1500 computer, an amazing machine that sadly was superseded quickly by PCs. Anyway, come nearly 9.30 we looked to see what was on and the BBC said ‘Ghostwatch’ so we thought yeah let's give that a go. I had a blank VHS with me so I asked my friend to stick it on record, and he did. At that time I was recording everything, even the continuity because I was always nerdish about that sort of stuff, so the tape has the sports news, weather and a Sunday run through – this is on YouTube somewhere! I still have that same tape nearly 20 years on, although its contents also include the last Thames News (!) are now archived on DVD.

I think very quickly we realised that the programme was ‘fake’, I don’t have any memories though of the Screen One tag, so either ignored it or just didn’t see it. One or two things didn’t make sense from a ‘naturalistic’ point of view – the ‘discussion programme’ featuring the Early Family, we clearly knew didn’t exist and it did start to dawn on us all that this was a drama and wasn’t real.

I do still remember the silence afterwards from all three of us. We were all 18 year old teenagers as well!

As I have said in the past, I think all three of us had listened some years before to a local radio show on Halloween Night called, also, Ghostwatch, which was broadcast on the four stations that make up BBC East Midlands – Derby, Lincolnshire, Nottingham and Leicester. This programme is mentioned in the Ghost Stations range of books by Bruce Barrymore Halpenny. It’s possible we made some connection to this radio show as well, even though there wasn’t one.

What led to the opening of 'Ghostwatch.info', and when did the site go live?

I have a degree in Film and Television from Brunel University in 1996. Since leaving university I had loads of research written, little bits of trivia and essays all over the place – my dissertation was on The X Files and the Internet for instance. I also had a lot of TV related stuff that I wanted to make use of so I created my first website, which featured history of TV in the UK, The X Files, Doctor Who – just things that I was interested in then, and maybe now (well certainly the latter show!). Ghostwatch was part of that and after a few years I realised it was the most popular segment because of the emails I was getting. I think around 2001/2 time Ghostwatch.info was born, but it really is impossible for me to say now for reasons I talk about on Question 6.

What kind of articles, content, etc. did Ghostwatch.info feature?

It was a site that brought together a lot of information about the programme, as well as a few screenshots and also a copy of the initial continuity announcement for the show which even now brings up goose pimples because although he does say ‘Screen One’ it’s still said with a great deal of authority and seriousness.

When the site went up, a video release, a DVD release, was totally out of the question. Indeed a guy from the BBC said he doubted the show would ever be released, but it wasn’t locked away or anything like that, like the 1960s “War Game” drama-documentary on nuclear war had been, as people had suggested.

One of the popular elements to the site was ‘Where’s Pipes’ and it gathered together a lot of screenshots, which nowadays look rotten because they were taken from an analogue source and I didn’t quite have the software to do it justice, but you could see Pipes and I tried to single him out in places. There is one sighting, in the street with Craig Charles talking to the medium that was really difficult to actually pin down, but hopefully I did my best!

What kind of reaction did the site bring about? Did anyone who worked on Ghostwatch ever get in touch? What was the fanbase like in the early days?

Stephen Volk contacted me around that time and wrote an introduction, and I also spoke to other people involved in the production who were very enthusiastic and indeed chuffed that this little show that caused so much controversy was ten years later being treated with so much respect.

Interestingly I have just had a look at the wayback archive which carries a lot of screenshots of Ghostwatch.info from 2002, and certainly October 29 2002 saw nearly 1,000 visitors to the site. From memory I know it was very, very popular particularly around Halloween and I tended to get a lot more interest and emails around that time of the year.

Were there any funny stories/surprises during the running of the site (especially related to Ghostwatch!)?

Sadly freaking out when one of the stars contacted me! Nowadays I would have been cooler with it, I feel now the site lost out big style. But hey I was always more interested in the behind the camera team than the talent!

I also got in contact with a University student who was doing his own dissertation on Ghostwatch and he wondered if I could get him a copy if he would send credentials. Now I had so many requests from people anxious for a copy of Ghostwatch over the years and could have made a fortune, but I just ignored the requests usually, but this guy seemed genuine. It turned out the university he was with was Lincoln – and that was where I lived at the time! So that was the only copy I ever let out, but it was for educational use!

What led to the closure of Ghostwatch.info, when did it go offline, and what was next for you?

The Naughties are a hell of a blur for me because of a lot of things had changed in my life, which was one of the sad reasons why the site closed.

Briefly, I got married, although I am now separated, and we have a beautiful little boy who has a lot of issues and medical needs – check out http://www.dandy-walker.org/ because this little known condition can affect anyone. So, unfortunately real life took over and Ghostwatch.info died, but I still have all the pages, photos as well as somewhere, the wonderful emails I received.

Plus in a way I felt the site had achieved something, perhaps not directly, but the release of the programme on DVD. That to me was a really proud thing to the whole venture. It didn’t make any money but I did talk to some fine people, all brought together by a programme that caused the BBC a lot of problems way back in 1992!

Thanks again to Stephen for his time, and one memorable website!

Withnail and Pipes...

2011-05-01T13:46:00.002+01:00

It's been so long since I last saw the fantastic Brit flick, Withnail & I, that I completely forgot about this little trivia tidbit. It goes without saying, it was real treat to catch the cult classic again on Film Four, recently. If you haven't done so already, I highly recommend you pick up a copy on DVD - if only to discover that at least one of Pipes' dozen cats was previously owned by Richard Griffith's character, Uncle Monty...

X Rated: Top 20 Most Controversial TV Moments (E4, 2005)

2011-04-24T19:15:00.004+01:00

Crumbs, it's been a while since we last updated the blog, hasn't it? But then, we have been rather busy of late...

An interesting excerpt here from E4's, X Rated: Top 20 Most Controversial TV Moments, hosted by the truly indomitable, Bronx Bunny and Teddy T. First broadcast back in 2005, the countdown/clip show/special discussed twenty controversial moments in TV history, with everyone's favourite Hallowe'en Hoax coming in at a well-deserved first place.

Coming in at Number Four was the rather splendid, Séance, which according to its creator, Derren Brown, was partly inspired by Ghostwatch, too. Check out the segment, below - if only to discover that Terry Nutkins is apparently a fellow Ghostwatcher...

You Ain't Gonna Believe This, I'm Tellin' You..!

2011-03-10T11:35:00.003Z

Shortly before the segment on Ghostwatch during the most recent episode of How TV Ruined Your Life, Charlie Brooker briefly mentioned Alternative 3 - a show with a similar premise which centered on the discovery of a government secret that could make or break the future of humanity.

As a kind of spiritual precursor to the hugely enjoyable National Séance 2010, coming April 1st 2011 will be the Alternative 3 Live Tweet Screening! It's almost exactly the same setup as before - we'll be starting our copies of Alternative 3 at precisely the same time and ask you to do the same and tweet about what you're seeing on Twitter - although for this particular event, the date will reflect Alternative 3's originally planned broadcast rather than its actual transmission (the show was intended to be shown on April 1st 1977, but was pushed back to June 20th of the same year).

The time to start your personal recording will be 21:00 sharp. A fitting date, I think you'll agree (and no, this isn't a trick like last time... promise!). Best of all, DVD copies of Alternative 3 don't appear to be hugely expensive at the moment if you're feeling frivolous and might like to pick up a copy to add to your collection.

As always, looking forward to seeing you there, Ghostwatchers!

How TV Ruined Your Life (BBC Two, 08/03/11)

2011-03-09T02:35:00.007Z

Last night, during the concluding episode of critic/cultural commentator Charlie Brooker's absorbing BBC series, How TV Ruined Your Life (specifically, at the 13:30 minute mark), the show took a unexpectedly spooky turn...

Whilst on the subject of television's seemingly inherent ability to subjugate audiences' perceptions by blurring the lines between fact and fiction, we the audience were treated to a fleeting/erudite hark back to everyone's favourite Hallowe'en horror show.

Most remarkable, and not to mention genuinely heartening to behold, was the overwhelmingly positive response that this little trip down (repressed) memory lane seemed to generate at near lightning-speed via The Online Voice Of The People™, Twitter - with news coming through at one point that the word 'Ghostwatch' had even taken on the intermittently distinguished title of Trending Topic.

It's also worth noting how thoroughly encouraging it was to see even just a couple of minutes of Ghostwatch back on the old telly box, at long last; where many agree, it most certainly belongs.

Intriguingly, this isn't the first time Mr. Brooker and Ghostwatch have been mentioned in the same sentence. Not too long ago, the following tidbit was stumbled upon in an article for The Guardian newspaper... "Charlie watched the 1992 spooktacular Ghostwatch at four in the morning, and, having initially laughed at Sarah Greene's performance, soon found himself getting genuinely frightened."

You can check out the show in full for a limited period on the BBC iPlayer by clicking the link below. For those who missed it, this episode will also be repeated on BBC Four on the 12th of this month at eleven. Just try not to have sleepless nights... http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/zg1rh/

...Like a teddy bear?

2011-02-16T13:27:00.004Z

Of course, the real question here is why? ...and also, what? ...and where? and when?... and finally maybe even, who?

Not very likely to be heading to a toy shop near you any time soon is this curious little photo set recently found drifting across the increasingly haunted Interwebs... It's interesting to note how the creator of this eerily reminiscent reproduction of the seldom glimpsed Mr. Pipes seems to have gone for their own interpretation of the character's macabre appearance rather than just imitate the as yet only published photograph of actor Keith Ferrari in full make up and costume.

Behind the Curta... --sorry-- ...scenes, Pipes' actual dress had more of a blue-greyish hue with a repeating pattern, but here, his funky threads seem to have more in common with the various tallying descriptions 'phoned in' to Mike Smith's studio hotline by concerned viewers, and later confirmed by Kim Early's university interview with Lin Pascoe: old man/woman, bald/skull-like head, dark/red eyes, scratched nose, black dress, buttons, etc.

Do you know who made this, or perhaps more interestingly, why? Drop us a line at the usual address and help us solve this mystery!

