Review of Ghostwatch (1992) by Jason J — 10 Feb 2011

I remember seeing the original transmission on BBC1 and the controversy that followed it afterwards. Some viewers obviously failed to see that there was a notice onscreen saying that the programme wasn't real but still managed to take it so seriously and according to rumours some people committed suicide after being so traumatised.

Set up like a Crimewatch show we have Michael Parkinson in the studio with a parapsychologist discussing the Pipes phenomena and other ghost stories while Sarah Greene and Craig Charles are on location in a council estate house where Pipes the ghost is making life a misery for the Early family.

As you can imagine, there's a lot of hand-held camera action and quick glimpses of the ghost. Then it descends into total farce at the end where all hell breaks loose. Looking back at the show now it's rather dated and is badly acted.