Kiell Smith-Bynoe On Saying Goodbye To Ghosts (Again), Starring In Wicker & His Improv Show

For five series, Kiell Smith-Bynoe played one of the rare beating hearts in Ghosts. The somewhat gormless but loving husband of Charlotte Ritchie’s Alison, his character Mike Cooper is also housemate to a legion of ghosts only his wife can see and hear. Now he’s back for one final visit in Ghosts: The Possession of Button House, the feature-length send-off that (unlike the series 5 finale) promises to finally, actually this time, say one last goodbye to Button House and it’s beloved cast of characters.

Alongside the Ghosts film, he plays the village innkeeper in Wicker, a strange and magical fable starring Olivia Colman as a fisherwoman who commissions a husband made of wicker (Alexander Skarsgård). He’s also touring his improv show, Kool Story Bro, up and down the country. We caught up with him to talk final goodbyes, on-set memories and his love of A Goofy Movie.

Q&A: Kiell Smith-Bynoe

Hi Kiell, how’s life at the moment?

[Long pause] A solid five out of 10.

You’re currently touring your improv show, Kool Story Bro. What’s the elevator pitch?

It’s an improv comedy show where we get stories from the audience, and then we improvise based on the stories we’ve been told. We’re not retelling them – we find the funniest angle, or the smallest detail that we can make big, and do a completely different version of the story from a different angle. We go up and down the country, find loads of crazy stories from all over and make people laugh.

Ghosts series is finally over, but there’s one last hurrah in the form of the new film, Ghosts: The Possession Of Button House. What was it like saying a a final goodbye to that world?

I don’t believe it now, because they fooled me once – shame on me. We said goodbye before and really believed it was over, and then we got a film. So who knows what happens next? Maybe we’ll get a radio version.

When you and Charlotte Ritchie joined the cast, you were slotting into the already well-established Horrible Histories gang. What was that dynamic like?

It was great. I’d made a habit of sliding into pre-established dynamics. On Stath Lets Flats, that was a group of comedians who had worked together for a few years and done live shows and pilots together. I’d been on Friday Night Dinner – just one episode, but again an established dynamic I sort of crashed into. I did the same with Edinburgh-based comedians and the improv scene, and that’s how I got to know so many of the best improvisers in this country and get them on my show. So infiltrating has never really been difficult, because I’ve practised a lot.

But it was great to be part of that gang and see how collaborative they are when they’re putting together these enormous set pieces, and watch it get done by proper pros. They started doing Horrible Histories something like 15 years ago, maybe longer. They had mastered sketch on TV, so being a part of that was incredible.

Can you tease anything about the film and the part Mike plays in it?

Mike has to prove himself in the film, and I think it’s up to the audience to decide whether he does or not. That’s the journey I go on.

Was there any pressure this time around to tie everything up perfectly?

I think we did do that. It’s difficult with a shooting schedule, because you jump around a lot. If it was chronological, like I believe they do in the States, you’d get a chance to go along with the story and think, ‘OK, this is the finale, we need to prepare for that.’ Here, you might be shooting the finale on your first day. So there isn’t really an opportunity to gear yourself up for it – you’ve just got to try and do it.

Any standout moments from filming?

We had various night shoots, which I hadn’t had in years. There was one in particular – and I think this is in the trailer, so it’s not a spoiler – where we were on bikes, and that was a lot of fun. When it gets to 3am we’re slightly hysterical, and we’ve got these toys to play with. It’s a lot of fun.

Your new film, Wicker, sees you star alongside Olivia Colman and Alexander Skarsgård as the innkeeper. Tell us about it.

The film’s about a fisherwoman who’s the only unmarried woman in her village, and she’s sick of being mocked for it. So she asks the basket maker to make her a husband out of wicker – and he does, and he’s the greatest man that’s ever been in the village, and it turns everything upside down.

Getting to be a part of that was incredible. Being approached for it alone was unbelievable. But then actually being there on set and seeing Alex in his full costume, and acting with such a great ensemble – Ben Ashenden, Phil Daniels, Marli Siu, Elizabeth Debicki – it was a surreal experience, and it’s quite a surreal film anyway. And looking around and catching Olivia Colman’s eye was really magical. I went to see the film at Sundance in January, and you can see how much hard work has gone into it, and how much fun we were having. The short story it’s based on is brilliant, and what the directors did with it is even more amazing.

What’s been your favourite project to date?

I have to say Stath Lets Flats series three. We knew that was the end of it, and we were really established by then. It’s the best catering I’ve ever had on any set – we were shooting in the summer, the football was on, and the catering had iced lattes on tap. Fantastic! I could say a lot more about the catering, but we just had a great time. There were some unforgettable moments, like filming the wedding. It had been a long journey with Jamie [Demetriou], who had been playing that character for almost 10 years by that stage, and seeing him able to create the scenario he wanted was really special to be a part of.

Any roles in the pipeline you’re excited about?

I wish.

Who has been your favourite actor to work with?

Excluding anyone I’ve mentioned already, Tom Davis. We had a day in Gran Canaria shooting together [for The Curse series 2], and the director really let us play with it – we were improvising and breaking each other all day. It’s already great to be in a hot country in November, getting paid. But on top of that, to work with someone who’s such an effortless and talented improviser – as you see from Murder in Successville – Tom Davis is one of the best. He’s really playful and goes wherever you take it, and we have that trust both ways. So we just got to have fun.

Is there a genre you’d like to do more of?

I would do a period drama. I think they’ve done Pride and Prejudice too much, so not that one – but there are some great classics, like Rebecca.

They did a version with Lily James a few years ago…

Armie Hammer did it? I could have done that.

Who is an actor, writer or director you’d love to work with?

Edgar Wright. I love his back catalogue, and he seems fun. He did Off Menu, so that’s good enough for me.

Do you get to spend much time at home these days?

I can’t say I’ve been at home for more than 24 hours in the last two months, but I sleep here.

Are you town or country?

I’m town. I grew up in East Ham, a very busy place in Newham, East London. But I really do appreciate the country. A friend of mine has bought a farm in Billingshurst, and I stayed there for a few days while writing. Today would be the perfect kind of day to go there – apart from it being two and a half hours away. I really appreciate visiting the country, but I don’t think I could live there. It’s too quiet.

How do you find balance in your personal and work lives?

I try to party as hard as I work. And sometimes I’ll prioritise it.

How can we all live a little better?

Say ‘yes’ a bit more.

Anything else fun in the pipeline?

I’m really looking forward to my first Christmas in my house in Barbados.

What Kiell Is Loving Right Now

I’m currently watching… Slow Horses.

I’m currently reading… Not my emails.

The last thing I watched and loved… I went to a screening of Break Clause on Monday – they showed episodes one, two and three, and I loved it.

I’m most looking forward to seeing… The general public’s response to Wicker.

Favourite film of all time… A Goofy Movie.

Favourite song of all time… I don’t know. Stand Out from the soundtrack of A Goofy Movie.

A singer I always have on repeat… Brandy.

My ultimate cultural recommendation… Sticks’n’Sushi

Cultural guilty pleasure… First Dates.

Closing lines

Ghosts: The Possession of Button House is in UK and Irish cinemas from 23 October 2026.

Wicker is in UK cinemas from 30 October 2026.

Kool Story Bro is touring the UK now – koolstorybro.co.uk