Young Dracula

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Young Dracula
YoungDracula.png
Young Dracula series 1–2 title card
Genre Teen drama
Supernatural drama
Horror
Comedy
Sitcom (series 1–2)
Created by Danny Robins
Dan Tetsell
Starring Keith-Lee Castle
Gerran Howell
Clare Thomas
Simon Ludders
Andy Bradshaw
Composers John Rea (series 1)
Nick Lloyd (series 2–3)
Simon Rogers (series 4)
Michael J McEvoy (series 5)
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series5
No. of episodes66 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producerJosephine Ward
ProducersMia Jupp (series 1–2)
Lis Steele (series 3–4)
Melanie Halsall (series 3)
Candida Julian–Jones (series 5)
Production locations Glamorgan (series 1–2)
Liverpool (series 3–5)
EditorsChristian Blood
Emyr Jenkins
Robert Douglas-Reeves
Nick Holes
Jane Murrell
Pedr James
Angharad Owen
Bleddyn Rhys
Camera setup Videotape (filmized) (series 1–2)
RED (series 3–5)
Multi-camera
Running time30 minutes
Production company BBC Cymru Wales
Original release
Network CBBC
Release21 September 2006 (2006-09-21) 
31 March 2014 (2014-03-31)

Young Dracula is a British children's horror drama comedy television series which aired on CBBC, loosely based on Young Dracula , a 2002 children's book by Michael Lawrence. [1] It is also based on the epistolary novel Dracula , written by Bram Stoker and published in 1897.

Contents

The first two series follow the Dracula family, a family of vampires: Vladimir (Vlad), his father Count Dracula, and sister Ingrid. Having lived in Transylvania, they move to Stokely, a small town in Wales after various incidents involving angry peasant mobs. It was filmed in various locations around Wales, including Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf, Caerphilly Castle, Tretower Court and parts of Llantrisant. Directed by Joss Agnew, the first series was broadcast in 2006 and the second series, which started in late 2007, concluded in early 2008.

The third series, commissioned three years after the second, sees Vlad and the Count flee both vampires and slayers, while the Count is determined that Vlad should fulfil his destiny to become "The Chosen One". This series was filmed in Liverpool during 2011, in various locations including the disused Margaret Bevan School, Croxteth Hall and Stanley Docks. [2] [3] [4] It began airing on 31 October 2011. The fourth series follows on from season three's predicament and had a new director, airing on 29 October 2012. Young Dracula was renewed for a fifth and final series in 2013, with filming beginning in April. [5] The hour long finale, "The Darkest Hour", aired on 31 March 2014.

Young Dracula was nominated for Best Children's Drama in the 2008 BAFTA Awards and has been nominated for several other awards. An additional series, the Young Dracula Files, began broadcasting on 24 October 2012, in which the main characters tell their stories of the past. It was primarily hosted by the character Bertrand Du Fortunesa, played by Cesare Taurasi.

Characters

CharacterPortrayed bySeries
12345
Vladimir Dracula Gerran Howell Main
Count Dracula Keith-Lee Castle Main
Ingrid DraculaClare ThomasMain
Renfield Simon Ludders Main
ZoltanAndy BradshawMain
Robin Branagh Craig Roberts Main
Chloe BranaghLucy Borja-EdwardsMain
Eric Van HelsingTerence MaynardMain
Jonathan Van HelsingTerry HaywoodMain
Mina Van Helsing Jo-Anne Knowles Main
Wolfie WesternraLorenzo RodriguezMain
Alex McCauleyLetty ButlerMain
Bertrand du FortunesaCesare TaurasiMain
Erin Noble Sydney Rae White Main
Malik VaccariaRichard SouthgateMain
Sally Giles Laura Howard Main
George GilesBella BandMain
Asan RamangaQuinton NyirendaMain
TalithaEleanor GecksMain
Piers Mark Rowley Main

Main

Series 1

After their father bit too many residents in their own Transylvania, Vladimir and Ingrid Dracula were compelled to move to Britain. For Vlad, it is a realisation of a dream and a step closer to the normal world that he so desperately wants. Keeping his family's secret will be a full-time job though, what with a bloodsucking father, a talking wolf, a servant who smells like mouse droppings, and a vampire sister. Fortunately for Vlad, Robin Branaugh proves to be a reliable friend and ally. Robin wishes he did, but he doesn't reside in a castle. He is not required to wear a cloak, yet he does. 

Series 2

Count Dracula is aware that slayers exist in Stokely as a result of the events at the Hunt Ball. Vlad must take all necessary measures to thwart his father's search for them. The appearance of Ivan, the Count's American brother, and Boris and Olga, Vlad and Ingrid's relatives, complicates matters further. Boris, his cousin, is set to complete his change.

Series 3

The third season of the show picks up four years after the conclusion of series 2, when Ingrid gained control of the Dracula castle and vowed retribution on Stokely for killing her boyfriend Will. Since then, the Count and Vlad have escaped, and while Ingrid also makes a comeback, they decide to buy a school to hide from the slayers and vampires that are pursuing them.

