Dennis the Menace & Gnasher (1996 TV series)
Encyclopedia
Dennis and Gnasher is an animated British TV series based on characters from The Beano
comic, which ran from 4 February 1996 until 5 July 1998. The series was produced by Collingwood O'Hare
and Beano Productions
in association with Flextech
, Polygram
and BBC Television
, distributed by HiT Entertainment
worldwide, and was directed and largely written by Tony Collingwood. A new series has been announced by the BBC and was released in 2009.
; voiced by Richard Pearce. The main character, Dennis is a troublemaker and mischievous young child. While most of his mischief is for fun, sometimes it can cause serious problems, or even help others. Dennis' antics have caused him to gain multiple enemies including his next door neighbour Walter, the Colonel, and Sergeant Slipper. Dennis has saved the world on one occasion, and appeared on Blue Peter
after winning an art competition. The character is based on the British comic strip character Dennis the Menace (UK)
.
Gnasher the Abyssinian wire-haired tripehound; voiced by Kerry Shale
. Gnasher is Dennis's pet dog. He is Dennis's "partner in crime" twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week—together they are the proverb
ial "two peas in a pod". When Gnasher is not by Dennis's side, like during school hours (though he does follow Dennis to school in the mornings), he'll have taken up his vigil
, hiding in the front garden, ready and waiting to ambush
the postman as he attempts to deliver the mail on Gnasher's watch
. Gnasher's family
still lives on the isle of Abyssinia, as revealed in "The Trial", when a company of rat
catcher
s had accused Gnasher of being a large rat instead of being a dog. Gnasher possesses a set of teeth that are capable of chewing through almost anything, hence his name. His favourite food is bone
s, and his favourite dog toy is his squeaky bone. In "Summer Holiday", Gnasher went by the alias of "Baby Norman", Dennis's baby brother, to be allowed to stay at a beachside guesthouse whose owner disliked pets. In "Special Agent Dennis", it's revealed that Dennis feeds Gnasher his homework rather than actually do the homework.
Dennis's Dad (Ed); voiced by John Baddeley
. Ed is Dennis' unnamed father is under a lot of stress due to Dennis' mischief and often tries to discipline his son, with little results, and is forced to take extreme measures at times. He works in an office.
Dennis's Mum (Fran); voiced by Eve Karpf
. Fran She seems to be able to cope more with Dennis' behaviour and on equal terms, Dennis listens to her when she tells him off. At times, she can be rather oblivious to events around her and silly at times, using household objects to help her when she takes driving lessons.
Dennis's Granny, Gertrude; voiced by Sally Grace
. Although she is eighty years old, Dennis's Granny is still very young at heart. Dennis loves his Granny, he defends her when another speaks ill of her ("Dennis and the Beanstalk"), and will come to her for advice in times of need ("The Day TV was Banned"). In her youth, Dennis's Granny was every bit the Menace towards anything like a peaceful society in Beanotown that her grandson is today, as revealed in "The Secret Diary", and in her day there was a police officer, Sgt. Boot, who was the "Sgt. Slipper" to her "Dennis". According to information from the Beano comic, she is the mother of Dennis's Dad; in "The Secret Diary", when Dennis's Dad mentions more than once how well-behaved he was to his parents, he may have been referring particularly to his father because Dennis's Granny favours her grandson, Dennis, who takes after her. In "The Secret Diary", she was depicted as having black hair, like her son and grandson, but in "Gorilla Warfare", she was seen in a flashback
with blond hair (so possibly she dye
d it). She rides a motorcycle
and eats pizza with "everything on them". She is perhaps the only adult, as mentioned by Dennis's Dad, "insane enough" to provide Dennis with any adult supervision and survive intact; she will even willingly come back for more of the fun and mayhem.
Curly; voiced by Jill Lidstone, Dennis's best friend and fellow Menace.
Kevin Pie-Face; voiced by Gary Martin
. Dennis' other best friend and fellow Menace. Portrayed as being dim-witted and at times cowardly, as well as being a fan of pies (hence his nickname).
