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Catweazle
Catweazle-title.jpg
Catweazle opening titles
Created by Richard Carpenter
Starring Geoffrey Bayldon
Country of origin United Kingdom
No. of series 2
No. of episodes 26
Production
Running time 25 minutes
Production company(s) London Weekend
Release
Original network ITV
Original release 15 February 1970 (1970-02-15) – 4 April 1971 (1971-04-04)

Catweazle is a fun British children's fantasy TV show. It stars Geoffrey Bayldon as the main character, Catweazle. The show was created by Richard Carpenter for London Weekend Television.

The first series aired in the UK on ITV in 1970. The second series followed in 1971. Each series had thirteen episodes. Most of these were written by Richard Carpenter. He also wrote two books based on the TV show.

What is Catweazle About?

The story begins in the 11th century. A clumsy wizard named Catweazle (Geoffrey Bayldon) is running from soldiers. He carries his magic charm and his toad friend, called a familiar. A familiar is like a magical pet that helps a wizard.

Catweazle says a spell and jumps into a pond. When he comes out, he thinks he made the soldiers disappear. But he actually jumped 900 years into the future! He lands on a farm in England in the year 1969.

Catweazle's New Friends and Challenges

Catweazle quickly becomes friends with the farmer's son, Edward Bennet. Edward is a red-headed teenager nicknamed Carrot (Robin Davies). Carrot spends most of the show trying to hide Catweazle. He hides him from his father (Bud Tingwell) and the farmhand Sam (Neil McCarthy).

Catweazle hides in an old water tower. He calls it Castle Saburac. His toad, Touchwood, is always with him. Catweazle is always looking for a way to return to his own time. If anyone sees him, he uses his magic amulet. It hypnotizes people so they forget they saw him.

Magic and Modern Technology

Catweazle thinks all modern technology is powerful magic. For example, he calls electricity "elec-trickery." He calls a telephone handset a "telling bone" because a voice comes out of it.

He often tries spells that don't work. He sighs and says, "Nothing works." But in the very last episode, he feels successful. His final words are, "Everything works Touchwood, everything works!"

Filming Locations and Style

Both series were filmed on 16mm film. The first series was mostly filmed in 1969. It took place at Home Farm in East Clandon, England. The second series was filmed in 1970. It was mostly shot around Bayford and Brickendon in Hertfordshire. Inside scenes were filmed at Halliford Studios.

The show focuses on the friendship between Catweazle and the young boy from the present day. The second series was a bit more silly than the first. The show won an award in 1971. It was for Best Children's TV Drama Script.

Series 1

The first series of Catweazle was shown in the UK. It aired from February 15, 1970, to May 10, 1970.

Main Cast of Series 1

Geoffrey Bayldon 2009
Geoffrey Bayldon (2009), the actor who played Catweazle.

Series 1 Episodes

  1. The Sun in a Bottle (15 February 1970)
  2. Castle Saburac (22 February 1970)
  3. The Curse of Rapkyn (1 March 1970)
  4. The Witching Hour (8 March 1970)
  5. The Eye of Time (15 March 1970)
  6. The Magic Face (22 March 1970)
  7. The Telling Bone (29 March 1970)
  8. The Power of Adamcos (5 April 1970)
  9. The Demi Devil (12 April 1970)
  10. The House of the Sorcerer (19 April 1970)
  11. The Flying Broomsticks (26 April 1970)
  12. The Wisdom of Solomon (3 May 1970)
  13. The Trickery Lantern (10 May 1970)

Series 2

The second series aired from January 10, 1971, to April 4, 1971. This series had new characters, except for Catweazle himself.

Main Cast of Series 2

  • Catweazle: Geoffrey Bayldon
  • Cedric Collingford (aka Owlface): Gary Warren
  • Lord Collingford: Moray Watson
  • Lady Collingford (Dottie Darling): Elspet Gray
  • (Henry)Groome: Peter Butterworth
  • Mrs Gowdie: Gwen Nelson

Series 2 Episodes

  1. The Magic Riddle (10 January 1971)
  2. Duck Halt (17 January 1971)
  3. The Heavenly Twins (24 January 1971)
  4. The Sign of the Crab (31 January 1971)
  5. The Black Wheels (7 February 1971)
  6. The Wogle Stone (14 February 1971)
  7. The Enchanted King (21 February 1971)
  8. The Familiar Spirit (28 February 1971)
  9. The Ghost Hunters (7 March 1971)
  10. The Walking Trees (14 March 1971)
  11. The Battle of the Giants (21 March 1971)
  12. The Magic Circle (28 March 1971)
  13. The Thirteenth Sign (4 April 1971)

Books and Movies

Richard Carpenter wrote two books based on the show. They are called Catweazle and Catweazle and the Magic Zodiac. A comic strip version also appeared in the TV comic Look-in.

Both series of Catweazle were released on VHS tapes in 1998. Later, they came out on DVD in 2005. A special 40th-anniversary DVD set was released in 2010. It included extra features and a book called The Magic Book.

Richard Carpenter hoped to make a Catweazle movie. He even wrote a new script for it. Sadly, he passed away in 2012, and the movie was never made.

A German movie version of Catweazle was released in March 2021. It stars German comedian Otto Waalkes as Catweazle.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Catweazle para niños

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