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The Ghost Hunter (TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Ghost Hunter is an award winning British children's drama series created for the BBC
and based on the books The Ghost Hunter
by Ivan Jones (author)
. It was first broadcast in January 2000 and the last series was first broadcast,in 2002. Repeats continue to be shown on BBC and CBBC
as well as in other countries. The first and second series were later reworked into two ninety minute films. The The Ghost Hunter
books are published by Scholastic.
School location scenes from each of the three series were filmed at St. Laurence School
in Bradford on Avon
, Wiltshire
. Many of the castle scenes were filmed at Berkeley Castle
in the Cotswolds.
The Ghost Hunter series revolves around Roddy and Tessa Oliver, two ordinary children whose lives are turned upside down when William Povey, a shoeshine boy
from Victorian England
appears in Roddy's bedroom as a ghost and appeals to him for help. The Ghost Hunter is searching for William in order to obtain 'spectral energy' which is only obtainable from capturing ghosts.
At first she seems concerned only to "collect" ghosts, but later her intentions become clear. She wants to use their energy to pass through Time itself and thereby have everlasting life. William's energy is especially high which makes him more attractive to the Ghost Hunter. As Roddy has second sight (the ability to see ghosts) and is the only person initially who can see William , he is the only person who can help him escape.Later, Tessa also finds she has second sight and can also see William. In their on-going battles, the two boys and Tessa, Roddy's sister, become firm friends and have many adventures together.
Although the series was a ground-breaking one for children's television and influenced other series which followed it, and although it had very high ratings, a fourth series was never commissioned, thus leaving some of the main protagonists, the Ghost Hunter and some of the children stuck in Victorian England. However, the production company which took over from Zenith (Coolabi) has now come up with an idea called Dead Normal, which is about teenage ghosts in a school setting. (See Guardian article www.copyright.theft.btinternet.co.uk/guardian.htm)
The Ghost Hunter manages to create a time hole in the fabric of the universe and both DeSniff and Croker are carried back to Victorian times.
Using the time portal, Croker and Darcy make millions of pounds, and plan to buy Roddy's former school,and set up "THE GHOST SCHOOL", which is now derelict and abandoned, apart from the ghosts who reside there. The year in the future is 2025.
Bex and Leo, having gone through the time portal to 1890, help a Victorian baby (Albert Povey) who is seriously ill, by bringing him back to 2025. Their father, Dr Roddy, gives the baby antibiotics which saves its life, but by doing so, changes the course of history. Albert grows up to be a successful doctor and in the future, is widely celebrated.
Meanwhile, an angry DeSniff thwarts Croker's plans by withdrawing all of the money Croker and Darcy have saved. A final showdown between the pair sees DeSniff donating all of the money to the charity which has been set up and is celebrating Albert Povey Day.
Bex and Leo, back in Victorian times, where they have returned the baby Albert to its parents, get back to the Time Portal, only to find it is closed. William and his friends risk sacrificing themselves in order to re-open the portal. Bex and Leo return to the future and in doing so, the time portal closes, perhaps forever. Arriving at the place where the derelict school and The Ghost School had once stood, they see it is now a new hospital, dedicated to Albert Povey. Roddy comes out and tells them they are just in time to see a new ward opening up in honour of the man who donated so much to help... the DeSniff Ward.
Back in Victorian times, two of the ghosts have emerged unscathed from the time machine, but William is nowhere to be seen. Roddy is seen in his office, where William makes his final goodbyes to him. Roddy is delighted he had the chance to see his friend one last time.
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and based on the books The Ghost Hunter
The Ghost Hunter
The Ghost Hunter is a general name for a series of novels by Ivan Jones about a Victorian shoe-shine boy who has become a ghost. The boy, called William Povey, is trying to escape from the evil and obsessive Ghost Hunter, Mrs Croker...
by Ivan Jones (author)
Ivan Jones (author)
Ivan Jones is a British writer of fiction. His work includes novels, picture books, plays, poetry anthologies, television series and many adaptations for BBC Radio.-Novels and Picture Books:...
. It was first broadcast in January 2000 and the last series was first broadcast,in 2002. Repeats continue to be shown on BBC and CBBC
CBBC
CBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...
as well as in other countries. The first and second series were later reworked into two ninety minute films. The The Ghost Hunter
The Ghost Hunter
The Ghost Hunter is a general name for a series of novels by Ivan Jones about a Victorian shoe-shine boy who has become a ghost. The boy, called William Povey, is trying to escape from the evil and obsessive Ghost Hunter, Mrs Croker...
books are published by Scholastic.
