The Wild House
Encyclopedia
The Wild House was a serialised children's programme produced between 1997 and 1999 broadcast by the BBC
. The idea was created by Jean Buchanan, and later series were written partially by Mark Haddon
, author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. It follows the life of Natalie Wild (played by Ellie Beaven
) and the other members of the Wild family.
by, at various times, all of the Wilds (even the dog, Jasper). They speak directly to the camera, commenting upon their lives while dream-like images are projected behind them.
By the second series, Serena has left for Boston
on a science scholarship. Later in the series, Mr. and Mrs. Wild join her in the USA. The family are now looked after by aunts, uncles and a granny. Cousin Georgina, a feisty 16-year-old, also moves in. In the finale, the rest of the Wild clan prepared to move stateside.
After the last episode of the series, the principal writer of the series, Jean Buchanan, revealed a new children's television series, Welcome to Orty-Fou. While more of a light drama than a comedy, it is based around an eccentric family, with the same use of soliloquy.
, Natalie is the articulate 13-year-old "middle child", whose primary concerns we see in the transition from childhood to teenage years. She is generally the "straight guy" in the face of all the absurdities going on around her. This could be anything from her cousin Georgina moving in, to her grandmother dressing up as a pirate and having a swordfight with somebody.
), 16, is a typical teenager with teenage concerns, most prominently relationships. Her cousin Georgina, who later took her place, had just the same fixation, but was more rebellious and manipulative.
. He is consistently seen with dirt on his clothes and skin- presumably from where he has been digging around looking for minibeasts- and seems impervious to this. He has no understanding of his sisters' or cousin's attitudes towads relationships and constantly says "Yuk!" at the slightest reference to them. He has a friend named Emily who is just as obsessed with animals, but in spite of her being a girl their relationship seems entirely platonic. Only once, in the final episode, did he kiss her, and even then they both said "Yuk" and wiped it away. Aside from this, another frequent saying of his is, "I bet David Attenborough
never had this problem".
and Annette Ekblom
, Mr. and Mrs. Wild take less of the stage than their children. They are, in most respects, both typical, average parents, with the possible exception of Mrs. Wild's using a megaphone
whenever she wants to make an announcement.
Later production of Welcome to Orty-Fou:
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. The idea was created by Jean Buchanan, and later series were written partially by Mark Haddon
Mark Haddon
Mark Haddon is an English novelist and poet, best known for his 2003 novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.- Life and work :...
, author of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time. It follows the life of Natalie Wild (played by Ellie Beaven
Ellie Beaven
Ellie Beaven is an English actress. She was educated at St. Mary's R.C. Primary School in Isleworth then at Gumley House Convent School, Isleworth.-Film & television:...
) and the other members of the Wild family.
Information
The Wild House, while a reference to the family surname, also gives an apt description of the impression of the family. Natalie, who seems the 'normal' member of the family, is the character around which the show centres. The show is notable for its frequent use of soliloquySoliloquy
A soliloquy is a device often used in drama whereby a character relates his or her thoughts and feelings to him/herself and to the audience without addressing any of the other characters, and is delivered often when they are alone or think they are alone. Soliloquy is distinct from monologue and...
by, at various times, all of the Wilds (even the dog, Jasper). They speak directly to the camera, commenting upon their lives while dream-like images are projected behind them.
By the second series, Serena has left for Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
on a science scholarship. Later in the series, Mr. and Mrs. Wild join her in the USA. The family are now looked after by aunts, uncles and a granny. Cousin Georgina, a feisty 16-year-old, also moves in. In the finale, the rest of the Wild clan prepared to move stateside.
After the last episode of the series, the principal writer of the series, Jean Buchanan, revealed a new children's television series, Welcome to Orty-Fou. While more of a light drama than a comedy, it is based around an eccentric family, with the same use of soliloquy.
Natalie Wild
Played by Ellie BeavenEllie Beaven
Ellie Beaven is an English actress. She was educated at St. Mary's R.C. Primary School in Isleworth then at Gumley House Convent School, Isleworth.-Film & television:...
, Natalie is the articulate 13-year-old "middle child", whose primary concerns we see in the transition from childhood to teenage years. She is generally the "straight guy" in the face of all the absurdities going on around her. This could be anything from her cousin Georgina moving in, to her grandmother dressing up as a pirate and having a swordfight with somebody.
Serena Wild
Serena (played by Honeysuckle WeeksHoneysuckle Weeks
Honeysuckle Weeks is a British actress, best known for her starring role as Samantha Stewart in the British TV series Foyle's War, since 2002.-Background:...
), 16, is a typical teenager with teenage concerns, most prominently relationships. Her cousin Georgina, who later took her place, had just the same fixation, but was more rebellious and manipulative.
