The Worst Witch (2017 TV series)
The Worst Witch | |
---|---|
File:Worst Witch Title Card.jpg | |
Genre | <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/> |
Based on | The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy[3][4][5][6] |
Developed by | Emma Reeves |
Directed by | Brian Grant |
Starring | <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
|
Composer(s) | Mark Russell |
Country of origin | United Kingdom[7] Germany[7] |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of series | 4 |
No. of episodes | 52 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) |
|
Producer(s) | <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
|
Production location(s) | Cheshire Germany |
Editor(s) | David Mercer David Head |
Running time | 30 minutes |
Production company(s) | CBBC Productions ZDF |
Release | |
Original network | CBBC (UK) ZDF (Germany) Netflix (international)[8][9] |
Picture format | HDTV 1080i |
Audio format | Dolby Digital 5.1 |
Original release | 11 January 2017[10] – 20 April 2020 |
Chronology | |
Related shows | <templatestyles src="Plainlist/styles.css"/>
|
External links | |
[{{#property:P856}} Website] |
The Worst Witch is a fantasy drama children's television series. Based on novel series of the same name published in 1974 by Jill Murphy, the series follows Mildred Hubble (Bella Ramsey (series 1–3), Lydia Page (series 4)) and her friends Maud Spellbody (Meibh Campbell (series 1), Megan Hughes (series 2–4) and Enid Nightshade (Tamara Smart) and rivals Ethel Hallow (Jenny Richardson), Drusilla Paddock (Tallulah Milligan) and Felicity Foxglove's (Dagny Rollins) adventures and education at Cackle's Academy under caring headmistress Miss Cackle (Clare Higgins) and strict deputy headmistress Miss Hardbroom (Raquel Cassidy). It is the fifth adaptation of The Worst Witch series after the 1986 television film, the 1998 television series, the 2001 television spin-off and the 2005 television spin-off.
The series was an international co-production between CBBC, ZDF and Netflix. The series was made available to stream internationally on Netflix on 22 July 2017. It was available to members in the UK, Ireland and Germany after its premiere on CBBC and ZDF.[9] The series premiered on CBBC on 11 January 2017.[8] A second series began airing from 8 January 2018.[11][12] The second series premiered on Netflix Australia on 27 July 2018. The third series began airing on 7 January 2019.[13] The fourth series began airing on 27 January 2020.[14] Netflix released the fourth series on 1 October 2020.
Contents
Synopsis
Series 1
Mildred Hubble learns about magic and witching, discovering she is a witch despite coming from a non-witching family. With the help of her new friend Maud Spellbody, Mildred goes to an academy for witches and is admitted after she saves it from the headmistress Miss Cackle's evil sister Agatha whose magic is later taken away. Mildred struggles with tasks and work, not knowing about witching her whole life, unlike her classmates. She forms friendships with new girl Enid Nightshade but becomes Ethel Hallow's rival. Later, Mildred gets expelled for leaving the grounds without permission. Agatha comes to Cackle's, tricks Esmeralda, Ethel's older sister, into giving Agatha her magic and takes over as headmistress. Learning Agatha has become headmistress from her rival, Mildred returns to Cackle's, hoping to save it. After Agatha annihilates the school due to no one liking her, Mildred and her classmates perform a spell which reverses all of Agatha's spell. Mildred is brought back to Cackle's and finishes her first year.
Series 2
Mildred returns to Cackle's, a much better witch than she was before. The founding stone, a stone given to witching academies to fuel magic is found. Ethel receives a visit from Esmeralda, trying to convince Esmeralda to take the founding stone's magic which she refuses. However, to save Sybil, Ethel and Esmeralda's younger sister, Esmeralda is forced to take the founding stone's magic, causing magic to go wrong and the castle to start freezing. While Mildred, Maud, Enid and the Hallow sisters search for a way to re-ignite the founding stone, Mildred stumbles upon her ancestor on her family tree and learns the Hubbles are a witching family but Mirabelle, her ancestor, sacrificed her and twelve generations of magic to re-ignite the founding stone. After everybody starts freezing and the academy is evacuated, Mildred realises if she wants to save the academy, she must do what Mirabelle did. Mildred starts the spell but half-way through, Miss Mould, the art teacher, takes her place and sacrifices her magic.
Series 3
Miss Cackle invites Mildred's mum Julie to teach art at Cackle's; however, Julie is treated horribly by Miss Hardbroom, the potions teacher, causing Mildred to steal a wishing star and make her mum magical. At first, Julie is horrified but she eventually starts to like it. However, things get suspicious and Julie gives up her magic. Later, Mildred learns Julie still has her magic and has become malevolent, turning people into clay figures. Miss Hardbroom tells Mildred she made her friend Indigo Moon magical but Indigo also became malevolent and turned to stone for thirty years. Mildred makes a potion to prevent her mum turning to stone and, in the process, turns those who turned into clay figures and Indigo Moon back to people. Julie leaves Cackle's but Indigo crashes into Mildred's room. To stay at Cackle's, Indigo needs to pass her Witch Proficiency Exam which she does but them learns Miss Hardbroom is her old friend and leaves Cackle's. Ethel, however, steals a wishing star and wishes to save the school but results in the school being damaged by a fake Indigo Moon. To stop the fake Indigo, Miss Hardbroom apologises to the real Indigo and they return to Cackle's, proving the fake Indigo is not real.
