Although Patience’s role in Ghosts season 4’s finale proves, the sitcom can still add new characters to the mix and maintain its original appeal even as the show enters its fifth year.

Ghosts is perpetually adding new ing characters, both human and undead, and offering new twists on the show’s existing heroes. Sass learned he could enter the dreams of the living in season 3, while Pete found out he could leave the bounds of the Woodstone Mansion in the same outing. While Elias’s changing Ghosts story might not be entirely clear yet, his emerging role as the show’s resident demon proves that the characters don’t even know everything about how their own mysterious world works yet.

Ghosts UK Is The Perfect Replacement For CBS' Sitcom While Waiting For Season 5

BBC’s Original Ghosts Is A Classic Sitcom In Its Own Right

While viewers wait for Ghosts season 5 to arrive, the original BBC sitcom of the same name is a perfect short-term Ghosts replacement. Beginning in 2019 and wrapping up in 2023, BBC’s Ghosts follows Alison and Mike, a young couple who inherit a lavish, spooky mansion from a distant relative. Much like the CBS sitcom’s heroine Sam, Alison gains the ability to see and speak to ghosts after a near-death experience. Soon, managing the undead residents of the mansion becomes a full-time job for the couple.

Crucially, there is not too much in common between the two shows, so BBC’s Ghosts feels linked to the US series without the later show feeling redundant.

One British TV quirk makes BBC’s Ghosts a perfect binge-watch as each season of the original series has only six episodes. This makes it easy to catch up quickly, as a single episode of the CBS show has a whopping 22 outings. While the many pop culture references in Ghosts might seem uniquely American, the original English show has a lot in common with its US remake. Crucially, though, there is not too much in common between the two shows, so BBC’s Ghosts feels linked to the US series without the latter show feeling redundant.

How Ghosts UK Is Connected To CBS' Ghosts

The Two Sitcoms Share A Sense of Humor And Some Character Inspiration

There are more Ghosts spinoffs on the way, with both Australia and producing their own versions of the sitcom. However, the British take on the show and its US remake share more than just a title. The two versions of Ghosts have a similar sense of humor, as evidenced by the characters from the original show.

Although Ghosts season 4’s Patience is an entirely new creation, Trevor owes his inspiration to the original show’s Julian. Like Trevor, this pompous MP died with his pants down and had the ability to move small items short distances. Meanwhile, Jim Howick’s character Pat Butcher is almost identical to the US show’s Pete, from the circumstances of his death to the revelation that his wife wasn’t faithful to him during his life.

What Ghosts UK Can Reveal About What To Expect From Ghosts Season 5

Ghosts UK Proves The CBS Sitcom Has Mostly Ignored One Major Plot

The BBC series has a lot in common with the US show, but there’s one plot line BBC’s Ghosts focused on that the more recent show has been missing. While Jay’s inability to see the ghosts prompts some pathos, the sitcom rarely takes the financial plight of Sam and Jay seriously. They run a failing B+B and cater to the whims of ghosts, but their stability is rarely in question.

In contrast, the BBC series is very invested in Mike and Allison’s struggling finances. While the show is still a light-hearted comedy, their worries about keeping the lights on and the house intact are played surprisingly straight. This concern drives many of the show’s main plots, which could be the case in Ghosts season 5 if the series starts to borrow more from its inspiration.

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