Ghostwatch: Behind the Curtains

Greetings, Ghostwatchers! If you're on the search for a fresh and enlightening theatre production in the Chiswick area during these reliably-dreary November and December months, then look no further - as Ghostwatch director, Lesley Manning is currently helming an exciting new production at the Playhouse entitled, Love Dance. And what's more, it's already earning rave reviews. Written by Andy Walker, its story goes a little something like this...

Greetings, Ghostwatchers! Firstly, Happy Thirty Day Countdown to Hallowe'en Day! I hope that you're all staying safe, having great fun already, and enjoying this wonderfully unique time of year. Secondly, Happy Thirty Day Countdown to National Séance Day! Surely, the second most wonderful annual event [if you're a Ghostwatcher]. I'm not sure if it's these authentic [circa 1992] Golden Wonder crisps I'm digging into, but I've recently started catching tiny glimpses of familiar faces who seem to be priming themselves to make one or two dimly-lit appearances on Twitter and Facebook in the run-up to the event. Can you identify them all..? Probably. Thirdly, some news...

Greetings, Ghostwatchers! Recently, I was recommended to reach out to Jon Riley & Gerard Barry, two Industry stalwarts who contributed in notable capacities to a number of fondly-recalled BBC themed evenings, including, Weird Night [1994], the first [Craig Charles-hosted] Star Trek Night [1996], Kung Fu Night [1997], Monster Night [1998], and Politically Incorrect Night [1998].  

Greetings, Ghostwatchers. Fandom naturally engenders a protective atmosphere. Even fair-minded criticism can be instinctively resisted, and often-times repelled by fans of their particular, chosen following. Far too often, opinions are misconstrued as personal attacks, testing the cotton-swaddled bonds of joy & emotional connectivity through uncaring logic. In my experience, topics often ripe for heartless joy-shredding include spaghetti hoop continuity, blisteringly outdated political commentary, or the media in question otherwise not standing-up to the test of time [i.e. the crushing realisation that your favourite show was actually always a bit shit].

Greetings, Ghostwatchers! In 1999, it was hard not to be excited by the oncoming arrival of instant, Indie classic, The Blair Witch Project; least of all given its groundbreaking marketing campaign. As a production, it was daring, it was creative, and it was bloody scary. For those reasons and more, it has long-remained a firm favourite of mine. Ironically, I didn't get the chance to see the film in cinemas. Nevertheless, I was determined to finally check it out on VHS as soon as it landed at the now long-lost 321 Video rental store, up the road.

Greetings, Ghostwatchers! During a previous episode of popular Channel 4 show, The Last Leg, co-host, Josh Widdicombe dared fellow co-host Adam Hills to find a copy of Ghostwatch . Given the nature of most topical satire magazine shows, you'd be forgiven for assuming the following week's instalment might - just might - feature a fairly insignificant follow-up to that altogether encouraging recommendation. Well, who'd have thought the ectoplasm would well-and-truly hit the fan?