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In 1992 BBC 1 put out a live documentary programme called Ghostwatch, in which they visited a supposedly haunted house. There were many BBC documentaries at the
by oniony 11mo ago
In 1992 BBC 1 put out a live documentary programme called Ghostwatch, in which they visited a supposedly haunted house. There were many BBC documentaries at the time, and this was no different, so we all watched with half interest.
It's also important to note that there was little alternative programming at the time: just BBC 1, BBC 2, ITV and Channel 4. I can't remember if Channel Five had launched yet, but you get the idea. A significant slice of the UK population was watching.
Also, it's worth mentioning that back then I think significantly more people entertained the idea, if even slightly, that supernatural things loke ghosts could exist. There was many more spoon benders, clairvoyants, spiritualists in mainstream media than today.
Anyhow, the programme starts normal enough but then supernatural things start happening and all hell breaks loose just as the programme ends and the credits start rolling. We're all in shock. It's all we talk about at school the next day.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostwatch https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostwatch
- omnicognate 11mo agoThey did that so well, starting out like a corny live daytime TV-ish thing and slowly ratcheting up the weirdness, taking full advantage of the phase everyone would go through where they were uncertain if it was really live or a hoax. I doubt you'd get any impression of what it was like then by watching it now, because all the social context is gone, but as a kid at the time it was really scary.
- SapporoChris 11mo agoGhostwatch was broadcast on Halloween night. Context is important.
- omnicognate 11mo agoIs that intended as a correction? If so, I said "daytime TV -ish". I meant the initial vibe was similar to the lighthearted fare the BBC and other channels put out during the day at that time, albeit with jokey "spooky" trappings, despite its post-watershed airing. I know it was on late, I watched it "live". The fact that they were investigating night time paranormal activity even gave them an excuse for airing such seemingly kid-friendly stuff so late in the evening. A lot of parents let their kids stay up for it, including mine. Shat me right up it did.
- deleted 11mo ago[deleted]
- NaOH 11mo agoThe podcast Criminal did an episode about Ghostwatch this past Halloween. https://thisiscriminal.com/episode-338-ghostwatch-10-31-2025 https://thisiscriminal.com/episode-338-ghostwatch-10-31-2025
- dustincoates 11mo agoI love pseudo-documentary and pseudo-newscast movies, ever since I watched Without Warning [0] and had to sleep on my parents' floor because it felt too real for me. Special Bulletin [1] is another good one. 0: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Without_Warning_(1994_film) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Without_Warning_(1994_film) 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special_Bulletin&wprov=rarw1 https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special_Bulletin&...
- nephihaha 11mo agoChannel 5 started in the late nineties. Ghostwatch was pretty weak beer. Alternative 3 is much better and often spookily accurate.