'The Christmas Spirit' by Richard Carpenter

After Mr. Gudgin has finished showing Miss Uproar, sister of the recently-deceased Sir Humphrey, around the abandoned Motley Hall, the ghosts emerge and begin preparations for their Christmas celebration. The White Lady’s decision to not take part causes consternation amongst the others, and prompts Sir George to reminisce about his favourite Christmas, when he was a young boy. Suddenly the ghosts find themselves transported back in time – the house has heard Sir George, and has brought them to Christmas Eve, 1848. As the ghosts look on Sir Henry Uproar and his wife Imogen, a young Sir George, and the family servant, Old Gudgin, get ready for the Yuletide festivities. Sir Henry has ordered the garden’s oldest tree to be chopped down and used as the Yule Log; however, when the wood is burnt, it releases an evil elemental spirit into the house, which causes bad will and arguments to break out amongst the household…

Arthur English (Bodkin), Freddie Jones (General Sir George Uproar / Sir Henry Uproar), Nicholas le Prevost (Sir Francis ‘Fanny’ Uproar), Sean Flanagan (Matt), Sheila Steafel (The White Lady), Peter Sallis (Mr. Arnold Gudgin / Old Gudgin), Lynette Davies (Miss Uproar / Imogen), Matthew Ryan (General Sir George as a Boy)

Directed and Produced by Quentin Lawrence

UK TX (Granada):
24th December 1976

Notes:
*Featuring Bodkin, General Sir George Uproar, Sir Francis 'Fanny' Uproar, the White Lady and Matt