Grandpa in My Pocket


Grandpa in My Pocket is a British children's comedy-drama television series created by Mellie Buse and Jan Page and commissioned by Michael Carrington for CBeebies, the BBC's dedicated pre-school and nursery channel targeting children aged 2–7 years.
Based on the 1970s The Dandy comic adventure strip Peter's Pocket Grandpa by Ron Spencer, the programme stars James Bolam as a grandfather who owns a magical "shrinking cap", which only his 10-year-old grandson Jason Mason knows about. This cap enables him to shrink to about 4 inches tall, become a CGI-animated character, run very fast, and bring toys and objects to life. This allows him to experience many adventures which are narrated by Jason, including finding a prisoner under the floorboards, bringing a home-made robot to life, and driving Jason's toy car and biplane. The programme also stars Josie Cable, Zara Ramm and Sam Ellis, as Jason's sister, mother and father, respectively. According to the BBC press office, "Grandpa in My Pocket explores the hugely important relationship between grandchildren and grandparents by turning it on its head".
Following the success of the first series in April 2009, a second was commissioned in March 2010, with a third filmed in 2011. After the third series, the series was assumed to have ended, but two years later, a fourth series went into production, and began broadcast in 2014.
The fourth series introduces some changes to the plot. Jason, who is now a teenager, has moved with his family into a windmill which they have opened as a hotel. Jason and Jemima's younger cousins Josh and Elsie have come to stay for the summer, and the two become the series narrators as Grandpa decides to let them in on the secret of the shrinking cap.
WWW grandpainmypocket.co.uk

Production

The first three series of the show was set in the fictional location called "Sunnysands". The exterior scenes were filmed on location in the towns of Southwold and Aldeburgh, in Suffolk. The Mason's house was in Crabbe Street, Aldeburgh. The pier and the lighthouse were in Southwold. The bike and other shops were in Walberswick.
The Masons' windmill for the fourth series is Cley Windmill, located in Cley next the Sea in Norfolk.

Cast

Main cast

Additional cast

  • Sam Ellis as Christopher Mason
  • Zara Ramm as Julie Mason
  • Josie Cable as Jemima Mason
  • Susan Jameson as Great Aunt Loretta
  • Tinkerbell c/o Martin Winfield as Beowulf/Wulfy
  • Phil Gallagher as Mr Liker Biker
  • Shaheen Jafargholi as Troy
  • David Davies as Troy's Dad
  • Heather Williams as Miss Snip
  • Steve Elias as Mr Whoops
  • Simon Lys as Mr Hackit
  • Lorna Laidlaw as Miss Smiley
  • Holly Ferris as Hazel
  • Euan Brown as Eryk
  • Alan McMahon as Mr Mentor
  • Adrian Truss as Additional Voices
  • Sarah Ovens as Amelie
  • Gus McQuillin as Hughie Harper
  • Todd Kramer as Mr Martian Mortar
  • Meera Syal as Mrs Pointy Pencil

Characters

The Family

Grandpa Jeremy Mason – Jason, Josh, Elsie and Jemima's maternal grandfather, is what most people see as an ordinary Grandpa, but he is in possession of a magic shrinking cap whose secret is only known by Jason, Josh and Elsie. He is the oldest member and leader of the Mason family.Jason Mason – The main character for the first three series. He was ten years old, he alone had knowledge about Grandpa's shrinking cap and had to deal with the trouble it led to. In the fourth series, he's now a teenagerJoshua "Josh" Mason – Jason and Jemima's younger cousin and Elsie's older brother.Elsie Mason – Jason and Jemima's younger cousin and Josh's younger sister.Julie Mason – Known as Auntie Jules to Josh and Elsie, she is Jason and Jemima's mother, Christopher's wife and Grandpa's daughter.Christopher Mason – Known as Uncle CJ to Josh and Elsie, he is Jason and Jemima's father, Julie's husband and Grandpa's son-in-law who works in a bicycle shop. He is quite forgetful and is a typical clueless dad.Jemima Mason – Jason's older sister. In the fourth series, she has begun a fashion course.Great Aunt Loretta – Grandpa's bossy, mean and loudmouthed younger sister who often comes to stay, cooks gross dishes, such as sausages and sardine sauce, and kipper and marmalade sandwiches, and constantly drinks spinach and sprout shake.Beowulf, also known as Wolfy – Grandpa's Yorkshire Terrier.

