What was Rentaghost about?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

I mean, they may have been ghosts, apart from possibly the pantomime horse, but I don't ever remember anyone renting them. I don't actually remeber anything much about it at all, just the characters, miss popoff, mr majika, and some others, oh well actually I can't. But it had a theme tune too.

― Ed Lynch-Bell, Friday, 15 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Fuck knows. It was even worse than Crackerjack. Never funny. Ever.

― DavidM, Saturday, 16 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

From tv.cream.org: Rentaghost (1978-81)
BBC

OF COURSE, this ghosts-run-an-odd-job-agency pantomime comedy went on for many more years than cited above, but quickly became tedious and annoying, even to kids, after the first couple of series. Initially, the main characters were ever-present bearded court jester Timothy Claypole (gadzooks! odds bodkins! etc.), Victorian dandy Mr. Davenport and modern day doesn't-want-parents-to-find-out-he's-a- ghost-dilemma Ted Mumford. Later additions, like Mr. and Mrs. Meaker and a pantomime horse marked the beginning of the end, and by the time Molly Weir (as a Scottish witch) and Audrey from Coronation Street (as a Dutch hay-fever sufferer) turned up, all hope was lost.

That's about all I can remember as well, apart from they always used to end up under the stairs where a dragon lived or something.

― DG, Saturday, 16 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Post-ironic thesis on the inter-dependance of the modern middle classes and the past generations of domestic working class that informed their cultural ambitions. The characters desire to emulate the petty-bourgeoisie of Victoriana are frustated by the residual infrasture of an socially divided nation - the 'ghosts' of the programme - constantly reminding them that their pretentions are built upon superiority in an anachronistic tiered autocracy to which they can never aspire.

That's what it was about. Probably.

― Magnus, Sunday, 17 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

This couldn't be *in any way* a pisstake of me, could it?

― Robin Carmody, Sunday, 17 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Alright, smarty-pants (not you, Robin), what was Moschops all about then?

― DG, Sunday, 17 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I dunno. A rabbit?

― Magnus, Sunday, 17 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You know, I am almost certain there was a strip in mid-70s Buster! comic called 'Rentaghost' (which may, indeed, have been inherited from Shiver and Shake comic when that journal merged with Buster! some time in the early 70s). And the strip genuinely was about a shop that, um, hired out ghosts to various clients looking to spook people. I always imagined that the TV show just nicked the title but ditched the concept as "too literal".

The actor who played Timothy Claypole is the most annoying man I have ever seen on TV.

― stevie t, Monday, 18 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Things That You Would Think Somebody Had Put On The Internet But Apparently Not, No.1: a complete listing of all the strips that appeared in Fleetway Comics. This is the nearest I've got but it's very incomplete - doesn't even have Dads As Lads.

― Tom, Monday, 18 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

There was certainly a Rent-A-Ghost — but was it in Buster? I hardly ever read Buster, so maybe it was in something else. Cor!! had v.obvious rip-off Hire A Horror. I just checked the otherwise forgettable latter, as still own first ever issue, not yet Ebayed! (Becuz extremely tatty, for one thing...)

Fashions in Promo note: With Cor!! no.1 you got a free sachet of powdered orange drink — which I still very nearly 30 years later can recall was piss — because Cor!! was printed in daring new 70s oprinting-techniques which allowed ORANGE ON THE COVER.

Youngsters imagine Viz to be ridiculusly over the top in its mckery of lame features: not so. In my tiny tiny "collection" (= abt 8 titles, none held in double figures), I find ANDY'S ANTS (Andy has some ants), GINGER'S TUM (an orange cat likes to eat), MINNIE'S MIXER (Minnie has a magical kitchen implement which hilariously mixes things up), THE SLIMMS (they're not), FOOTBALL MADD (Mickey Madd likes to boot leather pill into reticule chiz chiz) and WHACKY (a searing study of child abuse in state institutions in the 70s: later a film by Ken Loach).

