Bad Penny (TV series) facts for kids
Bad Penny was a fun CBBC TV show. It was a sitcom, which means it was a funny show about everyday life. The show ran for two years, from 2003 to 2004. There were 13 episodes in total.
The main star was Anne Foy. She played a character named Penny Dreadful. Penny was a sweet and happy girl. But she often had to deal with her strange family. She also tried to stop their tricky plans. Penny's dad, Pa, was played by Graham Fellows. He was a bit silly and always did what Penny's family told him.
Contents
What Was Bad Penny About?
Penny's Adventures
In every episode, Penny faced new challenges. She often met strange characters. These characters would appear through her wardrobe! It was like a secret door to other worlds. Penny always tried to help them.
For example, she helped a scarecrow who ran away. She also met a Dickensian rat-catcher. He was chasing a giant rat named Lord Ironside. Another time, she met Chips. Chips was a space pilot dog from Geordie. This story was a bit like the old movie Planet of the Apes.
Famous Catchphrase
The show had a famous saying: "This is a mad house, a mad house!" Penny said this in every episode. It was a funny line taken right from the Planet of the Apes movie.
The Show's Humour
The humour in Bad Penny was very unique. It mixed silly physical comedy, called slapstick, with clever talking. It also had a style similar to the famous comedy group Monty Python. Each episode had its own story. There were also smaller side stories and quick, funny scenes.
Who Was in Bad Penny?
The Talented Cast
The show had a group of actors who played different roles in each episode. This made it extra fun to watch!
Some of the actors included Adrian Mills from That's Life!. Also, Martin Hancock from Coronation Street was in the show. Another actor was Rusty Goffe. He played an Oompa-Loompa in the original Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory movie. He was also a Jawa and a Droid in the first Star Wars movie. Rusty Goffe also played a character called Goober in another CBBC show called Stupid!. That show was also written by Dean Wilkinson.
The Director
The first series of Bad Penny was directed by Graeme Harper. He also directed episodes of Doctor Who in the 1980s. Later, he directed episodes of the 2006 Doctor Who series. That was when David Tennant played the Doctor.
