The Worst Witch (TV series)

Infobox Television
show_name = The Worst Witch


caption = DVD Cover of the 1^st Three Episodes of Series One
show_name_2 =
genre = Children's
Fantasy
Magic
creator =
director = Alex Kirby
Stefan Pleszczynski
creative_director =
developer =
presenter =
starring = Georgina Sherrington
Felicity Jones
Una Stubbs
Clare Coulter
Jessica Fox
voices =
narrated =
theme_music_composer = Paul K. Joyce
opentheme = Onwards Ever Striving Onwards
endtheme = Onwards Ever Striving Onwards
composer = Paul K. Joyce
country = UK
language = English
num_seasons = 5+
num_episodes = 44+
list_episodes =
executive_producer =
co_exec =
producer =
supervising_producer =
asst_producer =
co-producer =
editor =
story_editor =
location =
cinematography =
camera =
runtime =
network =
picture_format =
audio_format = Stereo
first_run =
first_aired =
last_aired =
preceded_by =
followed_by = Weirdsister College
The New Worst Witch
related =
website =
production_website =
imdb_id = 0179061
tv_com_id =

The Worst Witch was a British ITV television series about a group of young witches at a Magic Academy; the series starred Georgina Sherrington and Felicity Jones. The series was based on "The Worst Witch" books by Jill Murphy. It was shot in Montreal,Quebec,Canada while the 1986 Halloween television movie was filmed in Tenbury, England on the St. Michael's College campus.

History & Plot

The TV Series starred Georgina Sherrington and Felicity Jones (as Mildred Hubble and Ethel Hallow respectively), and was broadcast from 1998 to 2001 on ITV, and later on HBO. The series also starred veteran British actress Una Stubbs as the eccentric chanting teacher, Miss Bat. Felicity Jones was replaced by Katie Allen after the first series, it was explained away as a magical makeover (a "witch-over"). New characters were also added, such as Frank Blossom (the school's caretaker), Miss Crotchet, the music teacher in the third series who replaced Miss Bat and two students from ethnic minorities - Ruby Cherrytree and Jadu Wali. New recurring characters included Merlin, a wizard apprentice who befriended Mildred, his 2 mean-spirited aquaitances, Charlie, Frank's nephew who really wanted to be a wizard, Mrs Cosy, the nervous owner of the nearby tearoom and Mistress Hecate Broomhead, the evil school inspector who later became a brief headmistress. The first season dramatised "The Worst Witch" and "The Worst Witch Strikes Again", and the second series dramatised "A Bad Spell For The Worst Witch" and "The Worst Witch All At Sea". Both of these two series also contained original stories. The third and final series continued with purely original material.

pinoffs

Two spinoffs of "The Worst Witch" have been made: Weirdsister College and The New Worst Witch.

Weirdsister College

When it was no longer realistic that Mildred would still be at school, the series relocated her to a magical university in Cambridge and was retitled "", and saw the return of Felicity Jones as a reinvented Ethel Hallow.

The New Worst Witch

In 2004, a new series based on the 1998 series was made, entitled "The New Worst Witch". It centred on the adventures of Mildred's equally bungling cousin, Henrietta "Hettie" Hubble, played by Alice Connor. Set once again at Cackle's Academy, Hettie was joined by new friends Cresentmoon "Cressie" Winterchild and Ethel Hallow's benign younger sister Mona. Evil blonde, Belladonna Bindweed, filled Ethel's shoes as the series' new antagonist. New teachers included Deirdre Swoop (previously a Weirdsister College character) and Miss Nightingale, replacing the original Miss Bat/Miss Crotchet and Miss Drill. Also, Kate Duchêne, the original actress for Miss Hardbroom, did not return, much to the disappointment of many fans. In the second series of "The New Worst Witch", Myrtle Widget replaces Miss Nightingale.

10th Year Anniversary

To mark the 10th year anniversary of the TV series, CITV are currently showing the original episodes of The Worst Witch, Series 1 commenced on Monday 1st September 2008 and Series 2 commenced on 18th September 2008. Series 3 commenced on 7th October 2008.Fact|date=September 2008

eason 1: 1998-1999

eason 2: 1999-2000

*Season 2, Episode 1: Old Hats and New Brooms Original Air Date: 4 November 1999 Year 2. Ethel looks completely different and her sister looks nothing like she does in the book and there is also the question of who will be the form mistress.

