The Worst Witch facts for kids
The covers from the first seven books, shown in publication order
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The Worst Witch The Worst Witch Strikes Again A Bad Spell for the Worst Witch The Worst Witch All at Sea The Worst Witch Saves the Day The Worst Witch to the Rescue The Worst Witch and the Wishing Star First Prize for The Worst Witch |
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| Author | Jill Murphy |
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| Illustrator | Jill Murphy |
| Cover artist | Jill Murphy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Fantasy, children's books |
| Publisher | Allison & Busby (original) Puffin Books (current) |
| Published | 1974–2018 |
| No. of books | 8 |
The Worst Witch is a popular series of children's books written and illustrated by Jill Murphy. These exciting fantasy stories are mostly about a girl who goes to a special school for witches. There are eight books in the series. The first book, The Worst Witch, came out in 1974. The newest one, First Prize for the Worst Witch, was published in 2018. The books have sold over 5 million copies, making them very successful!
The books have also been made into movies and TV shows. In 1986, the first book became a TV movie. Later, a TV series aired from 1998 to 2001. This led to two spin-off shows: Weirdsister College (2001) and The New Worst Witch (2005). A brand new TV show, starting in 2017, was made by CBBC, ZDF, and Netflix.
Contents
Meet the Characters and School Life
The books follow Mildred Hubble, a young witch who attends Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches. This is a magic school where girls learn to be witches. Mildred means well, but she is very clumsy. This often leads her into funny and sometimes disastrous situations. Because of her many mistakes, she is known as the "worst student" in the school.
Miss Cackle, the headmistress, is kind and usually understands Mildred. However, Mildred's teacher, Miss Hardbroom, thinks Mildred just needs to try harder. Mildred's best friends are Maud Spellbody, a sensible girl who tries to avoid trouble, and Enid Nightshade, a prankster who often gets them into trouble. The three friends have a big rivalry with Ethel Hallow, a snobby and mean classmate.
Each book covers one school term. There are two terms each year: the Winter term (September to January) and the Summer term (March to July). In the latest book, First Prize for the Worst Witch, Mildred is in the Summer term of her fourth year.
How the Stories Began
The author, Jill Murphy, started writing The Worst Witch when she was only 15 years old. She was still in school herself! She based many parts of the stories on her own experiences at Ursuline Convent in Wimbledon, England. For example, her singing lessons became "Chanting" and chemistry became "Potions."
Jill Murphy remembered how she got the idea: "My two friends and I used to come home in our dark uniforms, looking very messy at the end of the day. My Mum used to say 'Look at you all. You look like the three witches!' and it gave me the idea for a witch's school. It was exactly like my school, but with a touch of magic. All the characters are based on my school friends (and enemies) and teachers."
Murphy finished the first book when she was 18, but no one wanted to publish it. She put it away and worked other jobs. Then, when she was 24, a small publisher called her. The Worst Witch was finally published in 1974.
The Books in the Series
The Worst Witch
The first book, The Worst Witch, was published in 1974. It was turned down by three other publishers before Allison & Busby decided to publish it.
- Plot Summary
The story begins with Mildred Hubble and her classmates getting their own black cats. They will teach these cats to ride on their broomsticks. Mildred gets a tabby cat, not a black one, and names him Tabby. Tabby can't sit on a broomstick, so Mildred carries him in her bag. Miss Hardbroom doesn't like this.
Later, Ethel Hallow teases Mildred. Mildred gets angry and accidentally turns Ethel into a pig instead of a frog! In another class, Mildred and Maud accidentally make an invisibility potion instead of a laughing potion.
During practice for a Halloween broomstick show, Ethel lends Mildred a broom. Ethel secretly puts a spell on it. During the festival, Mildred's broom goes wild, making all the girls fall. Mildred is called to Miss Cackle's office and fears she will be expelled. She decides to run away with Tabby.
In the forest, Mildred hears voices and finds a group of witches. Their leader looks just like Miss Cackle! Mildred overhears their plan to turn everyone at the academy into frogs. Mildred quickly turns the group into snails and takes them back to school. Miss Cackle and Miss Hardbroom don't believe her at first. But when Mildred describes the leader, Miss Cackle realizes it's her evil twin sister, Agatha. They turn Agatha and her group back into humans. Mildred is praised as a hero, and her expulsion is forgotten.
The Worst Witch Strikes Again
The Worst Witch Strikes Again was published in 1980. This book introduces a new character, Enid Nightshade.
- Plot Summary
Mildred returns to Miss Cackle's Academy for the Summer Term. Miss Cackle asks Mildred to help a new girl, Enid Nightshade, settle in. Mildred soon finds out that Enid has secretly brought a monkey to school! Miss Cackle also announces her birthday celebration.
