Spooks is back on our telly boxes tonight and so how to mark the occasion? A re-cap of the character’s histories? A trip down memory lane to remember those Spooks that we have loved and lost? Or a full-on whinge about that bloody awful commercial star Rupert Penry-Jones does for Tesco (Martine McCutcheon I get, the poor lass hasn’t got much on at the moment – but why Rupert why?) Nope, how’s about a top ten of the spookiest things on the TV? From the genuinely scary to the silly – prepare to be spooked!

1. Ghostwatch
Described as a ‘horror-mockumentary television movie’, 1992’s Ghostwatch starred then BBC stalwarts Sarah Greene and Michael Parkinson as they investigated a family whose home was inhabited by a nasty ghost called ‘Pipes’. With Parky in the studio and Greene at the family’s house, the programme became increasingly spooky and unpredictable until Pipes finally gained power and haunted the BBC studios themselves. Now, of course this was all carefully plotted, but such was my gullibility back then, that I was utterly terrified by the whole thing. In my defence, I wasn’t the only one as the BBC were made to defend themselves against accusations of causing post-traumatic stress in children and even triggering the suicide of a teenager with learning difficulties. Of course, I now know it to be the silly hoax it was, but until you’ve witnessed the terror of Parky possessed by a ghost – you can’t judge.

2. The X-Files
Mulder and Scully were often found running about uncovering mysterious goings on throughout the 1990s, but what was their most terrifying moment? For me, probably Tooms (eek – am getting scared thinking about it!)

3. The Twilight Zone
The classic American show spawned comic books, a film and a theme park ride (I’ve been on it – never again), and has remained one of the most revered and beloved of genre shows ever. Remind yourself of the eerie opening introduction in this clip, and I defy you not to get goose bumps.

4. Doctor Who
Where to start? The show has besieged many fragile young minds over the decades and so to select one pant-soiling moment of terror seems impossible. That said, please give it your best shot TV Scoopers.

5. Angel/ Buffy the Vampire Slayer
They might have been aimed at the teen audience, but the two fantasy shows from Joss Whedon often got a little scary. Though to be honest, I was usually most terrified by Spike’s horrible bleached hair.

6. American Gothic
The mid-90s show might have only lasted one season before being cancelled, but I remember being scared by Lucas Buck (an on-form Gary Cole), the mysterious sheriff of small town Trinity, South Carolina. With the ghost of a dead sister, an evil law-enforcer with special powers and the sinsiter line “there’s someone at the door”, American Gothic might not have found a mainstream audience, but it sure did spook those of who that did see it.

7. Scooby Doo
Scoff all you want at the inclusion of Mystery Inc., but those kids sure did get into some spooky scrapes. But Scrappy Doo? What were they thinking?

8. Anything starring Derek Acorah
With his scouse accent and smarmy slicked back hair/ earring combination, self-described ‘psychic medium’ Derek Acorah (real name Derek Johnson) has gone ghost-hunting in numerous Living shows: Most Haunted, Ghost Towns and Paranormal Egypt. Often found in a dark spot, with night vision cameras on him, Derek maintains his Liverpudlian dialect regardless of whatever spirit he is ‘channeling.’ Truly terrifying.

9.Garth Marenghi’s Dark Place
Not so much scary, but hilariously silly. Why was it cancelled? Why God – WHY?

10. (Celebrity)Big Brother
George Galloway impersonating a cat? Nuff said.

And so, have we suitably scared you or are you thirsy for more? Let us know your spookiest moments and we can all tremble in terror.