― mark s, Monday, 18 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The most desperately absurd comic was Plug's solo spin-off from the Bash St Kids (inspired, I imagine, by Cheeky Weekly's successful spin- off from Krazy comic). The whole comic was on a sporting theme (was Plug ever renowned for his sporting prowess?) and featured, as far as I can remember, 'Antchester United' - "they're a football team... and they're all ANTS!" and 'Henry Bono' - "he's a long distance runner... and he's a dog!". Happy days.

― stevie t, Monday, 18 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Henry Bono was itself a ripoff of Marathon Mutt, a story about a dog running a marathon, that ran (HO! HO!) in Jackpot.

My IPC buying years started with Jackpot - I wanted to be in on the first issue. Then on to Buster, reluctantly. Then onto the relaunched Eagle (worthy of its entire own thread) and the extraordinary Oink!, a desperate response to Viz which allowed itself to be ruder than other Fleetway titles, 'rudeness' being measured by jokes about muck, smells and swill. Worked for me. They aimed for a slightly older reader - there was, oh lord, a Morrissey parody in one issue (Hoggissey, perhaps?)

― Tom, Monday, 18 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oink's editor was none other than Mark Riley of Fall/Creepers/Lard fame.

― Richard Tunnicliffe, Tuesday, 19 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

No idea who they were published by but I remeber Wizzer and Chips or Buster having Rentaghost. I also remember such terrible strips as Mustapha Meellion, millie o'naire and penny less, billy whizz and others, although this would have been the mid to late 80s.

― Ed Lynch-Bell, Tuesday, 19 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Billy Whizz = v.ancient indeed, in the Beano. Never funny: he does things fast! Unremarked on: his curious alien antennae

― mark s, Tuesday, 19 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

They did occasionally rent out ghosts - at least in the early series. You know, to spook people out of houses so BBC's idea of pretty young heiress could get her house back - or mother-in-laws were made to never visit again.

Timothy Claypole is a cockfarmer though.

― Pete, Tuesday, 19 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Shameful admission: I saw the actor who played Timothy Claypole (whose name escapes me) in Starlight Express playing CB the Caboose.

This was many many many years ago, ok? I don't recall much about his performance. Perhaps that's just as well.........

― Emma, Tuesday, 19 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

T.Claypole was played by Michael Staniforth. Who is now dead! (d.1987)

― Tom, Tuesday, 19 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

At least his death in 1987 proves I was under 12 when I saw Starlight Express.

I hope he didn't die from falling over and breaking his neck whilst on roller skates.....

― Emma, Tuesday, 19 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Apparently they were willing to replace any of the characters but him, so the hugely undemanded seventh (or whatever) series never appeared.

Emma: same SE confession. I saw it in 86, but I think it had been going a while by then.

Starlight's lyrics were written by Richard Stilgoe, of Finders Keepers lineage. Sample lyric:

'Starlight Express You must confess Are you real - yes Or no?'

― Magnus, Tuesday, 19 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I Love Everything is great, it's like a microfiche record of every pub conversation ever.

― Tom, Tuesday, 19 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Yeah, but without the booze and fags........ so therefore not that great eh?

― Emma, Wednesday, 20 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Well clearly going to the pub is needed to HAVE the pubchat in the first place which is then immortalised on ILE, duh.

― Tom, Wednesday, 20 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Yeah, what's the progress report on the RealOlfactory software? I got 1-2-2-2-2 senses working ovah-ti-ime!!

― mark s, Wednesday, 20 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Please, nooooo... as much debated in the smoking thread, the great thing about ILE is that you get all the *good* things about pub conversation without actually having to smell the pub. As for the drinks element... what, you people have never indulged in the naughty joy that is DP-ing (drunken posting)? I know I have! ILM/E is *perfect* for getting home from the pub and having a good rant.

― masonic boom, Wednesday, 20 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

eleven months pass...

Does anyone know What Michael Staniforth died from?

― Barry Campbell, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

it was AIDS related i am given to understanding. and on an entirely unconnected note, i can't believe nobody did the standard "coming out" analogy. in the first series the main guy was recently deceased and he hadn't got round to telling his parents he was a ghost. "They don't know i'm a ghost" etc.

― Alan Trewartha, Thursday, 13 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

two weeks pass...

Michael Staniforth actually died of AIDS related pneumonia.

― Shaun Garrod, Sunday, 30 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

Rentaghost scared the shit out of me as a child.

