The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1988 TV serial) facts for kids

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a British TV show made for children. It first aired on the BBC in 1988. This series was the very first part of The Chronicles of Narnia TV shows, which ran from 1988 to 1990.

Discover the Story of Narnia

In the magical land of Narnia, it is always winter. But it is never Christmas! This is because of the evil White Witch who rules the land. The Witch is scared of a special prediction. It says that two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve will become kings and queens of Narnia. This would mean the end of her rule and her life.

When four children, the Pevensies, arrive in Narnia, the Witch tries to stop them. She wants to prevent them from fulfilling the prediction. But the Great Lion Aslan is coming to help the children. He will help them save Narnia from the Witch's icy grip.

Meet the Characters

Here are the main actors and the characters they play in the show:

• Richard Dempsey as Peter
• Sophie Cook as Susan
• Jonathan R. Scott as Edmund
• Sophie Wilcox as Lucy
• Barbara Kellerman as The White Witch
• Kerry Shale as Mr. Beaver
• Lesley Nicol as Mrs. Beaver
• Big Mick as Ginaarbrik
• Ailsa Berk as Aslan
• Martin Stone as Maugrim
• William Todd-Jones as Aslan
• Keith Hodiak as Aslan's Satyr
• Garfield Brown as Aslan's Satyr
• Ronald Pickup as Aslan
• Irene Marot as Hag
• Kairen Kemp as Hag
• Jeffrey S. Perry as Mr. Tumnus
• Michael Aldridge as Professor Digory Kirke
• Ken Kitson as Giant Rumblebuffin
• Christopher Bramwell as Peter (adult)
• Suzanne Debney as Susan (adult)
• Charles Ponting as Edmund (adult)
• Juliet Waley as Lucy (adult)
• Maureen Morris as Mrs. Macready
• Bert Parnaby as Father Christmas

Episode Guide: The Narnia Adventure Begins

Episode 1: A New World Discovered

It is 1940, and World War II has just started. Because of the air raids on London, many children are sent away. They go from the city to the safer countryside. Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie are four siblings. They are aged between 8 and 14. They are sent to live with Professor Digory Kirke in his big country house.

One rainy day, the children explore the house. Lucy, the youngest, finds a strange wardrobe. She steps inside and finds herself in a snowy wood with a lamp post. She meets a faun named Mr. Tumnus. He tells her she is in Narnia. Mr. Tumnus invites Lucy to his cave for tea. He plays a tune on his flute. Lucy falls asleep and dreams of Narnia before winter.

Lucy wakes up and needs to go home. Mr. Tumnus sadly tells her he works for the evil White Witch. The Witch makes it "always winter but never Christmas" in Narnia. She ordered everyone to hand over any humans they find. Mr. Tumnus realizes he cannot give Lucy to the Witch. He guides her back to the lamp post. Lucy returns through the Wardrobe.

Lucy tells her siblings about Narnia. But they find nothing when they look. Also, no time passed on Earth while Lucy was gone. Her siblings think she is lying. Peter and Susan try to be kind. Edmund makes mean comments, asking if she "found any new countries in the wardrobe?"

A few days later, during hide-and-seek, Lucy goes back to the wardrobe. Edmund follows her. To his surprise, Lucy was telling the truth! He finds Narnia. But Lucy is not there. He walks through the forest, calling her name. Suddenly, he hears bells. A grand lady on a horse-drawn sleigh, driven by a dwarf, approaches him.

Episode 2: Edmund's Secret Meeting

The lady introduces herself as the Queen of Narnia. She asks Edmund who he is. When she learns he is a son of Adam, she invites him onto her sleigh. She gives him a hot drink and delicious Turkish delight. Edmund tells the Queen he has a brother and two sisters. He also says Lucy had been to Narnia and met a faun.

The Queen asks Edmund to return home. She wants him to bring his siblings to her house in Narnia. She promises him more Turkish delight if he does. She also offers to make him a prince and then king of Narnia. Edmund is very happy with her offers.

After the Queen leaves, Edmund heads back to the lamp post. An excited Lucy meets him. She says Mr. Tumnus is safe. When Lucy describes the White Witch, Edmund realizes. The Queen he just befriended is the White Witch! But he does not tell Lucy. Lucy is too excited to notice Edmund's shock.

Back home, Lucy tells Peter and Susan that Edmund also entered Narnia. But Edmund lies. He says he and Lucy were just pretending. Peter is angry with Edmund. Edmund had been cruel to Lucy about her "false" stories. Peter and Susan ask Professor Kirke for advice. He believes Lucy. He says she is not a liar or "mad."

A few days later, the four children hide from the Professor's housekeeper. She is giving a house tour. They hide in the wardrobe. All of them find themselves in Narnia! They realize Lucy was right. Lucy leads them to Mr. Tumnus's cave. But he is gone. His cave is messy. They find a note from Maugrim, captain of the secret police. It says Mr. Tumnus was arrested for treason. His crime was being friends with humans.

Episode 3: The Beavers and the Prophecy

Lucy tells her siblings that the Queen is truly the White Witch. She convinces them to help Mr. Tumnus. She feels responsible for his arrest. They travel on and soon meet Mr. Beaver. He shows them a handkerchief Lucy had given to Mr. Tumnus. This proves he is a friend.