The Colonel
, Godfrey; voiced by John Baddeley
. A neighbour of Dennis' family who lives across the road. He is a stereotypical military veteran who is forever seen in military uniform, his house resembles a military bunker and he even has a tank
parked in his front yard. The Colonel often recalls memorable battles in his life, and is considered an enemy of sorts by Dennis.
Sgt
. Slipper; voiced by Colin McFarlane
. A local policeman and another enemy of Dennis, usually being the first one to deal with Dennis' antics outside his house, and often is seen with the Colonel. He is a bit clumsy at times and often overreacts to things.
Walter the Softie
; voiced by Judy Bennett. Dennis' Next Door Neighbour, rival and major enemy. Always exsaperated with Dennis' mischief and often tries to come up with ideas to humiliate and outshine him.
Matilda the Softie; voiced by Eve Karpf
. Walter's best friend and girlfriend, often seen with him and swooning over him.
Foo Foo; Walter's Pet Poddle and Gnasher's rival.
Mr. Pie Face, Kevin Pie Face's Dad; voiced by Gary Martin.
The Postman; voiced by John Baddeley.
Walter's Dad (Feetskip); voiced by Gary Martin.
School Headmaster; voiced by Colin MacFarlane.
Flossy Muggins; Sally Grace
. Seen in Revenge of the Robot.
Dirk Cool, Secret Agent; voiced by Gary Martin. Seen in Special Agent Dennis.
Aunt Beryl, Gran's sister.
Mr Smiley' Derek Nimmo
Seen in Dennis and the Grown-Ups
Series 1: 1996
Series 2: 1998
The show is shown Monday-Friday on CBBC.
A DVD "Haunted House & 12 Other Stories" was released in September 2010. All 26 episodes the complete 2 series was released 22 August 2011 in a DVD boxset titled
Dennis & Gnasher: Special Agent Dennis & 25 More Crazy Adventures (8 Discs), it also contains "The Beano Videostars" and "The Beano Allstars". So now all the episodes from this series has been released on DVD from August 22, 2011!
The Beano
The Beano is a British children's comic, published by D.C. Thomson & Co and is arguably their most successful.The comic first appeared on 30 July 1938, and was published weekly. During the Second World War,The Beano and The Dandy were published on alternating weeks because of paper and ink...
comic, which ran from 4 February 1996 until 5 July 1998. The series was produced by Collingwood O'Hare
Collingwood O'Hare
Collingwood O'Hare is a TV animation studio based in London headed by writer/director Tony Collingwood and producer Christopher O'Hare. Responsible for animated TV series 'Oscar's Orchestra', 'Dennis the Menace', 'Gordon the Garden Gnome', 'Yoko! Jakamoko! Toto!' and 'The Secret Show', among...
and Beano Productions
The Beano
The Beano is a British children's comic, published by D.C. Thomson & Co and is arguably their most successful.The comic first appeared on 30 July 1938, and was published weekly. During the Second World War,The Beano and The Dandy were published on alternating weeks because of paper and ink...
in association with Flextech
Flextech
Living TV Group was a British television content subsidiary of British Sky Broadcasting. It is now defunct as a company but Sky Living, Sky Livingit, Sky Living Loves and Challenge are still in operation by BSkyB.-Overview:...
, Polygram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
and BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
, distributed by HiT Entertainment
HIT Entertainment
Hit Entertainment is a British-American entertainment distribution company established in 1989, and originally the international distribution arm of Jim Henson Productions called Henson International Television...
worldwide, and was directed and largely written by Tony Collingwood. A new series has been announced by the BBC and was released in 2009.
Main and major characters
DennisDennis the Menace (UK)
Dennis the Menace, later called Dennis the Menace and Gnasher and now Dennis and Gnasher, is a long-running comic strip in the British children's comic The Beano, published by D. C...
