Ghosts season 6 is going to be a strange one, and not just because it starts in early 2027. Sam herself is stepping away from the show temporarily, and the writers are using that absence as the engine of the season’s plot.
The news comes from a report that broke the story. Rose McIver, who plays Sam, shared a major life update on Instagram. She recently gave birth to her second child and wrote that she’d been “a wee bit preoccupied.” She promised she’ll “join everyone soon,” but neither CBS nor Ghosts has confirmed when that will be.
Sam’s Real-Life Reason for Leaving
The pregnancy was common knowledge by the time Ghosts season 5 finished shooting in February 2026. The show had already planted a story suggesting Sam would be absent at the close of the fifth season. She discovered she had sold the film rights to her book series and would join the writers’ room. Given that the writing would likely happen in Los Angeles, with Woodstone sitting closer to New York, Sam was expected to be gone for a stretch of several weeks.
That setup means Sam’s absence isn’t a surprise to anyone in the story. It’s a deliberate choice, not a sudden one.
Who Can Talk to the Living Now
Sam is the only character who can communicate with the living. Jay doesn’t see the ghosts except when Sass jumps into his dreams, and he’s ignored their wishes and wants when Sam has gone away. The Main 8 took to texting Kyle during Ghosts season 5 to get him to babysit while Sam went on a road trip for her first book signing.
Kyle has been upped to series regular for Ghosts season 6. The last time Kyle was on the show, he and Jay finally came to a truce, opening the door for Kyle to return to the Manor when needed. That’s the most obvious way to handle Rose’s absence, since viewers and the spirits already know Kyle.
There are other options. Giving Jay the power to see the ghosts would solve the communication problem, but it would likely spell the end of the series, as it takes away the running gag of Jay being left out of conversations. Another approach would involve Bela, who could start seeing the spirits and reopen the flirtation with Trevor, adding someone else in Jay’s life who fully understands the Main 8’s antics.
What Happens to Pete
The bigger story is Pete. When season 5 ended, the biggest question was whether he would survive after spending too long outside the house’s boundary. He disappeared completely, vanishing entirely rather than getting his body back. Pete’s fate will be revealed in the Halloween special, which makes up for the 2027 delay for the majority of Ghosts season 6.
The moment someone else learns what has happened to Pete still awaits, and it is not yet known how his disappearance will be accounted for during this critical period for all those residing at Woodstone.
How Long Sam Will Be Gone
The scheduling overlaps with the time Sheila Carrasco, who plays Flower, took off for maternity leave. Her absence covered seven episodes of the shortened third season. For Ghosts season 6, two hour-long holiday specials are planned for 2026, one for Halloween and one for Christmas, with the remaining 18 episodes of the season returning at the start of early 2027.
Sam is either briefly part of the holiday specials and absent from the first episodes of the regular season, or she’s out of the holiday specials and returns in the new year. Given the timing of McIver’s post, it seems likely she won’t return until after Ghosts’ regular season starts.
The Verdict on the Absence
This is a clever solution to a real-life problem. McIver’s pregnancy was always going to disrupt the show, and the writers have turned it into a narrative beat rather than a gap in the schedule. Sam’s absence forces Kyle into a bigger role without losing the dynamic that makes Ghosts work.
It’s also a reminder that sitcoms are built on repetition. The running gag of Jay being left out of conversations has been a staple of the show for years. Losing it would change the show’s identity, so the writers are likely to keep it intact.
The wait for Ghosts season 6 has now become more intriguing, regardless of which path viewers choose. The Halloween special promises to reveal what became of Pete, while the regular season will address what happened to Sam. Between the two, one show is delivering a great deal of answers.
Key Facts Box
- Sam will be temporarily absent at the start of Ghosts season 6
- Rose McIver gave birth to her second child
- Kyle is upped to series regular for Ghosts season 6
- Pete’s fate will be revealed in the Halloween special
- Ghosts season 6 has two holiday specials in 2026
- The full 18-episode season returns in early 2027
See the video the story is built around at Screen Rant.
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