Series 4
Ethel casts an appearance spell on Mildred to prevent her from running for head girl but Mildred runs and is given a series of tasks to beat Ethel. Mildred withdraws from the competition but finds water that can tell the future and sees Ethel as head girl in front of empty chairs. Horrified, Mildred re-enters the head girl contest in attempt to save the school. During the spell challenge, Ethel's deputy Felicity Foxglove makes Mildred's potion backfire, causing Miss Cackle to turn to glass and Mildred to be sent to Wormwood Academy for Undesirable Witches. Ethel frees Agatha from a photograph Miss Cackle trapped her in and Maud learns Mildred was framed. To save Mildred, Maud gets herself sent to Wormwood and helps her escape. However, Mildred's vision comes true and all the students are sent into vanishment after Agatha changes the Witches' Promise. To take the students out of vanishment, the name of Agatha's first familiar must be said. Spell science teacher Mr Daisy makes a potion which turns Miss Cackle back to herself who says the name, taking everyone out of vanishment. After learning she must return to the photograph, Agatha sends herself into vanishment. In recognition of saving the academy once more, Mildred is promoted to Head Girl and Maud is promoted to Deputy Head Girl in a promotion ceremony on the last day of term and Ethel reconciles with Sybil and Felicity. The series ends with Ethel reconciling with Mildred after apologizing to her for causing trouble and becomes Mildred's adviser.
Main cast
<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>
Character | Actress/Actor | Series | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||
Miss Ada Cackle | Clare Higgins[lower-alpha 1] | Main | |||
Agatha Cackle | Main | Main | |||
Miss Joy Hecate Hardbroom | Raquel Cassidy[lower-alpha 2] | Main | |||
Mildred Hubble | Bella Ramsey[lower-alpha 3] | Main | |||
Lydia Page | Main | ||||
Maud Spellbody[lower-alpha 4] | Meibh Campbell | Main | |||
Megan Hughes | Main | ||||
Drusilla Paddock | Tallulah Milligan | Main | |||
Ethel Hallow[lower-alpha 5] | Jenny Richardson | Main | |||
Felicity Foxglove[lower-alpha 6] | Dagny Rollins | Main | |||
Esmerelda Hallow | Miriam Petche | Main | |||
Miss Geraldine Gullett | Kacey Ainsworth | Main | |||
Miss Gwendolyn Bat | Wendy Craig | Main | |||
Miss Dimity Drill[lower-alpha 7] | Shauna Shim | Main | |||
Julie Hubble | Nicola Stephenson | Main[lower-alpha 8] | |||
Enid Nightshade | Tamara Smart | Main | |||
Mr Algernon Rowan-Webb | Philip Martin Brown | Main | |||
The Great Wizard | Nicholas Jones | Main[lower-alpha 8][lower-alpha 9] | |||
Miss Pippa Pentangle | Amanda Holden | Main[lower-alpha 10] | |||
Sybil Hallow | Trixie Hyde | Main | |||
Clarice Twigg | Kitty Slack | Main | |||
Beatrice Bunch | Ynez Williams | Main | |||
Miss Marigold Mould | Mina Anwar | Main | |||
Mrs Maria Tapioca | Zita Sattar | Recurring | Main | ||
Mabel Tapioca | Annette Hannah | Main | |||
Indigo Moon | Kelsey Calladine-Smith[lower-alpha 11] | Main | |||
Isabella[15] "Izzy" Jones[lower-alpha 12] | Saoirse Addison | Main | |||
Fenella Feverfew | Billie Boullet | Main | |||
Azura Moon | Luciana Akpobaro | Main | |||
Miss Arabella Hempnettle | Karen Paullada | Main | |||
Mr Daisy | Nitin Ganatra | Main |
Episodes
<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>
Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | |||
1 | 13 | 11 January 2017 | 29 March 2017 | |
2 | 13 | 8 January 2018 | 26 March 2018 | |
3 | 13 | 7 January 2019 | 25 March 2019 | |
4 | 13 | 27 January 2020 | 20 April 2020 |
Production
Development and casting
In 2014, a new series of The Worst Witch was in development with the BBC.[16] Jill Murphy, the author of the book series, said the series should be "wonderful".[17] The cast of the show was announced in October 2016.[18] Bella Ramsey, who had starred in Game of Thrones, was cast as Mildred. Ramsey drew similarities between herself and Mildred.[7] Meibh Campbell played the role of Maud Spellbody for series 1, but was replaced by Megan Hughes from series 2.[19] Of her casting, Hughes said working on the show is "great and I [Hughes] love the experience" and that she is "so grateful for the opportunity". Hughes had two auditions before being offered the part of Maud.[19] Tamara Smart gained the part of Enid Nightshade after four months of auditioning, which she described as "very long" yet "nerve racking but at the same time very exciting". Smart was excited about the "amazing experience" when she got the part.[20] Jenny Richardson and Miriam Petche were cast as sisters Ethel and Esmerelda Hallow.[21][22] Tallulah Milligan, the daughter of Coronation Street and Waterloo Road actress Angela Griffin, was cast as Drusilla Paddock. Griffin said Milligan "absolutely loved" working on the show.[23] Dagny Rollins plays the role of Felicity Foxglove.[24]
