Rentaghost.

[Greg M.]

I am slightly too young to remember the Mumford era, so it was all Claypole, all the time for me, hence my fondness for the prancing little chap. Something about Rentaghost felt gleefully anarchic to me at the time, so it will always hold a special place in my affections. I also love the fact that Dobbin's 'actors' were also the Myrka in 'Warriors of the Deep'! Besides, it also had one of the best theme tunes to a children's tv programme - "An apparition quipped from deep inside a crypt... ring Rentaghost!'

[Colin YNWA]

Don't forget the lass what was off of Corrie as Miss Poppov (or whatever). It certainly lost a lot towards the end. Still in its day I loved it and its kinda a fun idea for a movie.

[Keef Monkey]

Rentaghost is before my time, but I'll admit that I like Brand a lot. I wasn't sure about him at first, but he won me over. In a world of dead-eyed, bland celebrities, he comes across as quick-witted, energetic and actually has something to say. The sort of person who should be famous.

His Newsnight interview with Paxman (who seemed to admire him a lot) was a great bit of TV.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-NCDovAWB8

Agreed, I can't say I don't understand why people hate him because when I first saw him (doing some Big Brother tosh) I thought he was just irritating. His stand-up is fantastic though, and he's a rarity in that he's a celebrity who has something going on in his head. Mind you he does get to 'cuddle' Katy Perry, which is reason enough to hate a man I suppose.

Rentaghost was mental. And shit.

[Greg M.]

I saw Brand doing stand-up last year, and I came to the conclusion that there's 50% of his humour which is superb and 50% which I find arrogant and charmless. I love the side of him that enjoys playing around with language and going off on strange, eccentric flights of fancy. Not so fond of the laddish, cocky "I've shagged half the planet, I'm amazing" side to him, though he at least displays enough of a degree of self-awareness when doing it.

[JamesC]

Rentaghost was a bit shit on telly but it's an excellent premise and could make for a really fun film.
I imagine Russell Brand would be playing Mr Claypole which I can imagine being very funny. For the record I think RB is an extremely clever and funny man.

[Definitely Not Mister Pops]

Hollywood has officially run out of ideas.

That happened 20 years ago Ratty.

I don't think they've run out of ideas, they just don't have the balls to invest in new ones.

[HdE]

Yes. Balls. Balls or money.

[The Doctor Alt 8]

I agree.. the first 2 series was the best....

[vzzbux]

I may have dreamt this but I am sure I read somewhere ages ago that the original rent-a-ghost was an American childrens show and the UK grabbed the idea and Claypole and the gang were born.





V

[vzzbux]

Couldn't resist.

IF YOUR MANSION HOUSE NEEDS HAUNTING JUST CALL.. RENTAGHOST.
WE'VE GOT SPOOKS AND GHOULS AND FREAKS AND FOOLS.. AT RENTAGHOST.
HEAR THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA SING A HAUNTING MELODY.
REMEMBER WHAT YOU SEE IS NOT A MYSTERY BUT.. RENTAGHOST.

AT YOUR PARTY BE A SMARTY AND HIRE.. RENTAGHOST.
IF WANT A FRIGHT CLIMB THE SPOOKY HEIGHTS WITH.. RENTAGHOST.
YOU CAN LET OUR SPIRIT MOVE YOU AND FOR FUN PLAY GHOSTMAN'S KNOCK..
BECAUSE WE AIM TO SHOCK WE HOPE YOUR KNEES WILL KNOCK, THAT'S.. RENTAGHOST.

LET ME SAY WE'RE MOST TERRIFIC SIMPLE GHOSTS NOT SCIENTIFIC MERELY SUPERNATURAL GHOULIES OF THE DAY.
HEAVY FOOT STEPS IN YOUR ATTIC MEANS A SPECTRE TELEPATHIC IS DESCENDING JUST TO SPIRIT YOU AWAY.. HEY!

WE ARE EXTRAODINARY FELLAHS HERE AT.. RENTAGHOST.
TO BE ANOTHER URI GELLER COME TO .. RENTAGHOST.
FOR A BIOGRAPHY WE'VE GHOST WRITERS AND NOT FORGETTING A GHOST SCRIPT,
AN APPARITION QUIPPED FROM DEEP INSIDE A CRYPT ..RING RENTAGHOST.
AN APPARITION QUIPPED FROM DEEP INSIDE A CRYPT .RING RENTAGHOST.