Arthur Wild
Nicknamed "Wart", Arthur (played by Peter Kelly) is defined by his obsession with wildlifeWildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
. He is consistently seen with dirt on his clothes and skin- presumably from where he has been digging around looking for minibeasts- and seems impervious to this. He has no understanding of his sisters' or cousin's attitudes towads relationships and constantly says "Yuk!" at the slightest reference to them. He has a friend named Emily who is just as obsessed with animals, but in spite of her being a girl their relationship seems entirely platonic. Only once, in the final episode, did he kiss her, and even then they both said "Yuk" and wiped it away. Aside from this, another frequent saying of his is, "I bet David Attenborough
David Attenborough
Sir David Frederick Attenborough OM, CH, CVO, CBE, FRS, FZS, FSA is a British broadcaster and naturalist. His career as the face and voice of natural history programmes has endured for more than 50 years...
never had this problem".
Mr. & Mrs. Wild
Played respectively by Philip BirdPhilip Bird
Philip Bird is an English actor who has appeared in several British shows such as Peter Birch in ITV soap opera Emmerdale in 2006. He has also appeared in BBC's Doctors, ITV's Heartbeat and Coronation Street.-External links:...
and Annette Ekblom
Annette Ekblom
Annette Ekblom is a British actress. She is the mother of actress Amelia Warner.She starred as Linda in Willy Russell's musical Blood Brothers when Bill Kenwright's production opened in London in 1988...
, Mr. and Mrs. Wild take less of the stage than their children. They are, in most respects, both typical, average parents, with the possible exception of Mrs. Wild's using a megaphone
Megaphone
A megaphone, speaking-trumpet, bullhorn, blowhorn, or loud hailer is a portable, usually hand-held, cone-shaped horn used to amplify a person’s voice or other sounds towards a targeted direction. This is accomplished by channelling the sound through the megaphone, which also serves to match the...
whenever she wants to make an announcement.
Cast
- Ellie BeavenEllie BeavenEllie Beaven is an English actress. She was educated at St. Mary's R.C. Primary School in Isleworth then at Gumley House Convent School, Isleworth.-Film & television:...
- Natalie Wild - Honeysuckle WeeksHoneysuckle WeeksHoneysuckle Weeks is a British actress, best known for her starring role as Samantha Stewart in the British TV series Foyle's War, since 2002.-Background:...
- Serena Wild (series 1 & 2) - Peter Kelly - Arthur Wild
- Annette EkblomAnnette EkblomAnnette Ekblom is a British actress. She is the mother of actress Amelia Warner.She starred as Linda in Willy Russell's musical Blood Brothers when Bill Kenwright's production opened in London in 1988...
- Mrs Wild (series 1 & 2) - Philip Bird - Mr Wild (series 1 & 2)
- Meg JohnsonMeg JohnsonMeg Johnson is an English actress who currently plays the role of Pearl Ladderbanks in ITV's popular soap opera Emmerdale. Prior to joining Emmedale, Johnson was a part of the now-axed UK soap Brookside, playing Brigid McKenna for three years...
- Aunt Yvette (series 2 & 3) - Doreen MantleDoreen MantleDoreen Mantle is a South African-born British actress who is probably best known for her role as Mrs Jean Warboys in One Foot in the Grave ....
- Granny (series 2 & 3) - Catherine BaileyCatherine Bailey-Acting career:Catherine Bailey started acting at the age of 12 when she landed the lead role of Helen Green in Uncle Jack, a BBC television series starring Paul Jones and Fenella Fielding...
- Georgina (series 2 & 3) - Tilly Gerrard - Emily (series 2 & 3)
- Holly Lambert - Annie Smerdon (series 2 & 3)
- John Glynn - Matt (series 2 & 3)
- Richard Burke - Dave (series 3)
- David Blair - Gavin (series 3)
- Jonathan Barlow - Uncle George (series 3)
- Susan Edmonstone - Aunt Penny (series 3)
- James Hickmott - Chris Kitto (series 1 - 3)
Crew
- Jean Buchanan - Writer
- Andy Watts - Writer
- Mark HaddonMark HaddonMark Haddon is an English novelist and poet, best known for his 2003 novel The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.- Life and work :...
- Writer - Philip Gerard - Writer
- Sarah Louise Hawkins - Writer
- Philip Gerard - Writer
- Yvonne Coppard - Additional Material
- Mark Haddon - Additional Material
- Yvonne Coppard - Additional Material
- John Smith - Director
- Roger Singleton-TurnerRoger Singleton-TurnerRoger Singleton-Turner is a British television director, known for a number of series including The Demon Headmaster for the BBC.-Directing:Singleton-Turner began his directing career in 1974 on the long-running story-telling programme, Jackanory...
- Director - Roz Anderson - Producer
- Marilyn Fox - Producer
- John Smith - Producer
Production
- Episode length: 25 minutes
- Series One (12 episodes), 8 January - 26 March 1997, BBC1BBC OneBBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
Wednesday 4.35pm - Series Two (12 episodes) 7 January - 25 March 1998, BBC1 Wednesday 4.35pm
- Series Three (13 episodes) 6 January - 31 March 1999, BBC1 Wednesday 4.35pm
Later production of Welcome to Orty-Fou:
- Series One (7 episodes) 21 September 1999 - 2 November 1999
- Series Two (7 episodes) 12 September 2000 - 24 October 2000