Mr. Beaver tells the children that Aslan is on the move. The name Aslan makes all four children feel a strange way. Mr. Beaver takes the children to his home. There, he and Mrs. Beaver explain. Mr. Tumnus was taken to the Witch's house. He would have been turned to stone. Many Narnians who go there become stone.

The Beavers tell them more about Aslan. He is the Great Lion and the true king of Narnia. He will save Mr. Tumnus. The Beavers also reveal a prophecy. It says two sons of Adam and two daughters of Eve will be crowned kings and queens of Narnia. This means the White Witch's rule and life will end. That is why the White Witch always looks for humans in Narnia.

Lucy suddenly realizes Edmund is gone. Mr. Beaver instantly knows Edmund has betrayed them to the White Witch. He is more sure when he learns Edmund had been to Narnia alone. Edmund had not told his siblings what he did or who he met. Mr. Beaver suspected Edmund when he first saw him. He said Edmund "had the look of one who had been with the witch."

The Beavers realize the Witch will come for them soon. They get ready to travel to meet Aslan at the Stone Table. Edmund arrives at the Witch's house. The Witch is furious he came alone. She is even more furious when he tells her Aslan has come to Narnia.

Episode 4: Father Christmas Arrives

The Witch sends Maugrim to kill the Beavers and Edmund's siblings. Maugrim and another wolf arrive at the Beaver's house. They find it empty. The Witch orders them to go to the Stone Table. The bad weather means they cannot follow tracks or scents. The Witch, Edmund, and her dwarf travel to the Stone Table on her sleigh.

The Beavers and the other three children walk. They eventually reach a cave. Mr. Beaver explains it is an old hiding place for beavers. They need to stop for a few hours of sleep.

The next morning, they hear sleigh bells. They think it is the Witch. Mr. Beaver leaves the cave to check. But to their joy, it is not the Witch! It is Father Christmas. He gives gifts to the children. Peter gets a sword and shield. Susan gets a horn and a bow and arrow. Lucy gets a special cordial and a dagger.

Meanwhile, the Witch finds animals sharing a Christmas feast. She demands to know where they got it. A fox says Father Christmas gave it to them. The Witch turns them into stone. Signs of the Witch's magic weakening appear. The snow melts, and spring arrives. The spring forces the Witch to walk with Edmund to the Stone Table.

Episode 5: Aslan's Sacrifice

The children and the Beavers safely arrive at the Stone Table. Aslan and his followers greet them warmly. They tell Aslan about Edmund's betrayal. Aslan promises to do everything to save Edmund. Peter sees a far-off view of Cair Paravel. This is the castle where he and his siblings will be crowned.

Susan soon blows her horn. Father Christmas told her to do this when in danger. Maugrim arrives and scares Aslan's followers. He fights Peter. Peter wins the battle. Aslan names him Sir Peter Wolf's Bane. Aslan also sends followers to rescue Edmund. He sees one of Maugrim's wolves running to tell the White Witch. They rescue Edmund just as the Witch is about to kill him. Edmund is safely returned. He makes up with his siblings.

The Witch approaches the Stone Table. She demands Edmund's life. She says that by deep magic, all traitors belong to her. Aslan talks privately with the Witch. He convinces her to spare Edmund. He advises Peter on the upcoming battle against the Witch's army. He tells Peter he cannot promise to be there himself.

Later that night, Susan and Lucy notice Aslan is sad. They go with Aslan out of the camp. They reach the Stone Table. Aslan tells them to stay hidden. The Witch and her army are waiting there. They tie Aslan to the Stone Table. They shave and muzzle him. The Witch then reveals Aslan agreed to be killed instead of Edmund. She tells Aslan that nothing can stop her from killing Edmund once Aslan is dead. She then kills Aslan with her knife. She leads her followers into war.

Episode 6: The Return of Aslan and Victory

After the Witch and her army leave, Susan and Lucy sadly stay by Aslan's body. In the morning, they hear a loud crash. They find the Stone Table has cracked. Aslan's body is gone. Aslan soon appears, alive and well! Susan and Lucy are overjoyed and hug him.

Aslan explains he was saved by a deeper magic. The Witch did not know about it. She only came to Narnia at the beginning of time. This deeper magic says that if an innocent person offers their life for a traitor, the Stone Table will crack. This reverses death.

Aslan takes the girls to the Witch's castle. He brings back to life all the stone victims of the Witch, including Mr. Tumnus. Meanwhile, the battle is fierce. The Witch has turned many of Aslan's army into stone. Edmund destroys her magic wand. But he gets hurt in the process.

Aslan arrives with those he saved from the Witch's castle. He roars so loudly that the ground the Witch stands on shakes. She falls to her death. Lucy uses her magic cordial to heal all the injured, including Edmund. Aslan makes Edmund a knight.

The next day, Aslan leads his followers to Cair Paravel. He crowns the Pevensie children as kings and queens of Narnia. He then leaves. The Pevensie children are sad. Mr. Beaver tells them Aslan will come and go. He has other countries to visit. He also says Aslan is wild and not a tame lion.

The Pevensie children rule Narnia for many years. They keep peace. One day, they are walking through the forest. They find the same lamp post they saw when they first entered Narnia. They wonder what it is as they walk further. They soon find themselves back through the wardrobe. They are children again! They realize no time has passed on Earth. They tell the Professor about their Narnia adventures. He easily believes them. This hints that they are not the only children to have had such an adventure.