The Slime's Comin' Home... again..!

2011-01-21T12:36:00.007Z

Yes, it appears that Ghostwatch star and self-admitted "tasteless, uncouth, mindless, tone-deaf, randy, blokish, semi-literate space bum", Craig Charles is finally set to return to the millennial-spanning, curry-stained universe of super-cool-sci-fi-sit-com Red Dwarf.

The truly remarkable success of the recent Back to Earth specials on Dave has clearly been a major driving force behind this recent turn of events (not forgetting the show's lasting success over the years, and an ever-increasing number of loyal supporters, worldwide).

What bold new direction the upcoming tenth series might take is anybody's guess at the moment. At this point, there are even murmurings of a possible return to live studio audience recording which is sure to delight the already white-knuckled fanbase. In any event, we can expect Listy, Rimmsy, Krytie and the Cat to be gracing our screens the very same year that we shall also be celebrating the 20th anniversary of Ghostwatch in some shape or form...

Until then, you'll have to excuse me - I'm late for a seminar on time travel that's due to take place three weeks ago. While I jump-start the time drive, can someone put the old bazookoids on charge and find me what's left of last month's jalfrezi..?

For the latest and greatest news on the upcoming Red Dwarf series, check out:
www.reddwarf.co.uk
www.ganymede.tv

And for those among us with an over-active connoisseur chip:
www.reddwarffans.deviantart.com

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-09T00:45:00.006Z

Season's Greetings, Ghostwatchers! Yes, another year has almost passed, and we are edging closer and closer to the 20th anniversary of Ghostwatch.

Who knows what next year might bring? Well, National Séance 2011, for one thing! What a great night, the last event turned out to be - thanks to everyone who participated, and roll on October!

Whilst we're still hard at work on the doc, we thought it might be fun to ask what questions YOU might put to the makers/stars of Ghostwatch? Try and think of at least one question for any of the cast/crew from the original film and leave them in the comments box below, in our forum, or on Facebook. The best entries might even be included in the final cut.

Do get writing, and we look forward to hearing from you!

And don't forget to check out the upcoming special live episode of Coronation Street on Thursday the 9th at 20:00 in honour of the show's 50th Anniversary. So far, during the soap's recent tram crash storyline, Craig Charles' character, cabbie Lloyd Mullaney, has been confronted with exploding doorways and collapsing viaducts - in fact, events on The Street have been so intense that Stephen Volk's wife Patricia was heard to remark how Craig surely hasn't had a more worrying time on screen since that fateful night he co-presented Ghostwatch(!) (...Well, not counting all those times he's dodged crazed Simulants, ravenous GELFs and Mutton Vindaloo Beasts on Red Dwarf, of course..!)

Be sure to visit Patricia's website @ www.patriciavolk.co.uk where you can check out her online art gallery and maybe even find a unique gift for someone this Xmas...

Oh, and for anyone who has wondered what phone-in caller Kevin Tripp looks like in the flesh ("Cheese and pickle sandwich, it was..!"), here's an interview featuring actor, Brendan O'Hea, discussing a recent production of Waiting for Godot.

As always, many thanks for your continued support, and we hope you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Can you hear this..? Are you-are you hearing..?

2010-11-30T18:51:00.006Z

Have precisely twenty-seven minutes, nine seconds to spare? Then, why not check out this fantastic Halloween Mix Tape by Galaxy Manchester's very own Andi Durrant. Featuring spooky snippets from such classics as The Ring, The Omen, Stephen King’s It, Halloween, The Exorcist, The Mummy, The Blair Witch Project, The Fog, The Twilight Zone, Dracula, Frankenstein, Ghostbusters and of course... Ghostwatch.

And straight from Andi himself via Twitter: Glad you like the mixtape.. I couldn't hang a dressing gown on the back of my bedroom door my entire childhood because of Pipes!

We've created a séance... a massive séance!

2010-10-30T22:11:00.006+01:00

Happy Hallowe'en, Ghostwatchers! In anticipation of our 'live' National Séance 2010 event set to take place later this evening, here's a special treat courtesy of filmmaker and Behind the Curtains supporter, Gary Mancini.

Back in 1992, the popular TV Times listings mag reported the then-impending arrival of Ghostwatch with this great two-page spread - featuring a rare alternate publicity still of Parky, Sarah and Smithy.

What a great way to help mark the show's 18th birthday. Thanks again to Gary for sharing it with us!

Don't forget to send us your photos and reports from National Séance 2010. Cheers to everyone who has got in touch to say they'll be taking part, and we look forward to seeing how your events turn out!

Let's take our first caller...

2010-10-25T13:46:00.005+01:00

On Sunday Night, White Noise Paranormal Radio interviewed Stephen Volk live and asked a plethora of questions covering, among other topics, Afterlife, The Awakening and some Hallowe'en drama called, 'Ghostwatch'.

For anyone who missed it, or would like to hear it again, click here to check out over an hour of audible joy...

SFX #202

2010-10-24T14:08:00.003+01:00

Many thanks to all our subscribers who pointed out the latest issue of SFX features a brief mention of Ghostwatch in the article, 'Is There Anything On The Other Side? - The Classic British TV Ghost Story' written by Alistair McGown.

The section on Ghostwatch can be found on Page 96. All in all, the feature is a great read and well worth checking out if you can find a copy. Quite amazing to see a 'December' issue for sale in October. Maybe Pipes has found his way into the printing presses, too..!

Parareminder

2010-10-21T19:55:00.003+01:00

Just a quick heads-up that October 22nd heralds the arrival of Paranormal Activity 2 - the sequel to Oren Peli's surprise 2009 hit about a seemingly ordinary couple terrorised by spooky goings-on in their new home. Good reviews have already started pouring in, so be sure to catch this Hallowe'en treat before the spoiler wave hits you head-on... and from what I hear, there are more than a few surprises to be found in this chilling new story.

If you're a Ghostwatch fan, the chances are you'll enjoy this flick too. Least of all, if you might remember, as it sounds like Oren Peli might be a fan too... :)

Nurieek, Rotut, Hernunger, Sqweloookle..!

2010-10-08T18:28:00.002+01:00

Many thanks as always to the wonderful Red Dwarf Fan Club team for their latest and greatest issue of Back To Reality - the occasionally regular, but always fun and informative magazine on all things Dwarfy.

Yes, Red Dwarf and Ghostwatch have collided once again, this time on Page 10 in an article entitled, 'Ghostwatching: My Wonderful Obsession'. And if that wasn't enough, Behind the Curtains supporter and graphic designer extraordinaire, Arfon Jones' work is featured not once, but twice - after winning the logo design contest for the next convention! Congrats, Arfon!

For anyone who has yet to take the plunge, Dimension Jump is essentially a three-day party for anyone who has enjoyed even just a single episode of the popular interstellar sitcom. With rumours that a brand-new Red Dwarf series could soon be with us, the chances are, DJ XVI will be a very special event indeed...

Getting a great response for our upcoming National Séance event, by the way - cheers for all the support, everyone! One of these days, we really should all get together and hold a Ghostwatch screening for real...

Oh, and if you still don't get the title of this article, do check out the Series VII episode, Duct Soup, in which these words are (possibly) delivered by Mr. Pipes. For the rationally-thinking/continuity-minded amongst us, just use your imaginations and think Jason X.

It's Hallowe'en Night, homebrew time...

2010-10-07T14:19:00.004+01:00

Believe it or not, on October 31st 2010, Ghostwatch will turn eighteen years old. Sadly, this will also mean that during that time, we'll have yet to see a repeat screening of the show on UK television.

In response to this, and inspired by what has become something of an annual tradition for many fans, we hope that you will join us by taking part in the first-ever 'live' simultaneous repeat viewing, to take place later this month!

So, how will this work? Well, all you have to do is synchronise your watches and play your personal copy of Ghostwatch at precisely 21:25 on Hallowe'en Night!

And to help you host your very own Ghostwatch Birthday Party, here are ten simple-to-follow suggestions to help make yours a night to remember:

1. ALL day, in response to any unexpected/strange sound, say with a wry grin, "Maybe our poltergeist, eh, Dr. Pascoe?"

2. In advance of the show starting, all curtains in the room should be drawn closed, and the lighting set as low as you like (don't forget to check inside the cupboard under the stairs while you're at it).

3. If hosting a before/after party, appropriate background music should be played (i.e. Dick Limerick Academy's 'Ghostwatch' track).

4. Your personal DVD/VHS copy of Ghostwatch must start at 21:25pm precisely - just like in 1992.

5. Shortly before 'transmission', play the video that accompanies this article for added effect/authenticity (thanks to BtC supporter, Stephen for uploading!)

6. Before/during/after the show, you and your guests should talk about how great TV was back in the early nineties, and how we'll surely never see shows of this calibre again.

7. Ghostwatch munchables should include the Early Family Special: orange juice, cola and "plenty of crisps".

8. Every Pipes Sighting should be acknowledged and more importantly, appreciated for its technical merit.

9. After the show has finished, all breathe a sigh of relief/resign yourself to not getting much sleep (credit to Lil for that one!)

10. Get in touch with us at Behind the Curtains to let us know how your screening went! Send us pics, messages, or tweet about the show live while it happens with the tag #ghostwatch.

Looking forward as ever to hearing from you, Ghostwatchers! As always, many thanks for your continued support, have the happiest Hallowe'en... and try not to have sleepless nights.

...To Show Them!

2010-09-25T13:35:00.005+01:00

...Anyone catch The One Show last night on BBC One? Just in case you didn't, here's Kim Newman's very own '60 Second Guide To Huge Hoaxes'! Shame they spelt 'Ghostwatch' wrong though... ;)

On an interesting side-note, this may very well be the first time since 1992 that even part of Ghostwatch has appeared on BBC One. Mark that date in your calendars, Ghostwatchers..!

Fangoria #297

2010-09-25T01:38:00.002+01:00

Many thanks to Phil Brown and everyone at Fangoria magazine for getting in touch regarding their new October issue!

