Ghostwatch

Synopsis[edit] Ghostwatch is presented as a live broadcast, hosted by Michael Parkinson, in an attempt to present concrete evidence of paranormal phenomena. To achieve this, the programme launches an on-air investigation into a house in the fictional Foxhill Drive, Northolt, Greater London. Pamela Early (Brid Brennan) and her daughters Suzanne (Michelle Wesson) and Kim (Cherise Wesson) are tormented by a poltergeist referred to by Kim as "Pipes", his name originating from knocking noises attributed to the house's plumbing. Pipes routinely possesses and harms Suzanne, and is said to dwell in a room under the house's stairs. Parkinson is supported by fellow hosts Sarah Greene, who ventures into the house to spend the night with the Earlys, her husband Mike Smith, who oversees staged phone calls from the public who wish to share their own ghost stories, and comedian Craig Charles, who interviews the locals regarding the street's violent history. Greene is accompanied by her camera crew, Chris Miller and Mike Aiton, who are actual BBC technicians. Parkinson is joined in the studio by Dr. Lin Pascoe (Gillian Bevan), a parapsychologist studying the phenomena. At first, the broadcast seems harmless, but supernatural phenomena begin to occur in the house. Suzanne is exposed falsifying the knocking sounds, convincing Parkinson that the whole affair is a hoax. Suzanne then speaks in an unearthly guttural voice and develops scratches across her face. The public share their ghost stories, numerous callers mention they have seen Pipes lurking in the house on the broadcast footage, and others say paranormal incidents are happening in their own homes. Pipes' background is slowly pieced together. An interviewed neighbour mentions Mother Seddons, a Victorian baby farmer who murdered children, re-imagined as a bogeyman by the locals. Later, an anonymous call from a probation officer reveals that Raymond Tunstall, a disturbed paedophile who believed he was possessed by Seddons, hanged himself in the room under the stairs, where his body was eaten by his relatives' cats. Pascoe suggests there may be a greater force at play, a possibly ancient evil that possessed Mother Seddons, Tunstall, and countless others. As events in the house grows increasingly frightening, Suzanne disappears and is heard from behind the locked door. The camera crew forces the door open, only for a mirror to fall and wound Aiton. Abruptly, the footage shows the house has returned to normal. However, Pascoe realises the footage is from earlier in the broadcast, and that Pipes has used the free will to create a nationwide séance circle, invading the public's homes. The live broadcast resumes as Pamela, Kim, and the injured Aiton are evacuated from the house. Inside, Greene and Miller attempt to rescue Suzanne, but Greene is dragged through the under-stairs door, which slams shut. The programme ends as inexplicable paranormal activity starts happening in the TV studio, causing all on-set save Parkinson to flee. Parkinson wanders about in the darkened studio, beginning to show signs that he has been possessed by Pipes.