Worzel Gummidge - The Complete Collection [DVD]

Product Information

Contained within this release are all four seasons from 1979-81, plus the recently-released Christmas special, as well as the two seasons of Worzel Gummidge Down Under, where the production was remounted in New Zealand during the late 1980s. If you are in Australia or New Zealand (DVD Region 4), note that almost all DVDs distributed in the UK by the BBC and 2entertain are encoded for both Region 2 and Region 4. The UK and Australasia are in the same Blu-ray region (B). Leopard Pictures, part of Argonon Group, are again partnering with Treasure Trove Productions to bring these glorious stories to life for an audience of all ages. The films have been commissioned by Tanya Qureshi, Head of Comedy for the BBC, and Charlotte Moore, Chief Content Officer for the BBC.

The other key character was the Crowman, played by Geoffrey Bayldon. The Crowman created Worzel (and many other scarecrows besides), and as such is often used as a device to explain various plot contrivances as well as provide Worzel with a new head whenever one is needed. Bayldon was also already well known, especially to younger viewers, as the star of Catweazle from 1970 to 1971. Worzel Gummidge. Image shows left to right: Worzel Gummidge (Jon Pertwee), Crowman (Geoffrey Bayldon). Credit: Southern Television Worzel Gummidge. Image shows left to right: Worzel Gummidge (Jon Pertwee), Crowman (Geoffrey Bayldon). Credit: Southern Television The Navy Lark. Image shows left to right: CPO Pertwee (Jon Pertwee), Sub-Lieutenant Phillips (Leslie Phillips), Lt Cdr Murray (Number One) (Stephen Murray). Credit: BBC The Navy Lark. Image shows left to right: CPO Pertwee (Jon Pertwee), Sub-Lieutenant Phillips (Leslie Phillips), Lt Cdr Murray (Number One) (Stephen Murray). Credit: BBCWorzel Gummidge had been created in 1936 by author Barbara Euphan Todd, who wrote ten books about the character, the final published in 1963. It was first adapted for radio in collaboration with actress and writer Mabel Constanduros: Barry Took once said of Constanduros that "although today her reputation has faded, she was a popular cultural figure between the wars, helping to establish the style and flavour of British radio comedy". The two later collaborated again to adapt the series for television in 1953's Worzel Gummidge Turns Detective (now long lost), with Todd writing the scripts. Frank Atkinson took on the title role. In 2019, the two Christmas episodes of Worzel Gummidge received a wealth of glowing praise from audiences and critics alike. The Guardian gave five stars, describing the shows as a “joyful, joke-filled eco-romp”, the Radio Times also awarded the “funny, poignant and heartwarming” films five stars, and the Daily Mail proclaimed Worzel “a TV wonder”, similarly giving five stars. Overall, Worzel Gummidge is first-rate children’s television and great family entertainment. It may well leave youngsters of today cold, but for those of us with fond memories of the show, it doesn’t disappoint all these years later. You’ll find yourself saying, “Well, I’ll be bum-swizzled!” Worzel Gummidge offers a comforting, daft, and endlessly entertaining world, with enough moments of creepiness to keep you on your toes. If you get your thinking head on, you may well work out it’s a great festive gift. A lot of the credit for the show's success must go to director James Hill. At the time of the series' conception, Hill was working with Pertwee's Doctor Who successor, Tom Baker, to get a feature film, Doctor Who Meets Scratchman (a story that, coincidentally, also featured scarecrows), off the ground. He and Pertwee got on famously and became lifelong friends. His stoic demeanour and strong work ethic guided the crew through an often gruelling production schedule, but he also established the aesthetic look of the series, with Worzel's grimy, believably earthy appearance contrasting with the bucolic beauty surrounding him.

Hall and Waterhouse, meanwhile, continued their careers as hugely successful writers, the latter penning Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell, a play that served as a magnificent showcase for Peter O'Toole.Susan and John are excited when they learn that F R Peregrine’s Travelling Fair is coming to Scatterbrook for one night only. But as much as he’d love to join his friends, Worzel can’t be seen wandering around by humans. He recalls the legend of a fairground with an enchanted organ. It’s believed that, with the right music, the organ has the power to send humans to sleep so that scarecrows can enjoy the rides without the fear of being seen.