If you haven't done so already, be sure to pick up a copy of the legendary horror mag at your local newsagents and flick through to page 68 where you will find a two-page spread on Ghostwatch.

The article also features an exclusive BtC photograph taken at a GW screening that took place at The Invisible Dot, and a special never-before-seen still of soundman, Mike Aiton post-mirror smashing at The House in Foxhill Drive...

And if you can, take a photograph...

2010-09-09T22:20:00.003+01:00

Yesterday, Stephen Volk pointed me in the direction of a photo set he'd stumbled upon via the aptly-named, 'BBC's Ghostwatch was the scariest f**king thing I have ever seen.' Facebook group.

The brainchild of Ghostwatch super-fan, Adam Hart and his friends, the following photographic evidence was recovered shortly after the incident (also known as Adam's 29th birthday party)...

Many thanks to Adam for sharing these fantastic pics! For more, be sure to click one of the links above.

31/10

2010-08-12T18:31:00.006+01:00

Greetings, Ghostwatchers!

Set ten years after the original programme's broadcast date, '31/10' - the sequel to Ghostwatch - follows screenwriter, Stephen Volk as he revisits the haunted BBC studio in which Parky once became possessed, along with a group of fellow individuals whose lives were somehow affected by the show back in 1992.

The short story from the collection, Dark Corners (Gray Friar Press, 2006) was nominated for the Horror Writers' Association Bram Stoker Award and also for the British Fantasy Award, 2006.

The PDF file is available to read here, hosted on Stephen's official site. Check it out... just try not to have sleepless nights.

B-E-A-S-T... Beast..!

2010-07-26T00:19:00.003+01:00

...This has to be heard to be believed.

It's hard to imagine Pipes the Poltergeist reinvented as a rap artist, but Dick Limerick Academy seems to have made the impossible possible with this impressive mix from their new album, Merseycide.

Give it a listen over at SoundCloud. You won't be disappointed.

This picture we're seeing now isn't live...

2010-07-22T15:15:00.004+01:00

Greetings Ghostwatchers, and behold this truly phenomenal piece of artwork created by Behind the Curtains supporter, Arfon Jones.

Is is just me, or does this kind of work scream out for a Ghostwatch graphic novel in some shape or form? What would you like to see? Cheers, Arfon!

Paranormal-ier Activity

2010-06-30T16:18:00.004+01:00

The simple and yet engaging premise of Paranormal Activity, released in 2009, focused on a couple terrorized by a malevolent spirit in their new home.

After generating a huge following thanks to some impressive filmmaking/performances and not to mention unstoppable word of mouth, (or, perhaps 'word of email'?) the inevitable sequel is now just months away.

Something truly remarkable in both the run-up and fallout of the film's release was just how many people started drawing comparisons with Ghostwatch. The director of the first film, Oren Peli, was even heard to remark in the April 1-7 2010 edition of Time Out magazine...

Q: What currently unavailable films or TV shows would you love to see on DVD?

A: Ghostwatch (1992) isn't available in the US, although I've already seen it.

So, with that in mind, do check out this first trailer for PA2. And try not to have sleepless nights...

081 811 8181

2010-06-05T16:47:00.002+01:00

Do you happen to own an iPhone or iPod Touch? If your answer to that question is an ever-so slightly smug 'Mm-hmm', then here are two further Behind the Curtains-inspired haunted wallpapers to add to your collection!

There are two ways you can upload the pics to your relevant device - either save them directly to your 'pod whilst connected to the Internet, or to your computer and then upload later through iTunes.

Either way, just navigate to your personal Photo Library and hit 'Use as Wallpaper' for whichever pic you'd like to use.

The files are being hosted on the GhostwatchBtC DeviantArt page - a great online art community that's well-worth checking out if you get the chance.

Not only can this gentleman hear an ant scratching its back legs at fifty yards...

2010-06-03T22:54:00.003+01:00

If Sir Michael Parkinson's much-rumoured 1992 Best Actor nomination for Ghostwatch wasn't enough, now the Channel 4/Clover Films production 'Afghanistan: Behind Enemy Lines (Dispatches)' has been shortlisted for the Current Affairs category at this Sunday's Bafta Awards - mixed at Mikerophonics - the sound studio run by Ghostwatch's very own soundman, Mike Aiton. Here's wishing Mike and his team the best of luck for this Sunday!

Weekend - 29th May 2010

2010-05-29T17:46:00.003+01:00

Thanks to everyone who recommended I check out the May 29th edition of the Daily Mail's Weekend magazine - in particular, Robin Wiggs' brief article 'Are They For Real? The rise of the spoof documentary'.

For anyone who didn't catch it, you can click the pic below to see it in full. Cheers!

Screening at The Invisible Dot - Update

2010-05-15T13:44:00.002+01:00

In short, The Invisible Dot proved the perfect venue to host this week's rare public screening of Ghostwatch.

Superbly organised by Simon Pearce, and boasting a special Q&A from director Lesley Manning and writer Stephen Volk, the reaction to the film was both terrific and unique in equal measure - with almost certainly more laughs and yelps than I've personally ever heard before -at some points, people were literally jumping out of their seats..!

Topics in the hour-long Q&A ranged from pre-broadcast controversy to post-broadcast analysis, and perhaps most notably, the mind-bending revelation of which unlikely crew member provided the voice of Pipes the poltergeist...

Many thanks again to Simon and everyone who attended. Cheers!

I should say that this tape is completely undoctored...

2010-05-08T12:19:00.011+01:00

A big shout-out to the fine folks from Ganymede & Titan - the world's premier Red Dwarf fan-site - for helping put together the first ever Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtains podcast. ...Sorry, make that 'PipesCast'.

Actually, with this being the pilot episode, in a sense, it's more a DwarfCast, really (G&T's very own podcast for all things Red Dwarf-related). But why G&T, I hear you say...

Well, there seems to be an interesting correlation between Dwarfers and Ghostwatchers - due partly, I'm sure, to the spot-on performance by last surviving human Craig Charles as Ghostwatch's very own 'Interviewer'.

As a lifelong fan of the sci-fi comedy classic, the prospect of discussing both productions with my fellow Smeg Heads proved irresistible, and I'm happy to report that (in spite of the booze) some truly insightful observations and opinions have been preserved for prosperity.

Again, let me offer my sincerest thanks to Cappsy, Danny, Ian, Jo, Joey, Karl, Liam, Lisa, Marleen, Tanya and Seb for all their hard work and boundless f***ing generosity. Cheers, dudes!

Screening at The Invisible Dot

2010-05-06T21:24:00.002+01:00

If you're in the Camden area on the 11th May, then why not pay a visit to The Invisible Dot where you can catch a rare screening of Ghostwatch followed by a Q&A with director, Lesley Manning and writer, Stephen Volk?

Part of the Swiss Spaghetti Harvest Festival of fact/fiction line blurrers, Ghostwatch will screen at 19:30 with a Q&A to follow.

...Trust me when I say that you haven't seen Ghostwatch until you've seen it on the big screen. Tickets cost £9.50. For more information, check out The Invisible Dot's Ghostwatch page by clicking here.

"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, But in ourselves."

2010-04-27T16:40:00.003+01:00

About as close to a contemporary US version of Ghostwatch as you can get (it even went out on October 31st!), Without Warning is another wonderful 'live' TV event from 1994 that depicts a special news bulletin covering the aftermath of a sudden, unexpected meteorite impact.

As the story progresses, it transpires that the seemingly calculated trajectory of this rogue asteroid may not have been a naturally-occurring event as first thought, but in fact directly influenced by extraterrestrials.

Hosted by veteran American journalist and news anchorman, Sander Vanocur and Malcolm in the Middle regular, Jane Kaczmarek, this one-off drama special cleverly begins with a fake murder-mystery show entitled Without Warning which is then interrupted by a special news bulletin. Reporters from all over the globe cover the event as it happens, while Pascoe/Silvestri-like experts exchange theories and insults over live tele-link in the studio.

Overall, Without Warning is wonderfully melodramatic, over-the-top, and fun to watch. With a cast much larger than Ghostwatch (featuring guest appearances from scientist/author, Arthur C. Clarke and popular Star Trek: The Next Generation actor, John de Lancie), understandably, there are times when some of the acting falls short of perfection, but like our very own Parky, Sander Vanocur skillfully holds the whole thing together - bringing a reliable, warm voice of reason to the increasingly-spectacular proceedings.

Intriguingly, at first glance, the plot seems to have been inspired by the real-life Shoemaker Levy 9 event which occurred roughly around the same time the film was released- when a huge fragmented comet slammed into Jupiter, creating some impact zones that were larger than the Earth itself. I remember, back in the day, the BBC ran some great short films on the subject - featuring an array of fantastically spooky music as provided by The Orb.

Believe it or not, this film is even more difficult to track down on VHS/DVD than Ghostwatch..! However, you might be able to track down a copy online if you look hard enough. I recall first catching the film on Sky Movies many years ago, having been trailed using next to nothing but micro-snippets of footage. Spooky, but effective!

Shivers #29

2010-04-26T23:45:00.005+01:00

"The gullibility of the Great British Public comes under the microscope as we look back at BBCtv's Ghostwatch..."

Did you know the May 1996 edition of Shivers magazine featured a three-page article on Ghostwatch? Well, you do now!

Written by Jonathan Rigby, the article explores the unique and unprecedented reaction from viewers who believed the show was happening for real, interspersed with thoughts from writer/co-creator, Stephen Volk, and other members of the cast and crew. If you can track down a copy, I highly recommend it.

For all you Vans out there, there's also a further four-pages focusing on Stephen Volk's other work - notably Gothic, The Guardian and Ghosts - also made for BBC TV. To close, here's a classic quote from Sir Michael Parkinson where he discusses people's reactions to the 'live' drama's surprisingly realistic impact.