During a chanting lesson, Enid sings badly on purpose, making Mildred laugh out loud. Mildred is sent to Miss Cackle's office. While checking on Enid's monkey, it escapes. Mildred chases it and bumps into Miss Hardbroom. Miss Hardbroom turns the monkey back into a regular black cat. Enid later tells Mildred she turned the cat into a monkey just for fun.
On Sports Day, Enid puts a spell on Mildred's pole during the pole-vaulting contest. Mildred flies high and lands right into Miss Hardbroom's study through the window! Miss Cackle warns Mildred that if she causes any more trouble, she will be expelled.
Mildred tries hard to avoid trouble. Enid decides to skip Miss Cackle's birthday party and hides in a cupboard, pulling Mildred in with her. Ethel Hallow locks them in. Inside, they find an old broomstick. They use it to fly out a window and into the assembly hall. Maud, who is on stage, introduces Mildred and Enid as a surprise broomstick act. The display is a disaster, but Miss Cackle praises them for their effort. Mildred, Maud, and Enid become good friends.
A Bad Spell for the Worst Witch
A Bad Spell for the Worst Witch was published in 1982. It features Ethel Hallow's younger sister, Sybil Hallow.
- Plot Summary
Mildred returns for her second year, hoping to lose her "worst witch" reputation. She meets Maud and Enid. They also meet two new first-years, one of whom is Ethel's younger sister, Sybil. Mildred accidentally tells Sybil a made-up story about Miss Hardbroom turning a student into a frog.
The next morning, Mildred tries to "help" Miss Hardbroom during a fire drill by dousing her with cold water, but the bucket lands on her head! Ethel confronts Mildred, revealing Sybil is her sister. Mildred insults Ethel's family. After a bad flying lesson, Mildred is sent to her room. She falls asleep, and Ethel sneaks in and turns Mildred into a frog!
Panicked, the frog-Mildred hops to a potions lesson. Miss Hardbroom finds her and puts her in a jar. Mildred escapes, drinks an invisibility potion, and hops out to the lily pond. There, she meets another frog, Algernon Rowan-Webb, who was also a human magician. He tells her he was turned into a frog and misses toast and crumpets.
Mildred promises to help him. Maud and Enid recognize her and get Ethel to turn her back. Miss Hardbroom finds Mildred with invisible feet and learns the truth. Both Mildred and Ethel are banned from the Halloween ceremonies. Mildred, desperate to help Algernon, tricks a third-year witch, Griselda Blackwood, and takes her cat to the festival. Ethel finds Griselda and flies to the festival to tell on Mildred. Mildred finds Mr. Hellibore, a magician who knows Algernon, and he turns Algernon back into a human. They all enjoy tea and crumpets.
The Worst Witch All at Sea
The Worst Witch All at Sea was published in 1993. This book is unique because it's not set at Miss Cackle's Academy, but by the sea.
- Plot Summary
Mildred returns for the Summer Term of her second year. The school uniforms have changed to plain black dresses. Miss Cackle suggests Mildred replace Tabby with a sleek black cat named Ebony, left by a student who transferred. Mildred is sad and secretly swaps Tabby back into her cage in the kitchens before leaving for a holiday.
The second-years are invited to Gloom Castle at Grim Cove by Mr. Rowan-Webb, the magician Mildred saved. The castle is falling apart. Mildred hides Tabby in a boat cabin by the breakwater. Ethel catches Mildred trying to feed Tabby and Mildred pretends to be looking for treasure. They see Miss Hardbroom and her cat, Morgana, on the beach. Morgana eats the kippers meant for Tabby. Miss Hardbroom finds Tabby, slips on a kipper, and falls unconscious.
Mildred finds Ethel has untied the boat, sending it out to sea with Mildred, Tabby, and the unconscious Miss Hardbroom. They hit Cat's Head Rock. Mildred ties the boat to a strange rock and falls asleep. Maud and Enid find them. The "rock" turns out to be a mythical treasure chest! The treasure is used to fix Gloom Castle, and Mildred gets Tabby back as a reward. Mildred enjoys the rest of her holiday, feeling lucky instead of like the "worst witch."
The Worst Witch Saves the Day
The Worst Witch Saves the Day was published in 2005. In this book, Agatha Cackle disguises herself as a new teacher, Miss Granite.
- Plot Summary
Mildred returns for her third year. Her friends Maud and Enid are there. They learn they have a new form-teacher, Miss Granite, who is very strange-looking with orange curls and huge glasses. Miss Granite speaks in a high, squeaky voice.