; voiced by Richard Pearce. The main character, Dennis is a troublemaker and mischievous young child. While most of his mischief is for fun, sometimes it can cause serious problems, or even help others. Dennis' antics have caused him to gain multiple enemies including his next door neighbour Walter, the Colonel, and Sergeant Slipper. Dennis has saved the world on one occasion, and appeared on Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
after winning an art competition. The character is based on the British comic strip character Dennis the Menace (UK)
Dennis the Menace (UK)
Dennis the Menace, later called Dennis the Menace and Gnasher and now Dennis and Gnasher, is a long-running comic strip in the British children's comic The Beano, published by D. C...
.
Gnasher the Abyssinian wire-haired tripehound; voiced by Kerry Shale
Kerry Shale
Kerry Shale is a UK-based actor, writer and voice-over artist. He is married to Suzanne Shale, a former Oxford University law don, now a specialist in the field of medical ethics.-Theatre:...
. Gnasher is Dennis's pet dog. He is Dennis's "partner in crime" twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week—together they are the proverb
Proverb
A proverb is a simple and concrete saying popularly known and repeated, which expresses a truth, based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity. They are often metaphorical. A proverb that describes a basic rule of conduct may also be known as a maxim...
ial "two peas in a pod". When Gnasher is not by Dennis's side, like during school hours (though he does follow Dennis to school in the mornings), he'll have taken up his vigil
Vigil
A vigil is a period of purposeful sleeplessness, an occasion for devotional watching, or an observance...
, hiding in the front garden, ready and waiting to ambush
Ambush
An ambush is a long-established military tactic, in which the aggressors take advantage of concealment and the element of surprise to attack an unsuspecting enemy from concealed positions, such as among dense underbrush or behind hilltops...
the postman as he attempts to deliver the mail on Gnasher's watch
Watch
A watch is a small timepiece, typically worn either on the wrist or attached on a chain and carried in a pocket, with wristwatches being the most common type of watch used today. They evolved in the 17th century from spring powered clocks, which appeared in the 15th century. The first watches were...
. Gnasher's family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
still lives on the isle of Abyssinia, as revealed in "The Trial", when a company of rat
Rat
Rats are various medium-sized, long-tailed rodents of the superfamily Muroidea. "True rats" are members of the genus Rattus, the most important of which to humans are the black rat, Rattus rattus, and the brown rat, Rattus norvegicus...
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
s had accused Gnasher of being a large rat instead of being a dog. Gnasher possesses a set of teeth that are capable of chewing through almost anything, hence his name. His favourite food is bone
Bone
Bones are rigid organs that constitute part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. They support, and protect the various organs of the body, produce red and white blood cells and store minerals. Bone tissue is a type of dense connective tissue...
s, and his favourite dog toy is his squeaky bone. In "Summer Holiday", Gnasher went by the alias of "Baby Norman", Dennis's baby brother, to be allowed to stay at a beachside guesthouse whose owner disliked pets. In "Special Agent Dennis", it's revealed that Dennis feeds Gnasher his homework rather than actually do the homework.
Dennis's Dad (Ed); voiced by John Baddeley
John Baddeley (actor)
Edward John Baddeley is a British actor. Apart from his work in the theatre in the provinces and the West End, he is also notable for his work with the BBC and as voice-over artist...
. Ed is Dennis' unnamed father is under a lot of stress due to Dennis' mischief and often tries to discipline his son, with little results, and is forced to take extreme measures at times. He works in an office.
Dennis's Mum (Fran); voiced by Eve Karpf
Eve Karpf
Eve Karpf is a British actress who trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. She has extensive experience as a voice-over actress...
. Fran She seems to be able to cope more with Dennis' behaviour and on equal terms, Dennis listens to her when she tells him off. At times, she can be rather oblivious to events around her and silly at times, using household objects to help her when she takes driving lessons.
Dennis's Granny, Gertrude; voiced by Sally Grace
Sally Grace
Sally Grace is a British actress who has worked extensively in radio and animation.She was a long-standing member of the team on Week Ending, the long-running BBC Radio 4 topical satirical sketch show, where she was the voice of Margaret Thatcher from 1983 onwards, and her work with Ken Bruce on...