Parkinson himself was quite unfazed by the strange demands made on him and the furore that followed. With typically pawky North Country good humour, Parky observed that, "It just shows what a capacity television has for delusion. I have no concerns whatsoever about the show. It was designed to frighten people, not to make them sit back in their armchairs and laugh... You always get a certain percentage [of people] who believe everything on television is real. Some people even believe all-in wrestling is real. The great majority of people who watched that programme would have realized it was a drama. But if it does for my career what it did for Orson Welles', I shall be delighted."

"...They see us."

2010-04-22T13:14:00.004+01:00

E.T.'s back, and this time... it's personal.

Alien Abduction: The McPherson Tape (also known as Alien Abduction: Incident in Lake County) is a first-person horror film similar in style to The Blair Witch Project, first broadcast on UPN back in 1998.

A remake of a lower-budget production that gained a viral-like notoriety in the late eighties, the story centres on a fractured American family who have gathered to celebrate Thanksgiving on the family farm. When all power to the house is mysteriously cut, three of the justifiably-spooked household venture out into the surrounding woodland to investigate...

On stumbling upon a landed UFO and two alien beings dissecting a cow with a precision laser, the guys inadvertently startle the Greys, who upon noticing them, quickly abandon their cosmic barbecue and track the terrified trio back to the house - where they use their supernormal abilities to gain entry and terrorise the family into submission.

The film, I'm happy to say, is still as creepy to watch today as it was when first broadcast. Stylistically, it's very similar to the first theatrical Blair Witch feature (released the following year) and also, the companion Sci Fi Channel mockumentary, Curse of the Blair Witch (which I strongly urge you to check out if you haven't done so already).

Sandwiched in between the 'discovered' footage of the McPhersons' harrowing ordeal, we are treated to snippets of interviews with various experts (also portrayed by actors) who give their opinions on the legitimacy of the content of the found tapes. The theory that the family were indeed attacked by aliens is not exactly a popular one, and is usually dismissed as being some kind of hoax or publicity stunt - a cunning narrative device to help paint an 'impartial' picture that appears to point to the constructed/fake portions of the film as being The Undisputed Truth. Clever stuff.

If you're feeling brave, the entire docudrama can currently be found on Google Video. More Ghostwatch-like reviews coming soon!

"...Only fools are positive."

2010-04-20T12:50:00.004+01:00

In a similar vein to Ghostwatch, Fail Safe is a remake of a classic 1964 TV movie of the same name that discussed the threat of nuclear annihilation.

Broadcast on CBS in 2000, the film features an impressive cast list - including George Clooney, Richard Dreyfuss, Harvey Keitel, Don Cheadle, James Cromwell, Hank Azaria, Brian Dennehy and Noah Wyle to name but a few.

The story takes place in decades past. Clooney is a fighter bomber pilot sent on a routine patrol who, due to a technical mishap, is mistakenly ordered to bomb Moscow instead of return to base.

What follows is a tense and moving power struggle as both the US and Russian military leaders reluctantly join forces in a desperate attempt to call back the planes, having already crossed their point of no return... or failing that, shoot them down.

With a powerful, anti-nuclear message, Fail Safe is definitely worth checking out. The script and acting are both superb, and it is even more impressive that the film went out live on US TV back in 2000.

Its simplicity, or perhaps efficiency, is key to its success. Depicted in black and white, the film almost plays more like a stage drama than a TV movie. The dialogue is tight and gets the message across without ever becoming stale. In short, if you can, check it out. And be sure to stay tuned for more Ghostwatch-like reviews coming soon!

Ghostwatch: The Animated Series... sort-of.

2010-03-31T20:24:00.004+01:00

Yep, it's official - writer, Stephen Volk is to put pen to paper for an upcoming episode of The Simpsons!

Set to air sometime in October, Treehouse of Horror XXI will feature the lovable yellow family from Springfield, USA confronting the shadowy spectre of Mr. Pipes - having escaped across the Atlantic thanks to Professor Frink's terrifying new invention... the TeleSoul Transmitter 2000.

But it doesn't end there, as Ghostwatch writer & creator Stephen is set to cameo as himself at some point during the (almost) annual Hallowe'en TV special too! For more info on the upcoming special, be sure to highlight the 'invisi-text' below...

--SPOILERS BEGIN-- ...April Fools', Ghostwatchers! --SPOILERS END--

"Video never lies... Film does, though!"

2010-03-27T23:20:00.005Z

For all you Blair Witch fans out there, if you haven't done so already, it's definitely worth checking out official site, woodsmovie.com for all kinds of behind the scenes info on the surprise hit movie from 1999.

It's hard to believe The Blair Witch Project was released over ten years ago. Talk about ahead of its time - Internet marketed, digitally shot and edited, reality-driven performances... The list of comparative modern production techniques is practically endless.

With rumours surrounding a potential third installment in the series still going strong, and with a sequel to Paranormal Activity also said to be hurtling towards production, it looks like the Reality Horror sub-genre may soon be making a bit of an exciting and much-deserved comeback...

WARNING: The following video contains adult content... kind-of.

"And Craig Fergeson, I believe, as the roving reporter..!"

2010-03-20T20:06:00.004Z

It's all go this week, isn't it?

This morning, on the Jonathan Ross Radio Show for BBC Radio 2, guests Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman could be heard discussing their new stage production, Ghost Stories, and similar works including, Ghostwatch!

You can check out a short excerpt from the show by clicking play below.

Tell us what happened when the newspapers got their teeth into this story...

2010-03-19T15:46:00.003Z

Man, as if last night's mention on The Bubble wasn't enough...

Earlier today, Bella Battle, writing for the website of British tabloid The Sun, posted an interesting article discussing some of the 'most shocking telly stunts' of all time. And wouldn't you know it, alongside illusionist Derren Brown, and escapologist Jonathan Goodwin, we find not only an entry for Ghostwatch, but also a welcome plug for Behind the Curtains!

Speaking of which, now might be a good time to mention that a Behind the Curtains podcast might be arriving some time in the near future, so as always, thanks for the support and be sure to stay tuned for updates!

"And Michael Aspel hosted it..."

2010-03-19T13:42:00.003Z

Anyone catch last night's The Bubble on BBC Two?

If not, you missed yet another nostalgic trip down memory lane as the David Mitchell-hosted comedy quiz briefly ventured back into the Glory Hole to discuss everyone's favourite Hallowe'en Hoax.

Kudos to panelists, Josie Long, Tim Key and Katy Brand for mentioning the show - despite getting host, Michael Parkinson confused with Michael Aspel..! (perhaps because Aspel hosted the equally spooky, Strange But True? the following year for ITV).

Always nice to get a mention...

2010-01-30T15:36:00.005Z

Remember that huge, blockbusting, worldwide smash-hit, Paranormal Activity we reported on back in 2009? Well, look who's listed in the DVD credits... ;) How cool is that?

And following on from our last post, here's a great Ghostwatch review written by Ian Berriman for SFX magazine to coincide with the original BFI DVD release in 2002.

Fortean Times #166

2010-01-28T16:33:00.003Z

Faking It: Ghostwatch 10 Years On

"Ten years ago, the BBC's transmission of Ghostwatch on Halloween Night, 1992, terrified the nation... as well as raising some important issues about television's relationship with its audience. To coincide with its release for the first time on DVD and video, Stephen Volk, the writer of the notorious TV drama, looks back at its origin and its unexpected aftermath. Additional material by David Sutton."

...Begins a six-page article for Fortean Times magazine, published January, 2003.

Featuring a collection of writer/creator Stephen Volk's thoughts and memories of the film, accompanied by some detailed post-broadcast analysis and references by David Sutton, the article can very much be considered a follow up to the '93 FT issue. As before, extensive cross-referencing to the true-life Enfield Poltergeist case can be found, this time, on page 39.

A competition to win a brand-new BFI DVD (now, very much a collector's item) can be found on page 60, with this frankly mind-bending question posed...

"What name do the Ghostwatch children give their polt?"

...Hmm. Now, that's a REAL toughie. ;)

In the Resources section, links to two GW-related websites are offered - namely, the BBC Cult TV Ghostwatch page, and 'Ghostwatch.info' - possibly the first online fan site for the film, and in some respects, inspiration for this very blog.

Unfortunately, the site has since closed down, which is a real shame, especially as I believe it was the very first to report Pipes Sighting #8 (hiding among the crowd during Craig Charles' interview segment).

As always, if anyone has any memories they'd like to share concerning the fan page, get in touch!

...What's your point?

2009-12-23T20:49:00.002Z

At long last, here's the short Ghostwatch segment from the BBC opinions show, Points of View, originally broadcast, 4/11/92, and presented by Anne Robinson.

Just in case you weren't already aware, it's worth mentioning that also available to view elsewhere on Youtube is the edition of Biteback where producers, Ruth Baumgarten and Richard Broke discuss the show at length with an audience of eager 'fans'...

Merry Xmas 2009, Ghostwatchers, and once again, thank-you for the support!

"I loved... GHOSTWATCH."

2009-12-20T12:47:00.003Z

Nice to hear Mark Kermode's quick mention of Ghostwatch at the end of his latest 'Road Movies' video blog... Kind-of.

...Surely, this is what he meant to say. ;)

Merry Xmas, Ghostwatchers, and a happy new year!

Here's someone with a tale to tell...

2009-12-04T11:39:00.003Z

Greetings, Ghostwatchers!

Coming soon from writer/actor/magician (and not to mention, huge Ghostwatch fan), Andy Nyman, and precisely one fourth of The League of Gentlemen, Jeremy Dyson, is their new play, Ghost Stories. Written and directed by both Andy and Jeremy for the Lyric Hammersmith, Ghost Stories will run from 24th Feb – 3rd April 2010, and promises to "shake you up like no piece of theatre ever has before".

More info can be found by clicking here... if you dare.

Many thanks to Behind the Curtains supporter, Lisa for sending us the link!

We'll actually spool it back to the point where you tell us...

2009-11-19T13:55:00.012Z

Greetings, Ghostwatchers!

Anyone familiar with the show's Wikipedia page will surely be aware of this quote:

"...Sarah Greene had advertised the programme on her Saturday morning children's show Going Live. This had included a 'visit' to the location of the 'haunting' and gave the impression that she was taking part in a 'reality show' and not a drama."

