Wizadora


Wizadora is a children's television programme created by Don Arioli and Carolyne Cullum. It was originally broadcast on SWR in 1991 and it was used as an English-language learning tool for non-English speakers. In 1993, the series was picked up by ITV in the United Kingdom.

Development

The series' pilot starred Fawlty Towers writer and actress Connie Booth, who had been alerted to the character by John Cleese, who had taken an interest in the production. The pilot was never broadcast.
The concept was then developed into a language teaching tool for children to learn English as a second language, published by Oxford University Press in 1991. Books, audio, and media were produced alongside the series. The title role of Wizadora was played by Connie Booth in the unaired pilot, before Maria Gough took on the role for Oxford University Press. Cathy Lawday was the writer and editor of the books and media produced for Oxford.
In 1992, Meridian Broadcasting picked up the series for broadcast on television. Considerable changes were made for this series, including the introduction of Wendy van der Plank as Wizadora, who remained as the character from 1993 to 1996. Lizzie McPhee took over the role in 1997 until the series' end. Tatty, who was originally played by a woman, was now played by a man, and Phoebe, who was originally played by actor Emma Amos, was re-introduced as a "life-sized" model. Many characters were introduced, and the original characters were given a makeover. Connie Booth was brought back in to write episodes for the series, among others.

Characters

  • Wizadora and Lizzie McPhee – The title character and protagonist of the series, a trainee and later apprentice wizard who receives her magic wand in the pilot episode and initially has problems getting her spells right. Some of the things in Wizadora's kitchen are able to talk due to stray spells. Wizadora often breaks the fourth wall and talks to the viewers, and usually asks for their help when casting her spells. Wizadora's catchphrases include "Oh, botheration!" and "Time for a bit of Wizzification!".

    Wizadora's companions

  • Tatty Bogle and Steven Ryde – A dim-witted scarecrow who lives in Wizadora's back garden and continually gets his words muddled up. The character was played by a woman before being reintroduced as a man for ITV. Ryde was the voice-over announcer between programmes for ITV's CITV strand during the same period.
  • Stan the Shopkeeper – A shopkeeper who regularly takes delivery of new magical catalogue items and is very cautious of Wizadora's spells.
  • Pippa the Postwoman – A postwoman who rides a bike on her rounds and often becomes tired.
  • Top/Sticky/Bottom – Three talking drawer people, who resemble socks. Once described as "a real nuisance" by Wizadora, they are very naughty, usually teasing Hangle and/or Filbert, and are always attempting to steal food or get up to some kind of mischief whenever Wizadora's back is turned. Their antics usually end up causing much trouble; one time, Top invented a Grub Grabber to try and steal some food, but the device frightened Filbert, who accidentally knocked over some potions, some of which got into Very Old Fish's tank and turned him into a purple blob. Wizadora usually punishes them by zapping them back into their drawers with her wand. In the Oxford series, there was a fourth character in the group called Middle.
  • Phoebe – A talking telephone. In the Oxford series, actor Emma Amos was dressed in a pink costume to play the role. In the ITV series, Phoebe appears as a 'life-sized' model telephone, pink with a yellow headset, but in later series, she is orange with a red headset. From Series Six onwards, her headset is red with coloured stars on it. Phoebe answers calls, takes messages, and speaks various languages. Phoebe was voiced by four different voice actors during the ITV series run.
  • Filbert – A squeaking vegetable and a fellow trainee wizard. He is also regularly seen gardening. He was born from a seed in the first ITV series, and at first, Wizadora had no idea as to who he was. He loves to water plants and is best friends with Tatty. In Series One, Filbert talked in gibberish as he was still learning how to speak, and in later series, English, as the character develops. Filbert often gets himself into trouble, although meaning well. He is very kind-hearted and is always offers to help out Wizadora or Tatty. In the Series Five episode "Filbert's New House", he leaves Wizadora's place to start a new life independently.
  • Dog Doormat – A barking doormat.
  • Hangle – A purple coat hanger with a yellow raincoat, glasses and a purple moustache, who has quite an obsession with cleaning. In the episode "Hangle's Big Day", he locks everyone out in the garden because he thinks they are too untidy. As a result, he ends up hurting his back due to being too stubborn. He has a crude sense of humour and is also quite bossy. In the first episode of Series One, Hangle introduces himself as "Cliff Hangle, cloak hanger extraordinaire".
  • Very Old Fish – A cryptic, talking male fish who likes to tell stories about his life.
  • Poot – Wizadora's computer, who is often used to help with Wizadora's questions. In Series Two and Three, Poot was male, green and flat-shaped. In Series Four, the character was reintroduced as a female and was given a more computer-like appearance with a pale orange face.
  • Nigel the Snail – A blue snail who lives with Very Old Fish.
  • The Crows – Two crows; brothers called Boris and Horace, who cause mayhem for Tatty Bogle in the garden.
  • Roxy – A friendly talking spider who lives in Tatty's treehouse.
  • Dusty – A creature who lives under the fridge, has a very loud operatic voice, and is usually sleeping.
  • Tom and Katie – two children who live near Wizadora. Not seen in the ITV series.