. Although she is eighty years old, Dennis's Granny is still very young at heart. Dennis loves his Granny, he defends her when another speaks ill of her ("Dennis and the Beanstalk"), and will come to her for advice in times of need ("The Day TV was Banned"). In her youth, Dennis's Granny was every bit the Menace towards anything like a peaceful society in Beanotown that her grandson is today, as revealed in "The Secret Diary", and in her day there was a police officer, Sgt. Boot, who was the "Sgt. Slipper" to her "Dennis". According to information from the Beano comic, she is the mother of Dennis's Dad; in "The Secret Diary", when Dennis's Dad mentions more than once how well-behaved he was to his parents, he may have been referring particularly to his father because Dennis's Granny favours her grandson, Dennis, who takes after her. In "The Secret Diary", she was depicted as having black hair, like her son and grandson, but in "Gorilla Warfare", she was seen in a flashback
Flashback (narrative)
Flashback is an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current point the story has reached. Flashbacks are often used to recount events that happened before the story’s primary sequence of events or to fill in crucial backstory...
with blond hair (so possibly she dye
Dye
A dye is a colored substance that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is being applied. The dye is generally applied in an aqueous solution, and requires a mordant to improve the fastness of the dye on the fiber....
d it). She rides a motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
and eats pizza with "everything on them". She is perhaps the only adult, as mentioned by Dennis's Dad, "insane enough" to provide Dennis with any adult supervision and survive intact; she will even willingly come back for more of the fun and mayhem.
Curly; voiced by Jill Lidstone, Dennis's best friend and fellow Menace.
Kevin Pie-Face; voiced by Gary Martin
Gary Martin (actor)
Gary Martin is a British voice artist and actor who has been in the industry since the early 1980s. His first recorded acting credit is as a chauffeur in the television series Nobody's Perfect. He has since gone on to perform in over 60 roles, either as a voice artist or actor...
. Dennis' other best friend and fellow Menace. Portrayed as being dim-witted and at times cowardly, as well as being a fan of pies (hence his nickname).
The Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
, Godfrey; voiced by John Baddeley
John Baddeley (actor)
Edward John Baddeley is a British actor. Apart from his work in the theatre in the provinces and the West End, he is also notable for his work with the BBC and as voice-over artist...
. A neighbour of Dennis' family who lives across the road. He is a stereotypical military veteran who is forever seen in military uniform, his house resembles a military bunker and he even has a tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
parked in his front yard. The Colonel often recalls memorable battles in his life, and is considered an enemy of sorts by Dennis.
Sgt
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
. Slipper; voiced by Colin McFarlane
Colin McFarlane
Colin McFarlane is an English actor and voice artist. He has appeared in several TV series, including The Fast Show, Judge John Deed, Jonathan Creek, Randall & Hopkirk , Jeeves and Wooster, Black Books and The Thin Blue Line. He is also known for portraying Police Commissioner Gillian B...
. A local policeman and another enemy of Dennis, usually being the first one to deal with Dennis' antics outside his house, and often is seen with the Colonel. He is a bit clumsy at times and often overreacts to things.
Walter the Softie
Walter The Softy
Walter the Softy, or Softy Walter as he is sometimes called, is the fictional antagonist of Dennis the Menace in the British children's comic The Beano. He made his first appearance in the Beano in 1953. He is a prime target of Dennis and his friends...
; voiced by Judy Bennett. Dennis' Next Door Neighbour, rival and major enemy. Always exsaperated with Dennis' mischief and often tries to come up with ideas to humiliate and outshine him.
Matilda the Softie; voiced by Eve Karpf
Eve Karpf
Eve Karpf is a British actress who trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. She has extensive experience as a voice-over actress...
. Walter's best friend and girlfriend, often seen with him and swooning over him.
Foo Foo; Walter's Pet Poddle and Gnasher's rival.
Minor and one-off characters
Mrs. Pie Face, Kevin Pie Face's Mum; voiced by Jill Lidstone.Mr. Pie Face, Kevin Pie Face's Dad; voiced by Gary Martin.
The Postman; voiced by John Baddeley.
Walter's Dad (Feetskip); voiced by Gary Martin.