School location scenes from each of the three series were filmed at St. Laurence School
St Laurence School
St Laurence School is a state secondary comprehensive school in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, UK.-Admissions:The school is also a specialist Arts College, formerly in the district of West Wiltshire. The current headteacher is James Colquhoun. It takes pupils also from Atworth, Monkton Farleigh,...
in Bradford on Avon
Bradford on Avon
Bradford on Avon is a town in west Wiltshire, England with a population of about 9,326. The town's canal, historic buildings, shops, pubs and restaurants make it popular with tourists....
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. Many of the castle scenes were filmed at Berkeley Castle
Berkeley Castle
Berkeley Castle is a castle in the town of Berkeley, Gloucestershire, UK . The castle's origins date back to the 11th century and it has been designated by English Heritage as a grade I listed building.The castle has remained within the Berkeley family since they reconstructed it in the...
in the Cotswolds.
The Ghost Hunter series revolves around Roddy and Tessa Oliver, two ordinary children whose lives are turned upside down when William Povey, a shoeshine boy
Shoeshine Boy
"Shoeshine Boy" is a 1975 R&B/pop single by Eddie Kendricks. The single was the last of his three number-one U.S. R&B hits and one of his final crossover singles, peaking at number eighteen on the Billboard Hot 100.-References:...
from Victorian England
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
appears in Roddy's bedroom as a ghost and appeals to him for help. The Ghost Hunter is searching for William in order to obtain 'spectral energy' which is only obtainable from capturing ghosts.
At first she seems concerned only to "collect" ghosts, but later her intentions become clear. She wants to use their energy to pass through Time itself and thereby have everlasting life. William's energy is especially high which makes him more attractive to the Ghost Hunter. As Roddy has second sight (the ability to see ghosts) and is the only person initially who can see William , he is the only person who can help him escape.Later, Tessa also finds she has second sight and can also see William. In their on-going battles, the two boys and Tessa, Roddy's sister, become firm friends and have many adventures together.
Although the series was a ground-breaking one for children's television and influenced other series which followed it, and although it had very high ratings, a fourth series was never commissioned, thus leaving some of the main protagonists, the Ghost Hunter and some of the children stuck in Victorian England. However, the production company which took over from Zenith (Coolabi) has now come up with an idea called Dead Normal, which is about teenage ghosts in a school setting. (See Guardian article www.copyright.theft.btinternet.co.uk/guardian.htm)
Characters
- Roddy Oliver, played by William TheakstonWill TheakstonWilliam Theakston is an English actor who appeared in the first Harry Potter movie. He played the role of the Slytherin Quidditch seeker Terence Higgs. He attended Latymer Upper School...
- William's friend who has the ability to see and hear ghosts. - Tessa Oliver, played by Verity-Jane Dearsley - Roddy's sister, also has 'second sight'
- William Povey played by Lee Godwin - The main protagonist, a shoeshine boy from the Victorian eraVictorian eraThe Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
who died and lived on as a ghost. - The Ghost Hunter played by Jean MarshJean MarshJean Lyndsey Torren Marsh is an English actress, occasional screenwriter, and co-creator of the television series Upstairs, Downstairs and The House of Eliott....
- The "evil" villain, who detests ghosts and who is willing to do anything to avoid death. - DeSniff, played by Richard Hanson - The hunter's assistant
- Murdoch, played by Glyn AngellGlyn Angell-History:Angell was a member of the award-winning Chichester Festival Youth Theatre for two weeks before he landed two roles: one opposite Simon Callow in Chimes at Midnight at the Chichester Festival Theatre, the second in the BBC educational series Zig Zag...
- the keeper of Newgate Prison. - Mr Oliver & Mrs Oliver , played by John McAndrew and Tracy BrabinTracy BrabinTracy Brabin is an English actress and television writer.Brabin is best remembered for her roles as clumsy waitress Sandra opposite David Jason in A Bit of a Do , Tricia Armstrong in Coronation Street from 1994 to 1997 and Ginny in Richard Harris's Outside Edge...
- Roddy and Tessa's parents - Bex, played by Kelly SalmonKelly SalmonKelly Salmon is an English actress and fashion model. She appeared in the first TV commercial for NSPCC in 1993.-Early life:...
