The Riddlers


The Riddlers is a British children's programme produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV between 2 November 1989 and 27 August 1998.

Synopsis

The series centred on Marjorie Dawe and the two Riddlers named Mossop and Tiddler, who inhabited her garden at Riddleton End. It would later be revealed that Tiddler was an orphan and had no other next of kin, so Mossop adopted Tiddler as an infant. Tiddler was not the latter's real name, but a title given to young apprentice Riddlers: once they achieved full Riddler status there would be a special ceremony, at which they would be given their 'real' name. Tiddler's training included being told twelve stories by a Riddlestone, usually one of 'Eesup's Foibles' – she would then have to 'riddle out' the moral of the story.
When Tiddler had achieved full Riddler status she chose to be called Tiddlup at the ceremony. Marjorie wanted to go to the ceremony but was told by Mossop that only Riddlers and Tiddlers could go as it was a Riddler law. In order to go, she became a Riddler and started to study as a Riddler.
Other characters featured in the show included Marjorie's neighbour, Mr. Montgomery Lancelot Grimley ; Postie, a hedgehog who delivered letters to the Riddlers; and several other Riddler characters, including another Tiddler known as Middler, Mossop's brother Glossop, and Eesup, a story-teller. Marjorie's sister Monica was also featured as a recurring character. Many of the plots featured in the series revolved around the male characters making mistakes which would then be solved by the female ones.

Series cast

Total of episodes were produced and broadcast during the series' nine-year run. For much of its run, The Riddlers was produced by Ian Fell and directed by Chris Ryder. Later series were directed by Ann Ayoub. The executive producer was Chris Jelley.
All episodes were written by Rick Vanes. Eesup's Foibles stories were written by Shirley Isherwood. Neil Innes provided the music and songs featured. Puppeteer for Middler and Mossop, Richard Robinson, created the puppets and provided illustrations for the Eesup's Foibles stories. David Baker was assistant puppeteer series 1 through 6 and Garry Rutter for the show's last three years.
Garry Rutter would later work on MacDonalds Farm puppeteering Baa Baa and The Fimbles Doing animatronic work.
Many of the programmes were recorded in Yorkshire Television's studios on Kirkstall Road, Leeds, although some later episodes were filmed on location. Five VHS releases were issued by Video Collection International, two DVDs were issued by Kids Club and several tie-in books were published.
An episode from the fifth series was broadcast on the CITV channel on 6 January 2013, as part of a weekend of archive programmes to celebrate CITV's 30th anniversary.

Transmission guide

Series 1 (1989-1990)

Series 2 (1990-1991)

Series 3 (1991-1992)

Series 4 (1992-1993)

  1. Water Music - 26 November 1992
  2. Belt and Braces - 3 December 1992
  3. Worrying Developments - 10 December 1992
  4. Edgar Saves the Day - 17 December 1992
  5. Water, Water Anywhere? - 7 January 1993
  6. Not Wanted on Voyage - 14 January 1993
  7. Camp Sights - 21 January 1993
  8. Beside the Seaside - 28 January 1993
  9. Tickets To Ride - 4 February 1993
  10. A Head for Heights - 11 February 1993
  11. Fish & Ships - 18 February 1993
  12. A Room for the Knight - 25 February 1993
  13. A Ticklish Problem - 4 March 1993
  14. Getting in Shape - 11 March 1993
  15. Return To Lender - 18 March 1993
  16. The Riddler Christmas - 25 March 1993
  17. Mossop on His Metal - 1 April 1993
  18. Mossop the Genius - 8 April 1993
  19. Too Big for His Boots - 15 April 1993
  20. A Few Hiccups - 22 April 1993
  21. The New Mossy Boots - 29 April 1993
  22. Special Delivery - 6 May 1993
  23. Doing Things Day - 13 May 1993

    Series 5 (1993-1994)

  24. Relatively Speaking – 7 September 1993
  25. Squeamish - 9 September 1993
  26. A Miner Problem - 14 September 1993
  27. The Tooth Will Out – 16 September 1993
  28. Back To School - 21 September 1993
  29. Legend of the Vampire Hedgehog - 23 September 1993
  30. Lucks and Ducks – 28 September 1993
  31. A Whale of a Time – 30 September 1993
  32. A Shady Character - 5 October 1993
  33. A Complete Washout - 7 October 1993
  34. The Wrong Lines - 12 October 1993
  35. Not So Smart - 14 October 1993
  36. A Hat For Middler - 19 October 1993
  37. All the Fun of the Festival - 21 October 1993
  38. Middler the Plotter - 26 October 1993
  39. Daring in the Diary - 28 October 1993
  40. Feeding Time - 2 November 1993
  41. The Stowaway - 4 November 1993
  42. The Isle Of Riddlers - 9 November 1993
  43. The Rocket - 11 November 1993
  44. The Missing Tickets - 16 November 1993
  45. Vikings And Black Dogs - 18 November 1993
  46. Three Legs, Four Horns, Seven Kingdoms - 23 November 1993
  47. Fairies and Tales - 25 November 1993
  48. Who’s Been Sleeping In My Cellar - 2 December 1993
  49. Oh Brother - 7 December 1993
  50. A Job at the Circus - 9 December 1993
  51. Roll Up, Fall Down - 14 December 1993
  52. Glossop Moves In - 16 December 1993
  53. The Unwelcome Guest - 4 January 1994

