Premiering on CBS in October 2021, Ghosts is an acclaimed American sitcom remade from the 2019 British show of the same name. Although the British version ended in 2022, the American remake was renewed for a fourth season in March 2024, continuing the supernatural exploits of Sam (Rose McIver) and Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar), a happily married couple spooked by the former’s haunted ancestral home.
While much of the humor derives from Sam’s ability to see dead people and Jay’s inability to do so, supporting characters like Mary (Katy Wix) in the original sitcom, and Flower (Sheila Carrasco) in the American remake add plenty of entertainment value. The beloved supporting characters departed their series before it was completed, leaving fans to wonder why they were written off so abruptly. As viewers await CBS’ announcement of the Season 4 debut, it’s time to discover what happened to Mary and Flower and why they left Ghosts behind.
Jay and Sam are flanked by spirits in GhostsCBS
Debuting on BBC One in April 2019, Ghosts is a British sitcom that concerns a haunted English country house. The house is haunted by several ghosts from different historical periods, doing their best to cohabitate with human occupants. The horror-comedy TV show concerns Alison (Charlotte Ritchie) and Michael Cooper (Kiell Smyth-Bynoe), a newlywed couple who inherit and move into the haunted English estate. Aside from the bickering ghosts who do not get along with each other, much of the humor derives from Alison’s ability to see and hear the ghosts following a brush with death, and Michael’s inability to do so, making him believe his wife is suffering delusions of grandeur.
The American version of Ghosts boasts the same storyline, substituting Alison and Michael for Sam and Jay. Sam and Jay move into her inherited family home, where horror and hilarity collide with jump scares and witty banter. As each show progresses, the ghosts become just as likable, if not more, than the human protagonists. In the British version, fans were upset to see Mary Guppy disappear before the series finale. Likewise, the sudden departure of Flower from the American version left a sour taste in people’s mouths.
Who Is Mary Guppy & Why Did She Leave?
Mary sees the light in GhostsBBC One
In the British version of Ghosts, Mary Guppy (Wix) was a haunted household mainstay from the pilot episode. Mary is the spirit of a peasant woman who was burned alive in the 1600s after being deemed a witch for speaking to her deceased husband. Despite the horrific fate, Mary is funny, polite, and cares for the other house ghosts as the elderly, de facto matriarch. Mary appeared in 24 of 35 episodes before shocking fans to the core with her abrupt departure in Season 4, Episode 4, “Gone Gone.” She was the first of the primary ghosts to exit the house.
In “Gone Gone,” fans were stunned to witness Mary suddenly ascending into a golden spire of light from the heavens above. Resigned to finally entering the afterlife, Mary appeared at peace with her heavenly fate, even if it left the other ghosts sad and remorseful. What makes Mary’s exit even tragic, is that it was never intended. According to series co-creator Ben Willbond on the Ghosts Podcast, “We never intended for a character to leave, so it was very sad the whole process.”
Although Wix’s departure as Mary was dramatic onscreen, her offscreen exit was anything but. According to The Sun, Wix left the show as Mary to focus on her busy schedule and oblige her full slate of commitments. Those commitments included a 9-episode arc as Barbara in Ted Lasso in 2023, 11 episodes as Jules in the British sitcom Big Boys, and the 2023 TV movie Men Up. About Wix’s exit, the showrunners told The Radio Times:
“We were so lucky to have Katy Wix with us in Button House for four fun-filled series. She, ironically, breathed life into the role of Mary, as only Katy could, making her into such a unique, hilarious, and popular character. We’re sad to see her go but can’t wait to see what she does next.”
