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 (Debbie Cumming), was now played by a man (Joe Greco 1993–94, Steven Ryde 1994–98), 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 (played by Connie Booth in the unaired pilot episode, Maria Gough in the Oxford series, and Wendy van der Plank (1993–96) and Lizzie McPhee (1997–98) in the ITV series) – 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 (played by Debbie Cumming in the Oxford series and Joe Greco(1993–94) and Steven Ryde (1994–98) in the ITV series) – 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 (played by Brian Murphy) – A shopkeeper who regularly takes delivery of new magical catalogue items and is very cautious of Wizadora's spells. Pippa the Postwoman (played by Tessa Hatts) – 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 (ITV Series One to Five only) – A squeaking vegetable (a Vegimal) 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 (ITV Series One only) – A barking doormat. Hangle – A purple coat hanger (but who insists on calling himself a cloak 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 (ITV Series Two onwards) – 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 (Rebecca Nagan's). Nigel the Snail (ITV Series Two onwards) – A blue snail who lives with Very Old Fish. The Crows (Series Three onwards) – Two crows; brothers called Boris and Horace, who cause mayhem for Tatty Bogle in the garden. Roxy (Introduced in Series Five) – A friendly talking spider who lives in Tatty's treehouse. Dusty (seen in ITV Series One and again in Series Six) – A creature who lives under the fridge, has a very loud operatic voice, and is usually sleeping. Tom and Katie (played by Harriet Carmichael and Adam Johnstone; Oxford series only) – 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 (i.e.: Snr Cameraman and Music). The other cameramen were Roger Backhouse, and Angus Macmillan and sometimes Steve Leach. The vision mixer was Julie Miller.
Transmission guide
Oxford Series (1991) "Phoebe Calling" – 15 September 1991 "A Red Banana" – 22 September 1991 "Happy Birthday" – 29 September 1991 "The Magic Cloak" – 6 October 1991 "Can You Fly?" – 13 October 1991 "Where Is Katie?" – 20 October 1991 "The Picnic" – 27 October 1991 "Hangle Is Lost" – 3 November 1991
Series 1 (1993) "The Magic Parcel" – 5 January 1993 "Time for Tidying" – 12 January 1993 "Hello Filbert" – 19 January 1993 "A Colourful Day" – 26 January 1993 "Lovely Weather" – 2 February 1993 "Picnic Problems" – 9 February 1993 "Mops & Bicycles" – 16 February 1993 "Hangle in Charge" – 23 February 1993 "A Very Special Day" – 2 March 1993 "Wellingtons & Snails" – 9 March 1993 "The Purple Powder" – 16 March 1993 "Tea Time Troubles" – 23 March 1993 "The Octocleaner" – 30 March 1993 "Wand & Superwand" – 6 April 1993 "Eggs & Bicycles" – 13 April 1993 "Tricky Things Umbrellas" – 20 April 1993 "Autumn Laughter" – 27 April 1993 "Firework Party" – 4 May 1993
Series 2 (1993–1994) "Poot Saves the Day" – 6 September 1993 "A Change for Filbert" – 13 September 1993 "A Good Day for Sun" – 20 September 1993 "Just Your Imagination" – 22 September 1993 "The Thingummy Jig" – 27 September 1993 "Where Was I?" – 29 September 1993 "I Smell a Smell" – 4 October 1993 "The Squeaking Door" – 6 October 1993 "Magical Music" – 11 October 1993 "To Have and to Have More" – 13 October 1993 "Rhyme Time" – 18 October 1993 "I Spy" – 20 October 1993 "Cheers and Tears" – 25 October 1993 "Round and Round the Garden" – 27 October 1993 "Eat Well, Stay Well" – 1 November 1993 "Look Before You Leap" – 3 November 1993 "Easy as One Two Three" – 8 November 1993 "Strangers Among Us" – 10 November 1993 "Five Carrot Pie" – 15 November 1993 "Something Old, Something New" – 17 November 1993 "Be Careful, Wizadora!" – 22 November 1993 "Soft, Strong, Brittle and Weak" – 24 November 1993 "Coughs and Sneezes" – 29 November 1993 "No More, Please" – 1 December 1993 "Who Needs Elbows" – 6 December 1993 "Mine All Mine" – 8 December 1993 "A Use for Everything" – 13 December 1993 "Peace and Quiet" – 29 June 1994 "A Matter of Size" – 30 June 1994 "Good Friends" – 6 July 1994
Series 3 (1994) "A Message from Max" – 7 September 1994 "Pips and Plants" – 8 September 1994 "Sneezeberries" – 14 September 1994 "Too Big, Too Small" – 15 September 1994 "Bubble Trouble" – 21 September 1994 "A Sing-Song for Stan" – 22 September 1994 "Sixes and Nines" – 28 September 1994 "All Together Now!" – 29 September 1994 "I Smell a Lie" – 5 October 1994 "Pippa's Surprise" – 6 October 1994 "Cheer Up, Filbert!" – 12 October 1994 "Let's Dance!" – 13 October 1994 "The Shopping List" – 19 October 1994 "Tatty's Tablecloth" – 20 October 1994 "The Tantrum Spell" – 26 October 1994 "The Great Flood" – 27 October 1994 "Buttons and Holes" – 2 November 1994 "The Litter Spell" – 3 November 1994 "Fun with Books" – 9 November 1994 "No Time for Tea Time" – 10 November 1994 "Hard, Soft, Smooth and Rough" – 16 November 1994 "The Grabber" – 17 November 1994 "Pedal Power" – 23 November 1994 "The Mud Monster" – 24 November 1994 "Wool Trouble" – 30 November 1994 "Pots and Spells" – 1 December 1994 "That's What Friends Are For" – 7 December 1994 "A Stuck Sticky" – 8 December 1994: Tatty gets stuck up a tree. "Use Your Imagination" – 14 December 1994 "Beginnings and Endings" – 15 December 1994
Series 4 (1995) "Who's Afraid of the Dark?" – 30 August 1995 "Mirror Mirror" – 31 August 1995 "Filbert's New House" – 6 September 1995 "Sounds Brilliant" – 7 September 1995 "Big Uns and Little Uns" – 13 September 1995 "Making Pippa Strong" – 14 September 1995 "Shadow Monsters" – 20 September 1995 "Sharing Magic" – 21 September 1995 "Too Full" – 27 September 1995 "Stan's the Man" – 28 September 1995 "Good Winners and Bad Losers" – 4 October 1995 "Follow the Track" – 5 October 1995 "Snow in July" – 11 October 1995 "Shape Up" – 12 October 1995 "Here's One We Made Earlier" – 18 October 1995 "First Things First" – 19 October 1995 "Bless You" – 25 October 1995 "It's a Good Job" – 26 October 1995 "Hangle Takes a Trip" – 1 1995 "Glad Rags" – 2 November 1995 "Top of the List" – 8 November 1995 "Sticky Moments" – 9 November 1995 "I Spy with My Little Eye" – 15 November 1995 "Fish Alive" – 16 November 1995 "Communication Breakdown" – 22 November 1995 "Watchout Below" – 23 November 1995 "Making and Breaking" – 29 November 1995