15 September (1991-09-15)– 3 November 1991 (1991-11-03)
Release
5 January 1993 (1993-01-05)– 26 February 1998 (1998-02-26)
Wizadora is a children's television programme created by Don Arioli and Carolyne Cullum. It was originally broadcast on SWR in 1991 and it was used as an English-language learning tool for non-English speakers. In 1993, the series was picked up by ITV in the United Kingdom.
The series' pilot starred Fawlty Towers writer and actress Connie Booth, who had been alerted to the character by John Cleese who had taken an interest in the production. The pilot was never broadcast.
The concept was then developed into a language teaching tool for children to learn English as a second language, published by Oxford University Press in 1991. Books, audio, and media were produced alongside the series. The title role of Wizadora was played by Connie Booth in the unaired pilot, before Maria Gough took on the role for Oxford University Press. Cathy Lawday was the writer and editor of the books and media produced for Oxford.
In 1992, Meridian Broadcasting picked up the series for broadcast on television. Considerable changes were made for this series, including the introduction of Wendy van der Plank as Wizadora, who remained as the character from 1993 to 1996. Lizzie McPhee took over the role in 1997 until the series' end. Tatty, who was originally played by a woman (Debbie Cumming), was now played by a man (Joe Greco 1993–94, Steven Ryde 1994–98) and Phoebe, who was originally played by actor Emma Amos, was re-introduced as a "life-sized" model. Many characters were introduced and the original characters were given a makeover. Connie Booth was brought back in to write episodes for the series, among others.
Characters
Wizadora (played by Connie Booth in the unaired pilot episode, Maria Gough in the Oxford series, and Wendy van der Plank (1993-96) and Lizzie McPhee (1997-98) in the ITV series) – The title character and protagonist of the series, a trainee and later apprentice wizard who receives her magic wand in the pilot episode and initially has problems getting her spells right. Some of the things in Wizadora's kitchen are able to talk due to stray spells. Wizadora often breaks the fourth wall and talks to the viewers, and usually asks for their help when casting her spells. Wizadora's catchphrases include "Oh, botheration!" and "Time for a bit of Wizzification!".
Wizadora's companions
Tatty Bogle (played by Debbie Cumming in the Oxford series and Joe Greco[2](1993-94) and Steven Ryde (1994–98) in the ITV series) – A dim-witted scarecrow who lives in Wizadora's back garden and continually gets his words muddled up. The character was played by a woman before being reintroduced as a man for ITV. Ryde was the voice-over announcer between programmes for ITV's CITV strand during the same period.
Stan the Shopkeeper (played by Brian Murphy) – A shopkeeper who regularly takes delivery of new magical catalogue items and is very cautious of Wizadora's spells.
Pippa the Postwoman (played by Tessa Hatts) – A postwoman who rides a bike on her rounds and often becomes tired.
Top/Sticky/Bottom – Three talking drawer people, who resemble socks. Once described as "a real nuisance" by Wizadora, they are very naughty, usually teasing Hangle and/or Filbert, and are always attempting to steal food or getting up to some kind of mischief whenever Wizadora's back is turned. Their antics usually end up causing much trouble; one time Top invented a Grub Grabber to try and steal some food, but the device frightened Filbert who accidentally knocked over some potions, some of which got into Very Old Fish's tank and turned him into a purple blob. Wizadora usually punishes them by zapping them back into their drawers with her wand.
Phoebe – A talking telephone. In the Oxford series, actor Emma Amos was dressed in a pink costume to play the role. In the ITV series, Phoebe appears as a 'life-sized' model telephone, pink with a yellow headset, but in later series, she is orange with a red headset. From Series Six onwards, her headset is red with coloured stars on it. Phoebe answers calls, takes messages, and speaks various languages. Phoebe was voiced by four different voice actors during the ITV series run.
Filbert (ITV Series One to Five only) – A squeaking vegetable (a Vegimal) and a fellow trainee wizard. He is also regularly seen gardening. He was born from a seed in the first ITV series, and at first, Wizadora had no idea as to who he was. He loves to water plants and is best friends with Tatty. In Series One, Filbert talked in gibberish as he was still learning how to speak, and in later series, English, as the character develops. Filbert often gets himself into trouble, although meaning well. He is very kind-hearted and is always offering to help out Wizadora or Tatty. In the Series Five episode "Filbert's New House", he leaves Wizadora's place to start a new life independently.