*Season 2, Episode 2: Alarms and Diversions Original Air Date: 11 November 1999 A new fire alarm leads to Mildred gaining the Cackle's award for bravery.

*Season 2, Episode 3: It's a Frogs Life Original Air Date: 18 November 1999 Ethel finds vengeance by turning Millie into a frog, leading to Millie meeting the frog in the pond.

*Season 2, Episode 4: Crumpets for Tea Original Air Date: 25 November 1999 The pond frog is helped to regain his human form, as Algernon.

*Season 2, Episode 5: The Inspector Calls Original Air Date: 2 December 1999 An inspector considers that standards are too low, but Miss Cackle discovers that the standard of the inspector is a bit dodgy, too.

*Season 2, Episode 6: Animal Magic Original Air Date: 9 December 1999 The start of summer term, year 2, and a rat mouse has escaped from the cold and is terrorising the kitchen. The master of the revels declares an upside down day.

*Season 2, Episode 7: Carried Away Original Air Date: 16 December 1999 Tabby is exiled to the kitchen. Meantime her class goes on holiday, courtesy of Algernon, and Millie has to do right by her duties to Tabby.

*Season 2, Episode 8: The Dragon's Hoard Original Air Date: 23 December 1999 Old treasure is found and returned to its rightful owner.

*Season 2, Episode 9: The Genius of the Lamp Original Air Date: 6 January 2000 Sybil and Clarice attempt magic to brighten up the school.

*Season 2, Episode 10: Up in the Air Original Air Date: 13 January 2000 Charlie Blossom wants to go to school at Cackles and there are a couple of ways that can be done, just the help he gets frightens him off.

*Season 2, Episode 11: Fair Is Foul & Fouls Are Fair Original Air Date: 20 January 2000 A Cackle's basketball team has to interpret the meaning of fair play.

*Season 2, Episode 12: Green Fingers & Thumbs Original Air Date: 27 January 2000 The local horticultural event puts Mr Blossom's wannabe prize veg at risk.

*Season 2, Episode 13: The Millennium Bug Original Air Date: 3 February 2000 The building is a thousand years old, celebrations, but the owner wants to sell it.

eason 3: 2000-2001

*Season 3, Episode 1: Secret Society Original Air Date: 9 November 2000 Year 3. Miss Crotchet takes over the chants teaching, Miss Drill wants to escape, the girls form a secret society, DOBS, Dangerous Old Books Society. There is also a mention of The Cauldron Society, the lead in to Weirdsister College.

*Season 3, Episode 2: An Unforgettable Experience Original Air Date: 16 November 2000 Millie and Maud on work experience at the cafe, except that Hardbroom does not trust them so disaster strikes.

*Season 3, Episode 3: Which Witch Is Which? Original Air Date: 23 November 2000 Ruby helps Fen and Griz build a time machine, strictly for historical purposes, but it takes Millie and HB to untangle the mess.

*Season 3, Episode 4: The Witchy Hour Original Air Date: 30 November 2000 A radio show for witch schools and Millie has to play for the other team.

*Season 3, Episode 5: Learning the Hard Way Original Air Date: 7 December 2000 A student teacher for Weirdsister gets off on the wrong foot but ends up by showing Millie how to turn herself into ice.

*Season 3, Episode 6: The Hair Witch Project Original Air Date: 14 December 2000 A third year project for original magic has the losers as winners and the winners as non-starters.

*Season 3, Episode 7: Just Like Clockwork Original Air Date: 21 December 2000 Miss Cackle is away, maybe for a few weeks, so Mr Hallow brings in a replacement headmistress.

*Season 3, Episode 8 or 3-09: Art Wars Original Air Date: 19 January 2001 A story that starts with Millie throwing paint at Ethel and ends with Millie being released from the statue that Ethel turns her into.

*Season 3, Episode 9 or 3-10: Power Drill Original Air Date: 22 January 2001 Enid gives a hint of a tendency to black magic ways when she decides to covertly cast a spell on a teacher. Millie and Maud are happy to help her.

*Season 3, Episode 10 or 3-11: Better Dead Than Co-Ed Original Air Date: 23 January 2001 HB's views re males shine clear when year three spend a few days at Hellebore's Camelot, but it takes Enid's insights to give HB real power.