EVERY GUY AND GIRL WILL LOVE THE SPIRIT WORLD OF.. RENTAGHOST.
A SEANCE OR TWO WILL BLAST THE PAST TO YOU VIA.. RENTAGHOST.
FOR LEVITATIONS TRY OUR VISITATIONS GREAT MANIFESTATIONS ASTRALLY.
IT'S SIMPLY ESP PLUS PSYCHIC ENERGY AND.. RENTAGHOST.

WE'VE GOT CLANKING CHAINS AND SUPERNATURAL BRAINS AT.. RENTAGHOST.
IF THINGS KEEP FALLING DOWN A POLTERGEIST'S AROUND FROM.. RENTAGHOST.
WE ANSWER ANY CALLS, WE ROLLERSKATE THROUGH WALLS, WE WANDER HEADLESS DOWN YOUR HALLS.
IF YOU WANT MOANS AND GROANS VIBRATING 'ROUND YOUR HOMES CALL.. RENTAGHOST.

CAN OUR PSYCHIC SAVE YOUR SOULING SEND YOUR SPIRITS ROCK AND ROLLING
LET OUR GHOST FROM COAST TO COAST WAFT OVER YOU.
TO BE A GHASTLY INNOVATION A PHENOMENAL SENSATION
JUST GET SCARED TO DEATH BECOME A GHOST TOO... OOH!

WE KNOCK UPON YOUR DOOR THEN ENTER THROUGH THE FLOOR THAT'S.. RENTAGHOST.
YOU WANT AN EXORCIST TO CLEAR THE MYSTIC MYTHS CALL.. RENTAGHOST.
INVISIBILITY PLUS OUR AGILITY TO RAISE YOUR SPIRITS 'SCUSE THE PUN,
IS WHAT MAKES IT FUN TO BE A DEADLY SON OF.. RENTAGHOST.

WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE OUR VISION IS THE ONE, RING.. RENTAGHOST.. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA




V

[ghostpockets]

Rentaghost is one of my fondest childhood memories (alongside Fingermouse), so this is very distressing news. I anticipate something along the lines of that Magic Roundabout remake with Robbie Williams.

I really really realllly dislike Russell Brand you see, and now living in North America I am subjected to him far more than I ever was at home. He is almost touted as an ambassador for England, appearing on shows under the banner "The British are Coming!" (haw haw haw). Were I a meaner individual I would say something along the lines of "the way hes going it won't be long before he succumbs to the curse of Rentaghost and dies of an aids-related illness". But that's a tad harsh, death isn't a fitting price for being an idiot- else I'd have carked it years ago. I do hope he stubs his toe though... really hard!

Also knowing the mentality of Brand and kid's movies today, Ms Popov's hayfever will surely be updated to chronic flatulence.

[zombemybabynow]

The local hill were I grew up, smoked first joint etc has a bench that Molly wier ie mcwitch dedicated to her late husband it reads - he thought pinner the bonniest place

Loved rentaghost though went down hill a tad when dobbin appeared

I think I heard on lbc that there's a rentaghost musical?!

[Peter Wolf]

Hollywood has officially run out of ideas.

That happened 20 years ago Ratty.

I don't think they've run out of ideas, they just don't have the balls to invest in new ones.

I think its both.

Anyway i vaguely recall seeing this on TV but i dont recall much about it.

As for Russell Brand i dont find him very funny at all but i do think that he is intelligent but he hides it too much and pretends to be stupid.Having said that i did read a section of his book out of curiosity in a supermarket but it was disappointing so it went back on the shelf.I think he needs to grow up a bit quite honestly.Others think he is funny because he is outrageous but his act is quite childish.

I cant actually decide if he is intelligent or not but he is certainly overrated and is a personality and an image and a haircut that is memorable and easily marketed to Americans who dont know any better.

[O Lucky Stevie!]

Hollywood has officially run out of ideas.

No, that'll be when they remake The Lost Saucer

Anyone get the feeling that when Sid & Marty came down from the acid of The Banana Slips & scraped out the resin of H.R. Pufnstuf that they thought, "Hey maaaan, let's like totally rip off the premise of this British Doctor How thing that none of the kids have ever heard of but make it you know cooooool"?

[TordelBack]

I anticipate something along the lines of that Magic Roundabout remake with Robbie Williams.

Which was pretty good, all things considered.