Dog Doormat (ITV Series One only) – A barking doormat.
Hangle – A purple coat hanger (but who insists on calling himself a cloak hanger) with a yellow rain coat, glasses and a purple moustache, who has quite an obsession with cleaning. In the episode "Hangle's Big Day", he locks everyone out in the garden because he thinks they are too untidy. As a result, he ends up hurting his back due to being too stubborn. He has a crude sense of humour and is also quite bossy. In the first episode of Series One, Hangle introduces himself as "Cliff Hangle, cloak hanger extraordinaire".
Very Old Fish – A cryptic, talking male fish who likes to tell stories about his life.
Poot (ITV Series Two onwards) – Wizadora's computer, who is often used to help with Wizadora's questions. In Series Two and Three, Poot was male, green and flat shaped. In Series Four, the character was re-introduced as a female and was given a more computer-like appearance with a pale orange face (Rebecca Nagan's).
Nigel the Snail (ITV Series Two onwards) – A blue snail who lives with Very Old Fish.
The Crows (Series Three onwards) – Two crows; brothers called Boris and Horace, who cause mayhem for Tatty Bogle in the garden.
Roxy (Introduced in Series Five) – A friendly talking spider who lives in Tatty's treehouse.
Dusty (seen in ITV Series One and again in Series Six) – A creature who lives under the fridge, has a very loud operatic voice, and is usually sleeping.
Tom and Katie (played by Harriet Carmichael and Adam Johnstone; Oxford series only) – two children who live near Wizadora. Not seen in the ITV series.
Other cast and credits
Puppeteers Philip Eason, Francis Wright, Michael Bayliss, Sue Dacre, Jeremy Stockwell, Barnaby Harrison, Don Austen, Brian Herring, Neil Sterenberg, Rebecca Nagan, Debby Cumming, Marie Phillips, Sheila Clark and Victoria Willing worked on the series.
The ITV series was made for Meridian Broadcasting by production companies Workhouse and North Pole Productions at The Fountain Studios in New Malden and directed by David Crozier. Fifteen episodes of Series 3 were directed by Wendy J. Dyer. The theme music was composed by Dave Hutton who was also the Senior Cameraman on the first four series of the show. The theme tune for the ITV series was recorded at Gordon Thrussell's studios at Ashford in Kent and the credits show music by 'Hutt and Thrust'. This was because the director, David Crozier, did not want the same name for two different credits on the programme (i.e.: Snr Cameraman and Music). The other cameramen were Roger Backhouse, and Angus Macmillan and sometimes Steve Leach. The vision mixer was Julie Miller.
Wizadora's Christmas Carol Part 1 – 16 December 1997
Wizadora's Christmas Carol Part 2 – 18 December 1997
The Frightful Creature – 6 January 1998
High Fliers – 8 January 1998
Crow Tamer - 13 January 1998
No Laughing Matter - 15 January 1998
Paper Plastic And Tins - 20 January 1998
The Cave Of Dark - 22 January 1998
If I Only Had A Heart - 27 January 1998
Big Business 29 January 1998
A Barrel Of Trouble - 3 February 1998
A Dragon For Tea - 5 February 1998
Pippa's Bad Hair Day - 10 February 1998
Wizadora Disappears - 12 February 1998
Tatty's Birthday Surprise – 17 February 1998
Double Trouble – 19 February 1998
A Right Pain - 1 September 1998
No Place Like Home - 2 September 1998
One Is Fun - 3 September 1998
Future Shop - 4 September 1998
Good Food Bad Food - 7 September 1998
Exciting Times - 8 September 1998
Who Is Important - 9 September 1998
Reception
One episode of Wizadora starring Lizzie Mcphee was broadcast on CITV on 5 January 2013 (the show's 20th anniversary) as part of a CITV anniversary special. The channel received its highest viewing figures to date: Wizadora attracted 460,000 followed by Danger Mouse, which attracted 578,000 viewers during the "old skool" weekend run.[3] This was the first time the show had been broadcast in the UK since repeats were shown on Living TV in the early 2000s. As of June 2020, episodes from Series One are now showing on BritBox in the UK.
