Jamie and the Magic Torch
Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:More citations needed Template:Infobox television
Jamie and the Magic Torch is a British children's animated television series made by Cosgrove Hall Productions for Thames Television and shown on the ITV network, running from 1976 to 1979.[1][2]
The series was written and narrated by Brian Trueman, who later wrote shows such as Danger Mouse and Count Duckula for Cosgrove Hall.
Premise
The programme is based around the titular young boy and his torch. When shone on the floor, the torch opens up a hole into a fun fantasy world called Cuckoo Land.[3]
The beginning of each episode has Jamie's mother tucking him into bed at night and saying, "Sleep well, Jamie." Then from under his bed, his pet Old English Sheepdog, Wordsworth, appears, holding the torch in his mouth. Jamie takes the torch and shines it on the floor, opening up a portal to Cuckoo Land (in which Wordsworth always gets stuck). The portal manifests itself as a helter skelter.
When they reach the end of the slide, they fly out into Cuckoo Land from the bottom of a tree trunk, and land on a trampoline. All of this is accompanied by a song, written by Joe Griffiths. Once in Cuckoo Land, the fun begins.
Characters in Cuckoo Land
- Mr. Boo, who flies around in his 'submachine', obsessed with counting things.
- Officer Gotcha, who rides a unicycle and eats truncheons.
- Strumpers Plunkett, who plays melodies on his trumpet nose.
- Wellibob the cat, who does everything backwards and speaks with a Glaswegian accent.
- Jo-Jo Help the unhelpful handyman.
- Nutmeg the ragdoll, whose magical pocket can produce all kinds of items.
- The Yoo-hoo Bird, who plays tricks on and runs from Officer Gotcha.
- Bullybundy, the show business rabbit with oversized feet.
- Arthur, a robot (series 3 only).
Episodes
Series 1 (1976)
Series 2 (1978)
Series 3 (1979)
VHS releases
| VHS Title | Release Date | Episodes |
|---|---|---|
| Chorlton and Jamie's Magic Box (TV9937) | 3 November 1986 | (Compilation VHS with Chorlton and the Wheelies) |
| Bedtime Stories: Toad and Friends (TV8078) | 6 November 1989 | "The Flying Rabbit", "The House of Wellibob" (compilation VHS with The Wind in the Willows and Cockleshell Bay) |
| Cult Kids Classics | 2001 | "The Flying Rabbit" (compilation VHS with Chorlton and the Wheelies, Danger Mouse, Count Duckula, Rainbow and Button Moon) |
| Cult Kids Classics 2 | 5 March 2001 | "A Narrow Escape", "The Ghost of Spiny Mountain" (compilation VHS with Danger Mouse, Chorlton and the Wheelies, Rainbow, Count Duckula and The Sooty Show) |
| I Love Cult Kids | 2002 | "Yoo Hoo Yeti" (compilation VHS with Danger Mouse, Chorlton and the Wheelies, Count Duckula, Rainbow, Cockleshell Bay and Button Moon) |
| Classic Kids Collection | 2002 | "The Hair Stack" (compilation VHS with Count Duckula, Chorlton and the Wheelies, Button Moon, Danger Mouse and Rainbow - exclusive to Marks & Spencer) |
The first two series have also been released on DVD, In 2024, all 3 series of the show were finally released on DVD & Blu-Ray. In July 2024, all 3 series were made available via a premium subscription to the ITVX streaming service.
References
External links
- Template:Trim/ Template:Trim at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidataScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:WikidataCheck
- Pages with script errors
- British children's animated fantasy television series
- ITV children's television shows
- 1976 British television series debuts
- 1976 animated television series debuts
- 1980 British television series endings
- 1970s British children's television series
- British English-language television shows
- Television shows produced by Thames Television
- Television series by Fremantle (company)
- Television series by FremantleMedia Kids & Family
- 1970s British animated television series
- Television series by Cosgrove Hall Films
- ITV animated television series
- Animated television series about parallel universes