Worzel Gummidge (1979)
- TV sitcom
- ITV1
- 1979 - 1981
- 31 episodes (4 series)
Jon Pertwee and Una Stubbs star in a childrens' sitcom about a scarecrow who comes to life. Also features Mike Berry, Jeremy Austin, Charlotte Coleman, Geoffrey Bayldon, Megs Jenkins and more.
- Series 4, Episode 6 repeated Tuesday at 12pm on TPTV
- Streaming rank this week: 5,712
Win a copy of the restored Worzel Gummidge collection starring Jon Pertwee
The brilliant Worzel Gummidge is coming to Blu-ray, and we have three copies of the amazing new box set to give away.
One of the most iconic kids' sitcoms of all time, the 1979 incarnation of Worzel Gummidge - starring former Doctor Who lead Jon Pertwee, has been comprehensively restored over the last two years, following the discovery of original film elements that had for decades been thought lost and destroyed.
With previous DVD releases of the show mastered from old VHS copies of the thirty-one episodes that are at times so worn as to look black and white, the new set from Fabulous Films represents a huge leap in picture and sound quality, and is an absolute must-own for fans of the hit series, which attracted a wide viewership of children and adults alike across its four series run.
Each of the episodes has been newly digitised from the film masters in high definition, comprehensively restored frame-by-frame, and had its soundtrack similarly meticulously cleaned, revealing the classic sitcom - written by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall - in a new light. The results are, quite simply, astounding.
Available in both standard definition DVD and high definition Blu-ray (for the full experience) variants, the 5-disc set is overflowing with extras and looks set to become one of the best and most mouth-watering must-own home entertainment releases in years.
As well as Pertwee, the much-loved series starred Una Stubbs as Aunt Sally, Charlotte Coleman as Sue and Jeremy Austin as John, with Mike Berry as their father, Geoffrey Bayldon as the Crowman, and a guest cast including Barbara Windsor, Joan Sims, Billy Connolly, Lorraine Chase, Connie Booth, Bill Pertwe and Jon's own son, Sean Pertwee, plus many others.
Alongside a double-sided poster of new artwork celebrating the series, each set includes a booklet of comprehensive episode guides, rare photos, designs and storyboards, with an astonishing selection of rarities included across the discs themselves:
9 all-new audio commentaries with cast and crew
A Visit To Scatterbrook Farm: Actors Jeremy Austin and Wayne Norman revisit original Hampshire filming locations
Isolated music and effects tracks on 6 episodes
Unearthed Southern Television promotional films, released for the first time
An option to watch each episode with the original Southern TV continuity; and the original continuity from a Southern TV repeat of the Christmas special
BFI Restoration Preview: A panel discussion with Jeremy Austin, Mike Berry, Lorraine Chase, Wayne Norman and Sean Pertwee from the launch of the restoration in April 2022
A Chat With Saucy Nancy: Barbara Windsor reveals her experiences of appearing several times throughout the series
A Visit To The Crowman: Geoffrey Bayldon recalls his fond memories of playing Worzel's creator
Worzel Cam: Experience life through Worzel's eyes, featuring rushes from the original production
The abandoned episode Worzel Gives A Lecture presented as an audiobook with Jon Pertwee
Barn Find: An insight into the discovery of the original Worzel film cans
Restoring Worzel: Showing the process of bringing the original film negatives back to life
Revisiting Worzel: Jeremy Austin shares photos from his personal collection, while behind the scenes recording the new audio commentaries
Outtakes: A couple of bloopers from the second series
Audio outtakes: Cast and crew can be heard rehearsing key scenes from the third series
Sounds Of Worzel: Sound effects outtakes from 1981
Worzel On Location: Rare 8mm footage of Worzel And The Saucy Nancy being made
Trailers and adverts: ITV publicity adverts shown across the network for the series, and when Worzel went commercial for the TV Times
Extensive photo galleries for each series
Day By Day cast interview: Worzel, Aunt Sally and the Crowman appear on the regional ITV programme to preview the series, with predictably riotous results
Day By Day interview with Lorraine Chase
Day By Yesterday with Jon Pertwee's final appearance on Southern Television as Worzel
This Morning excerpt featuring Una Stubbs and Geoffrey Bayldon
Southern Gold interview with Jeremy Austin and Charlotte Coleman
A rediscovered interview with Jon Pertwee on Robson's People
Worzel in character on The Saturday Show
Aunt Sally visits Downing Street
Worzel on the radio
To celebrate this remarkable release, we have three copies of Worzel Gummidge - The Complete Restored Edition to give away in the winner's choice of format, either Blu-ray or DVD.
But wait! If that weren't enough, each of our lucky winners will receive not one but TWO randomly selected exclusive photo prints, each signed by the eight cast and crew members who recorded the new episode commentaries: Jeremy Austin, who co-starred as John; Wayne Norman, who played Pickles; Mike Berry, who played Mr Peters; Lorraine Chase, who played Dolly Clothes-Peg; Lewis Rudd, the series' executive producer; Gaynor Stevens, costume designer; Ken Brinsley, cameraman; and Hazel Peiser, the production (set) designer.
Ready? Good luck!