Leading LADY

MARTHA HOWEDOUGLAS on the joys of playing TV's strictest spook

- CAREN CLARK

GHOSTS
FRIDAY, 8.30PM, BBC1 COMEDY

Formidable Lady Fanny Button has slowly but surely become one of our favourite residents of Button House in BBC1’s spooktacular sitcom Ghosts.

With her disapproving facial expressions and rigorous adherence to moral codes, the stern Edwardian phantom (played by Martha Howe-Douglas) can strike fear into the hearts of her housemates, but subtle chinks in her armour hint at a sweeter centre within.

As the fifth and final series continues this week, the stately home’s pregnant owner Alison Cooper (Charlotte Ritchie) tries to steel herself to ask Fanny to vacate her bedroom so that it can be turned into a nursery. Will her ghostly ancestor do the right thing?

Here, Martha, 43, who also co-writes the show with five of her spectral co-stars, tells TV Times about bidding farewell to her starchy alter ego…

The bond between Lady Button and Alison is lovely to watch. Do you enjoy playing those scenes?