Worzel Gummidge
Encyclopedia
Worzel Gummidge is a British
children's fictional character who originally appeared in a series of books by the novelist Barbara Euphan Todd
. A walking, talking scarecrow
, Gummidge has a set of interchangeable turnip
, mangel worzel and swede
heads, each of which suit a particular occasion or endow him with a specific skill.
The books were adapted for radio and television a number of times, most successfully with former Doctor Who
actor Jon Pertwee
taking the lead role in 1979 on ITV; originally produced in the UK, but later in New Zealand
The first paperback version of the first book, released in 1941, has the distinction of being the first story book published by the famous childrens' imprint Puffin
.
on the BBC
's Children's Hour
. By 1946, Worzel was played by veteran radio actor Philip Wade, John by John Clark
, Susan by Rosamund Barnes, and Earthy Mangold by Mabel Constanduros
. Later, Worzel was played by Denis Folwell, who went on to play Jack Archer in the BBC's perennial soap opera
The Archers
.
by Gordon Rollings
.
's production for ITV
was written by Keith Waterhouse
and Willis Hall
, and starred Jon Pertwee
as Worzel, with Una Stubbs
as Aunt Sally, a life-size fairground doll and Worzel's femme fatale
. This was a significant change from the original books, where Aunt Sally is, in fact, Worzel's aunt. The Crowman, who made Worzel and some of his other scarecrow friends, was played by Geoffrey Bayldon
better known for his starring role as the title character of Catweazle
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
children's fictional character who originally appeared in a series of books by the novelist Barbara Euphan Todd
Barbara Euphan Todd
Barbara Euphan Todd was a British writer, most notable for her children's books about the scarecrow Worzel Gummidge....
. A walking, talking scarecrow
Scarecrow
A scarecrow is, essentially, a decoy, though traditionally, a human figure dressed in old clothes and placed in fields by farmers to discourage birds such as crows or sparrows from disturbing and feeding on recently cast seed and growing crops.-History:In Kojiki, the oldest surviving book in Japan...
, Gummidge has a set of interchangeable turnip
Turnip
The turnip or white turnip is a root vegetable commonly grown in temperate climates worldwide for its white, bulbous taproot. Small, tender varieties are grown for human consumption, while larger varieties are grown as feed for livestock...
, mangel worzel and swede
Rutabaga
The rutabaga, swede , turnip or yellow turnip is a root vegetable that originated as a cross between the cabbage and the turnip; see Triangle of U...
heads, each of which suit a particular occasion or endow him with a specific skill.
The books were adapted for radio and television a number of times, most successfully with former Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
actor Jon Pertwee
Jon Pertwee
John Devon Roland Pertwee , was an English actor. Pertwee is best known for his role in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who, in which he played the third incarnation of the Doctor from 1970 to 1974, and as the title character in the series Worzel Gummidge...
taking the lead role in 1979 on ITV; originally produced in the UK, but later in New Zealand
Outline
Worzel Gummidge was a scarecrow that could come to life. He befriended John and Susan, two children who often had to cover up after him. Worzel had a collection of interchangeable heads; each suiting a particular occasion or allowing him to perform a certain task.Books
- Worzel Gummidge (1936)
- Worzel Gummidge Again (1937)
- More About Worzel Gummidge (1938)
- Worzel Gummidge And Saucy Nancy (1947)
- Worzel Gummidge Takes A Holiday (1949)
- Earthy Mangold And Worzel Gummidge (1954)
- Worzel Gummidge And The Railway Scarecrows (1955)
- Worzel Gummidge At The Circus (1956)
- Worzel Gummidge And The Treasure Ship (1958)
- Detective Worzel Gummidge (1963)
The first paperback version of the first book, released in 1941, has the distinction of being the first story book published by the famous childrens' imprint Puffin
Puffin Books
Puffin Books is the children's imprint of British publishers Penguin Books. Since the 1960s it has been the largest publisher of children's books in the UK and much of the English-speaking world.-Early history:...
.
Children's Hour
The first broadcast with Worzel was before World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
on the BBC
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...