School Headmaster; voiced by Colin MacFarlane.
Flossy Muggins; Sally Grace
Sally Grace
Sally Grace is a British actress who has worked extensively in radio and animation.She was a long-standing member of the team on Week Ending, the long-running BBC Radio 4 topical satirical sketch show, where she was the voice of Margaret Thatcher from 1983 onwards, and her work with Ken Bruce on...
. Seen in Revenge of the Robot.
Dirk Cool, Secret Agent; voiced by Gary Martin. Seen in Special Agent Dennis.
Aunt Beryl, Gran's sister.
Mr Smiley' Derek Nimmo
Derek Nimmo
Derek Robert Nimmo was an English character actor. He was particularly associated with upper-class "silly-ass" roles, and clerical roles.-Career:...
Seen in Dennis and the Grown-Ups
Episode listing
People’s names in brackets are guest actors who voiced one of the guest characters in that particular episode.Series 1: 1996
| # | Title | Date & Guest Actor/s | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow | First broadcast: 2/4/1996 (Denis Quilley Denis Quilley Denis Clifford Quilley OBE was an English theatre, television and film actor who was long associated with the Royal National Theatre.... ) |
Dennis is forced by his mum and dad to go for a haircut at Slasher Brown (Who happpens to be Walter's uncle)'s barber shop, and ends up being chased by the World Federation of Barbers. |
| 2 | The Day They Took Gnasher Away | First broadcast: 9/4/1996 (Hugh Laurie Hugh Laurie James Hugh Calum Laurie, OBE , better known as Hugh Laurie , is an English actor, voice artist, comedian, writer, musician, recording artist, and director... ) |
When the Dog Training School promises Dennis's father that they can turn Gnasher into a perfect pooch, Dennis and the gang go on an undercover mission to rescue him, and discover the school is not what it seems... |
| 3 | Bathnight Club | First broadcast: 16/4/1996 | It's a race against time! Dad's determined to get Dennis in the bath, but the Ministry of Defence wants Dennis left unwashed, for his smelly socks are their latest secret weapon! |
| 4 | Dennis Ahoy | First broadcast: 23/4/1996 (Billy Connolly Billy Connolly William "Billy" Connolly, Jr., CBE is a Scottish comedian, musician, presenter and actor. He is sometimes known, especially in his native Scotland, by the nickname The Big Yin... ) |
When Dennis and the gang volunteer to do a days work on the SS Rustbucket on a race around the Cape of Good Hope, they find themselves swallowed alive by "Dopey Mick", the daftest whale of the 7 seas. |
| 5 | Revenge of the Robot | First broadcast: 30/4/1996 | When the chief of the police fires Slipper for not being able to stop Dennis's trouble-making about town, it looks like it will be the end for Dennis's menacing when the post of Sergeant is replaced by a seemingly unbeatable robot! Has Dennis met his match, or will his new found friend, the loopy female inventor Flossy save the day? |
| 6 | Wanted! | First broadcast: 7/5/1996 (Leslie Phillips Leslie Phillips Leslie Samuel Phillips, CBE is an English actor with a highly recognisable upper class accent. Originally known for his work as a comedy actor, Phillips subsequently made the transition to character roles.-Early life:... ) |
When two wanted criminals see Dennis's amazing ways of making mischief, they trick him into doing his biggest blow yet...robbing the Beanotown bank! |
| 7 | Dennis and the Beanstalk | First broadcast: 14/5/1996 | When Gnasher is forced to stay in bed due to a toothache, Dennis cheers him up by telling him a story, but not just any old story...why just read from a book when you can mix them up and make your own special version? We see Dennis & Gnasher going on an adventure in a mystical land, meeting their friends and enemies on the way... |
| 8 | Unidentified Funny Object | First broadcast: 21/5/1996 (Tim Brooke-Taylor Tim Brooke-Taylor Timothy Julian Brooke-Taylor OBE is an English comic actor. He became active in performing in comedy sketches while at Cambridge University, and became President of the Footlights club, touring internationally with the Footlights revue in 1964... , Willie Rushton Willie Rushton William George Rushton, commonly known as Willie Rushton was an English cartoonist, satirist, comedian, actor and performer who co-founded the Private Eye satirical magazine.- School and army :William George Rushton was born 18 August 1937 in the family home at Scarsdale Villas,... ) |
