The Canterville Ghost | Preview (Channel 5)

Sir Simon de Canterville has been playing to an empty house for 20 years when American billionaire inventor Hiram Otis buys Canterville Chase in England.

Relishing the opportunity to be back treading the boards, he painstakingly plans a ‘spectrecular’ performance as Reckless Rupert the headless Earl. But his opening night fails miserably, and the ghost is forced to retreat following a stunt by the Otis twins.

Sir Simon tries a different tack, but the ghost is further humiliated by the Otis family’s welcoming reception and his inability to terrorise them. Meanwhile, the twins Frank and Theo go exploring and stumble upon their alter egos Patience and Charity Lovell. After initial hostilities, the two pairs become a gang of four.

Double, double trouble — especially for Sir Simon. The Otis family discovers that Sir Simon killed his wife and, as punishment, was walled up alive in a priest hole by her vengeful brothers. Sir Simon’s bones have never been found, but legend says he was interred with a casket of priceless jewels.

The twins join forces and embark on a quest to find the lost treasure of the Cantervilles. It’s also the annual point to point. Virginia Otis is informed by Cecil Canterville that the top race ‘The Canterville Chase’ is open only to male riders — and this can’t go unchallenged.

After an initial setback from Lady Deborah’s scheming, Virginia uses her legal prowess to find a loophole in the rulebook. Riding her horse bareback, the race ends in a nail-biting finale with Virginia and Cecil neck and neck.

Virginia is undeniably attracted to Cecil, but he’s engaged to be married to Moppy. And while Hiram mends a historic family feud with Django Lovell, they find a bitter enemy in Lady Deborah.

The Canterville Ghost airs later this month on Channel 5.