*Season 3, Episode 11 or 3-12: The Lost Chord Original Air Date: 24 January 2001 With year three at Camelot, Cackle's is in the care of Drill and Crotchet. Cue for a fake musician to try to lure Crotchet to use her magic for selfish ends.

*Season 3, Episode 12 or 3-13: The Unfairground Original Air Date: 25 January 2001 End of exams, celebrations that lead to a crack down. The Fair Ground appears. Looks as if this will be Millie's final year.

*Season 3, Episode 13 or 3-14: The Uninvited Original Air Date: 26 January 2001 Millie shows the talent that gets her a place at Weirdsister. Her fourth year at Cackle's is considered as well.

*Season 3, Episode 14 or 3-08: Cinderella in Boots Original Air Date: 24 December 2000 The school puts on a traditional British panto. Magic, the fortieth episode unless one counts chronologically by when first shown. Magic, this is unusually high quality for kids television. A Christmas special.

Cast & Characters

Mildred Hubble

Mildred Hubble, portrayed by Georgina Sherrington, the heroine of the Worst Witch series, is a clumsy, bungling young witch-in-training, who never seems to get anything right at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches. She is tall, with long, straggly dark plaits, and cannot quite seem to tie up her bootlaces.

Mildred does not come from a witch family like most of the other girls, but earns a scholarship at Cackle's Academy by writing a first-class piece of creative writing which greatly impresses the headmistress, Miss Cackle. Although her mathematics and science skills leave much to be desired, Mildred is tenacious and channels her creative energy into her quest to become an accomplished witch.

She means well and tries very hard, but she is adventurous and , which often gets her into trouble with her teachers - most notably the cruel Miss Hardbroom. After several years at Cackle's Academy, Mildred endeavours on to University, training at Weirdsisters College in Cambridge, where she seems to improve in her skills, and meets up with Ethel again.Mildred is briefly seen in the first episode of the New Worst Witch series, now an accomplished and successful witch, escorting her younger cousin Hettie on her first day at the Academy.

Ethel Hallow

Ethel Hallow (Felicity Jones, then later Katie Allen) is Mildred Hubble's acid-tongued rival. She's a straight 'A' student, comes from a prominent witch family, and gives the impression of being a model student to her classmates. She is spoiled, snobbish and vindictive; though when the presence of the school's tutors is near she can turn on the charm and act sweet and innocent, playing the role of a victim to Mildred's apparent "bullying". Ethel is not given a physical description though in the book illustrations she is a tall, skinny and rather ugly young girl, whereas in the television series she is shown as a rather attractive young girl and then matures into a beautiful and popular teenager in Weirdsister College. Strangely enough, Mildred and Ethel overcome their hatred of each other and become friends. Even so, in the episode, where Enid visits, Ethel has no qualms about snitching on them.

No explanation is given but in the first book of the series, it is revealed that Ethel and Mildred were enemies prior to the story. Ethel takes pleasure in taunting Mildred about her inability to train her cat into riding a broomstick and Mildred responds by turning her into a pig. From there on Mildred and Ethel resent each other and Ethel vows to get Mildred expelled. She does not succeed. In the first books she is revealed to have no friends but her rather idiotic, though kindly, sister, Sybil, makes an appearance. A friend of hers, Drusilla, is mentioned in "The Worst Witch all at Sea" as a one-liner. She later plays a bigger part in "The Worst Witch to the Rescue" where she hides Mildred's talking pet tortoise up a tree. In the TV series Drusilla is Ethel's bumbling sidekick. They are shown to be allies, not true friends. They stick with each other because nobody else likes them. However, in the episode,"The Unfairground" they break friends because Drusilla agrees with what Mildred and the Gang are doing. However Drusilla is seen comforting Ethel after Mildred wins the position on head girl in the following episode.

Maud Moonshine

Maud Moonshine (Emma Brown) is Mildred's best friend at Cackle's Academy. She is a short, plump girl with wide glasses and stringy hair which she wears in bunches. She is fiercely loyal to Mildred and assists her on most of her adventures, often against her better judgement. Though in 'The Worst Witch strikes Again', Maud grows jealous of Mildred and Enid's budding friendship and turns on Mildred, siding with the friendless and vindictive Ethel. However she tires of Ethel's constant degrading of Mildred and annuls their "friendship", siding with Mildred and becoming friends with Enid. In the US, Maud's surname was changed to "Spellbody". In the TV Movie starring Fairuza Balk, where Maud was played by Danielle Batchelor, her surname was changed to Warlock.