When aliens with the ability to disguise themselves as anything arrive on earth disguised as television sets and seeking help, Dennis and Gnasher are keen to help out, on the understanding that they can help him too, by using their disguises for menacing! |
| 9 | Special Agent Dennis | First broadcast: 28/5/1996 (Jonathan Kydd Jonathan Kydd (actor) Jonathan Kydd is a British actor. He is the son of the actor Sam Kydd.His first film was The Iron Maiden, in which he appeared aged six with his father. His mother, Pinkie, was one of England's first female advertising copywriters. She also played table tennis eleven times for England.Kydd was... , Mollie Sugden Mollie Sugden Isobel Mary 'Mollie' Sugden was an English comedy actress best known for portraying the saleswoman Mrs. Slocombe in the British sitcom Are You Being Served? from 1972 to 1985. She later reprised this role in Grace & Favour, which ran from 1992 to 1993... ) |
Dennis's dad is to sick to come to work, so Dennis hands in a sick note to find out what Dad's work life is like...only due to a mix-up Dennis & Gnasher find themselves instead at the Secret Agency next door where they are mistaken for Dirk Cool, a secret agent who is a master of disguise dressed as a 10 year old boy and his dog. Next thing the duo know, they are being fired of in a space pod on a mission to stop a crazy dinner lady Lunch Lady Lunch lady is an American slang term for a woman who cooks and serves food in a school cafeteria; the equivalent British English term is "dinner lady". In Britain, a dinner lady also patrols the school playgrounds during the lunch breaks to maintain order amongst the children... turn the whole world into 10 year olds unless they eat her rotten dinners! Can Dennis and Gnasher save the day? |
| 10 | Dennis and the Grown Ups | First broadcast: 4/6/1996 (Derek Nimmo Derek Nimmo Derek Robert Nimmo was an English character actor. He was particularly associated with upper-class "silly-ass" roles, and clerical roles.-Career:... ) |
After some trouble with Dennis, Mum and Dad join an adult education class to understand children, only to understand the tutor is a bit loopy! Meanwhile Dennis runs his own class among his friends titled "How to Understand Grown-ups". |
| 11 | The Secret Diary | First broadcast: 25/6/1996 (Greg Proops Greg Proops Gregory Everett "Greg" Proops is an American actor, stand-up comedian and television host. He is widely known for his work as an improvisational comedian on the UK and U.S. versions of Whose Line Is It Anyway?... ) |
Hiding from the wrath of Dad after a chaotic morning (aided by Granny), Dennis comes across what he thinks is his Dad's diary, and realises that in his youth he was far from the respectable young man he claimed to be. Soon, the diary entries make Dad a reluctant celebrity, and with a Hollywood film director making a film based on the book, Dennis discovers that his antics are no longer seen as threatening. |
| 12 | Gorilla Warfare | First broadcast: 2/7/1996 | When The Colonel organises an outward bound weekend in the woods, Dennis and Gnasher decide to tag along and cause mayhem for a laugh, but things are not longer a joke when they learn that Genghis Kong, an escaped circus gorilla, is on the loose in the woods and has somehow taken an interest to Dennis's granny. |
| 13 | The Day TV was Banned | First broadcast: 9/7/1996 (Ken Dodd Ken Dodd Kenneth Arthur Dodd OBE is a British comedian and singer songwriter, famous for his frizzy hair or “fluff dom” and buck teeth or “denchers”, his favourite cleaner, the feather duster and his greeting "How tickled I am!", as well as his send-off “Lots and Lots of Happiness!”... ) |
Eccentric millionaire Sir Fitz-Patrick Flush promises to give a million pound cheque to the citizens of Beanotown if they can live without television for a whole week. Unfortunately, this doesn't go down well with Dennis and pal's plans to watch the week-long marathon of their favourite show Nick Kelly. |
Series 2: 1998