As opposed to the first two series, the plot in this one is not entirely focused on Vlad. The Count, Renfield, and Wolfie (the son of Magda and Patrick from an earlier series) are involved in further subplots. The balance of power has also altered; despite the fact that the Count is Vlad's regent and so has authority over him, Vlad is now more inclined to challenge his father.

Ingrid, on the other hand, is depicted as being more inclined to cooperate with the Count, and the two appear to have reached a tense ceasefire.

For the majority of the series, Bertram disagrees with Vlad because he thinks Vlad should concentrate solely on his duty as the chosen one and is critical of his connection with Erin.

Production

The television show left Wales and began shooting in and around Liverpool. The week of 9 May 2011, saw the start of the series' rehearsals, and the following week saw the start of its three-month filming schedule. The shooting was completed in August. On 31 October, the recently edited series was made available.

Series 4

The fourth season consists of 13 episodes total, with each one lasting roughly 30 minutes. Filming started in mid-April 2012, taking place in Liverpool, and the first episode aired on Monday, 29 October.

Series 5

Two months after the conclusion of series 4, Vlad, who is nearly eighteen, has returned from recent trips. He has learned what his father has been keeping a secret from him for the past 18 years. Ingrid has at last been elected to the High Council, but she is having trouble embracing her new position as Minister of Catering. Although her wicked intentions are yet unknown, it seems that she is attempting to depose Morgan. Ingrid has changed how she uses technology to compete with her rivals. With Asan's assistance, Malik is back to protect his family from the Shadow Warriors.

Main characters

Vladimir "Vlad" Dracula

Vladimir "Vlad" Dracula is the son of Count Dracula and Sally Giles, the maternal elder half-brother of Georgina Giles, and the ex-sex partner of Erin. He is Ingrid Dracula's paternal younger half-brother. He is the Dracula throne's Chosen One and the next in line.

Ingrid Dracula

The oldest child of Count Dracula and Magda Westernra is Ingrid Dracula. She consistently exhibits a desire for her father's and brother's abilities throughout the entire series. She joined the Vampire High Council in season four, earning the enormous power she had always desired.

Count Dracula

A former lover of Magda Westenra, Sally Giles, and Elizabeta Vaccaria, Count Dracula is the father of Vladimir Dracula and Ingrid Dracula, the guardian of Wolfie, the son of Dracos Dracula and Mrs. Dracula, the brother of Ivan Dracula and Arta Dracula, and the uncle of Boris Dracula and Olga Dracula. He currently holds the throne of Dracula.

Percival Renfield

Renfield, a repulsive individual who enjoys nothing more than eating maggots and nothing less than "breathers", is the Draculas' servant and dogsbody.

Episodes

SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
Series premiere Series finale
1 1421 September 200621 December 2006
2 132 November 20078 February 2008
3 1331 October 201112 December 2011
4 1329 October 201218 December 2012
5 1313 January 201431 March 2014

Ratings

SeriesEpisode No.AirdateTotal viewersCBBC weekly rank
1
121 September 2006
228 September 2006
35 October 2006
412 October 2006
519 October 2006
626 October 2006
72 November 2006
89 November 2006
916 November 2006
1023 November 2006
1130 November 2006
127 December 2006
1314 December 2006195,0002
1421 December 2006194,0006
2
12 November 2007313,0002
29 November 2007210,000
316 November 2007269,0006
423 November 2007312,0005
530 November 2007270,0006
67 December 2007274,0003
714 December 2007335,0002
821 December 2007242,0009
911 January 2008307,0004
1018 January 2008270,0004
1125 January 2008201,000
121 February 2008137,000
138 February 2008291,0008
3
131 October 2011454,0002
21 November 2011539,0001
37 November 2011524,0001
48 November 2011437,0003
514 November 2011562,0001
615 November 2011508,0002
721 November 2011557,0002
822 November 2011573,0001
928 November 2011587,0001
1029 November 2011520,0004
115 December 2011497,0001
126 December 2011389,0005
1312 December 2011457,0004
4
129 October 2012407,0008
25 November 2012306,00010
312 November 2012332,0009
419 November 2012334,000
526 November 2012272,000
627 November 2012253,000
73 December 2012326,000
84 December 2012341,000
910 December 2012269,000
1011 December 2012312,000
1117 December 2012326,0006
1218 December 2012314,0008
1318 December 2012328,0005

Awards

Release

A DVD of the first series of Young Dracula was released on 15 October 2012.

A DVD of the second and third series of Young Dracula was released in 2013.

A DVD of the Series Four and Five were released on 9 October and 5 November 2014, respectively.

See also

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References

  1. Young Dracula at Fantastic Fiction: The cover has a still from the show and the legend "The inspiration for the CBBC TV series"
  2. "Waterloo Road heads to Scotland". How-Do. 23 August 2011. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  3. "CBBC Programmes - Young Dracula, Series 3, Hide and Seek". BBC. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  4. "Behind the scenes at Young Dracula". BBC. Retrieved 24 March 2013.
  5. Clare Thomas Prosser [@clarelucythomas] (20 December 2012). "So we've had some good news. Young Dracula WILL be filming again next summer for a 5th Series. Happy Christmas YD fans!" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  6. "2008 Children's Awards - Children's - Awards - The BAFTA site". Bafta.org. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2011.