― Wyndham Earl, Sunday, 30 June 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

http://websites.ntl.com/~fortytwo/rentaghost/lyrics_pic.jpg

Gadzooks!

― Simeon, Tuesday, 2 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

OH MY GOD that is a DEAD RINGER for Big Brother's Alex!!!!

― katie, Tuesday, 2 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

one month passes...

Hi,

thought you might like to know that Rentaghost is being screened again in the UK. It will be shown on a Saturday and Sunday morning on CBBC (digital channel) as part of a programme called Dick and Dom In Da Bungalow which starts transmission on Aug 31st 2002 9am - 12am.

Hope you will be watching.

Gerard

― Gerard Williams, Thursday, 15 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

wow. gerard, can you start showing fraggle rock again? and fire the person that names your programmes?

― RJG, Thursday, 15 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

No, don't show Fraggle Rock - it was rub (as are all Jim Henson things). Wasn't it an ITV thing anyway?

― N., Thursday, 15 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

fraggle r0X0r

tell them about your fraggle deficiency problem

― RJG, Thursday, 15 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-three years ago)

five months pass...

Rentaghost was fantasic. All you haters better realise that wednesday's well never be the same now that there is no rentaghost. i feel like something is now missing in my life. it inspired me as a child and rentaghost will be deeply missed.

― Annabelle Chapman, Monday, 3 February 2003 14:43 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm not a Rentaghost-hater, but certainly a Rentaghost-fearer. It was just too hyperactive for my taste. Like Timmy Mallett on speed. It was what gave kids attention deficit disorder before Sunny D came along.

― Alfie (Alfie), Monday, 3 February 2003 14:53 (twenty-two years ago)

No, don't show Fraggle Rock - it was rub (as are all Jim Henson things). Wasn't it an ITV thing anyway?
-- N. (nickdastoor@hotmail.com), August 15th, 2002 1:00 AM.

N. this is blasphemy, surely you jest?

― smee (smee), Monday, 3 February 2003 14:59 (twenty-two years ago)

What the fucking hell were the Meakers' neighbours called? This has annoyed me for ages. Nearly as much as the name of the twins with the banjos in the Banana Splits.

― SittingPretty (sittingpretty), Monday, 3 February 2003 15:04 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, freaky stuff. Though I'll never forget Dobbin, and Sue Nicholls will always be Miss Popoff to me. Thinking about it, it was kind of an anti-Ghostbusters. Maybe rentaghost was sold to CBS, they tinkered with it, gave it a treatment and the result was Ivan Reitman.

Though whilst Fraggle Rock was OK (I date my liking of things construction to first seeing the doozers) I was watching the advert (Barclaycard?) with the Muppets and realised I like them very much indeed.

― Dave B (daveb), Monday, 3 February 2003 15:07 (twenty-two years ago)

My Grandad used to play with Molly Weir as a child.

― dog latin, Monday, 3 February 2003 15:12 (twenty-two years ago)

What the fucking hell were the Meakers' neighbours called?

The Perkins, innit?

― Alfie (Alfie), Monday, 3 February 2003 15:18 (twenty-two years ago)

attention !

the whizzer/chips strip along ghosty lines was
'harem scare em'.

― piscesboy, Monday, 3 February 2003 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

I think there certainly was a strip called Rent A Ghost, and this seems to support the idea.

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Monday, 3 February 2003 15:55 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.26pigs.com/buster/buster-gang.gif

The guy on the end of the middle row was from the Buster 'Rent a Ghost', in fact!

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Monday, 3 February 2003 16:01 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.bookpalace.com/acatalog/ParlettRent71.jpg
Yaroo!

― Jerry the Nipper (Jerrynipper), Monday, 3 February 2003 16:02 (twenty-two years ago)

For a minute I had a strange conviction that you were the girl I had a crush on at St John's primary school, but she was called Sarah, not Annabelle or Louise. I am conflating two childhood crushes.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 3 February 2003 19:11 (twenty-two years ago)

Sarah would never have rated Rentaghost so highly.

― N. (nickdastoor), Monday, 3 February 2003 19:12 (twenty-two years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.