Worzel Gummidge - The Complete Collection [DVD]

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Jon Pertwee and Una Stubbs star in a childrens' sitcom about a scarecrow who comes to life. Also features Mike Berry, Jeremy Austin, Charlotte Coleman, Geoffrey Bayldon, Megs Jenkins and more. Eager to take on the role, Pertwee encouraged Waterhouse and Hall to rewrite the script as a television series. They pitched the series to Head of Drama at the BBC, Shaun Sutton, and to Philip Jones at Thames Television, without success. All hope appeared to be lost, until Lewis Rudd at ITV regional broadcaster for the south east of England, Southern Television, heard about the show and enthusiastically commissioned it. If you are in the North America, look out for US/Canadian flag icons on popular product listings for direct links. This boxset from Fabulous Films brings together the complete collection of Worzel Gummidge episodes from the 1970s and 80s, which starred Jon Pertwee as the eponymous hero. According to Pertwee's memoir, his version of Worzel Gummidge was originally pitched as a feature film, which would have told the story of "the scarecrow equivalent of the Peasant's Revolt". Willis and Hall adapted the role of Worzel specifically for and around him, inspired by a postman character he played more than thirty years earlier in 1948's BBC radio comedy Waterlogged Spa, due to the actor's performance imbuing the character with a strong Devonshire accent.

In 2019, the two Christmas episodes of Worzel Gummidge received a wealth of glowing praise from audiences and critics alike. The Guardian gave five stars, describing the shows as a “joyful, joke-filled eco-romp”, the Radio Times also awarded the “funny, poignant and heartwarming” films five stars, and the Daily Mail proclaimed Worzel “a TV wonder”, similarly giving five stars.

Broadcasts

The Navy Lark. Image shows left to right: CPO Pertwee (Jon Pertwee), Sub-Lieutenant Phillips (Leslie Phillips), Lt Cdr Murray (Number One) (Stephen Murray). Credit: BBC The Navy Lark. Image shows left to right: CPO Pertwee (Jon Pertwee), Sub-Lieutenant Phillips (Leslie Phillips), Lt Cdr Murray (Number One) (Stephen Murray). Credit: BBC episodes were made between 1979 and 1981 over four series. A sequel series set in Ireland entered pre-production shortly thereafter. Sets were constructed and contracts signed, but just a few days before filming was due to begin, the plug was pulled and the finance lost. After a hiatus, a sequel series finally entered production in 1987. If you are in Australia or New Zealand (DVD Region 4), note that almost all DVDs distributed in the UK by the BBC and 2entertain are encoded for both Region 2 and Region 4. The UK and Australasia are in the same Blu-ray region (B). Leopard Pictures, part of Argonon Group, are again partnering with Treasure Trove Productions to bring these glorious stories to life for an audience of all ages. The films have been commissioned by Tanya Qureshi, Head of Comedy for the BBC, and Charlotte Moore, Chief Content Officer for the BBC. A lot of the credit for the show's success must go to director James Hill. At the time of the series' conception, Hill was working with Pertwee's Doctor Who successor, Tom Baker, to get a feature film, Doctor Who Meets Scratchman (a story that, coincidentally, also featured scarecrows), off the ground. He and Pertwee got on famously and became lifelong friends. His stoic demeanour and strong work ethic guided the crew through an often gruelling production schedule, but he also established the aesthetic look of the series, with Worzel's grimy, believably earthy appearance contrasting with the bucolic beauty surrounding him.

The production was obviously high enough in calibre to attract some of the greatest actors of the era in guest parts. We especially enjoyed Beryl Reid, who pops up to play Worzel’s old mother (even though she was only a few weeks older than Pertwee). Connie Booth (Fawlty Towers) turns up as a rival to Worzel’s affections as another Aunt Sally, though this one is much kinder to him. There are recurring guest roles for Carry On stars Barbara Windsor (Saucy Nancy) and Joan Sims (Mrs Bloomsbury-Barton). Contained within this release are all four seasons from 1979-81, plus the recently-released Christmas special, as well as the two seasons of Worzel Gummidge Down Under, where the production was remounted in New Zealand during the late 1980s.

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Hall and Waterhouse, meanwhile, continued their careers as hugely successful writers, the latter penning Jeffrey Bernard Is Unwell, a play that served as a magnificent showcase for Peter O'Toole. Last year's Christmas episode, Saucy Nancy, garnered even more critical acclaim, with the Radio Times again awarding five stars, declaring the episode is "like taking a bath in pure kindness". Whilst the Daily Telegraph and The i gave four stars, with the latter labelling the film as "gorgeous" and "affectionate". The show belongs to Jon Pertwee. Undoubtedly, his Worzel Gummidge is a virtuoso performance. Watching the show through adult eyes, it’s possible to see just how detailed and nuanced Pertwee’s portrayal is. There is a winning combination of his physicality, from the way he walks and the endless comedic facial expressions he pulls, to his vocal talents, which bring a distinctive sound to the character, and a range of emotions. It’s truly a complete performance that owes a debt to music hall and the era of the all-round variety entertainer. Sadly, those days are long gone, and it’s hard to imagine we will ever seen another complete characterisation in the manner of Pertwee’s Worzel Gummidge ever again. The other key character was the Crowman, played by Geoffrey Bayldon. The Crowman created Worzel (and many other scarecrows besides), and as such is often used as a device to explain various plot contrivances as well as provide Worzel with a new head whenever one is needed. Bayldon was also already well known, especially to younger viewers, as the star of Catweazle from 1970 to 1971.