American television history is littered with well-intentioned attempts to adapt beloved British comedy classics, with many falling flat in the translation. Often, the dry, uniquely British wit fails to resonate across the Atlantic, resulting in cringe-worthy moments that miss the mark entirely. In other instances, adaptations track the original source material so closely that viewers are left wondering why the remake was produced in the first place. Yet, on rare occasions, a creative team manages to strike the elusive balance: honoring the spirit and premise of the original while infusing the project with a distinct, localized identity.
One notable example of this success is the CBS comedy series Ghosts, an American adaptation of the acclaimed BBC series of the same name. Developed by showrunners Joe Port and Joe Wiseman, the U.S. version of Ghosts premiered in 2021 and quickly established itself as a ratings hit. The sitcom resonated with audiences almost immediately, earning a swift second-season renewal the following January and paving the way for multiple subsequent season orders. With a sixth season scheduled to debut in early 2027, the series has proven to have remarkable longevity, continuing to draw viewers as it builds out its supernatural universe.
For fans familiar with the premise of the BBC original, the setup of the CBS adaptation feels immediately recognizable. The story centers on a young couple who believe their fortunes have suddenly shifted for the better after inheriting a sprawling, historic country estate from a recently deceased relative. However, their visions of a peaceful life in a magnificent new home are quickly shattered when they discover the property is heavily populated by a diverse group of eccentric ghosts.
The original British series derived much of its distinct charm from the seamless, natural chemistry of its creators and main cast members—Mathew Baynton, Simon Farnaby, Martha Howe-Douglas, Jim Howick, Laurence Rickard, and Ben Willbond. Well-known to UK audiences for their work on the educational comedy series Horrible Histories, this core group had been performing and writing comedy together since 2009. That level of established camaraderie initially raised concerns among critics and viewers regarding the American adaptation. Replicating the effortless dynamic of a troupe with over a decade of shared history seemed a formidable, if not impossible, challenge.
Fortunately, those initial apprehensions proved unfounded. While the CBS series utilizes the foundational premise of the BBC show’s first season, structural differences quickly forced the American adaptation to chart its own creative course. Chief among these differences is the scope of the production. While the original British version launched with a tight six-episode first season, the U.S. adaptation debuted with an 18-episode order. This expanded runway required the writers to develop characters, plotlines, and world-building elements at a much faster pace, allowing the American series to evolve independently of its predecessor.
The core couple also reflects distinct cultural differences in their approach to life and property ownership. In the U.S. version, Samantha "Sam," played by Rose McIver, and Jay Arondekar, played by Utkarsh Ambudkar, are portrayed less as desperate, working-class hopefuls struggling to find affordable housing, and more as ambitious city-dwellers eager to escape urban life and embark on a new entrepreneurial venture by converting the estate into a bed-and-breakfast.
Ghosts Stays True to the Source Material Where It Matters
Central to the appeal of both the British original and the American adaptation are the ghosts themselves. While the UK series featured historically grounded spirits reflecting distinct eras of British history—such as a stuck-up English Regency lady and a smarmy, pantless conservative member of Parliament—the CBS adaptation pivots to periods of history unique to the United States. The spectral residents of the Woodstone estate hail from eras like the Prohibition era, the American Revolutionary War, and the counterculture movements of the 1960s.
While clear thematic parallels exist between the characters of the two shows—such as Rebecca Wisocky’s portrayal of Lady Henrietta Woodstone, an uptight lady of the manor who shares structural DNA with the BBC version’s Lady Fanny Button—the American characters develop in distinct ways as the series progresses. For instance, Henrietta’s background carries different class distinctions than her British counterpart, while characters like Thorfinn, a Norwegian Viking portrayed by Devan Chandler Long, introduce entirely new comedic beats and cultural references that diverge from the prehistoric caveman archetype found in the original.
Despite these cultural and historical shifts, the U.S. adaptation of Ghosts remains fundamentally anchored to the core tenets that made the original British series a success. First, the living couple serves as a crucial emotional anchor for the audience. Amidst the chaotic and supernatural antics of the ghosts, the interactions between the living and the dead humanize the spirits, defining them by more than just the tragic or mundane circumstances of their deaths. Second, the gradual character development of the ghosts—who transition from viewing the living couple as disruptive supernatural pests to ultimately embracing them as family—provides the emotional heartbeat of the sitcom.
By successfully translating these central themes while tailoring the humor, historical references, and character dynamics for an American audience, showrunners Joe Port and Wiseman elevated the adaptation from a potentially derivative remake into an enduring, standalone television hit. For viewers looking to catch up on the series or experience the charm of the adaptation firsthand, episodes of Ghosts are currently available to stream for free on Pluto TV ahead of its anticipated sixth-season premiere.
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