- Roddy's daughter from the year 2027 - Professor Darcy, played by Andrew HavillAndrew Havill-Life and career:Havill has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and at the National Theatre, and was in The Woman in Black in London's West End...
- Victorian inventor
Series One
The main action takes place in Roddy and Tessa's village and school where the Ghost Hunter is active. One of the Ghost Hunter's chief abilities is her sense of smell. She can sniff out a ghost effortlessly. But Roddy and Tessa do not know who the Ghost Hunter is. They set about trying to discover this so that they can protect William. One of their ruses is to put garlic all round Roddy's bedroom, where the ghost is hiding, as the smell is said to keep ghosts and evil away. Eventually, the children realise that the Ghost Hunter is Mrs Croker, but only when she arrives at Roddy's house with her "ghost immobilising vapour" (GIV) with which she tries to freeze William, shrink him and put him in a bottle. Thanks to Roddy's quick wittedness, William escapes and the police almost arrest Mrs Croker but she escapes. Mrs Croker is also, and always, on the look out for other ghosts and has a whole collection of bottled ghosts that is discovered by Roddy, William and Tessa when the two boys save the girl after she is kidnapped by De Sniff and left tied up and gagged in a secret hideout while Mrs Croker and De Sniff go back to the house to look for William. When she learns that there is to be an AGM -Annual Ghost Meeting - at Chillwood Castle, she and her side-kick DeSniff set up a powerful plan to bottle dozens of ghosts. Her plan is to use ghost-energy for her own wicked purposes. Thanks to Roddy, Tessa and William, Mrs Croker falls from the battlements of Chillwood Castle, and is believed to have been killed. De Sniff escapes.Series Two
The tone changes and becomes more sinister. DeSniff has discovered Mrs Croker is not dead. She has survived her fall from the castle and returns to work in a strange old mansion,called Deadlock Hall. Here, her demonic energy kicks into action again and she creates a machine called a "specktrika" which pulls ghosts towards it like a magnet. With this she intends to catch enough ghosts to power her "time travelling machine." But by now the eccentric and foolish DeSniff has tasted power and he wants to time travel too.The Ghost Hunter manages to create a time hole in the fabric of the universe and both DeSniff and Croker are carried back to Victorian times.
Series Three
Mrs. Croker teams up with a Victorian scientist, Mr Darcy. They develop an elaborate plan together to catch masses of ghosts. Mrs Croker wants to use the ghost-energy so that she can become immortal. Returning to the modern era, 25 years have now passed since Roddy and Tessa last defeated Croker, and Roddy is a doctor with two children who are called Leo and Bex. Roddy is nervous when they question him about his old stories of the Ghost Hunter and William. William meets Roddy again, but Roddy can no longer see him, due to the loss of his second sight.Using the time portal, Croker and Darcy make millions of pounds, and plan to buy Roddy's former school,and set up "THE GHOST SCHOOL", which is now derelict and abandoned, apart from the ghosts who reside there. The year in the future is 2025.
Bex and Leo, having gone through the time portal to 1890, help a Victorian baby (Albert Povey) who is seriously ill, by bringing him back to 2025. Their father, Dr Roddy, gives the baby antibiotics which saves its life, but by doing so, changes the course of history. Albert grows up to be a successful doctor and in the future, is widely celebrated.
Meanwhile, an angry DeSniff thwarts Croker's plans by withdrawing all of the money Croker and Darcy have saved. A final showdown between the pair sees DeSniff donating all of the money to the charity which has been set up and is celebrating Albert Povey Day.
Bex and Leo, back in Victorian times, where they have returned the baby Albert to its parents, get back to the Time Portal, only to find it is closed. William and his friends risk sacrificing themselves in order to re-open the portal. Bex and Leo return to the future and in doing so, the time portal closes, perhaps forever. Arriving at the place where the derelict school and The Ghost School had once stood, they see it is now a new hospital, dedicated to Albert Povey. Roddy comes out and tells them they are just in time to see a new ward opening up in honour of the man who donated so much to help... the DeSniff Ward.
Back in Victorian times, two of the ghosts have emerged unscathed from the time machine, but William is nowhere to be seen. Roddy is seen in his office, where William makes his final goodbyes to him. Roddy is delighted he had the chance to see his friend one last time.
External links
- ((See Guardian article www.copyright.theft.btinternet.co.uk/guardian.html))