Enid Nightshade

Portrayed by Jessica Fox, Enid is another of Mildred's closest friends who made her debut in 'The Worst Witch strikes Again' after she is transferred to Cackle's Academy and Mildred is assigned as a guardian to her, much to the irritation of Miss Hardboom. At first Mildred think she will simply be a nuisance and a pain, but in fact Enid turns out to be a wild practical joker whose attempts to make Mildred like her only result in Mildred getting into trouble. Enid turns her cat into a monkey and enchants a vaulting pole so that Mildred is catapulted into the air and into Miss Hardbroom's study.

Enid is tall, well-built and rather muscular for a girl. She has long fair hair and large limbs, in comparison to the TV series where she is small, waiflike and has dark hair. She takes an instant liking to Mildred and hopes to be her friend, implying that she is not a judgemental girl. She is overall friendly and kind-hearted but sometimes oversteps the mark in her attempt to befriend and help people.

Miss Constance Hardbroom

Portrayed by [Kate Duchene] , the fearsome deputy headmistress of Cackle's Academy. Tall, scrawny and sour-faced, she strikes fear into the students' hearts, especially Mildred's, whom Hardbroom seems to have a particular resentment of although she really has done nothing wrong. Miss Hardbroom devotes all her praise and pampering to the shallow Ethel Hallow and constantly degrades Mildred in front of her and all the other students. She believes Mildred is lazy and stupid and does not try hard enough, even though Mildred can be clever and caring when given the chance.

Miss Amelia Cackle

Miss Amelia Cackle (Clare Coulter) is the headmistress of Cackle's Academy, often weary of Mildred's various exploits. At one point, her evil twin sister tries to come and take over the school.

Miss Imogen Drill

Miss Imogen Drill (Claire Porter) is the gym teacher, and the only non-magical staff at Cackle's Academy. She is often more sympathetic towards Mildred, but can be strict.

Miss Davina Bat

Miss Davina Bat (Una Stubbs) is a slightly loopy music teacher at Cackle's Academy, involved in day to day life, activities and lessons.

Drusilla Paddock

Drusilla (Holly Rivers), a minor charcter in the books, is Ethel's best and only friend. In The Univited, S03E13, she becomes friend with Mildred and co. but later reverts back to Ethel. In the newer books she becomes a bigger character.

Ruby & Jadu

Ruby Cherrytree (Joanna Dyce)& Jadu Wali (Harshna Brahmbatt) are in the same Year as Mildred, Ethel,Maud, Enid and Drusilla,and are good friends of them except from Ethel and Drusilla. Ruby, Jadu and Maud always go and talk to Mildred when she's feeling down.

Minor Characters

*Nicholas Pepper ... Charlie Blossom "(a friend of Mildred's who attends wizard school)"
*Annette Badland ... Mrs. Tapioca "(the school cook)"
*Terrence Hardiman ... Grand Wizard Hellibore "(the head of a Wizard's council)"
*Julia Malewski ... Fenella Feverfew "(an older friend of Mildred's)"
*Poppy Gaye ... Griselda Blackwood "(an older friend of Mildred's)"
*Polly James ... Miss Crotchet "(the school chanting teacher)"
* unknown actress... Mrs Semolina "a stand in cook for Mrs Tapioca

Awards & Nominations

*Royal Television Society, UK 1999 - (Nominated) RTS Television Award Best Children's Drama [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0179061/awards "The Worst Witch" (1998) - Awards ] ]
*Young Artist Awards 2000 - (Won) Young Artist Award Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series - Leading Young Actress
Georgina Sherrington [ [http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms21.htm 21st Annual Awards ] ]

VHS and DVD Releases

* In the United Kingdom Series 1 was released on VHS in the UK on six video sets in 2000, "The Best Of" was released on DVD in 2002.
* In the USA Series 1 & 2 were released on DVD in 2004
* In Australia Series 1,2 & 3 and Weirdsister College and both series of The New Worst Witch were released in 2007.

ee also

*The Worst Witch
*Weirdsister College

References

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0179061/ IMDb Page]
* [http://www.miss-cats-worst-witch-academy.de/History__-_Who_is_who_/The_Telly_Series/Georgina_Sherrington/georgina_sherrington.html Fansite]
* [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005N5R8 The Worst Witch at Amazon.co.uk]
* [http://www.youngartistawards.org/noms21.htm]