WORZEL GUMMIDGE DOWN UNDER. SERIES 1. EPISODE 1. AS THE SCARECROW FLIES

Rights Information
Year
1987
Reference
F1180
Media type
Moving image
Item unavailable online

This content is for private viewing only. The material may not always be available for supply.
Click for more information on rights and requesting.

Ask about this item

Ask to use material, get more information or tell us about an item

Rights Information
Year
1987
Reference
F1180
Media type
Moving image
Item unavailable online

This content is for private viewing only. The material may not always be available for supply.
Click for more information on rights and requesting.

Series
WORZEL GUMMIDGE DOWN UNDER
Place of production
New Zealand/Aotearoa, United Kingdom
Categories
Television
Duration
00:25:09
Production company
Grahame McLean & Associates
Credits
Director: James Hill
Writer: Willis Hall
Writer: Keith Waterhouse
Cast: Una Stubbs
Cast: Olivia Ihimaera-Smiler
Cast: Wi Kuki Kaa
Cast: Jonathan Marks
Cast: Jon Pertwee
Cast: Bruce Phillips
Producer: Grahame J. McLean
Cast: Michael Haigh
Cast: Gerald Bryan
Cast: Joy Watson
Cast: Patupatu Ripley
Cast: Alice Fraser
Cast: Jeff Boyd
Cast: Patrick Smith
Music: David Fraser
Editor: Simon Reece
Editor: Jamie Selkirk
Post-Production at: The National Film Unit Of New Zealand
Camera: John Mahaffie
Sound Recordist: Ken Saville
NZ Script Consultant: Frances Walsh
Based on the characters created by: Barbara Euphan Todd
Assistant Director: Tim Coddington
Special Effects: Peter Jackson

Children’s series following the New Zealand adventures of the walking talking scarecrow Worzel Gummidge.

WORZEL GUMMIDGE ran on British tv for four series from 1979. “After Southern Television [UK] lost its franchise in 1981, Jon [Pertwee] managed to secure a co-production deal for two further seasons to be made in New Zealand. Entitled WORZEL GUMMIDGE DOWN UNDER, these were ... screened on British television, but ironically have never been seen on New Zealand television.” - The New Zealand Doctor Who Fan Club; http://doctorwho.org.nz/archive/tsv48/jonpertweealife.html; retrieved 31/10/2016. (The first four episodes were however stitched together into a feature film for New Zealand release. See F1169)

“The new location was explained away thus: on display in an antiques shop, Aunt Sally is bought by a folk-museum curator from NZ and is despatched Down Under to appear as an exhibit. Worzel pursues her as an aeroplane stowaway, although he has to avoid the clutches of the evil Travelling Scarecrowmaker, and the pair find themselves enjoying new comic adventures at a location just outside of Wellington. Two series of new programmes materialised - the first scripted, as before, by Waterhouse and Hall - with the cast showing a few more wrinkles but enjoying the same old fun.” - The bbc.co.uk Guide To Comedy; via https://web.archive.org/web/20050112115539/http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/w/worzelgummidgedo_1299003433.shtml; retrieved 31/10/2016.

In this episode Worzel meets his new master, the Crowman of New Zealand (played by Bruce Phillips)

Wellington airport signage captured: “Wellington International Airport Operated By The Wellington City Corporation” and “The City of Wellington Welcomes You. May Your Stay Be A Happy One.”