Filming
The Worst Witch was filmed at Peckforton Castle, Peckforton Cheshire, England and Burg Hohenzollern, Swabian Alps, Germany.[25] The second series is also filmed at Adlington Hall, Adlington, Cheshire, using their grand hall, minstrel's gallery and their countryside and woods backdrop.[26] Bella Ramsey described filming as being "really good", but said there were some challenging elements and described learning the stunts as "hard".[7] Megan Hughes' mother, Claire, stated that Hughes had an "amazing time" and was "really happy, really positive" throughout filming.[19]
Reception
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the first series has a rating of 100% based on five critic reviews, with an average rating of 8/10.[27] Decider called the show "sweet, fun, and a little bit goofy".[28] Common Sense Media favourably compared it to Harry Potter though it was "quirkier" and "less scary".[2]
Accolades
Year | Award | Category | Recipient(s)/Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | British Screenwriters' Awards | Best British Children's Television | Emma Reeves | Won | [29] |
2018 | British Academy Children's Awards | Young Performer | Bella Ramsey | Nominated | [30] |
2018 | British Academy Children's Awards | Drama | Delyth Thomas, Neil Jones, Kim Crowther | Nominated | [31] |
2019 | British Academy Children's Awards | Young Performer | Bella Ramsey | Won | [32] |
2019 | British Academy Children's Awards | Drama | Kim Crowther, Dirk Campbell, Neil Jones | Nominated | [33] |
2019 | British Academy Children's Awards | Performer | Raquel Cassidy | Nominated | [34] |
2019 | British Academy Children's Awards | Director | Dirk Campbell | Won | [35] |
2020 | Writers' Guild Awards | Best Children's TV Episode | Neil Jones for "Bad Magic" | Nominated | [36] |
Notes
- ↑ Clare Gower and Sarah Gower portray the younger versions of Ada and Agatha Cackle in series 1, respectively.
- ↑ Amelia Baldock portrays the younger version of Miss Hardbroom in series 3 and 4.
- ↑ Rachel Bell portrays the older version of Mildred in series 1.
- ↑ Meibh Campbell also portrays Mona Spellbody in series 1.
- ↑ Jenny Richardson also portrays Beryl Hallow in series 1.
- ↑ Dagny Rollins also portrays Felicia Foxglove in series 1.
- ↑ Shauna Shim also portrays Miss Drill's older relative in series 1.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 In the seventh and eighth episodes of series 1, Nicola Stephenson is not credited in the opening sequence despite making an appearance. Instead, Nicholas Jones is credited in her place despite not appearing in those episodes.
- ↑ In the third series, Jones only appears in the first episode despite being credited as a main cast member.
- ↑ In series 1, Holden only appears in episode 10 and in series 2, she only appears in episode 10 despite being credited as a main cast member.
- ↑ Renée Castle portrays the older version of Indigo in series 4.
- ↑ In series 4 episodes 1–5 and 10 CBBC's rolling end titles displayed Izzy Jones' surname incorrectly as Izzy Peppercorn.
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Mark Jermin Management on Twitter: HUGE well done to Miriam Petche who will be playing the role of Esmerelda in new CBBC remake of THE WORST WITCH!
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
- The Worst Witch at BBC Programmes
- The Worst Witch on NetflixLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). The Worst Witch at IMDb
- Articles with short description
- EngvarB from November 2016
- Articles with invalid date parameter in template
- Use British English from February 2021
- Use dmy dates from January 2021
- Pages with broken file links
- Pages using infobox television with editor parameter
- Pages containing links to subscription-only content
- The Worst Witch
- 2010s British children's television series
- 2010s German television series
- 2017 British television series debuts
- 2017 German television series debuts
- 2020s British children's television series
- 2020s German drama television series
- 2020 British television series endings
- 2020 German television series endings
- BBC children's television shows
- British supernatural television shows
- British television shows based on children's books
- English-language Netflix original programming
- Netflix children's programming
- Television series about teenagers
- Television about magic
- Television shows filmed in England
- Television shows filmed in Germany
- Witchcraft in television
- Wizards in television
- ZDF original programming