Halloween night, 1992. Eleven million people tune in to BBC One to watch Michael Parkinson investigate a haunted house, with Sarah Greene reporting live from inside, Mike Smith taking calls, and Craig Charles talking to the neighbours.
Except it isn't live. And the house isn't haunted.
This is Ghostwatch, one of the most extraordinary and controversial programmes in British television history. A cleverly constructed drama that borrowed the familiar faces, techniques and authority of BBC broadcasting to create something genuinely terrifying.
For this Geekstorians Halloween Special, Dave explores how writer Stephen Volk, director Lesley Manning and their team pulled off the illusion, the extraordinary reaction that followed, why the BBC has never repeated the programme in full on UK television, and how dedicated fans have kept its legacy alive.
And this time, there's a personal connection. Dave was seventeen when Ghostwatch originally aired, watching at a friend's house when somebody spotted something strange in the background. What started as a fairly ordinary Saturday night became an experience he hasn't forgotten in thirty-four years.
From behind-the-scenes production tricks and BBC controversy to the mysterious Pipes and an annual Halloween tradition, this is the story of the night the BBC haunted Britain.
Content note: This episode includes a brief, non-graphic reference to suicide.
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If you've been affected by anything discussed in this episode, Samaritans are available free, 24 hours a day, on 116 123 in the UK and Ireland, or at https://www.samaritans.org/
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