| # | Title | Date & Guest Actor/s | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | The Competition | First broadcast: 13/2/1998 (Katy Hill Katy Hill Katy Hill is an English television presenter, who worked on the BBC children's magazine programme Blue Peter for five years.-Biography:... , Stuart Miles) |
Humiliated by Walter during a hectic game of tag (which soon escalates into chaos when adults begin to get tagged), Dennis decides to compete against him in a Blue Peter painting competition, with a ‘little help’ from a certain four-legged friend… |
| 15 | Summer Holiday | First broadcast: 20/2/1998 (Prunella Scales Prunella Scales Prunella Scales CBE is an English actress, known for her role as Basil Fawlty's long-suffering wife in the British comedy Fawlty Towers and her award-nominated role as Queen Elizabeth II in the British film A Question of Attribution.-Career:Throughout her long career, Scales has usually been cast... ) |
Dad is incredibly determined that the Menace family’s holiday will be incident-free, but an animal-hating guest-house owner, Dennis’ usual mayhem, and a suspected burglary back home do very little effort to liven up his spirits… |
| 16 | Menace Power | First broadcast: 27/2/1998 | When Dennis beats Walter in a racing car competition, The Colonel is determined to find what made his engine-free vehicle tick, whilst Mum prepares herself for a driving test with the help from Dad, a runaway dodgem car, and Gnasher’s favourite squeaky bone… |
| 17 | Dennisaurus Rex | First broadcast: 6/3/1998 | The discovery of a large stone-age mural in the Menaces’ front garden causes Dennis to daydream on what it would be like to live in prehistoric times… and to somehow witness the creation of the wheel. |
| Adventures in Dennis Sitting | First broadcast: 13/3/1998 | Dennis’s plans to create chaos at the school parents’ evening are seemingly thwarted when his parents arrange The Colonel to baby-sit for them and tell-tale Walter comes to stay for the night, but when a top-secret weapon is aimed at the school, only Dennis knows how to save the day… | |
| 19 | Haunted House | First broadcast: 20/3/1998 (Hinge and Bracket Hinge and Bracket Dr. Evadne Hinge and Dame Hilda Bracket were the stage personae of the musical performance and female impersonation artists George Logan and Patrick Fyffe... ) |
Dad’s ghastly aunts return from their 20-year long holiday expedition ten years earlier than expected, and quickly prove themselves to be a big match for Dennis with their "Etiquette Assault Course". But when his attempts to scare them out of the house only leads to an extended stay, he’s determined to discover the truth about these unwanted houseguests. |
| 20 | Oil Strike | First broadcast: 27/3/1998 (Bernard Cribbins Bernard Cribbins Bernard Cribbins, OBE is an English character actor, voice-over artist and musical comedian with a career spanning over half a century who came to prominence in films in the 1960s, has been in work consistently since his professional debut in the mid 1950s, and as of 2010 is still an active... ) |
The Menace family are swindled by ruthless tycoon Clint Katzenberger, who tries to root out an oil field beneath their house. Desperate to get their home back, Dennis turns to Katzenberger’s sworn enemies, The Green and Friendly Pressure Group, for help, but is that thick black liquid really oil? |
| 21 | Mauled | First broadcast: 3/4/1998 | A new Mega Mall suddenly opens in Beanotown, but Dennis and Gnasher quickly discover that things are not right when all the smaller shops close down and everyone begins acting strangely. Unfortunately, Dennis too falls under the Mega Mall’s hypnotic spell, leaving Gnasher and his animal pals to rescue Beanotown. |
| 22 | The Trial | First broadcast: 9/4/1998 (Simon Callow Simon Callow Simon Phillip Hugh Callow, CBE is an English actor, writer and theatre director. He is also currently a judge on Popstar to Operastar.-Early years:... , Eric Meyers) |
Gnasher finds himself hunted down by sinister rat catchers when the Colonel’s ‘adventurer’ cousin Hugo claims that the Absynnian Tripehound is a dangerous form of ‘super-rat’. A heated court trial ensues to prove Gnasher’s canine ancestry, but is Hugo really the world traveller he claims he is? |
