Captain

As his name was unknown for majority of the series, he is referred to simply by his rank as 'The Captain' or occasionally just 'Cap', no one has ever asked his real name and he shows no signs of being inclined to reveal it, even identifying himself as "The Captain" when role playing in I Love Lucy; although it stands to reason that ghosts such as Robin, Mary, Kitty, Thomas and Fanny would be aware of his true identity, having already been haunting the house by WW2. When Pat attempts to help Alison revise for the Button House Christmas quiz, he asks her what The Captain's name is, saying that the question is "an easy one", suggesting that it the ghosts know it even if they do not use it.

His cause of death was also unknown for the majority of the series and a lack of bodily evidence (like Thomas' bullet wound or Mary's body smothered with smoke) suggested his death could have been an illness like a heart attack or cancer or a non-violent type of accident. In series 5 episode 5 “Carpe Diem”, his cause of death was revealed to be a stress-induced heart attack. His death does not appear to have been witnessed by the other ghosts, who were standing outside at the time and consequently appear genuinely unaware of the circumstances.

Cap has neatly combed silver hair and a mustache which was clearly black or brown at one point and looks to have died in his late forties to mid fifties. He wears the standard WW2-era Army officer's service dress with a Sam Browne belt as well as his medals and a baton which he carries at all times - it is unlikely he can put it down similar to how Thomas' letter reappears in his pocket when he discards it.[2] It is also somewhat of a peculiarity that he carries this swagger stick as they went out of fashion with the outbreak of the Second World War and officers ceased carrying them. It is later revealed in Carpe Diem that the swagger stick belonged to Havers, and was given to The Captain as he died.

The only time The Captain is seen wearing anything other than his service dress is during the episode "Redding Weddy" when he had multiple flashbacks to his life. Here, he is seen without his swagger stick, wearing his wool overcoat and cap while smoking a pipe. Of course, his medals are also missing from his uniform; his medals are always shown wrongly ordered as they were put on in a hurry.

The Captain is even asked by Pat during one of their meetings what he would wear that day if he was able to wear anything else however, Cap insists that he would still dress in his uniform, highlighting how much his uniform means to him and because he constantly talks about the war as if it is still present -even though he died after the war was already over- it shows what a huge impact the war had on him.

In the episode “Speak as ye choose”, Cap takes off his jacket and rolls his shirt sleeves up to his elbows, after Kitty encourages him to be more easygoing. He carries his jacket over his shoulder and - along with his sand coloured shirt and green tie - it can be seen that he wears braces in the same colour as his shirt. He returns to his usual state of dress within the blink of an eye, suggesting that the ghosts can't discard the clothes they died in and they will automatically reappear on the ghost's body.

The Captain likes to be in charge and keep order, he's a fairly reserved man who often stands on ceremony and can at times (especially during parties) become somewhat overbearing. He has established himself as the de facto leader among the ghosts and believes this to be his rightful position as he is 'ranking officer'.

Cap's fellow ghosts generally respect his authority (except in "Getting Out", where the group rebels against him, then make Pat their new leader) and will take his words as gospel when there is a serious issue, such as the burglars who break in during "Bump In The Night". He likes to be out front leading the team, or at least he likes to tell people he does; Cap informs Pat that their attempts to haunt Alison are a "military campaign" and that he "is not the type to bring up the rear". He can be too strict and authoritative, often forgetting that his fellow ghosts aren't soldiers, but is also highly intelligent and ultimately does have a heart, two traits clearly shown by the way he cons Kitty into getting Alison to stay even after they'd outed him from their group and despite he himself having wanted Alison and Mike gone from Button House.

He is obsessed with warfare, and acts like a war captain even after his death. The Captain appears to have a particular love of tanks and super weapons, which has lead to a great enjoyment of documentaries, which he has Alison put on for him at every available opportunity.

He also appears to have enjoyed musicals and operas such 'The Pirates of Penzance', as he has been heard multiple times singing 'Modern Major General'; most notably when Alison is doing her very best to ignore him after she first gets her ability to see the dead. He also references the composer Cole Porter in “The Hardest Word”, suggesting that he was a fan of his musicals. He sings with Kitty in “Speak as ye choose” and generally seems to enjoy music.

Cap is gay. While he does not advertise this fact and is very repressed attempts to ignore and hide his feelings (fails as it is very obvious) and even advises Fanny to bury her emotions as he had done. He often makes comments accidentally revealing his attraction to certain men who enter Button House and at one point refers to a builder as "the handsome one. The chap with the arms".[3] He further reveals his orientation when he mutters under his breath "almost certainly not" while Thomas is complaining that the ghosts don't understand his feelings for Alison.[3] Most his fellow ghosts have taken notice of these comments and often give him sideways glances for them but have no objection to his sexuality whatsoever. Fanny's husband, George, was also gay, so the topic is brought up occasionally in conversations, during these The Captain doesn't try to escape the conversation, nor does he participate. Then later in "Carpe Diem" he tells the other ghosts about Havers and his death coming out to them in the process in the episode after this and the end he is un-apologetically obvious about his sexuality no longer trying to hide is showing he is now more comfortable around the ghosts and accepting his sexuality.

In "Redding Weddy", it is quite apparent that The Captain has feelings for his second-in-command, Lieutenant Havers, as he is nervous and uncharacteristically friendly around him. He is also noticeably upset when Havers is transferred to Africa; a sadness which lingers even after his death. The Captain takes it upon himself to unofficially aid Alison and Mike in planning a wedding for a lesbian couple since the wedding planner crashed his car. Later, when the service takes place all the ghosts attend and The Captain seems very pleased that the two brides are allowed to marry.[4]

"Good Lord."

"A.O.B, any other business." — Who Do You Think You Are?

"... screaming like a mad person." — Who Do You Think You Are?

"Damnit Fanny!" — Who Do You Think You Are?

"With a shaft of this girth, Michael, the trick is firm blows." — The Ghost of Christmas (Series 2 Christmas special)

"If you were dead, I would thrash your bottom, sir!" — Gorilla War

"I mean, I thought the Blitz was bad, but your builders make the Luftwaffe look like a youth group." — Happy Death Day

"Rules are rules, and young Adam deserves our every respect." — Free Pass

"Stop saying Tootsie!" — Moonah Ston

"Could that be any more vexing." — Moonah Ston

"Ha-ha, gleaming bundook op from the civvy! We'll have him out boshing Jerry in no time!" — Moonah Ston

"Pom Pom!" — Moonah Ston

"Robin, light pollution." — Moonah Ston

"You cannot banish us in one breath and then demand our re-enforcement with the next." — Moonah Ston

"The question is, what do you care about more? Keeping Alison here or letting her be happy?" — Getting Out

"For king and country!"

"Just stuff its leg back into shape and pop its eye back in." — About Last Night

"Gentlemen, we're on our own." — Bump In The Night

"Honestly, why is no one ever alive when you need them?" — Bump In The Night

"What has happened to ties nowadays?" — Perfect Day

"It's chic and it's now and if it makes her feel fabulous then, no, very good.." — Perfect Day

"Stand down, Thorne. Stand down!" — Perfect Day

"Wonderful choice. A darker shade as if to frame the glowing white of the beautiful bride without upstaging her." — Perfect Day