Series 1–3

Mr. Whoops – The accident-prone owner of Sunnysands Toy Shop. He is the husband of Miss Smiley.Troy – The spiteful and rude neighbour of the Mason family. He only appeared in the first series.Troy's Dad – He only appeared in one episode of the first series.Miss Smiley – The happy-go-lucky owner of the Sunnysands café. She is married to Mr. Whoops.Mr. Liker-Biker – The optimistic local biker who is more interested in the gear than actually cycling.Lady Prigsbottom – A highly demanding, rich and posh woman. Princess Purpelovna – A celebrity film star. She only appeared in one episode of the first series.Igor – Princess Purpelovna's chauffeur.Mr. Krumpgrumble – A taste tester.Miss Snip – A dog groomer.Baby Boris Mr. Hackitt – A gardener.Josh Bubbles – Jason and Jemima's bubbly and kind-hearted babysitter.Mr. Marvelloso – A rude and unkind magician.Rick the Rocking Raver – A musician.Cousin Alvin – Jason and Jemima's older cousin.Miss Pointy-Pencil – An art teacher.Speedie Edie – A champion cyclist.Horatio Heave Ho – A pirate.Captain Shipshape – The captain of a big cruise ship.Mrs Maridadi – A dressmaker.Rodger Splodger – A painter.Mr. Mentor – A wacky inventor who creates words as well as contraptions.Grandad Gilbert – Grandpa's childhood best friend.Dora – Jason's doll-obsessed friend.Shanay – A shy boy who is friends with Jason and Jemima.Floyd – The Masons' neighbour; a rude, mischievous and boastful young boy who loves showing off his stuff and goes to Jason's school. He replaces Troy.Max – Jason and Jemima's younger cousin.Izzy – Jason and Jemima's younger cousin.Mrs McWhiskit – A famous TV chef, who has her own cooking show.Brenda Balderdash Bernard Balderdash Madame Vibrato – An opera singing teacher.Lenora – An explorer.Tiffany Jayne Grottington Pump – Jemima's new best friend.Squeak – A kitten belonging to Bubbles the babysitter.Mr. Scoffbucket – A goat belonging to Mum's friend.

Series 4

Olga Orbit – An astronomer.Belinda Lucinda – A girl who is mean to other children.Connor – Josh's friend.Mr. Yomper Stomper – An adventurer who forgets why he was at the Mill on the Marsh.Teddy – A baby who appeared in the episode "Squeak! Squeak! Mr Squeak".Mr. Squeak – A toy mouse owned by Teddy.Bella la Belter – A famous pop singer who Jason has a crush on.

Episodes

Series 2 (2010)

  1. "Captain Dumbletwit's Toughest Mission Yet!"
  2. "Mr Mentor's Custard Puff Plopper"
  3. "No Two Rings the Same"
  4. "A Carrot Called Christopher and Other Odd Vegetables"
  5. "Taking Floyd for a Ride"
  6. "Trying to Play with Shy Shanay"
  7. "A Day for a Play at Miss Smiley's Café"
  8. "Jemima's New Best Friend"
  9. "Bubbles and Squeak"
  10. "No More Dolls for Dora"
  11. "A Very Needy Speedy Edie"
  12. "Making the Most of Max"
  13. "Miss Smiley's Strawberry Surprise"
  14. "In It to Win It!"
  15. "Horatio Heave Ho!"
  16. "Great Aunt Loretta's Not-So-Great Plan"
  17. "Mr Whoops' Toy of the Week"
  18. "The Perfect Little Litter Picker"
  19. "Big Elf, Little Elf"
  20. "A Song for Miss Smiley"
  21. "Mr Scoffbucket the Goat"
  22. "Miss Smiley's Dancing Tea"
  23. "A Sunnysands Tick Tock Shock"
  24. "Wulfy's Day with Mr Whoops"
  25. "Captain Shipshape and a Fish Called Bryan"
  26. "Grandpa's Greatest Escape Ever"