Recently, we were lucky enough to check out three full editions of Going Live! to verify this longstanding claim - dated, 24.10.92 (the week before transmission), 31.10.92 (the day the show went out) and 7.11.92 (the week after), but alas, no mention of Ghostwatch could be found.

Unless anyone has any additional episodes of Going Live! available for viewing (if so, by all means, drop us a line!), it appears as though yet another Ghostwatch-inspired urban myth has once again, potentially bit the dust (just wait 'til you hear what we've discovered about Blair Witch...).

But even though, this time, we didn't find what we were looking for, I must say just how great it was to catch Going Live! again for the first time in absolute years. Trevor and Simon's skits, in particular, remain a constant joy (so much so, that we're now actively looking to secure a sponsorship deal with Pot Fish - "Britain's No.1 Instant Fish Snack in a Pot").

There is some good news to report, however, as we were also able to secure the full Points of View, and Biteback editions where Ghostwatch IS discussed.

Incidentally, we are still on the lookout for the fabled TEASER TRAILER and PRE/POST CONTINUITY ANNOUCNEMENTS for Ghostwatch, so if anyone remembers when they went out/has a copy, do let us know..!

Do you have a story for us..?

2009-11-08T23:55:00.013Z

Greetings Ghostwatchers! To say thanks for all your continued support, we're offering you the chance to feature in the upcoming retrospective documentary, Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtains!

If you have access to a camera/webcam, we'd like you to record your very own Ghostwatch Story to be featured in the completed doc!

Entries should be under three minutes long, and as high quality as you can manage. Don't forget to send us your name/email address with each submission. The best way to submit your entry is to add it as a 'Video Response' to our most recent BtC trailer on Youtube.

Feel free to talk about your personal experiences with the show - did you see it on the night of transmission, or perhaps later, on DVD? Whatever your thoughts, let us know! Also, if you'd like to feature in a 'Special Thanks To' section during the doc's end credits, all you have to do is email us your full name to the following address..

CreditMeOnBtC@live.co.uk

...and we'll add it to the list!

By submitting your entry/entries, you hereby consent and grant to the 'Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtains' team and/or its professional partners the right to re-print and publicise your submitted image/name free of charge on any/all entertainment/media releases of 'GHOSTWATCH: BEHIND THE CURTAINS' (working title) including the advertising and promotion thereof, without additional compensation or notification. We reserve the right not to include your submission for any reason.

Look! Everybody wants to see him!

2009-11-01T00:07:00.003Z

If Arfon Jones' wonderful 'Ghostwatching' piece, from just a few days ago wasn't enough, now here's 'Pipes Is Coming For You...' by artist, Kieran Madden.

Great to see so much creativity stemming from Ghostwatch recently. Keep it up, Ghostwatchers!

...And try not to have sleepless nights.

Reece Shearsmith's Haunted House

2009-10-31T19:10:00.006Z

During the first part of Reece Shearsmith's Haunted House for BBC Radio 4, Ghostwatch was given a much-appreciated mention by the esteemed panel (made up of Reece, Mark Gatiss, Vic Reeves and Yvette Fielding).

As the programme is only currently available for a limited period on the BBC iPlayer, here is a transcript:

REECE: A famous bard once wrote, "there are more things in Heaven and Earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy". Maybe the BBC had this is mind when they, in 1992, presented, Ghostwatch - a wonderful, postmodern ghost story which has come to be known as a kind of hoax akin to Orson Welles' famous, War of the Worlds broadcast in 1938. It was a wonderfully produced documentary with all the trappings and the tropes of a live broadcast. Ghostwatch used a familiar cast of television presenters and it begins like this knockabout television investigation into the most haunted house in Britain, however before long, things start to go a bit wrong.

A BRIEF CLIP FROM GHOSTWATCH IS PLAYED

REECE: So, who remembers that when it went out? Does anyone have any memories of it?

MARK: Parky - brilliant.

REECE: Yeah, brilliant actor in it! So real.

YVETTE: He was fantastic, wasn't he?

REECE: He was the thing that made it--made you question whether it was real or not.

MARK: The genius of that, I think - it's kind of uneven - there's some brilliant things in it, but the absolute copper-bottomed genius is that the ghost is called, 'Pipes'.

REECE: Yes!

LAUGHTER FROM THE AUDIENCE

MARK: 'Pipes' - it's so brilliant! And it's 'cause he lives in the--they think it comes from the cupboard under the stairs, and it makes a banging sound.

REECE: They think he's in the radiator...

MARK: 'Pipes' - that's a real ghost name if ever there was.

YVETTE: But there was huge controversy about that programme - massive.

REEVES: I've never heard of it.

REECE: Did you not see it when it went out?

REEVES: Never, no.

YVETTE: I didn't see it when it went out, either, no.

REEVES: I never heard of it.

MARK: Oh, it's good.

REECE: Have you seen it now..?

REEVES: I've heard of... Parky.

LAUGHTER FROM AUDIENCE

MARK: He's not real..!

You gonna write us a happy ending, Heather..?

2009-10-31T11:54:00.008Z

After the recent explosion, popularity-wise, of the 'Reality Horror' sub-genre, the film series that helped bridge the gap between Hollywood and Indie film is now rumoured to finally become a trilogy.

Co-creators of The Blair Witch Project, Dan Myrick and Ed Sanchez, are reportedly said to be closer than ever before to pitching their concept for Blair Witch III to Lionsgate, the studio who now own the movie rights.

Intriguingly, the proposed third film in the series (at one point, set to be a 'The Village'-type endeavour, charting the rise and fall of Elly Kedward/The Blair Witch), may now be returning to its dark roots - acting as a straight sequel to the original, and bypassing the events of the critically-mauled second film, Book of Shadows altogether. Despite having met a grizzly end, presumably at the hands of the Witch herself, this could mean original stars, Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, and Michael Williams could also be returning, albeit in smaller roles.

Personally, I have to admit to having a bit of a soft spot for Book of Shadows. Granted, it might not be quite as groundbreaking as the original, but I believe that you really had to check out the two accompanying (and not to mention, wonderfully produced) documentaries that preceded its release, first (Shadow of The Blair Witch & The Burkittsville 7) to make for a more complete viewing experience.

Actually, now that I think about it... what a year for cinema, 1999 was. Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, The Sixth Sense, Fight Club, The Matrix, American Beauty, and Sky Pictures', Tube Tales (one of my personal favourites) were all released that year.

Not to mention Rapture TV's quite stupendous Blair Witch Weekend (wow, now that takes me back...). Given the unprecedented financial success that films such as, Paranormal Activity have had for their distributors, here's hoping the granddaddy of them all, Ghostwatch finally gets some of the recognition it deserves too(!)

Since 2007, I have personally been discussing, pitching, recommending, and inquiring about the possibility of Ghostwatch returning in some shape or form. The doc was actually very close to going out on a well-known digital channel back in January 2008, but that was before the idea of a 2-Disc Special Edition DVD reared its bloody, cat-scratched head.

As ever, should any news come through, you'll be the first to hear. Thanks again for all the support, and we hope you all have a Happy Hallowe'en!

Well, this is... this is my favourite, I think.

2009-10-27T19:02:00.008Z

Many thanks to Ghostwatch fan and Behind the Curtains supporter, Arfon Jones, for sending us this truly haunting piece of artwork depicting two of the main stars from the original film - Sir Michael Parkinson & Mr. Pipes.

Any more Ghostwatch-themed artwork out there? If so, we'd love to see it!

And don't forget... Tonight, BBC Four, 9.00pm.

Ghostwatch back on BBC... nearly.

2009-10-23T19:39:00.004+01:00

On Tuesday night, the BBC is set to broadcast a one-off special entitled, Ghosts in the Machine just in time for Hallowe'en.

You might have noticed in the upcoming TV listings that part of this spooky retrospective documentary (sound familiar?) will feature a short segment on Ghostwatch.

A good sign for fans, surely. Especially when you consider Auntie's (until recently, it seems) long-assumed, steadfast reluctance to revisit the "legendary Hallowe'en Hoax", since it was first broadcast, now almost two decades ago.

Who knows where this unexpected, new-found interest might lead? The first-ever repeat screening of the film, late one evening, perhaps? Or even the fabled 2-Disc Special 'BtC' Edition DVD arriving sometime in the not-too-distant future? ...We can only dream.

In the meantime, as a special treat for the film's upcoming 17th birthday, here's a sneak peek at an early DVD menu design (as it happens, a Chapter Select screen). Any release date for a Special Edition DVD remains TBA, though with increasing/continued support, it hopefully won't be too far down the line.

Thanks again for all the comments, subscriptions, invites and support, guys. Happy Hallowe'en, and here's to a prosperous 2010!

...Oh, and by the way - filming of Stephen Volk and Lesley Manning's interview for GitM had to be halted several times due to the sound of knocking pipes... No, really. Honest.

Fortean Times #67

2009-10-01T15:44:00.003+01:00

GHOSTWATCH: Whatever Possessed Parkinson?

"Ghostwatch was a dramatised investigation of "the most haunted house in Britain". The unremarkable three-bedroomed terrace house "in Foxhill Drive. Northolt, Middlesex" was home to divorcee Pam Early and her two daughters. They had been tormented for several years by voices, loud thumps in the walls and pipes, objects moving inexplicably around the house."

...Begins a five-page article written by Bob Rickard for Fortean Times magazine, published in 1993.

The article simultaneously serves as a review, critique and dissection of the film and the unprecedented impact it had on viewers post-broadcast. It also features opinions from Stephen Volk, and others who contributed to the production, and even some comparisons (plot-wise) with the much-documented, true-life Enfield Potlergeist case.

The article concludes with various paranormal experts being asked to voice their own opinions of the film - such as, Guy Lyon Playfair, John, Lord Haddington, Maurice Grosse, Alan Gauld, Susan Blackmore, Anthony D. Cornell and Manfred Cassirer.

