'Ghosts' TV Shows In Order: Every Adaptation, Explained
There's something really beautiful about a little show gaining such admirable traction in one country that another decides to make their own version. It happens more frequently than we think, like with the original version of The Office (2001) made in the UK, and The Office (2005) made in the US, which went on for a bit longer. The Traitors (2022) is also one of the shows that has so many versions now it's impossible to keep up. More recently, it's a show with multiple spin-offs centered around ghosts.
What originally began in the UK with Ghosts (2019) has since expanded to CBS' Ghosts (2021) in the US, with multiple other countries announcing their version. When a show is this delightful, it's no surprise that each country wants to tackle its own version because the premise is not only precious, but there's a lot of room to play with the antics in a manner that works specifically well for the different characters.
It's not every series that can organically tackle pop culture, but Ghosts does this in such a way that allows it to carve its own footprint into the TV universe. If you've been wondering about it, but find the different versions a bit confusing, I'm here to break it all down from the perspective of someone who has constantly has the show playing in the background.
Ghosts (UK) (2019-2023)
Ghosts (US) (2021-present)
Ghosts: Fantômes en héritage (France) (2025-present)
Ghosts (Germany) (2025-present)
Ghosts (Australia) (2025-present)
Ghosts "Τα Φαντάσματα" (Ta Fantasmata) (Greece) (2025-present)
What Is 'Ghosts' About?
In every version of the show, the premise is pretty similar. It follows a couple moving into the new home that they inherit from one of their deceased relatives. The house is haunted by eclectic ghosts who've died on the property, and they aren't too keen on the idea of a young couple wanting to renovate the place for a hotel or bed and breakfast. In an attempt to sabotage their move, they push the woman down a flight of stairs, killing her for a few minutes. When she awakens from a coma, her momentary trip to the other side allows her to then see and communicate with ghosts.
Once this awareness comes into play, the show finds its magic in allowing the protagonists to introduce the ghosts to present-day customs all while helping them with their own issues in the process. It becomes a gorgeously wholesome dynamic centered on a found family, which then ensures that every episode is both heartwarming and ridiculously hilarious. The absurd premise leaves a lot of room for the characters to play with all sorts of scenarios, each unique to their own country and various occurrences.
It all began with the British version starring Charlotte Ritchie, Kiell Smith-Bynoe, and many renowned English actors, and today, we have all the other adaptations in the lineup. More recently, after its series finale, the UK version will include a new movie, Ghosts: The Possession of Button House, where it looks like they'll be taking one of the key additions from the CBS Ghosts, which involves holiday possessions from the ghosts.
While all versions have something similar, including variations of the ghost like a man who dies with an arrow or a pantless finance bro of some kind and the Victorian heir to the house, each version of Ghosts finds its unique niche to make it stand out. With the American, for example, it's not only the possessions but the husband's distinct relationship with the ghosts, even though he can't see them. It's what makes the show so unique in how easily it can be adapted.
Which Version of 'Ghosts' Is Best Suited for You?
At this point, if you want to watch Ghosts from the beginning and binge them all when they're available, the BBC version is the first to start with. But if you only have to watch one, then that version comes down to a few opinions. Perhaps watching the one in the country you live in or are most familiar with could be a lot of fun because it's what will give the show its unique pull.
But as someone who first watched the British version and almost refused to watch the American version because I didn't think it'd ever top it, I'm now of the firm belief that the American adaptation might actually be the best. (And I promise this has nothing to do with me being an American.) My humor in general veers more toward British humor, but how Ghosts on CBS manages to flesh out every single character while giving us one of the most breathtaking depictions of grief and second chances is no small feat.
If you're looking for a show where every single episode will feel like a blanket on a rainy day and simultaneously the hug you didn't know you were desperately needing, then the CBS version will work best for you. If you want something a little more spooky that'll feel like the perfect gloomy day watch, then the BBC version will deliver in spades.
Personally, I'd love to watch them all once they're available for streaming. As someone who's a scaredy-cat and generally can't stomach ghostly stories at all, this franchise is the only one that appeals to me with its unique philosophy and mostly hilarious approach to hauntings of any kind.
