Moondial (TV serial) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moondial |
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Moondial title screen
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| Created by | Helen Cresswell |
| Starring | Siri Neal Tony Sands Jacqueline Pearce Joanna Dunham Valerie Lush Arthur Hewlett Joe York Martin Sadler Helena Avellano Alison Rowley |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| No. of episodes | Six |
| Production | |
| Running time | 25 – 28 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC1 |
| Original release | 10 February – 16 March 1988 |
Moondial is a British TV show made for children. The BBC created this six-part series. It first aired in 1988 and was shown again in 1990. The story was written by Helen Cresswell. She also wrote the book in 1987 that the show is based on.
Story of Moondial
The show follows a young girl named Minty (Siri Neal). She goes to stay with her aunt. This happens after her mother is hurt in a car accident. Minty spends a lot of time exploring. She wanders around the grounds of a large old house nearby.
Minty is drawn to a special moondial there. This magical dial lets her travel back in time. She meets two children from the past. One is Tom (played by Tony Sands), who lives in the Victorian era. The other is Sarah (played by Helena Avellano). Sarah seems to live even earlier, in the 1700s. Minty must help these children. She needs to save them from their sad lives.
Many people who watched TV in the 1980s remember Moondial fondly. It is known for its beautiful outdoor scenes. These were filmed at Belton House in Lincolnshire. The show also has a very dreamlike and magical feel.
Characters
- Minty (Siri Neal): The main character. She discovers the moondial and travels through time.
- Tom (Tony Sands): A boy from the Victorian era. Minty tries to help him.
- Sarah (Helena Avellano): A girl from an even earlier time. Minty also tries to save her.
- Aunt Mary (Valerie Lush): Minty's kind aunt, who takes care of her.
- Mr. World (Arthur Hewlett): An old and mysterious man. He seems to know a lot about the house and its secrets.
- Miss Vole (Jacqueline Pearce): A mean character from the 18th century. She is very cruel to children.
- Miss Raven (Jacqueline Pearce): A modern-day ghost hunter. She looks just like Miss Vole.
Making the Show
Paul Stone was the producer of Moondial. Colin Cant directed the series. A lot of the show was filmed outside. The beautiful grounds of Belton House in Lincolnshire were used. This helped create the show's special atmosphere.
Release and Availability
Moondial was first released on video in 1990. It was re-released in 1995. However, these versions were shorter. They were edited into a "movie edit." This shorter version was also released on DVD in 2000.
Later, the full TV series was released. Reader's Digest released it in 2009. Then, Second Sight re-released the full episodic version on DVD in May 2015.
