As a child, my brother once said to me: "If you don't like Rentaghost, you're a pillock."

A strong view, perhaps, but one shared by many, including comic Joe Pasquale, who has taken it upon himself to resurrect the classic kids' show.

Rentaghost, the stage show, is written and produced by Joe, who also provides the voice for Ed The Head.

"Nobody has said they think it's a bad idea. In fact, most have said, 'Bloody hell, that's fantastic,' " Joe enthuses.

Back in the Seventies and Eighties, Rentaghost was essential viewing.

It was about a madcap bunch of spooks who lived together while trying to run a business, although their escapades would inevitably descend into chaos.

Characters such as Timothy Claypole (jester), Mrs Popov (sneezing ghost, now Audrey in Corrie), Hazel McWitch (Scottish witch) and Dobin (sleepwalking pantomime horse) will have a special place in the hearts of most 30-somethings, as will grumpy landlord Mr Meaker and neighbours Mr and Mrs Perkins, who would frequently complain about the "nutters next door".

"I was a teenager when it came out but I loved it," says Joe. "I was a bit weird at that age and was into ghosts.

I used to play with a Ouija board. It did my mum's head in."

It was while languishing in the jungle in 2004, as a contestant on I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, that Joe started to think seriously about staging the musical.

On his return, he and business partner Shaun Cornell set up Ghostly Productions and began planning.

"It's an amazing experience. Normally, somebody else does the leg-work and then I go on stage but this time it's the other way around. The rehearsals are actually going better than I expected. We are a lot better than I thought we'd be."

It's fair to say some of the Rentaghost gags were poor, in a "knock, knock" kind of way, with most episodes ending with a character's face getting covered in soot.

But it had a certain charm, which Joe has tried to retain. "Watching it now, it's safe to say it reflects the technology of its day," he admits. "But we have tried to keep the humour at the same level, while adding a bit of my own."

The musical has won the approval of the original Rentaghost writer Bob Block, who has written a letter of support and who was guest of honour at the opening night. "He's just chuffed someone's bothering to put it back on," Joe says.

"If I'm honest, it's all a bit surreal. But then, my whole life is surreal."

After this run, Joe and Shaun are to start work on yet another TV show musical (which cannot be revealed) but, he says, his dream would be to adapt The Tomorrow People. "It's similar to Rentaghost in that it looks crap now but in its day everyone loved it."

Sing with me now: "If your mansion house needs haunting just call, Rentaghost. We've got spooks and ghouls and freaks and fools, at Rentaghost...".

Starts at 2pm. Tickets cost £9.50 and £8.50. Call 01273 206206