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Worzel Gummidge (2019 TV series)

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Worzel Gummidge
Genre
Based onWorzel Gummidge series
by Barbara Euphan Todd
Written byMackenzie Crook
Directed byMackenzie Crook
Starring
Theme music composerAdrian McNally
Composers
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes6
Production
Executive producers
  • Kristian Smith
  • Lisa Thomas
  • Mackenzie Crook
  • Patrick D. Pidgeon
  • Eric S. Rollman
ProducerGeorgie Fallon
EditorSimon Reglar
Production companies
  • Leopard Pictures
  • Treasure Trove Productions
  • Lola Entertainment
  • Pidgeon Entertainment
Original release
NetworkBBC One
Release26 December 2019 (2019-12-26) –
29 December 2021 (2021-12-29)

Worzel Gummidge is a British fantasy drama television series and an adaptation of the Worzel Gummidge books by Barbara Euphan Todd. It stars Mackenzie Crook, who also wrote and directed the series, as the scarecrow. It was produced by Leopard Pictures and aired on BBC One between 26 December 2019 to 29 December 2021

A third episode was announced as in production by the BBC on 8 September 2020, and was broadcast on Christmas Eve 2020.[1]

A fourth episode had been set to broadcast in 2020 but production was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] This episode was broadcast on 6 November 2021[3] with two further episodes broadcast on the BBC in late December 2021.

Cast

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Production

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The programme was written and directed by Mackenzie Crook and was produced by Leopard Pictures, Treasure Trove Productions and Lola Entertainment. Kristian Smith was the executive producer for Leopard Pictures with Lisa Thomas and Mackenzie Crook executive producers for Lola Entertainment and Treasure Trove Productions respectively. Patrick D. Pidgeon and Eric S. Rollman were executive producers for Pidgeon Entertainment, Inc. the rights holders to Worzel Gummidge.[5] The music was written by Adrian McNally and performed by Northumberland band The Unthanks, the group having provided two songs for Crook's previous sitcom Detectorists.[6][7]

Filming locations in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire include: Valence End Farm near Dunstable, Bedfordshire used for Scatterbrook Farm scenes; countryside near Berry Bushes Farm in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire for the Ten Acre Field scenes; and Highfield Park in St Albans, Hertfordshire for Earthy’s allotment scenes.[8]

Episodes

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Series overview

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SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
1226 December 2019 (2019-12-26)27 December 2019 (2019-12-27)
1S124 December 2020 (2020-12-24)
236 November 2021 (2021-11-06)29 December 2021 (2021-12-29)

Series 1 (2019)

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No.Title [9]Written and directed byOriginal air date [9] Viewers
(millions) [10]
1"The Scarecrow of Scatterbrook"Mackenzie Crook26 December 2019 (2019-12-26)6.86

Siblings Susan and John arrive at Scatterbrook Farm, home of the Braithwaites, to little fanfare. It has been a poor harvest and their hosts are not thrilled to have two amateur farmhands around the place during such lean times. No-one on Scatterbrook Farm is more troubled by the late harvest than walking, talking scarecrow Worzel Gummidge. Worzel is strictly forbidden from talking to humans, but after mistaking John and Susan for fellow scarecrows, his game is up.

Worzel realises he will only save the day by going against some of his better instincts. He draws on the youthful exuberance of John and Susan, seeks the wisdom of his long-estranged Aunt Sally, and negotiates a testy deal with the frightful rooks and crows of Scatterbrook. With the help of the mystical Tree of Tree and his pet robin, Winter George, Worzel orchestrates a gathering of his fellow scarecrows on the night of the next harvest moon.
2"The Green Man"Mackenzie Crook27 December 2019 (2019-12-27)5.09
John and Susan prepare for afternoon tea with the village free spirit, Lady Bloomsbury Barton, who is busy organising a charity fundraiser that includes a prize for the best-looking scarecrow. Worzel sees a chance to put his 'good looks' to use. But trouble is afoot once again in Scatterbrook, this time in the form of Worzel's childhood foe Soggy Bogart and his biker gang of scarecrows, aka the 'Trubblemakers'. What is more, unbeknownst to Worzel, his watchful creator Jack Woodwose, aka the Green Man, has been lurking in the wings and does not like what he sees.

Special (2020)

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No.Title [9]Written and directed byOriginal air date [9] Viewers
(millions) [10]
3"The Saucy Nancy"Mackenzie Crook24 December 2020 (2020-12-24)4.15

When Worzel Gummidge, Susan and John visit a scrapyard, Worzel overhears the grumbling of a foul-mouthed old friend - the carved ship's figurehead, Saucy Nancy. She has been languishing, unsold in the yard for years and longs to return to the sea. Worzel and the kids promise to get her there, but the ship may not be waiting.

Adventure unfurls, as the strange foursome navigate their way to the coast. In a rare trip out of Scatterbrook, Worzel gets to see a wild moorland and the spectacular white cliffs of Seashell that provide the backdrop to this story of friendship and belonging.

Series 2 (2021)

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No.Title [9]Written and directed byOriginal air date [9] Viewers
(millions) [10]
4"Guy Forks"Mackenzie Crook6 November 2021 (2021-11-06)3.61
Worzel's cousin, Guy Forks, has taken his rightful place at the top of the bonfire, but an argument between the old friends leads to a competition to prove who can do each other's job better.
5"Twitchers"Mackenzie Crook28 December 2021 (2021-12-28)3.49

After a raging thunderstorm, a flock of rare choughs turn up at Scatterbrook Farm.

Keen to seize the opportunity of scaring such a rarely sighted bird, Worzel enlists the help of Susan and John. But their plans are soon scuppered once word of the choughs gets around, and a group of avid twitchers move in before he has even had his chance.
6"Calliope Jane"Mackenzie Crook29 December 2021 (2021-12-29)<(3.49)

Susan and John are excited when they learn that F R Peregrine's Travelling Fair is coming to Scatterbrook for just one night. As much as he would love to join his friends, Worzel cannot be seen moving and wandering around by humans.

At the museum, Aunt Sally finds herself agreeing to go on an adventure with another ex-fairground attraction, Calliope Jane, and it turns out Worzel is not the only scarecrow who wants to attend the fair.

References

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  1. ^ "Worzel Gummidge set to return to BBC One with new one-hour film" (Press release). BBC Media Centre. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  2. ^ Morris, Lauren (22 December 2020). "Worzel Gummidge had to scrap plans for second 2020 special". Radio Times. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  3. ^ Craig, David (22 December 2021). "Worzel Gummidge Christmas 2021 specials: release date, cast and news". Radio Times. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  4. ^ "Worzel Gummidge | The Green Man". BBC iPlayer. 27 December 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  5. ^ "BBC One announces adaptation of iconic Worzel Gummidge starring Mackenzie Crook with first look picture" (Press release). BBC Media Centre. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  6. ^ Eames, Tom (26 December 2019). "Worzel Gummidge soundtrack: Who performs the songs in new TV version?". Smooth Radio. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  7. ^ Kirkley, Paul (27 December 2019). "Worzel Gummidge review: The Snowman with added vitamin D". Radio Times. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  8. ^ Kirkley, Paul (28 December 2021). "Where is Worzel Gummidge filmed?". Radio Times. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "Worzel Gummidge – Episode guide". BBC iPlayer. Choose appropriate episode. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  10. ^ a b c "Four-screen dashboard". Broadcasters' Audience Research Board.[failed verification]
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