Worzel Gummidge

Synopsis

Worzel Gummidge is a children's comedy series, produced by Southern Television for ITV, based on the books by Barbara Euphan Todd. Starting in 1979, the programme starred Jon Pertwee in the title role and ran for four series in the UK until 1981. Channel 4 reprised the show in 1987 as Worzel Gummidge Down Under, which was set in New Zealand.

First Air Date: 1979-02-25

Last Air Date: 1981-07-31

Number of Seasons: 4

Number of Episodes: 31

Created By: Barbara Euphan Todd, Willis Hall, Keith Waterhouse

Networks: ITV1

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

Jon Pertwee as Worzel Gummidge
Charlotte Coleman as Sue Peters
Jeremy Austin as John Peters
Mike Berry as Mr. Peters
Norman Bird as Mr. Braithwaite
Geoffrey Bayldon as The Crowman
Una Stubbs as Aunt Sally
Megs Jenkins as Mrs. Braithwaite
Michael Ripper as Mr. Shepherd
Norman Mitchell as P.C. Parsons

Seasons

Specials (1980) - (2 Episodes)

Series 1 (1979) - (7 Episodes)

Series 2 (1980) - (8 Episodes)

Series 3 (1980) - (9 Episodes)

Series 4 (1981) - (7 Episodes)

Specials (1980)

Children's series about the adventures of Worzel Gummidge, a scarecrow who comes to life.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: A Cup o' Tea an' a Slice o' Cake (1) (1980-12-27)

Double-length musical holiday special: it's Christmas Eve, a most important day for scarecrows as they must stand in position to guide Santa Claus back to the North Pole. Worzel Gummidge, however, deserts his post to enjoy the delights of the season, jeopardizing his chances for attending the Scarecrow Ball.
Ep. 2: A Cup o' Tea an' a Slice o' Cake (2) (1980-12-27)

It’s Christmas Eve and Worzel’s feeling the cold. However any hopes he has of a Christmas holiday are dashed when the Crowman, canny to Worzel’s ways, ties him to his post in Ten-Acre field and points him North as he does with all Scarecrows. This is because Santa Claus uses the Scarecrows as landmarks to guide him back home after he has delivered all the gifts. As an extra security measure he also threatens to ban Worzel from the Scarecrow ball the following evening if he leaves his post. However all this is in vain as five minutes later John and Sue turn up and untie Worzel who immediately heads for Farmer Braithwaite’s barn to dig out his party-going head. He finds it and heads up to the hall to find Aunt Sally who he intends to take to the Scarecrow ball. Unfortunately Worzel soon discovers that it is months since she left the hall and so all he succeeds in doing is getting shot at by Col. Bloodstock Unabashed by this Worzel continues his search and meets up with the Saucy Nancy who is living on a Pantomime Showboat on wheels! The reunion however is short lived when he is set upon by the boat’s owner and PC Parsons. Of course Worzel escapes and then, as luck would have it, he runs into Aunt Sally who has fallen on hard times and is selling bundles of kindling wood from a hand cart at 50 pence a bundle. As usual Worzel takes over her duties from her but, will they reach the Scarecrow ball and, more importantly, will the Crowman let them in?