Series 3 (2010–11)

  1. "The Magic of Christmas"
  2. "No Ordinary Pig"
  3. "Lighthouse View, as Good as New"
  4. "Boom a Boom Whipp Zing Zoo!"
  5. "Lenora the Explorer"
  6. "A Captain Dumbletwit Box of Tricks"
  7. "No Help for Alvin"
  8. "Mr Mentor's Marvelicious Inventing Club"
  9. "More Than a Biscuit for Mrs McWhiskit"
  10. "A Day to Do What You Like to Do"
  11. "No Mention of an Invention"
  12. "The Sunnysands School for Pirates"
  13. "Mr Greator the Creator"
  14. "Mr Whoops' Wonderful Wedding"

Series 4 (2014)

  1. "A Grandpa Made of Magic"
  2. "Roly Poly Ravioli"
  3. "Miss Smiley's Springtime Make and Do Day"
  4. "An Aussie Afternoon with Bob"
  5. "Squeak! Squeak! Mr Squeak!"
  6. "A Day in Woolly Wonderland"
  7. "The Great Big Sunnysands Cake Bake"
  8. "Mr Munchmould's Cheesy Business"
  9. "There Came a Big Spider"
  10. "The Wonderbubble Weather Watcher"
  11. "Dancing with Delight"
  12. "Mistress Smiley's Medieval Fairground Fun"
  13. "Waffling at the Windmill"
  14. "A Day of Spectacular Surprises"
  15. "The Day the Callminders Called on Mr Whoops"
  16. "A Good Old-Fashioned Party"
  17. "A Cleaning Job for Our Friend Bob"
  18. "Wulfy the Wonderdog"
  19. "Billy Bentice the Apprentice"
  20. "Changes for the Better"
  21. "Mr Greator is Up to No Good"
  22. "Best Behaviour for Barnaby"
  23. "A Souvenir of Sunnysands"
  24. "Things That Go Bump on a Boat"
  25. "A Customer in a Fluster"
  26. "A Mix-up at the Mill"

Series 5 (2014)

  1. "Mr Mentor's Spangly Jangly Dangle Dish"
  2. "Poorly Pansy Petunia"
  3. "Mr Yomper Stomper's Donkey Day"
  4. "Wanda Whoops' World of Whooo!"
  5. "The Balderdashes on Bob's Boat"
  6. "One Man's Junk Is Another Man's Treasure"
  7. "Don't Blame Wulfy"
  8. "Mr Mentor's Whizzywoodlesome Whirly Windwhooper"
  9. "The Mystery of the Missing Millions"
  10. "Cheery Charlie Cheekster's Big Return"
  11. "Mrs Pufferbang's Balloony Beach Bonanza"
  12. "Bertie Beep and His Talking Sheep"
  13. "A Sunnysands Shelter for Bella La Belter"
  14. "A Robodoggy for Miss Snip"
  15. "The Brillioso Beach Treat"
  16. "Great Aunt Loretta on Duty"
  17. "Mighty Mike and a Bear on a Hike"
  18. "Great Aunt Loretta's Dream Date"
  19. "Whizzy William"
  20. "Shiny Gold Stars"
  21. "Captain Dumbletwit's Dress-Up Party"
  22. "In a Muddle with Miss Muddleton"
  23. "A Day for a Piratey Adventure"
  24. "The Magic of the Mill on the Marsh"
  25. "A Passion for Fashion"
  26. "A Dinosaur Called Damian"

Awards and nominations

DVD releases

In the United Kingdom, the first season was released on DVD by Warner Home Video from 2010 to 2011, with Decode Enterprises securing the deal in July 2009.
Abbey Home Media handled DVD distribution rights to the second and third seasons.