"After at least one postponement, the Broadcasting Standards Council finally published their deliberation of the BBC1 Hallowe'en drama Ghostwatch, shown on 31 October 1992. The BSC (Bulletin no.24, Jan 1993) said they received 33 complaints - compared to least 20,000 received by the BBC - and have "decided that the complaints lay outside its remit".

Most callers felt that this fictional programme breached the trust between broadcaster and audience, and the BSC deems this was not a matter of "taste and decency". Star of Ghostwatch Michael Parkinson (who features on our cover) enraged many by gloating: "If we've scared the pants off people, we've done our job well."

Read all about it in our 'Hoax!' section this issue - see p 38."

- Fortean Times Editorial by Bob Rickard and Paul Sieveking

SPECIAL MENTION: The quite fantastic cover for this particular publication was designed by renowned comics artist, Hunt Emerson. Be sure to check out Hunt's website, LargeCow.com, which features a wide selection of his work, past and present.

Evidence Of A Haunting

2009-09-16T13:33:00.003+01:00

Hmm... This might be one to look out for. Recently on YouTube, I stumbled across the trailer for a new film entitled, Paranormal Activity, and I have to say, it looks pretty impressive.

Taking place in a seemingly ordinary house, the reality-style cut is suitably eerie - even chilling at times, as unrelenting ghostly goings-on persistently threaten to end a good night's sleep for a frightened young couple in their haunted bedroom.

Some fans online have even started to draw parallels with Ghostwatch, The Blair Witch Project and The Last Broadcast to name but a few. If you're feeling brave, be sure to check out the two currently available trailers below...

StephenVolk.net now online

2009-08-27T17:11:00.014+01:00

Greetings, Ghostwatchers! Click on the banner above to check out writer, Stephen Volk's brand new website over @ www.stephenvolk.net where you can find all kinds of info, links and clippings concerning Steve's past and future work.

31 October - 6 November 1992

2009-07-19T13:16:00.019+01:00

In October 1992, shortly before its first and only UK television broadcast, the Radio Times ran a cover story on Ghostwatch.

Rather than focus on the finer aspects of the drama, instead, writer, Sue Arnold, used the topic as a springboard for her own personal thoughts and recollections of Hallowe'en, while the mag itself devoted an entire page to the iconic 'Bohemian Rhapsody/Floating Heads' publicity still (an alternate version of which can be seen below).

Here is an excerpt: "Some of my best friends are witches. Unlike me, they won't be glued to their television sets this Hallowe'en watching the potent brew of ghouls, ghosts and ghasties being served up to us on the spookiest night of the year. In BBC1's Screen One special, Ghostwatch, Michael Parkinson, Sarah Greene, Mike Smith and Craig Charles will be examining the paranormal and investigating the most haunted house in Britain. Brave souls can also descend into The Vault of Horror on BBC2, defying the night until dawn, where some of the scariest horror movies have been dusted off and resurrected."

Do you remember seeing a copy in your local newsagents? Or perhaps, reading about the show in another publication? If so, drop us a line in the comments section below!

9.25pm Ghostwatch A Screen One Special drama for Hallowe'en written by Stephen Volk, starring Michael Parkinson, Sarah Green, Mike Smith, Craig Charles Ghosts no longer inhabit stately homes and rattle chains. They live in ordinary council houses like that of Mrs Pamela Early. For months she's suffered strange noises, awful smells and bent cutlery, but is hers really the most haunted house in Britain? BBCtv turns the cameras on ghoulies, ghosties and things that go bump in the night.

- Synopsis written for the Radio Times TV listings section.

In the 31 Jan-6 Feb 2004 edition of the weekly magazine, Ghostwatch made a subsequent appearance as the third best spooky TV show ever, beaten only by The X Files and Stephen King's It.

An additional mention of the show can be found in the 30 Aug-5 Sept 2008 issue, as one of several "fireworks formula" hybrid TV concepts.

It's in the machine...

2009-06-05T21:53:00.041+01:00

GHOSTWATCH (12)

Directed by: Lesley Manning
Written by: Stephen Volk
Produced by: Ruth Baumgarten
Released: 25/11/02
Distributor: BFI - Archive Television
Running Time: 91 minutes
Screen Format: PAL, 1.33:1, non-anamorphic
Audio: Nicam stereo
Subtitles: None
Special Features: Audio Commentary, Featurette, DVD-Rom content

To mark the film's tenth anniversary in 2002, the British Film Institute released Ghostwatch on home video for the very first time. As the latter format had not entirely disappeared from the shop shelves, the film was also one of the last to be released on both DVD and VHS.

The now sold out single-disc DVD edition (at present, a highly sought-after collector's item) featured a modest collection of extras and exclusive DVD-ROM content.

The film itself was presented almost uncut - with two (technically) minor omissions being the Lambie-Nairn 'Spinning Globe' and Screen One 'boulder' idents, both of which immediately preceeded the main feature on the night of transmission.

PICTURE & SOUND

Technically speaking, the image transfer, presented in the original 1:33:1 TV format, is reasonably sharp and vibrant considering its age, suffering just one or two imperceptible glitches during the entire ninety-minute runtime.

It goes without saying, the image plays even better when upscaled to 1080i/p by way of a HD Ready DVD player. The Nicam stereo audio track stands up remarkably well to today's standards - most impressive of all being the consistently high-quality sound design as overseen by the late Winston Ryder.

EXTRAS

Based around the remote camera footage gathered from inside the infamous House in Foxhill Drive, it has been said that the suitably eerie menus are almost as watchable as the main feature itself(!)

On selecting 'Extras', you are transported from the Early sisters' haunted bedroom out onto the landing where you can then choose between the various special features and options.

A sporadically scene-specific, though highly-informative audio commentary from Stephen Volk, Lesley Manning and Ruth Baumgarten touches upon a great many aspects of production during the entire ninety-minute runtime.

A kind of precursor to Behind the Curtains, the mini-doc/featurette, 'Shooting Reality with Lesley Manning' provides even more info to digest - including how the director first approached the screenplay, and how she was later inundated with handwritten letters from a school class that had become enraptured by the film, post-broadcast.

Three PDF text files are also accessible via DVD-ROM drive. These include the original treatment for Ghostwatch, a copy of the shooting draft, and the horror short, "Three Fingers, One Thumb", all by Stephen Volk.

The treatment in particular, is a fascinating look at a Ghostwatch that never was - featuring several paranormal occurrences taking place all over the country as opposed to just one, and an even more thrilling climax in which Dr. Mary Pascoe implores viewers to "switch off their televisions before it's too late!"

A brief but concise two-page collector's booklet penned by renowned critic, Kim Newman also lists several filmic comparisons for reference including Quatermass and the Pit, The Stone Tape, The Blair Witch Project, and The Last Broadcast to name but a few.

STEPHEN'S THOUGHTS

Ruth, Lesley and I were contacted in 2002 very suddenly by the BFI who said "of course" Ghostwatch was one of the first titles discussed for their new "Archive TV" DVD series. (Although I think possibly Ruth or Lesley had contacted them, as we were all aware of the 10th anniversary coming up.) Anyway the timing was right and they acted very fast.

The three of us were all very keen to contribute an audio commentary: both because we thought there were interesting things to tell, and put straight, but also to go on the record about our intentions in creating the drama in the first place. We all wanted there to be as many extras as possible on the DVD - (the Biteback programme, Sarah Greene's appearance on children's TV after "dying", and a selection of cuttings) - but none of these, sadly, was possible; just a version of the script and an early treatment, I think.

The main thing was we had to act very fast because the BFI wanted to release it on the 10th anniversary of transmission, which would mean October 2002. This, by some mighty feat, they did manage to pull off, to their credit.

So it is there for all to see, which was the main thing; there was no chance of anyone seeing it repeated on the BBC! I really hope there is still a chance of a "Special Edition DVD" of Ghostwatch being released, this time with the extras, because those extras convey the aftermath and public reaction to the project, and the programme now seems almost incomplete viewing without them!

CONCLUSION

Overall, it has to be said, the original DVD was very well received by fans and critics alike. If there was just one suggestion for improvement, it was for there to have been an even more thorough look into the conception, production and also aftermath that followed the film's first and only UK television broadcast. So, what's next, you might ask? Well, below is one possible direction currently under consideration... What would you like to see?

Harry and Pipes...

2009-06-04T13:17:00.011+01:00

If you own the BFI single-disc edition of Ghostwatch (a review of which is coming soon), and have listened to the audio commentary, you might have heard director, Lesley Manning mention 'Harrying in' certain characters from time to time.

'Harrying' is a nickname given to digital compositing by way of the Quantel effects rendering machine, "Harry". Simply put, "Harry" was a broadcast-quality, digital recording system.

The main difference between this and other 'analogue' editing machines was that Harry allowed video sequences to be stored, cut and mixed without degradation - a problem which often occurs when dropping generations on video tape. Using the system, separately photographed images of Pipes the poltergeist could then be superimposed onto other shots - most notably, the scene you voted as being the scariest glimpse of Pipes in our online poll, some months ago.

In 1985, Quantel released the "Harry" effects compositing system/non-linear editor. The Harry was designed to render special effects in non-real time to the video recorded on its built-in hard disk array (much like most computer based non-linear editing systems today). The hard disk array used drives made by Fujitsu, and were connected to the Harry using a proprietary parallel interface, much like a modern-day RAID array. Technically, it was the first all-digital non-linear editing system, since it could also do editing of the video that was recorded on the Harry. Due to technical constraints of the time, the Harry could only record 80 seconds of video, albeit encoded in full broadcast-quality, uncompressed D1-style 8-bit CCIR 601 format. This aside, the Harry was quite an advanced machine, and the only system like it for its time.

From Wikipedia

For more info on the "Harry" machine, click here to visit the informative site, TVArk.

I should tell you, if you've joined to see the next programme...

2009-05-25T13:36:00.014+01:00

It goes without saying, the differences between television as we know it today compared to what was on offer back when Ghostwatch first aired are significant to say the least.

