Jon Pertwee as Worzel Gummidge, the lovable scarecrow of Scatterbrook Farm.
Worzel Gummidge is a children's comedy series, produced by Southern Television for ITV, based on the books by Barbara Euphan Todd. Starting in 1979, the programme starred Jon Pertwee in the title role and ran for four series in the UK until 1981. Channel 4 reprised the show in 1987 as Worzel Gummidge Down Under, which was set in New Zealand.
CreatorsBarbara Euphan Todd, Willis Hall, Keith Waterhouse
Worzel's Washing Day
Feb 25, 1979
As John, Sue and Mr. Peters are all driving to their new home, a Romany Caravan at Scatterbrook Farm, John sees a Scarecrow (Worzel) in a field and claims to see it move. Later ,John persuades his sister to go back to the field, Ten-Acre field, to have a closer look at the Scarecrow, but once there it starts raining. With no other option other than to get soaked, John asks the Scarecrow if they can lend his umbrella, to which the Scarecrow replies with a deep, "OO - AARR!" sending the terrified children running for home. Later that evening Worzel turns up at Scatterbrook to claim back his umbrella and anything else he can find.
A Home Fit for Scarecrows
Mar 4, 1979
During a torrential downpour Worzel leaves his post and heads for the cosy warmth of John and Sue’s Romany Caravan at Scatterbrook. Unfortunately, John won’t let him in, even though Worzel promises to teach them Worzelese, the Scarecrow language. Instead, Worzel shelters in the old barn where he keeps his heads. After a few minutes John and Sue join him and as he has no furniture, promise him an old chair that Mrs. Braithwaite is throwing out. The next day the village wakes up to a crime wave - Worzel has been up since cock’s crow stealing furniture and has set up home in one of the back fields.
Aunt Sally
Mar 11, 1979
There is a village fete on and one attraction that Worzel can’t miss - an Aunt Sally. However, before he can go he must solve a problem: who will take his place in Ten-Acre field whilst he goes to the fete? As luck would have it Mrs. Bloomsbury - Barton, the local ‘Lady of the Manor’ happens to be passing and Worzel decides to ask her if she’ll swap with him for the afternoon. However, she thinks Worzel is about to attack her and so runs off screaming, leaving her hat behind. In the end Worzel turns up at the fete wearing not only Mrs. Bloomsbury - Barton’s hat, but also Mr. Peters’ brown suit, which he had stolen earlier. Unfortunately, Worzel is spotted by Mrs. Bloomsbury - Barton and is chased around the fete until John and Sue gesture him to hide in a tent to evade his pursuers. Once inside the tent Worzel discovers he has company, Aunt Sally.
The Crowman
Mar 18, 1979
Worzel wants a wife and so he asks The Crowman to make him a ‘handsome head’, spotting an opportunity for Worzel to learn a lesson the Crowman agrees. He tells Worzel that in return for one of his own heads he can have the loan of a head which he has made for a ‘decorative scarecrow’ ordered by Mrs. Bloomsbury - Barton. The next day Worzel turns up at Mrs. Bloomsbury - Barton’s Hall to pick up his new handsome head from the Crowman, who is working there. However, he is not the only one working there that day. Mr. Peters is also there, re-wiring the hall, and chaos quickly ensues when Worzel is asked to help him.
A Little Learning
Mar 25, 1979
After losing his arm yet again Worzel is sick of people like John Peters calling him stupid, so he sets about the arduous task of locating his ‘clever head’. After searching high and low Worzel finally remembers where he’s hidden it - in the chimney of the local school that John and Sue go to. Worzel gets on the school roof and puts on his clever head. However, getting down is not so easy and he soon begins to draw attention to himself by making a racket. Miss Jamieson, the school teacher is so bothered by this noise that she goes out to investigate. When she sees Worzel she asks him what he’s doing on the roof and Worzel, feeling cocky in his clever head, demands a ‘satisfactory question’. The school teacher fires difficult questions at him, and to her amazement he gets them all right. She decides to tell Mr. Foster, the headmaster, that she has discovered a ‘genius’ on the school roof.
Worzel Pays a Visit
Apr 1, 1979
As usual Worzel is up and about the village bright and early, and on his rounds stops to steal a pint of milk for his robin redbreast. Later on, as Sue is reading Worzel a newspaper article about Aunt Sally being stolen at the village fete, Mr. Braithwaite bursts in the barn and sends John and Sue to Mrs. Bloomsbury - Barton’s with a box of apples. Whilst there, the two see that Aunt Sally is present, working as a maid. On their return to Scatterbrook, Sue rushes to Ten - Acre field to tell Worzel where Aunt Sally is and as soon as he can, he goes to the hall to see her.
The Scarecrow Hop
Apr 8, 1979
Mrs. Bloomsbury - Barton sacks Aunt Sally, and as she is homeless she turns up at Worzel’s barn. As soon as she arrives she starts telling him, Sue and John about where she is going to go next, and this prompts John into saying how boring the village is. Sue protests and brings up the fact that there is a village dance on that evening and Aunt Sally and Worzel decide to go. They both agree that they need outfits to wear and visit the local museum to pinch some. At the dance, Worzel finds the music boring and requests the band play ‘The Scarecrow Hop’ which is a roaring success.
