Grotbags

*Grotbags*
Grotbags
Genre	Children's television series
Created by	Carol Lee Scott
Directed by	Colin Clews
Starring	Carol Lee Scott ; Richard Coombs ; Francis Wright ;
Music by	Colin Campbell
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	3
No. of episodes	29
Production
Executive producer	Lewis Rudd
Producer	Colin Clews
Production location	Lenton Lane Studios
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	15 minutes
Production company	Central Independant Television
Original release
Network	ITV
Release	4 September 1991 –; 10 February 1993

Last updated January 31, 2026

Grotbags was a children's television programme which ran for three series between 1991 and 1993 about a fictional witch named Grotbags, a spin-off of multiple earlier Rod Hull and Emu shows. Very much in the mould of the traditional pantomime villain, Grotbags was played by actress, singer and comedian Carol Lee Scott in a costume comprising vivid green make-up and wig and a witch's cape and hat. Each episode co-starred Francis Wright and Richard Coombs in multiple puppet roles.

Premise

The character Grotbags originally appeared in the Rod Hull television show Emu's World in 1982 and she remained the principal antagonist throughout the rest of the decade in the programme's various other incarnations ( Emu's All Live Pink Windmill Show , Emu's Wide World, and 1989's EMU-TV), plus the subsequent animated series Rod 'n' Emu.^[1] In 1991, Central Independent Television awarded Grotbags her own solo spin-off, which was created by Carol Lee Scott and puppeteer Richard Coombs, written by Bob Hescott, and directed by Colin Clews.^[2]

A total of 29 episodes were made, with each revolving around Grotbags and her minions at Gloomy Fortress and their day-to-day lives.

Principal characters

Gertrude L.G. Grotbags – The self-styled "bestest witch in the whole wide world"
Colin the Bat – A dim-witted bat who cannot fly very well
Doris the Dodo – The last dodo, rescued by Grotbags from a desert island
Norman Nettle – A grumpy nettle plant
Grumble – Grotbags' cauldron
Lumpy: – A mass of left-over spells who lives in Grumble

Transmission guide

Series 1: 13 editions from 4 September 1991 – 18 December 1991
Series 2: 10 editions from 9 September 1992 – 11 November 1992
Series 3: 6 editions from 6 January 1993 – 10 February 1993

References

↑ Wilkinson, Ryan (6 July 2017). "Grotbags dead: Carol Lee Scott, children's TV actress best known as witch in Rod Hull and Emu, dies aged 74 | The Independent". The Independent. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
↑ "Grotbags Official Tribute Site - Behind The Scenes". Angelfire.com. Retrieved 8 July 2017.

External links

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[1] Wilkinson, Ryan (6 July 2017). "Grotbags dead: Carol Lee Scott, children's TV actress best known as witch in Rod Hull and Emu, dies aged 74 | The Independent". The Independent. Retrieved 20 June 2024.

[2] "Grotbags Official Tribute Site - Behind The Scenes". Angelfire.com. Retrieved 8 July 2017.

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