Back then, there were no digital channels, and even satellite and cable TV were both still in the process of being first introduced to the masses. As requested, here is the full schedule for the four available terrestrial channels back on Hallowe'en Night, 1992 - and it's an impressive one at that.

Which favourite shows do you remember? Let us know in the comments section, below!

Let's hear it.

2009-05-20T13:30:00.010+01:00

The new REVOX A77 MK lll is the best recorder that REVOX has ever made. A unique synthesis of reliable electronics and precision mechanics. It sets a new standard in tape recorder design and performance. While fully capable of meeting the most rigorous studio demands, its ease of operation also makes it the perfect choice for the serious enthusiast.

If you've seen Ghostwatch, then the chances are you'll still be able to vividly recall the chilling voice recording scene in which the shredded voice of Pipes the ghost could first be heard. But something you might not be aware of is that the specific model reel-to-reel player used in the film is now a highly sought-after collector's item: the ReVox A77 Mk III.

Of Swiss design and construction, the A77 was at the higher end of the audio recording/playback range before the advent of digital sound, and is still held in high regard by audio engineers and enthusiasts alike.

As stated in the audio commentary for Ghostwatch, one of the reasons it was so prominently featured was due to to the fact, the very same method of involving one's imagination through lack of any visual interest was being used in other true-life crime documentaries at the time.

For more information on this and other model ReVox players, click here. And for a more comprehensive look at reel-to-reel technology, check out this informative Wiki.

It's still there... It's not come off the wall!

2009-05-12T12:53:00.013+01:00

A brand-new, 'haunted' wallpaper for your desktops - available in the following sizes:

800 x 600

1024 x 768

1280 x 1024

Good evening, Doctor. Thank you for joining us...

2009-05-02T11:17:00.014+01:00

Did you know that Ghostwatch has been screened on BBC One, post-1992? ...Well, sort of.

In 2006, during the episode of Doctor Who entitled, Army of Ghosts, among the veteran TV presenters (no, not Parky, Sarah and Craig) covering a devastating, paranormal attack on the UK were Derek Acorah, Tricia Goddard and notably, Alistair Appleton who could be seen fronting the current affairs show... 'ghostwatch'.

An interesting choice by writer, Russell T. Davis (an homage to the original film, perhaps..?). The production even went so far as to develop and release a companion flash game on the Beeb's website - a fun little hide-and-seek adventure that, ahem, features a cat being mistaken for a spook during a false sighting - but sadly, no reflection of Mr. Pipes in the kitchen window, shortly afterwards..!

Thanks to YouTube subscriber, Phil for mentioning it to us, and a big thank-you also to everyone for helping us pass a whopping 10,000 channel views!

Just a quick update on the production front. We are still hard at work on the doc, and in all important respects, are now closer than ever before in finally bringing it to the masses. As ever, when we hear news, you will too. Cheers from all of us for the continued support.

Back To Mirth

2009-04-17T14:11:00.015+01:00

Congratulations are in order for Craig Charles and company after a massive 2.6 million viewers tuned in for the recent Red Dwarf revival, Back to Earth, on digital channel, Dave. A figure, which according to the series' official website is now: "the highest-rated commissioned show on a digital network ever."

For those who missed the specials, it seemed that after having spent over three-million years in deep space, last surviving human, Dave Lister, hard-light hologram, Arnold Rimmer, super-cool, Cat and sanitation mechanoid, Kryten had finally returned home... but in classic, Red Dwarf tradition, there was a sting in the tale, as the hapless crew soon realised things were not as they should be...

An enjoyable trip down memory lane, the three-parter has led to speculation amongst fans that a new series, or even the long-rumoured Red Dwarf movie may soon follow...

...The End? The smeg, it is.

A memorable appearance

2009-03-18T11:40:00.002Z

On Saturday March 28th, to celebrate the upcoming release of Red Dwarf: Back To Earth, Craig Charles will be making a guest appearance at the Birmingham Memorabilia Show along with fellow Dwarfer, Robert Llewellyn, who plays lovable DivaDroid 'noid, Kryten.

The longest running collector show in the UK, Memorabilia started life back in 1994 for fans of movies, TV shows and sport alike. The event takes place thrice-yearly at the Birmingham NEC and features live Q&A sessions, autograph signings, screening areas, gaming tournaments, and more. For more information, click here, or the picture above.

We're going to investigate one of the most baffling and facinating areas of human experience...

2009-03-05T19:02:00.001Z

On 4th April 2009, renowned psychologist Professor Richard Wiseman and a host of other experts will gather to examine the science and history of hauntings as part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival.

The event will consist of seven talks - one of which ("Dialogue with the dead": Creating ghosts for television) will be presented by Ghostwatch screenwriter, Stephen Volk. Topics will cover the truth regarding scientific investigations into 'haunted' houses, how the brain can be fooled into seeing apparitions, whether spirit photographs offer evidence of the afterlife... ...and how poltergeists once panicked the nation.

Audience members will also have a unique opportunity to witness a genuine Victorian phantasmagoria, and meet the man who creates ghostly goings-on in the Harry Potter movies. The event will take place in the University of Edinburgh's Anatomy Lecture Theatre - an atmospheric, spectacular and historical venue not usually open to the public. Tickets cost £30. For more information, click the picture above.

Sounds like a situation comedy..!

2009-03-04T20:14:00.002Z

Coming soon to UK digital channel Dave (Friday 10th April at 9pm to be exact), Ghostwatch 'Interviewer', Craig Charles will return as slobby, space-bum Dave Lister for a special, three-part mini-series entitled, Red Dwarf: Back to Earth.

Following on from the cult, sci-fi comedy hit's eighth season (BtE now being its ninth), the story sees Craig as the last human being alive in the universe, finally returning home after a three-million year sojourn into deep space - with just senile computer, Holly, ironing-obsessed mechanoid, Kryten, the super-evolved Cat, hard-light hologram, Rimmer, and ex-girlfriend, Kristine Kochanski, for company.

Craig's appearence in Ghostwatch came shortly after the airing of Red Dwarf's fifth series on BBC 2, which also saw the spine-chilling television debut of the ever-menacing glove puppet, Mr. Flibble in the horror-centric episode, Quarantine.

End of illusion...

2009-03-03T17:15:00.001Z

Fantastic Writing - Science Fiction, Fantasy & Magic: Writing the future, the past and other worlds

On Saturday 7th March 2009, De Montfort University will be hosting the third annual writers day for aspiring TV scriptwriters at the Leicester City campus.

Among the speakers will be Ghostwatch screenwriter, Stephen Volk who will be discussing his supernatural ITV series, Afterlife.

Other confirmed guests include James Moran (Doctor Who, Torchwood and Spooks), Phil Ford (Sarah Jane Adventures, Dr Who and Torchwood), Julian Jones (Merlin) and Graham Joyce (Doom 4).

The event costs £65 per person including lunch, refreshments and parking. For more information, click the picture above.

On the wall, the picture on the wall..!

2009-02-16T17:37:00.001Z

Ghostwatchers, treat your eyes and your desktops to our improved-design blog, and also these brand-new, 'haunted' wallpapers - available in the following sizes:

800 x 600

1024 x 768

1280 x 1024

We’ve got to go straight back to Foxhill Drive, where things are happening...

2009-01-21T22:22:00.001Z

Yesterday, Stephen Volk, Lesley Manning and I met up in London to discuss Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtains in further detail. Interest in the doc is now at an all-time high, and we are determined as ever to make it happen.

The BtC Youtube page and Blog are still both going strong; not surprisingly, having proven especially busy around Hallowe'en - with some DVD copies of the original film at that time selling for as much as £60.00 online. Further meetings are likely to follow, with news to be posted if and when it happens.

Don't forget, the official BtC Forums are still open to anyone who wishes to register. Oh, and congratulations to Youtube user, 15098036 for becoming our 100th subscriber. Cheers!

Where's Pipes?

2009-01-01T11:51:00.005Z

Happy New Year, Ghostwatch fans!

By far the most asked question that comes the way of the blog concerns the mysterious, fleeting appearances from Ghostwatch's notoriously elusive poltergeist...

Villanous spectre, Mr. Pipes makes a total of eight physical appearances in Ghostwatch (minus Cherise Wesson's sketch seen at 00:19:00).

Recent online rumours of a fabled 'ninth sighting' at 01:16:18 were later debunked by director, Lesley Manning (see below). Irrefutable proof, or just 'faces in the fire'? Decide for yourself...

TIMECODES:
Haunted Bedroom #1: 00:20:48
The Voice: 00:30:28
Outside with Craig: 00:47:22
In the Kitchen: 00:54:59
Haunted Bedroom #2: 01:11:55
Under the Stairs: 01:17:12
Close-up in Static: 01:27:41
On the Gantry: 01:27:42

Filming at Glamorgan

2008-12-29T18:57:00.001Z

In June, 2008, just as things started to get going on the BtC pre-production front, Steve Volk mentioned that he was due to give a talk, partly on Ghostwatch, for the University of Glamorgan's upcoming 'Space. Time. Machine. Monster' conference. Realising this could be a great opportunity to learn more about the original film, it didn't take long for me to find my railcard and board the next train bound for Cardiff.

As I stepped out onto the platform at Treforest, I found myself amongst a towering band of verdant hillsides. The view was just spectacular. The university is only a short stroll down the road from the station… followed by just one or two ‘endurance-style’, uphill treks (but then, I was lugging some bulky camera cases...).

After meeting Steve in the lobby, we entered Theatre 2 and checked out the scene. By the very nature of the vast space that was made available to us, I had a feeling that recording the sound might be a problem.

The only microphone I had was attached to the camera, and having positioned myself a good twenty/thirty feet away from Steve on the stairwell, on later reviewing the footage, there was indeed a distinct, unwelcome echo on almost all the audio. Luckily, I was able to dial up Steve’s voice in post just enough to make his words come through clear, but for a while, I recall it was touch and go.