Home video and DVD
The earliest version of the show has been released on DVD (Oxford University Press). However, this is not the ITV version and is instead, an educational package.
Video Collection International
Some VHS cassettes of the show were released in the mid-1990s by Video Collection International Ltd., featuring episodes from Series One to Three.
Cover of one of the Wizadora video releases, showing Tatty Bogle (Steven Ryde) and Wizadora (Wendy van der Plank).
Wizadora – The Magic Parcel (14 June 1993) – The Magic Parcel, Time For Tidying, and Hello Filbert.
Wizadora – A Colourful Day (26 July 1993) – A Colourful Day, Lovely Weather and Picnic Problems.
Wizadora – Mops and Bicycles (16 August 1993) – Mops and Bicycles, Hangle In Charge and A Very Special Day.
Wizadora – Wellingtons and Snails (1 August 1994) – Wellingtons and Snails, The Purple Powder and Tea Time Troubles.
My Little Wizadora – The Magic Parcel/Time For Tidying (1 April 1996)
My Little Wizadora – Hello Filbert/A Colourful Day (1 July 1996)
My Little Wizadora – Lovely Weather / Picnic Problems (7 October 1996)
My Little Wizadora – Mops and Bicycles/Hangle In Charge (4 November 1996)
Astrion Video
Wizadora – A Message from Max (3 April 1995) A Message From Max and five other stories
Wizadora – Sneezeberries (3 April 1995) Sneezeberries and five other stories
Wizadora – Too Big, Too Small (18 August 1995) Too Big, Too Small and five other stories
’’Wizadora – Sixes And Nines’’ (18 August 1995) Sixes and Nines and five other stories
’’Wizadora – Bubble Trouble’’ (18 August 1995) Bubble Trouble and five other stories
UK VHS releases
VHS Title
Release Date
Episodes
Wizadora – The Magic Parcel (VC1297)
14 June 1993
The Magic Parcel, Time For Tidying, Hello Filbert
Wizadora – A Colourful Day (VC1304)
26 July 1993
A Colourful Day, Lovely Weather, Picnic Problems
Wizadora – Mops and Bicycles (VC1308)
16 August 1993
Mops and Bicycles, Hangle In Charge, A Very Special Day
Wizadora – Wellingtons and Snails (VC1328)
1 August 1994
Wellingtons and Snails, The Purple Powder, Tea Time Troubles
My Little Wizadora – The Magic Parcel/Time For Tidying (ML0019)
1 April 1996
The Magic Parcel, Time For Tidying
My Little Wizadora – Lovely Weather/Picnic Problems (ML0020)
1 July 1996
Lovely Weather, Picnic Problems
My Little Wizadora – Mops and Bicycles/Hangle In Charge (ML0021)
1 July 1996
Mops and Bicycles, Hangle In Charge
My Little Wizadora – Hello Filbert/A Colourful Day (ML0031)
7 October 1996
Hello Filbert, A Colourful Day
DVD releases
"Wizadora – Oxford DVD"
"Wizadora – A message From Max And Other Stories"
Wizadora – Series One, Volume One.
Revamp
In 2003, Entertainment Rights produced a nine-minute pilot for a proposed reboot of the series for Channel 5's Milkshake! children's programming strand with Anne Foy as Wizadora. Although a new version of the original theme tune was used and the overall look of the set generally in keeping with the earlier version, the characters were given varying makeovers, with none of the original models being used, and several new minor characters introduced. CGI and Chroma key effects featured heavily. The proposed new series was not picked up, reportedly due to it being considered too costly.
Although there are no plans for the ITV series to return, the Oxford series is still in production with episodes being repeated on SWR Television. The original Oxford series is still used today as a teaching tool for children to learn English as second language. The DVD, book, and audio tapes are still available to buy online, along with a PC CD-ROM. A free app was produced in 2016. A website was set up in 2015, though it is now defunct as of 2018.[citation needed] In 2016, the German SWR Television Educational Programmes set up a website featuring the series to foster use of Wizadora films and educational games in elementary schools in Germany. Free educational games based on the series have been developed since 2016 (apps for Android, iOS, and web-based for desktop computers) and are available on www.wizadora.de.
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