Rentaghost

Rentaghost

In yesterday's video we watched episode 2 of the 7th series of 'Rentaghost'.

First shown in 1982, this is the 'Rentaghost' that I remember; the era of Dobbin the pantomime horse brilliantly played by Myrka duo William Perrie and John Asquith.

This episode is full of the little touches I love; Hazel the McWitch and Mister Claypole arguing a lot and Nadia Popov sneezing at any flowers (including silk ones) that are waved anywhere near her and getting her words wrong.

It is a funny and silly episode featuring lots of slapstick including a couple of minutes of the Meakers caught in a revolving wall.

They are at the stately home of Earl Perivale (John Horsley) who is being haunted by resident phantom Sir Guy Fitzherbert (Robert Swales). Of course, there are lots of misunderstandings along the way as this is a Bob Block script and he has used this trope lots of times before.

Mrs Meaker mentions to the Earl that Mr Meaker was knighted by a 12th century monarch, prompting the Earl to say that he didn't think Mr Meaker was that old.

This is, of course, a reference to Queen Matilda at whose court Mister Claypole was the jester. Though as she was never formally crowned I'm not sure what kind of court it woud have been, her cousin Stephen being crowned King. However, Matilda's son Henry would become Henry the Second on Stephen's death.

Meanwhile the Meakers' next-door neighbours the Perkins are looking forward to a quiet weekend while their neighbours are away as they continually cause chaos and make life for the Perkins very difficult.

Miss Popov has been tasked with looking after the Perkins and making sure that they are happy which, of course, causes them many problems. As does the magic amulet that Mister Claypole has enchanted that frequently takes the most mundane of statements at face value which in turn causes many problems, including Mr Perkins dropping everything (including his trousers!) when he hears the doorbell ring.

Back at the stately home, the spooks, including Dobbin, deck themselves out in home-made armour to protect them from Sir Guy's lightning bolts.

Timothy Claypole has challenged Sir Guy to a jousting session and attempts to mount Dobbin who is unable and unwilling to to take his weight and promptly collapses.

Sir Guy, believing that he has won by default, steals McWitch's broomstick and goes off for a joyride, allowing McWitch to defeat him by calling back her broomstick and meaning that as he falls to earth outside the house he cannnot come back in to continue his haunting.

And when the Meakers get home they are enthusiastically welcomed back by the Perkins who have decided that they need them to distract from their boring arguments.

It is a typical episode of 'Rentaghost' filled with many silly moments and is an enjoyable way of passing half an hour.

Next up is 'Galloping Galaxies', which Andrew has never seen. So that will be an experience for him. 
Our video about this episode of 'Rentaghost' can be seen here.

(Written by Lisa Parker)