Interestingly, the full, unedited talk included a great deal more than Steve solely discussing Ghostwatch. Gothic, Afterlife, and the upcoming Telepathy were also brought up during the all-too brief fifty minutes - the teaser trailer for which even managed to garner a fleeting, but genuine round of applause from the captivated crowd.

After the audience had collectively filed out of the hall, Steve kindly recorded three takes of his Youtube trailer before I had to make a hasty dash for the last train home (determined as I was not to miss this one like I had before in Bristol...!). The footage took about four days to edit (including some additional filming of the intro which I shot using tripods back at the office). Technically, I suppose this is the first test footage that was ever shot for BtC. In terms of experience vs. quality, what I learned during filming has since proved invaluable.

A Man of Sound Mind

2008-12-04T14:10:00.001Z

Be sure to check out Mikerophonics - the official website of Ghostwatch star, and professional sound designer, Mike Aiton.

...also Unofficial Chairman of The Adrian Edmonson Lookalike Society - "Right On!"

The official Ghostwatch forums are now open!

2008-12-03T16:06:00.001Z

Check out the new, official Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtains forums over at: www.Ghostwatch.freeforums.org

Blog Poll #1

2008-11-29T14:11:00.001Z

Congratulations, Ghostwatch fans! By an impressive 51% of all votes taken, you have chosen this moment as being the most frightening glimpse of spook, Mr. Pipes...

I'm sorry, I can hardly hear you...

2008-11-11T15:59:00.001Z

Many of our subscribers have asked, "just what is Mr. Pipes saying in this/that scene..?"

No Laughing Matter...

2008-11-10T12:50:00.001Z

Thanks go to our Youtube subscriber 'execation' for pointing this one out to us:

This footage was shot by parapsychologists investigating the case...

2008-10-31T07:15:00.001Z

Head on over to the GhostwatchBtC Youtube page where you can check out FOUR brand new videos!

1. Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtains - Happy Hallowe'en!

Just in time for Hallowe'en comes this short collection of Ghostwatch secrets, which you may not have seen before...

2. Ghostwatch - The Voice (subtitled) For anyone who has ever wondered exactly what was being said during this classic scene...

3. Ghostwatch - Rare Alternate Voice Recording A rare, unseen version of the chilling 'tape recording' scene...

4. Ghostwatch - New Mr. Pipes Sighting? Is Mr. Pipes standing behind you for a ninth time?

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T07:10:00.002Z

Don't trust your eyes and don't believe what they tell you on TV.

To all those who remember Halloween night 1992 and watching the "live" broadcast of Ghostwatch on BBC1, get those ducking apples out and scoop out those pumpkins because Mr Pipes is out and about this and every October 31st! .....

If you are fans of the programme, please support filmmaker Richard Lawden's attempt to get Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtains, a documentary on Ghostwatch, to your screens soon.

Till then... "Round and round the garden, like a teddy bear...."

STEPHEN VOLK
(Screenwriter, Ghostwatch)

(Photo Credit: Jonathan Hall - Clerkenwell Films/ITV)

Meet the man who's met everyone (...Even a ghost!)

2008-10-31T07:05:00.005Z

A huge thank-you goes to Sir Michael Parkinson for choosing the next topic for his special, Hallowe'en-themed blog...

Be sure to click the banner above and head on over to Sir. Michael's new official homepage, where you can read his very own Hallowe'en memories of working on Ghostwatch...

Week In Words (30.Oct.08)

If you want a really scary Halloween then buy, borrow or rent a DVD of ‘Ghostwatch’, a programme I appeared in 1992 and which caused such a panic at the BEEB it was never repeated.

‘Ghostwatch’ was a television programme which visited a supposed haunted house in the forlorn hope of seeing a ghost. I played the host safely ensconced in a television studio and commenting on an outside broadcast from a council house with a sinister past where the other presenters got more than they bargained for.

The other reporters were Craig Charles, Mike Smith and Sarah Greene, all playing themselves, and it was this ploy of employing presenters in a seemingly real life situation which persuaded some people that the show was real. It was a genuinely frightening and disturbing show brilliantly written by Stephen Volk, the man responsible for the ‘Afterlife’ TV series starring the wonderful Lesley Sharp.

They wouldn’t tell me how it ended so I sat in an empty TV studio while cameras went berserk around me as the evil spirit released in the house came seeking the people who had disturbed its resting place. All I could see was a pinprick of red light moving across the gantry and down the stairs towards me.

There were those watching who believed it to be a documentary and were genuinely frightened. Others saw it for what it was, a well produced and disturbing drama. It was watched by over 9 million people and the critics were kind. Then, tragically, a young person committed suicide and it was claimed he did so because the content of the programme disturbed his mind. Since that time the BBC avoided the controversy of a repeat, wrongly, I think, because with all the resultant publicity surrounding the programme there could be few who would make the mistake it a second time for a real event.

The DVD is released by the British Film Institute, that important guardian of our film and television heritage. The programme also provided me with an unlikely reward because I was put forward as a BAFTA nominee for Best Actor. When my thespian friends get on their high horse I sometimes have to remind them who they are speaking to.

So you can get a feel for just how good my performance was we have added a trailer and an interview with the creator Stephen Volk, taken from Channel Four's 100 scariest moments, to the site. Why not take a look, if you're brave enough.

SIR MICHAEL PARKINSON.

('Presenter', Ghostwatch)

The blog you’re about to watch is a unique, live investigation of the supernatural...

2008-10-31T07:00:00.001Z

I once read the key to any great horror story is that it “stays with you in the daylight”. For myself, and I’m sure countless others, this maxim holds true for Ghostwatch. But with so many other similarly conceived works of the genre already in existence, it's worth noting that few examples have demonstrated such influence, such power, over their audience than the controversial, Screen One drama special.

By definition, Art is ineluctably dependant on the willingness of an audience to participate; as someone once said, “a painting has no music”. But assuming the key distinction between so-called ‘high’ and ‘low’ art is merely the breathing space, or perhaps freedom, to allow one’s imagination to fill in the gaps between fact and fiction, then Ghostwatch might very well be considered a masterpiece.

With its surrealist themes and divisive villain, the film hit most of the marks required to one day be hailed as a worthy Horror flick, but it was the active participation of its viewers (the true-life ‘massive séance’) which has led to the film’s unforeseeable and lasting influence. The fact that villainous spectre, Mr. Pipes, has somewhat entered into contemporary urban mythology helps bear this theory out. Despite being an albeit fictional entity, his shadowy presence continues to linger in the backs of fans’ minds, now almost two decades after he first burst onto our television screens.

Watching Ghostwatch was one of the many defining moments of my young life. I remember vividly and with some detail, sitting with my folks on the sofa (I was seven at the time), staring wide-eyed and enthralled as the unrelenting drama unfolded. Oddly enough, I also recall sleeping quite soundly that night; more in a state of awe than heart-stopping terror, really. ...It was around a week or two later when my mind began to embellish what I had seen to the point where it bore little resemblance to what actually went out. No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t help but find increasing numbers of potential ‘Pipes-hiding-spaces’. Even though I’d known all along that the show was in fact a drama, it made no difference. It felt real to me simply because I wanted it to be.

The idea to develop a retrospective documentary based on Ghostwatch came about late last year, at a Cineformation lecture held at Bristol-based media workshop, The Watershed. Chairing the event was Eileen Elsey, and appearing alongside her, special-celebrity-guest-star, Stephen Volk. As the doors to the screening room finally opened, the good forty/fifty-strong crowd of Vans (Stephen Volk-fans) took to their seats. The evening began with Steve explaining how he first got into screenwriting, before going on to provide commentary for various clips of things he had been involved in over the years - The Deadness of Dad, Gothic & Afterlife to name but a few.

Half-way through the Afterlife promo reel, the projector image froze just like in Ghostwatch. From the back of my mind, I recalled something similar had happened during the filming of another BBC show entitled, Hearts of Gold. The story goes, when one of the studio lights unexpectedly blew out during filming, certain members of the justifiably startled audience were heard to suggest Ghostwatch spook, Mr. Pipes might be responsible.

“This could be my big moment”, I thought.

Glancing up at the flickering projection screen, I could see the image was still tantalisingly frozen. The alluring silence pervaded... Then, suddenly it happened:

“...It’s Pipes!” I bravely mumbled into the pitch-black hall.

For far too long a while, a truly agonising silence was my only response. That is until the guy sitting next to me suddenly perked up with: “Oh yeah, the poltergeist from, er...” ...He couldn’t remember. At what was essentially a Ghostwatch fan convention, he couldn’t remember. Ah, well. Cheers anyway, mate.

The evening finally over, I joined the queue of adoring Vans and eagerly awaited my turn to speak. Taking a deep breath, I stopped fumbling with the already-crumpled stack of paper in my hands and quickly handed Steve over my treatment for Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtains. Much to my pleasant surprise, he seemed... well, pleasantly surprised. As a matter of fact, he seemed genuinely intrigued; even more so when I showed him my inexplicably stopped wristwatch - I swear to you, no word of a lie - the second hand dead on the hour, just as I later surmised, one of his Afterlife characters had ‘walked into the light’ on screen. His grin widened on seeing the ‘indisputable paranormal evidence’. Mine did too.

Just to set the record straight, Stephen Volk is very much on board the project - as is director Lesley Manning. I’ve also been fortunate enough to speak with several other members of the film’s principal cast & crew, and even some other well-known, celebrity fans (although it's still a little too early to name names, I can assure you the ever-growing list of prospective interviewees is looking pretty darn good, so far).

The YouTube page has been instrumental in our ongoing production meetings, so a big thank-you must go out to all of our subscribers - especially those of you who have left your own personal Ghostwatch stories. Lastly, apologies it’s taken so long for more videos/info to be posted, but rest assured, the moment we hear any definitive news, you will too.

Thanks again, have a Happy Hallowe’en... and try not to have sleepless nights.

RICHARD LAWDEN. (Creator, Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtains)

It begins...

2008-10-18T14:14:00.001+01:00

31.10.08