Mildred tries Maud's hairstyling brush, but her hair gets tangled. Ethel "helps" by chopping off the tangled hair with scissors. Ethel later gives Mildred a potion to make her hair grow. That night, Mildred's hair grows incredibly long, filling the whole school! Miss Hardbroom stops the growth and cuts Mildred's hair back to normal.
In a flying lesson, Ethel steals Tabby and hides him on the roof outside Miss Granite's window. That night, Mildred tries to get Tabby back but is locked in a cupboard by someone who looks like Miss Cackle. It's actually Agatha Cackle, Miss Cackle's evil twin, disguised as Miss Granite! Agatha plans to turn everyone into snails. Mildred turns herself into an ant, escapes, and gets Maud and Enid's attention. They turn her back. Mildred tells them what's happening. Just as Agatha is about to turn Miss Cackle into a snail, Mildred turns Agatha into a snail instead! Miss Hardbroom returns, and they trick Agatha's rebellious coven into coming to the school, where Mildred and her friends turn them all into snails.
The Worst Witch to the Rescue
The Worst Witch to the Rescue was published in 2007. This book features Ethel Hallow's friend, Drusilla Paddock, more prominently.
- Plot Summary
Ethel Hallow returns to Miss Cackle's Academy. She sees Mildred crash-landed in a tree. Mildred explains her holiday project: a spell to make small animals talk for two weeks. Ethel helps Mildred but secretly takes Mildred's project folder. Mildred meets Maud and Enid, who become suspicious when Mildred talks to her cat basket.
The girls meet their new teacher, Miss Mould, who is kind. Mildred sits next to Drusilla Paddock. Ethel swaps places with Drusilla. Mildred's clay pot and coils suddenly turn into five rattlesnakes! Miss Mould gets everyone out while Ethel makes the snakes disappear. Miss Hardbroom bans Mildred from art lessons. Mildred realizes Ethel must have turned her pot into snakes out of jealousy.
The next day, during project presentations, Ethel presents Mildred's project as her own. Mildred shouts that Ethel stole it, but her folder only has smiley faces. Mildred is sent to her room. Mildred's tortoise, Speedy, who she used her spell on, can still talk. She renames him Einstein. He tells her he overheard Ethel taking her project. Mildred tells Maud and Enid, accidentally leaving her door open. Einstein escapes.
Drusilla finds Einstein and takes him to Ethel's room. Ethel and Drusilla talk, revealing Ethel stole the project and used the snake spell. Einstein overhears everything. Ethel orders Drusilla to hide Einstein in a hollow pine tree outside the school gates. A small frog, Cyril, escapes from Einstein's box and hops to Mildred's room. Cyril tells Mildred where Einstein is and what he overheard.
Mildred rescues Einstein during a thunderstorm. Miss Hardbroom finds them and sets up a meeting for Mildred and Ethel the next morning. In Miss Cackle's office, Einstein wakes up and tells everyone what he overheard: Ethel stole the project and used the snake spell. Ethel finds Mildred's tea-stained project in the bin. Miss Hardbroom makes Ethel apologize to Mildred in assembly for cheating and putting them in danger. Mildred gets to keep Einstein as a pet, and Miss Mould's classroom gets a proper kiln. Einstein speaks one last time before the spell wears off.
The Worst Witch and the Wishing Star
The Worst Witch and the Wishing Star was released in 2013.
- Plot Summary
Mildred, Maud, and Enid return to school in stormy weather. Miss Drill tells them about a talent competition between Miss Cackle's Academy, Moonridge, and Pentangle's school. The prize is a swimming pool! Mildred, Drusilla, and Ethel are chosen to be lantern monitors. On the first night, Maud sees a shooting star. Mildred makes a wish, and Miss Hardbroom reluctantly makes one too.
Mildred finds a stray dog, names him Star, and secretly keeps him in her room. Tabby is not happy about it. Mildred discovers Star is calm on a broomstick and trains him to do tricks. Maud and Enid find out about Star and are amazed. Ethel, suspicious, finds Star hidden in Mildred's holdall. They both fall into the lanterns, setting fire to the costumes for the talent competition.
Miss Hardbroom is furious and sends Ethel and Mildred to Miss Cackle's office. Maud and Enid explain about Star's broomstick tricks. Miss Cackle agrees to let Star be the new talent. The next day, Mildred amazes the judges with Star's tricks and wins the competition and the swimming pool! Miss Cackle allows Mildred to keep Star as her broomstick companion. Mildred tells Miss Hardbroom that she wished for Star on the shooting star. Miss Hardbroom is not annoyed because she wished for them to win the competition. The story ends with the teachers celebrating their victory and Miss Hardbroom's birthday.