    Series 6 (1994-1995)

  54. All Fall Down - 8 September 1994
  55. Home and Wahey! - 15 September 1994
  56. In Branches Everywhere - 22 September 1994
  57. Trouble In Store - 29 September 1994
  58. The Super Well - 6 October 1994
  59. A Caravan For Middler - 13 October 1994
  60. Flight To Holy Island - 20 October 1994
  61. On Hadrian’s Wall - 27 October 1994
  62. Dipping And Tripping - 3 November 1994
  63. Tiddlup At The Wicket - 10 November 1994
  64. A Face From The Past - 17 November 1994
  65. Job Hunting - 24 November 1994
  66. Last With The News - 1 December 1994
  67. The Riddleton Circus - 8 December 1994
  68. Punch And Judy - 15 December 1994
  69. Oh, Baby! - 12 January 1995
  70. Hush A Bye Mossop - 19 January 1995
  71. Mossop Steps Out - 26 January 1995
  72. A Tiddler At Play School - 2 February 1995
  73. Mossop Returns - 9 February 1995

    Series 7 (1995-1996)

  74. Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow - 7 September 1995
  75. Just for Kicks - 14 September 1995
  76. A Test for Middler - 21 September 1995
  77. Trick Cycling - 28 September 1995
  78. Where on Earth? - 5 October 1995
  79. French Lessons - 12 October 1995
  80. Bon Appetit - 19 October 1995
  81. Alarms and Excursions - 26 October 1995
  82. Eesup - 2 November 1995
  83. Let Loose in the Library - 9 November 1995
  84. A Tiddler’s Best Friend - 16 November 1995
  85. It’s a Dog's Life - 23 November 1995
  86. Dog Tired - 30 November 1995
  87. The Phantom Piper - 7 December 1995
  88. Loch Ness Mess - 14 December 1995
  89. Cabers and Kilts - 4 January 1996
  90. Highland Fun and Games - 11 January 1996
  91. A Little Bit Of Dirt - 18 January 1996
  92. At the Hospital - 25 January 1996
  93. Mossop the Invalid - 1 February 1996
  94. Thanks a Lot - 8 February 1996
  95. Flea Market - 15 February 1996
  96. Mossop the Conkeror - 22 February 1996
  97. Grimley the Golfer - 29 February 1996
  98. Listen To The Band - 7 March 1996

    Series 8 (1996-1997)

  99. Vote for Mossop - 12 September 1996
  100. The Chief Riddler - 19 September 1996
  101. Statue There? - 26 September 1996
  102. Your Place Or Mine - 3 October 1996
  103. Well Dressed Wells - 10 October 1996
  104. Light Fantastic - 17 October 1996
  105. Middler’s Mansion - 24 October 1996
  106. The Tiddlers' Holiday Camp - 31 October 1996
  107. Tickling Trout - 7 November 1996
  108. Daylight Snobbery - 14 November 1996
  109. Rootin' Tootin' Cowboys - 21 November 1996
  110. Under The Greenwood Tree - 28 November 1996
  111. A-Hunting We Will Go - 5 December 1996
  112. Eesup Junior - 12 December 1996
  113. Not A Leg To Stand On - 19 December 1996
  114. Chairs And Stairs - 9 January 1997
  115. Mossop Calling - 16 January 1997
  116. Middler’s Taxi Service - 23 January 1997
  117. Lollipop Middler - 30 January 1997
  118. Clothes For Your Nose - 6 February 1997
  119. Highly Alarming - 13 February 1997
  120. A Word In The Hand... - 20 February 1997
  121. Leisure Hunt - 27 February 1997
  122. Stereo-oh! - 6 March 1997
  123. Playing Chopsticks - 13 March 1997

    Series 9 (1997-1998)

  124. Ideal Home - 9 September 1997
  125. Dumb Waiter - 16 September 1997
  126. That Sinking Feeling - 23 September 1997
  127. All Stuck Up - 30 September 1997
  128. All at Sea - 7 October 1997
  129. Castaways - 14 October 1997
  130. On the Line - 21 October 1997
  131. Cycling Proficiency - 28 October 1997
  132. Middler's Cafe - 4 November 1997
  133. Metal Detector - 11 November 1997
  134. The Time Machine - 18 November 1997
  135. Mystery in History - 25 November 1997
  136. Back to the Stone Age - 2 December 1997
  137. Blow Up - 16 December 1997
  138. Spooks Of Riddleton End - 18 June 1998
  139. Mossop’s Art Gallery - 25 June 1998
  140. Good Sports - 2 July 1998
  141. Hoe, Hoe, Hoe - 9 July 1998
  142. Riddler Scouts - 16 July 1998
  143. Tall and Small and Basketball - 23 July 1998
  144. Creepy Crawlies - 30 July 1998
  145. Fashion Victims - 6 August 1998
  146. Little Red Riding Hood - 13 August 1998
  147. That’s Rich - 20 August 1998
  148. Good Morning, Mr. Magpie - 27 August 1998

    UK VHS releases