Mike and Angelo facts for kids

Mike and Angelo was a fun British sci-fi sitcom TV show. It was shown on CITV from March 16, 1989, to March 7, 2000. The series followed the adventures of a boy named Mike and his alien friend, Angelo.

Discovering a New World: The Plot

The story begins with Mike King (played by Matt Wright) and his mom, Rita. They move to London from the United States after his parents get divorced. Mike feels a bit lonely in his new home.

One day, he finds a strange wardrobe. It bursts open, and out pops Angelo (Tyler Butterworth), an alien from another world! The wardrobe was actually a portal. Angelo knows nothing about Earth or even about himself. He needs Mike's help to understand this new planet. In return, Angelo helps Mike get used to life in London.

Together, Mike and Angelo have many wild adventures, mostly around their house. Angelo often invents strange things or walks on the ceiling because he's an alien. He also misunderstands human behavior, which leads to funny and exciting situations.

Behind the Scenes: How the Show Was Made

The show's name, Mike and Angelo, is a clever play on the famous painter Michelangelo. The creators, Grant Cathro and Lee Pressman, first thought Angelo might be like a guardian angel for Mike. They were inspired by Michelangelo's painting, The Creation of Adam, which also inspired the poster for the movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Even though the guardian angel idea wasn't used, they liked the name and kept it.

Changing the Show's Vibe

The first two series of Mike and Angelo were more like a comedy-drama. Early episodes even felt like a serious drama. They focused on how lonely Mike felt after moving to a new country. His new friendship with Angelo helped him feel better. These early episodes did not have a laugh track (canned laughter).

From Series 3 onwards, the show became more fantastical and silly. Angelo started creating many inventions that often went wrong. He even sometimes brought historical figures to life! A laugh track was added, and the theme tune changed. These changes were made to make the show more "uniform" and perhaps easier to sell to other countries.

Meet the Different Mikes and Friends

Over the years, the show saw many changes in its main characters.

Angelo's New Look

The first big cast change happened at the start of Series 3. Tim Whitnall took over from Tyler Butterworth as Angelo. In the first episode of this new series, Angelo gets sick and "regenerates." This idea was borrowed from the show Doctor Who. Tim Whitnall played Angelo for the next nine years, until the show ended.

Mike King Moves On

At the beginning of Series 4, Mike King moves back to the US to live with his dad. A young neighbor named Ellie (Jade Magri) steps in to fill his spot for the rest of that series. She becomes Angelo's friend and gets involved in his crazy gadgets and adventures.

Introducing Mike Mason

Series 5 brought in a new "Mike." This was Rita's nephew, Mike Mason (Michael Benz). He became the longest-running "Mike" character, appearing in 5 out of the 12 series. This helped keep the show's title, Mike and Angelo, relevant.

New Housekeeper Katy

By the start of Series 7, Rita decides to return to the USA. Her place is taken by a new character, Katy Andrews (Katy Murphy). Katy becomes the quick-tempered housekeeper who looks after the house.

Mickey and the Final Mike

Series 11 saw the exit of Michael Benz's Mike. Angelo and Katy read a postcard explaining that Mike was enjoying his time back in America. In his place, Daphne Fawkes-Bentley's niece, Mickey (Gemma Gregory), became Angelo's new sidekick. Mickey was much more fun-loving than her aunt.

For the final series, Katy's nephew, also named Mike (played by Steven Geller), joined the show. This final series aired in 2000. The show never had an official ending. It was not renewed after Series 12 because people felt it had run its course. Also, CITV's audience was changing.

The writers, Lee Pressman and Grant Cathro, set Mike & Angelo in Cricklewood, London. Their later show, Spatz, was also set in the same area.

Main Characters and Their Roles

• Angelo - Tyler Butterworth (1989–1990) & Tim Whitnall (1990–2000): Angelo is a funny alien from the planet Ptarg. He can invent amazing things for his friends and even walk on the ceiling!
• Mike King - Matt Wright (1989–1991): The first Mike. He finds Angelo and helps him learn about Earth. Mike also tries to keep Angelo's secret safe from others.
• Rita King - Shelley Thompson (1989–1994): Rita is the owner of the house and Mike's mom. She knows about Angelo and helps Mike keep him a secret.
• Mike Mason - Michael Benz (1993–1998): The second and longest-running Mike. He is Rita's nephew.
• Katy Andrews - Katy Murphy (1995–2000): The quick-tempered housekeeper who takes over looking after the house.
• Michaela "Mickey" Fawkes-Bentley - Gemma Gregory (1999): The niece of neighbor Daphne. Mickey is more fun and playful than her aunt.
• Mike - Steven Geller (2000): The last Mike. He is a bit sarcastic and often acts as a serious contrast to Angelo's silliness.

Supporting Characters

• Cyril Pinner - John Levitt (1989–1994): A nosy neighbor who is suspicious of what's happening next door.
• Daphne Fawkes-Bentley - Elizabeth Estensen (1995–2000): The snobby neighbor and Mickey's aunt. Her character was inspired by T-Bag from another show by the same creators.

Old Skool Weekend Repeats

In 2013, two episodes of Mike & Angelo were shown again on CITV. This was part of CITV's 30th anniversary "Old Skool Weekend."

• The first episode, "Fuzzball," aired on January 5, 2013. It was first shown on October 26, 1989.
• The second episode, "Heirs And Graces," aired on January 6, 2013. It was first shown on March 7, 1996.

Series Broadcast Dates