    Other cast and credits

Puppeteers Philip Eason, Francis Wright, Michael Bayliss, Sue Dacre, Jeremy Stockwell, Barnaby Harrison, Don Austen, Brian Herring, Neil Sterenberg, Rebecca Nagan, Debby Cumming, Marie Phillips, Sheila Clark and Victoria Willing worked on the series.
The ITV series was made for Meridian Broadcasting by production companies Workhouse and North Pole Productions at The Fountain Studios in New Malden and directed by David Crozier. Fifteen episodes of Series 3 were directed by Wendy J. Dyer. The theme music was composed by Dave Hutton, who was also the Senior Cameraman on the first four series of the show. The theme tune for the ITV series was recorded at Gordon Thrussell's studios at Ashford in Kent, and the credits show music by 'Hutt and Thrust'. This was because the director, David Crozier, did not want the same name for two different credits on the programme. The other cameramen were Roger Backhouse, and Angus Macmillan and sometimes Steve Leach. The vision mixer was Julie Miller.

Transmission guide

Oxford Series (1991)

  1. Phoebe Calling – 15 September 1991
  2. A Red Banana – 22 September 1991
  3. Happy Birthday – 29 September 1991
  4. The Magic Cloak – 6 October 1991
  5. Can You Fly? – 13 October 1991
  6. Where Is Katie? – 20 October 1991
  7. The Picnic – 27 October 1991
  8. Hangle Is Lost – 3 November 1991

    Series 1 (1993)

  9. The Magic Parcel – 5 January 1993
  10. Time for Tidying – 12 January 1993
  11. Hello Filbert – 19 January 1993
  12. A Colourful Day – 26 January 1993
  13. Lovely Weather – 2 February 1993
  14. Picnic Problems – 9 February 1993
  15. Mops & Bicycles – 16 February 1993
  16. Hangle in Charge – 23 February 1993
  17. A Very Special Day – 2 March 1993
  18. Wellingtons & Snails – 9 March 1993
  19. The Purple Powder – 16 March 1993
  20. Tea Time Troubles – 23 March 1993
  21. The Octocleaner – 30 March 1993
  22. Wand & Superwand – 6 April 1993
  23. Eggs & Bicycles – 13 April 1993
  24. Tricky Things Umbrellas – 20 April 1993
  25. Autumn Laughter – 27 April 1993
  26. Firework Party – 4 May 1993

    Series 2 (1993–1994)

  27. Poot Saves the Day – 6 September 1993
  28. A Change for Filbert – 13 September 1993
  29. A Good Day for Sun – 20 September 1993
  30. Just Your Imagination – 22 September 1993
  31. The Thingummy Jig – 27 September 1993
  32. Where Was I? – 29 September 1993
  33. I Smell a Smell – 4 October 1993
  34. The Squeaking Door – 6 October 1993
  35. Magical Music – 11 October 1993
  36. To Have and to Have More – 13 October 1993
  37. Rhyme Time – 18 October 1993
  38. I Spy – 20 October 1993
  39. Cheers and Tears – 25 October 1993
  40. Round and Round the Garden – 27 October 1993
  41. Eat Well, Stay Well – 1 November 1993
  42. Look Before You Leap – 3 November 1993
  43. Easy as One Two Three – 8 November 1993
  44. Strangers Among Us – 10 November 1993
  45. Five Carrot Pie – 15 November 1993
  46. Something Old, Something New – 17 November 1993
  47. Be Careful, Wizadora! – 22 November 1993
  48. Soft, Strong, Brittle and Weak – 24 November 1993
  49. Coughs and Sneezes – 29 November 1993
  50. No More Please – 1 December 1993
  51. Who Needs Elbows – 6 December 1993
  52. Mine All Mine – 8 December 1993
  53. A Use for Everything – 13 December 1993
  54. Peace and Quiet – 29 June 1994
  55. A Matter of Size – 30 June 1994
  56. Good Friends – 6 July 1994

    Series 3 (1994)

  57. A Message from Max – 7 September 1994
  58. Pips and Plants – 8 September 1994
  59. Sneezeberries – 14 September 1994
  60. Too Big, Too Small – 15 September 1994
  61. Bubble Trouble – 21 September 1994
  62. A Sing-Song for Stan – 22 September 1994
  63. Sixes and Nines – 28 September 1994
  64. All Together Now! – 29 September 1994
  65. I Smell a Lie – 5 October 1994
  66. Pippa's Surprise – 6 October 1994
  67. Cheer Up, Filbert! – 12 October 1994
  68. Let's Dance! – 13 October 1994
  69. The Shopping List – 19 October 1994
  70. Tatty's Tablecloth – 20 October 1994
  71. The Tantrum Spell – 26 October 1994
  72. The Great Flood – 27 October 1994
  73. Buttons and Holes – 2 November 1994
  74. The Litter Spell – 3 November 1994
  75. Fun with Books – 9 November 1994
  76. No Time for Tea Time – 10 November 1994
  77. Hard, Soft, Smooth and Rough – 16 November 1994
  78. The Grabber – 17 November 1994
  79. Pedal Power – 23 November 1994
  80. The Mud Monster – 24 November 1994
  81. Wool Trouble – 30 November 1994
  82. Pots and Spells – 1 December 1994
  83. That's What Friends Are For – 7 December 1994
  84. A Stuck Sticky – 8 December 1994
  85. Use Your Imagination – 14 December 1994
  86. Beginnings and Endings – 15 December 1994