's Children's Hour
Children's Hour
Children's Hour—at first: "The Children's Hour", from a verse by Longfellow—was the name of the BBC's principal recreational service for children during the period when radio dominated broadcasting....
. By 1946, Worzel was played by veteran radio actor Philip Wade, John by John Clark
John Clark (actor/director)
Ivan John Clark is an English actor, director, producer, and writer with British, American and Canadian citizenship. He is also known as the ex-husband of actress Lynn Redgrave, to whom he was married for 33 years.-Early career:...
, Susan by Rosamund Barnes, and Earthy Mangold by Mabel Constanduros
Mabel Constanduros
Mabel Constanduros , birth name Mabel Tilling, was an English actress and screenwriter. She achieved fame playing Mrs.Buggins on the radio programme The Buggins Family, which ran from 1928 to 1948. She played Earthy Mangold in the popular Worzel Gummidge radio serial on the BBC Children's Hour...
. Later, Worzel was played by Denis Folwell, who went on to play Jack Archer in the BBC's perennial soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
The Archers
The Archers
The Archers is a long-running British soap opera broadcast on the BBC's main spoken-word channel, Radio 4. It was originally billed as "an everyday story of country folk", but is now described on its Radio 4 web site as "contemporary drama in a rural setting"...
.
Jackanory
In July 1967 five Worzel Gummidge stories were read on JackanoryJackanory
Jackanory is a long-running BBC children's television series that was designed to stimulate an interest in reading. The show was first transmitted on 13 December 1965, the first story being the fairy-tale Cap o' Rushes read by Lee Montague. Jackanory continued to be broadcast until 24 March 1996,...
by Gordon Rollings
Gordon Rollings
Gordon Charles Rollings was a British actor who mainly appeared on television, but also appeared on-stage and in feature films. He was born in Batley, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England and started his career in radio in Israel...
.
1979 Television series
Southern TelevisionSouthern Television
Southern Television was the first ITV broadcasting licence holder for the south and south-east of England from 30 August 1958 until the night of 31 December 1981. The company was launched as Southern Television Limited and the title Southern Television was consistently used on-air throughout its life...
's production for ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
was written by Keith Waterhouse
Keith Waterhouse
Keith Spencer Waterhouse CBE was a novelist, newspaper columnist, and the writer of many television series.-Biography:Keith Waterhouse was born in Hunslet, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
and Willis Hall
Willis Hall
Willis Hall was an English playwright and radio and television writer who drew on his working class roots in Leeds for much of his writings....
, and starred Jon Pertwee
Jon Pertwee
John Devon Roland Pertwee , was an English actor. Pertwee is best known for his role in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who, in which he played the third incarnation of the Doctor from 1970 to 1974, and as the title character in the series Worzel Gummidge...
as Worzel, with Una Stubbs
Una Stubbs
Una Stubbs is an English actress and former dancer who has appeared extensively on British television and in the theatre, and less frequently in films. She is particularly known for her roles in the sitcom Till Death Us Do Part and Aunt Sally in the children's series Worzel Gummidge.-Film and...
as Aunt Sally, a life-size fairground doll and Worzel's femme fatale
Femme fatale
A femme fatale is a mysterious and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire, often leading them into compromising, dangerous, and deadly situations. She is an archetype of literature and art...
. This was a significant change from the original books, where Aunt Sally is, in fact, Worzel's aunt. The Crowman, who made Worzel and some of his other scarecrow friends, was played by Geoffrey Bayldon
Geoffrey Bayldon
Geoffrey Bayldon is a British actor. After playing roles in many dramas including Shakespeare, he became known for portraying the title role of the children's series Catweazle , after turning down the opportunity to play both the First and Second Doctors in the long-running BBC science fiction...
better known for his starring role as the title character of Catweazle
Catweazle
Catweazle was a British television series, created and written by Richard Carpenter which was produced and directed by Quentin Lawrence for London Weekend Television under the LWI banner, and screened in the UK on ITV in 1970 and 1971...
.
External links
- The Completely Unofficial Worzel Gummidge Website — fansite relating to the 1979 television series.