Worzel Gummidge
The series of
Worzel Gummidge which brought Barbara Euphan
Todd's popular talking scarecrow to television had actually been
suggested by former Doctor Who star Jon Pertwee. Pertwee then
starred in the series as the turnip headed scarecrow from Ten Acre
Field at Scatterbrook Farm.
The mischievous scarecrow in the straggly straw hat, with a
unique line in yokelese, was the friend of young John and Sue
Peters who had just moved to the countryside with their dad
(having recently lost their mum). Worzel transformed their lives
with his clumsy antics and good-natured humour.
The Crowman, Worzel's creator, was played by former Catweazle
star Geoffrey Bayldon, while Una Stubbs played the worst bitch
who's ever been on television - Worzel's reluctant skittle doll
girlfriend Aunt Sally (pictured below left).
She was horrid, she was rude and she was consistently beastly
to Worzel who loved her dearly. Worzel also fell for Barbara
Windsor's Saucy Nancy (a ship's figurehead) and flirted with a
tailor's dummy called Dolly Clothes-Peg (Lorraine Chase).
In marked contrast to his role as Doctor Who, the part
of Worzel Gummidge gave Pertwee the chance to show off his comedy
skills and the funny voices he had used on many BBC radio shows
including The Navy Lark. In 1980 Jon Pertwee even released
a novelty single called Worzel's Song which became a minor
chart hit.
 Only
eight of the planned 13 episodes were filmed, and the Christmas
edition - made in October in Lymington, Hampshire - snowed more
trouble for the production.
The fake snow was a white powder used
for making toothpaste. Unfortunately it blew everywhere and clung
to the food in shops as well as to furniture and clothes on
people's washing lines.
Restaurants had to throw out the dish of
the day and dress shops had to get rid of ruined items.
But the worst was yet to come - Southern Television lost the
franchise, and the new company (TVS) declined to continue with
Worzel.
A saviour appeared in the form of Harlech Television, but
eleven days before they were due to start filming more episodes,
the project was cancelled because of a dispute with
technicians.
Channel 4 repeated the series in 1986 but Worzel and Jon
remained bumswizzled until an independent New Zealand company came
to the rescue and purchased the rights to make Worzel Gummidge
Down Under with Worzel taking up residence in the Antipodes
(the series was actually filmed in New Zealand) in 1987.
TRIVIA NOTES
Jon Pertwee made Worzel's warts from
Sugar Puffs cut in half, and his wispy beard from carrot roots.
Television's first Worzel Gummidge was Frank Atkinson, who played
the part in the 1953 series Worzel Gummidge Turns Detective.
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