The Ghost Hunter (TV series) facts for kids

The Ghost Hunter is a British TV show made for kids. It's a drama series based on books by Ivan Jones. The show first aired in January 2000. The last series was shown in 2002. You can still watch repeats on BBC and CBBC. The first two series were also made into two longer movies.

The school scenes in the show were filmed at St. Laurence School in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire. Many castle scenes were filmed at Berkeley Castle in the Cotswolds.

The story of The Ghost Hunter is about two ordinary kids, Roddy and Tessa Oliver. Their lives change when William Povey, a shoeshine boy from Victorian England, appears as a ghost in Roddy's room. William needs their help. A character called 'The Ghost Hunter' is looking for William. She wants to capture ghosts to get their 'spectral energy'.

At first, the Ghost Hunter seems only interested in collecting ghosts. But later, her real plan becomes clear. She wants to use ghost energy to travel through time. This would let her live forever. William's energy is very strong, which makes him a big target for her.

Roddy has a special ability called 'second sight'. This means he can see ghosts. At first, he is the only one who can see William. So, Roddy is the only person who can help William escape. Later, Roddy's sister Tessa also discovers she has second sight. She can see William too. Roddy, Tessa, and William become great friends. They have many exciting adventures together.

The Ghost Hunter was a very important show for children's TV. It was popular and had high ratings. Even so, a fourth series was never made.

Meet the Characters

• Roddy Oliver, played by William Theakston – Roddy is William's friend. He has 'second sight', which means he can see and hear ghosts.
• Tessa Oliver, played by Verity-Jane Dearsley – Tessa is Roddy's sister. She also has 'second sight'.
• William Povey, played by Lee Godwin – William is the main ghost character. He was a shoeshine boy from the Victorian era. He died and became a ghost.
• Elliot Town, played by Jack Quarmby – Elliot is Roddy's best friend from the year 2027.
• Mrs Croker, 'The Ghost Hunter, played by Jean Marsh – She is the main villain. She hates ghosts and wants to live forever.
• Clarence DeSniff, played by Richard Hanson – DeSniff is the Ghost Hunter's helper.
• Murdoch, played by Glyn Angell – Murdoch is the keeper of Newgate Prison.
• Mr Oliver & Mrs Oliver, played by John McAndrew and Tracy Brabin – They are Roddy and Tessa's parents.
• Leo, played by Eddie Brown – Leo is Roddy's son from the year 2027. He also has 'second sight'.
• Bex, played by Kelly Salmon – Bex is Roddy's daughter from the year 2027. She also has 'second sight'.
• Professor Darcy, played by Andrew Havill – He is a Victorian inventor. He starts working with 'The Ghost Hunter' in series 3.

The Adventures: Series by Series

Series One: The Hunt Begins

The first series mostly takes place in Roddy and Tessa's village and school. The Ghost Hunter is very active there. She has an amazing sense of smell. She can sniff out a ghost easily. Roddy and Tessa don't know who the Ghost Hunter is at first. They try to find out so they can protect William.

They even put garlic around Roddy's bedroom. People say garlic keeps evil away. Eventually, the children realize that Mrs Croker is the Ghost Hunter. She comes to Roddy's house with her "ghost immobilizing vapour" (GIV). She tries to freeze William, shrink him, and put him in a bottle.

Thanks to Roddy's quick thinking, William escapes. The police almost catch Mrs Croker, but she gets away. Mrs Croker also collects other ghosts. Roddy, William, and Tessa find her collection of bottled ghosts. This happens when the boys save Tessa. She was kidnapped by DeSniff and left tied up.

Mrs Croker learns about an Annual Ghost Meeting (AGM) at Chillwood Castle. She and DeSniff plan to trap many ghosts there. Her plan is to use their energy for her evil goals. But her plan fails. She attacks the ghosts during a special celebration. During this time, ghosts can become human again. Thanks to Roddy, Tessa, and William, Mrs Croker falls from the castle walls. Everyone thinks she is dead. DeSniff escapes.

Series Two: Time Travel Trouble

The second series becomes darker. DeSniff discovers that Mrs Croker is not dead. She survived her fall from the castle. She starts working in a strange old house called Deadlock Hall. There, her evil energy returns. She creates a machine called a "specktrika." This machine pulls ghosts towards it like a magnet.

She plans to catch enough ghosts to power her "time travelling machine." But DeSniff, who is a bit silly, has tasted power. He wants to time travel too. The Ghost Hunter manages to create a time hole. Both DeSniff and Croker are sent back to Victorian times.

Series Three: The Future and the Past

In the third series, Mrs. Croker teams up with a Victorian scientist, Mr Darcy. Together, they create a big plan to catch many ghosts. Mrs Croker still wants to use ghost-energy to become immortal. They return to the modern era.

Twenty-five years have passed since Roddy and Tessa last beat Croker. Roddy is now a doctor. He has two children named Leo and Bex. Roddy feels nervous when his kids ask about his old stories of the Ghost Hunter and William. William meets Roddy again, but Roddy can no longer see him. He has lost his 'second sight'.

Croker and Darcy use the time portal to make millions of pounds. They plan to buy Roddy's old school. They want to turn it into "THE GHOST SCHOOL." The school is now empty and falling apart, except for the ghosts living there. The future year is 2027.

Bex and Leo travel through the time portal to 1890. They help a very sick Victorian baby named Albert Povey. They bring him back to 2027. Their father, Dr Roddy, gives the baby medicine. This saves the baby's life. But by doing this, they change history. Albert grows up to be a successful doctor. In the future, he is famous.

Meanwhile, an angry DeSniff ruins Croker's plans. He takes all the money Croker and Darcy saved. In a final fight, DeSniff gives all the money to a charity. This charity was set up to celebrate Albert Povey Day.

Bex and Leo return baby Albert to his parents in Victorian times. They go back to the Time Portal, but it is closed. William and his ghost friends risk themselves to reopen the portal. Bex and Leo return to the future. The time portal closes, maybe forever.

They arrive where the old school and The Ghost School used to be. It is now a new hospital, named after Albert Povey. Roddy comes out. He tells them they are just in time to see a new hospital ward open. It is named after the man who gave so much to help: the DeSniff Ward. Back in Victorian times, two ghosts survived the time machine. But William is not there. Roddy is seen in his office. William appears to say his final goodbyes. Roddy is happy he got to see his friend one last time.