| 23 | Journey to the Centre of the Bed | First broadcast: 16/4/1998 | Dennis’s search for the existence of the Tooth Fairy takes him (along with Gnasher and Pie-Face) into the farthest reaches of his mattress, where he ends up in a war zone between the Fairy Freedom Fighters, a bunch of goblins, and their familiar-looking ruler… |
| 24 | Skull & Crossbones | First broadcast: 23/4/1998 (Brian Blessed Brian Blessed Brian Blessed is an English actor, known for his sonorous voice and "hearty, king-sized portrayals".-Early life:The son of William Blessed, a socialist miner, and Hilda Wall, Blessed was born in the town of Goldthorpe, West Riding of Yorkshire, England... ) |
Mum’s new job at the art gallery is threatened when a group of scurvy dogs steal the gallery’s main attraction (which looks suspiciously like Walter) as a new figurehead for their ship. It’s up to Dennis and his crew to battle the pirates and return the stolen statue. |
| 25 | Snowbound | First broadcast: 30/4/1998 | Dennis competes in a race against Walter to become school prefect, and is determined to make it to the building early for once… despite the fact everyone has had the day off due to a snow blizzard. Soon, things take a turn for the abominable when a furry giant begins following them… |
| 26 | Monster Menace | First broadcast: 7/5/1998 (Jimmy Hibbert Jimmy Hibbert James "Jimmy" Hibbert is an English television writer and voice actor best known for his work for Cosgrove Hall.He was brought up and educated at Leighton Park School and in Henley-on-Thames and later studied at the University of Manchester achieving a BA in drama... ) |
Expecting a ‘Model Space Racer Jet Set Kit’, Dennis and Gnasher instead receive Jacques, a hulking, information-guzzling fellow who becomes a huge hit with the school and wins the heart of Matilda. However, not everyone in Beanotown takes an instant liking to Dennis’ new monstrous mate… |
Later television shows
A new television series has now been produced. The new series features the return of Dennis, Gnasher, Mum, Dad, Curly and Pie-Face and will also feature the introduction of Dennis' little sister Bea. The production shots also showed Dennis' treehouse with a more menacing design. Screenshots and an episode can be found at the production company Red Kite Animation's website.The show is shown Monday-Friday on CBBC.
Broadcast history
- USA
- ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
(1998–1999)
- ABC
- UK
- CBBCCBBCCBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...
(1996–2009) - The Children's ChannelThe Children's ChannelThe Children's Channel, also known as TCC, was a television station in the United Kingdom, Benelux and Scandinavia, which was owned by Flextech . It began broadcasting on 1 September 1984, and was closed on 3 April 1998...
(1996–1997) - Fox Kids/JetixJetix (UK)Disney XD is a British television channel owned by The Walt Disney Company. Primarily aimed at boys aged 6 to 14, the channel features live-action films, animated shows as well as sports coverage which is developed in collaboration with ESPN...
- CBBC
- Ireland
- RTE TwoRTÉ TwoRTÉ Two is a free-to-air general entertainment channel operated by Irish state broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. RTÉ Two is available throughout the island of Ireland through digital terrestrial service Saorview, VHF and UHF bands, and is also available via satellite to Irish subscribers of...
(1996–2003)
- RTE Two
Commercial availability
Episodes 1-4 of series one are available on two, separate volumes each containing two episodes. The further nine episodes are yet to be released. All 13 episodes of series two are available on three, separate volumes each containing four-five episodes. These were later re-released in a box-set alongside "The Beano Videostars" and "The Beano Allstars".A DVD "Haunted House & 12 Other Stories" was released in September 2010. All 26 episodes the complete 2 series was released 22 August 2011 in a DVD boxset titled
Dennis & Gnasher: Special Agent Dennis & 25 More Crazy Adventures (8 Discs), it also contains "The Beano Videostars" and "The Beano Allstars". So now all the episodes from this series has been released on DVD from August 22, 2011!