BBC urged to revive banned Michael Parkinson show for first time in 30 years following his death
Sir Michael Parkinson was the face of Ghostwatch on the BBC
BBC
The famed talk show host Sir Michael Parkinson was best known for his iconic interviews with some of the world's biggest stars - from Muhammad Ali to Meg Ryan.
However, while his talk show became a staple on the BBC for decade after decade, there is one on-screen project which had a much shorter shelf life.
Back in 1992, Parkinson fronted the horror-drama mockumentary Ghostwatch alongside Sarah Greene.
The fake documentary was written by Stephen Volk and showed Parkinson and Green hosting a mock live broadcast from one family's haunted house.
Their "investigation" into paranormal activity resulted in ghosts terrorising the children of a family while their mother scrambled to save them from the "spirits" the cameras were catching.
In one moment, Parkinson himself was shown to be "possessed" by a spirit.
The entire thing was all for show and acted out but BBC viewers in the early 90s were left traumatised after failing to realise the events taking place on-screen weren't real.
Floods of complaints were sent the BBC's way with many saying they were left "traumatised" by the show.
Ghostwatch left BBC viewers terrified in 1992
BBC
In fact, the Broadcasting Standards Commission said producers had made a "deliberate attempt to cultivate a sense of menace" by airing the show without clearly stating it was a mockumentary.
It also ruled that the BBC should have made it clear the show was fiction and rejected the defence that this would have ruined its impact as a mockumentary.
As well as the BBC facing the wrath of the broadcasting regulator, it was also blamed for giving viewers PTSD.
Two years after the broadcast, a report in the British Medical Journal detailed two cases of post-traumatic stress disorder recorded in two young boys as a result of the mockumentary.
The report stated: "The trauma in our two cases had been caused by the television programme the boys had watched.
"Post-traumatic stress disorder due to watching a television programme has not been reported previously," it went on.
Despite the furore that surrounded Ghostwatch, the show remains a cult favourite and following the death of Parkinson, many have called for the BBC to revisit one of the most memorable moments from his career.
Taking to Twitter in the past 24 hours, one fan shared: "Any chance @BBCOne will show #Ghostwatch as a tribute to #MichaelParkinson? It was incredibly good!"
A second shared a snap of the Ghostwatch posted as they urged: "Time is now to get this shown again at Halloween. It's what Parky would have wanted x."
And a third weighed in: "No no, okay I understand now why people want Ghostwatch back on The BBC, and I am all for it…
"However I won’t watch it, I try to avoid things that scare the absolute c**p out of me."
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Sir Michael Parkinson died at the age of 88 PAOthers took the time to praise the show and encourage Parkinson fans to watch it if they could as another person tweeted: "While we are talking about and remembering Sir Michael Parkinson, here is a slightly different job he did, hosting the fake TV event "Ghostwatch".
"One of the scariest things I've ever watched, fully recommended."
Another wrote: "Ghostwatch is so good. RIP Michael, might have to throw that on tonight."
While one Twitter user penned: "Michael Parkinson will be, and always be, the main man of Ghostwatch. The programme the bbc never repeated. Even now it has such a cult following." (sic)