Lizzie Dripping facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lizzie Dripping |
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Title card for the episode Lizzie Dripping By The Sea. All episodes had simple titles set against this moving background image.
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| Created by | Helen Cresswell |
| Starring | Tina Heath Keith Allingham Sonia Dresdel Geoffrey Matthews Barbara Mitchell Candida Lucy Rowe Jane Lowe Sheila Raynor Graham Roberts Caroline Rowe David Barson Tom Georgeson Ann Morrish |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes | 9 (excluding pilot on Jackanory Playhouse) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 25 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC1 |
| Original release | 13 March 1973 – 27 March 1975 |
| Chronology | |
| Preceded by | Lizzie Dripping and the Orphans (Jackanory Playhouse, 15 December 1972) |
Lizzie Dripping is a fun British television show for kids. It was made by the BBC in 1973 and 1974. The second series was shown in 1975. The show was written by Helen Cresswell.
It's about a young girl named Penelope (played by Tina Heath). She lives in a country village called Little Hemlock. Penelope has a super active imagination. She meets a local witch (played by Sonia Dresdel) who only she can see and hear!
The problem is, Penelope is known for making up stories. This makes it really hard for her to convince anyone that her witch friend is real. The show was called Lizzie Dripping Again in its second year.
Contents
What is a Lizzie Dripping?
If you're not from the United Kingdom, the show's name might seem a bit confusing. "Lizzie Dripping" isn't Penelope's real name. It's a slang term from the Nottingham area.
It describes a spunky girl who sometimes struggles to tell the difference between what's real and what's make-believe. So, the show's title is actually a nickname for Penelope. Her real name is Penelope Arbuckle.
How the Stories Work
Most episodes of Lizzie Dripping tell a complete story in just one episode. This is different from shows where one big story continues over many episodes. Small parts might connect between episodes, but each one is mostly on its own.
The stories are told by a narrator. In the very first episode, a different person narrated. But when the main series started in 1973, Penelope herself (played by Tina Heath) became the narrator. This meant you heard the stories from her point of view.
Episodes of Lizzie Dripping
The Lizzie Dripping series had a total of nine episodes. There was also a special pilot episode shown on Jackanory Playhouse before the main series began.
The first series aired in 1973 and included four episodes:
- Lizzie Dripping and the Witch
- Lizzie Dripping's Black Sunday
- Lizzie Dripping Runs Away
- Lizzie Dripping and the Leek Nobblers
The second series, sometimes called Lizzie Dripping Again, aired in 1975 and had five episodes:
- Lizzie Dripping and a Wish
- Lizzie Dripping and the Little Angel
- Lizzie Dripping Tries a Spell
- Lizzie Dripping by the Sea
- Lizzie Dripping Says Goodbye
Lizzie Dripping Beyond TV
The Lizzie Dripping stories have been shared in other ways too!
Home Video Releases
Some episodes were released on VHS tapes in 1990. These videos were given a "U" rating, meaning they were suitable for everyone.
Later, in 2017, the complete series was released on a two-DVD set. This set included all nine main episodes. However, the very first pilot episode from Jackanory Playhouse was not included.
Books and Audio
Even after the TV show ended, new Lizzie Dripping books have been published in the UK. Many of these books were based on the original stories from 1973 and 1974. But there have been some new adventures too, like Lizzie Dripping on Holiday from 1994.
The character also returned to TV in a way when stories were read on the children's show Jackanory. Actress Patricia Routledge read Lizzie Dripping by Moonlight in 1991 and Lizzie Dripping and the Witch in 1992.
Some of the stories have also been released as audio recordings. A notable one is a 2001 recording by Tina Heath, who played Penelope in the TV show.