First Prize for the Worst Witch
First Prize for the Worst Witch was published in 2018.
This book is set in the summer term of Mildred's fourth year. Mildred and Ethel are competing to become Head Girl in their fifth year. The writing of this book was delayed because the author, Jill Murphy, had cancer treatment.
School Life at Cackle's Academy
The stories mostly happen inside Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches. This is a girls-only boarding school for magic. It's described as a stone castle on top of a mountain, surrounded by a pine forest.
The school year has two terms: the Winter term (September to January) and the Summer term (March to July). There's a month-long holiday between them. Students start at Cackle's when they are 12 years old and finish when they are 17, after five school years.
Students arrive by flying broomsticks at the start of each term. However, new first-years walk through a special gate because they can't fly yet. Halfway through their first term, each first-year gets a black kitten. Mildred gets a grey-and-black tabby cat because the school ran out of purely black cats. The girls learn to teach their cats to ride on broomsticks. In the first book, it's mentioned that the cats are mostly for tradition. In Wishing Star, older witches say there's no rule about what animal a witch must have as a flying companion. Cats are traditional because they are quiet and easy to care for. This is why Mildred is allowed to fly with her dog, Star, after he shows he's better at flying than Tabby.
At the end of the first year, each student receives a copy of The Popular Book of Spells. It's a thick book bound in black leather. This book is also mostly for tradition, as they already have paperback versions for class. At the end of the fifth and final year, students take exams for the W.H.C. (Witches' Higher Certificate). Most students earn this certificate.
The first book describes the winter school uniform: "black gymslips, black stockings, black hob-nailed boots, grey shirts and black-and-grey ties." The only colors were the sashes around their gymslips (a different color for each house, though the houses aren't named) and the school badge, which was a black cat sitting on a yellow moon. For the summer term, girls originally wore grey-and-black checked dresses. But from Worst Witch All At Sea onwards, this changed to a simple black dress because Miss Hardbroom felt the old design was too fancy.
Main Characters
TV Shows and Stage Plays
The First TV Movie (1986)
In 1986, the first book was made into a TV movie for ITV. It starred Fairuza Balk, Tim Curry, Diana Rigg, and Charlotte Rae. Even though it was a British film, it also aired in the USA on HBO. The movie followed the plot of the first book. It showed Mildred turning invisible, turning Ethel into a pig, Miss Cackle's evil twin sister Agatha trying to take over the school, and the Grand Wizard watching the Halloween Broomstick formation (which Ethel sabotaged). The movie was filmed at St. Michael's College in Tenbury Wells. This special movie later aired on the Disney Channel every year for Halloween until the late 1990s.
TV Series (1998–2001)
A TV series called The Worst Witch, based on the books, aired from 1998 to 2001. It starred Georgina Sherrington as Mildred Hubble and Felicity Jones as Ethel Hallow. The series was filmed in Montreal, London, and Cardiff. The outside of Cackle's Academy was filmed at Castell Coch, a castle near Cardiff. The courtyard scenes were filmed at Loseley Park. Inside the school, like the Great Hall and classrooms, was filmed at Twickenham Studios.
Spin-off Shows
When Mildred got too old to realistically still be at school, the series moved her to a magical university in Cambridge. The show was renamed Weirdsister College: The Further Adventures of the Worst Witch. Felicity Jones returned as Ethel Hallow in this series.
In 2004, a new series based on the 1998 show was made. It was called The New Worst Witch. This show focused on the adventures of Mildred's equally clumsy cousin, Henrietta "Hettie" Hubble, played by Alice Connor. It was also set at Cackle's Academy.
New TV Series (2017–2020)
A new version of The Worst Witch TV series started in 2017 on CBBC. It ended on April 20, 2020. This series starred Bella Ramsey as Mildred Hubble (later replaced by Lydia Page in the fourth season), Claire Higgins as Miss Cackle, and Raquel Cassidy as Miss Hardbroom.
Stage Play (2018–2019)
A musical stage show called The Worst Witch Live was performed at the Royal & Derngate Theatre in Northampton from November to December 2018. In February 2019, the show toured the UK. The Worst Witch Live by Kenny Wax Family Entertainment was also shown in London's West End from July to September 2019.
This stage version is presented as a play written by Mildred herself and acted out by the students and staff. It first shows Mildred's first year at school. In the second half, Agatha Cackle "infiltrates" the play and tries to take over the magical government. The show starred Danielle Bird as Mildred Hubble, Polly Lister as Miss Cackle/Agatha, Rachel Heaton as Miss Hardbroom, and Rosie Abraham as Ethel Hallow.
See also
In Spanish: The Worst Witch para niños
