Ace of Wands
Encyclopedia
Ace of Wands is a fantasy-based British children's television show broadcast on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...

 between 1970 and 1972, created by Trevor Preston and Pamela Lonsdale and produced by Thames Television
Thames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....

. The title, taken from the name of a Tarot card describes the principal character, called "Tarot" (played by Michael MacKenzie) who combined stage magic with supernatural powers. Tarot has a pet Owl named Ozymandias
Ozymandias
"Ozymandias" is a sonnet by Percy Bysshe Shelley, published in 1818 in the January 11 issue of The Examiner in London. It is frequently anthologised and is probably Shelley's most famous short poem...

 who was played by Fred The Owl.

Ace of Wands ran for two seasons of thirteen episodes and a third season of twenty. Many, if not all, of the first 26 episodes are believed to have been wiped, although the final season is intact. In the first two series Tarot is assisted by Sam Maxstead (Tony Selby
Tony Selby
Tony Selby is an English actor.He has appeared in many television programmes including a starring role in RAF National Service comedy Get Some In!, and a recurring role in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who as the intergalactic conman Sabalom Glitz...

), a reformed convict and Lillian Palmer known by her nickname, Lulli (Judy Loe
Judy Loe
Judith M. "Judy" Loe is an English actress. She was the widow of actor Richard Beckinsale and is now married to director Roy Battersby...

), an orphan. Lulli shares a telepathic link with Tarot, which enables them to communicate over great distances. After having to leave the programme because of prior commitments, in the final series this pair were replaced by brother and sister Chas (Roy Holder
Roy Holder
Roy Holder is an English television actor who has appeared in various programmes including Ace of Wands, Z-Cars, Spearhead, the Doctor Who serial The Caves of Androzani and Sorry! His first notable appearance on the screen was in the 1961 film Whistle Down the Wind...

), a photographer, and Mikki (Petra Markham
Petra Markham
Petra Markham is a British television and film actress. She is a daughter of actor David Markham and writer Olive Dehn...

), a female journalist, who have very similar roles, she also sharing a telepathic link with Tarot. A character named Mr Sweet (Donald Layne-Smith) who runs an antiquarian bookshop often has the answer to Tarot's questions. Sweet is based in a university for the last series. Mr. Stabs, played by Russell Hunter
Russell Hunter
Russell Hunter was a popular Scottish television, stage and film actor. He is perhaps best known as the character "Lonely" in the TV thriller series Callan, starring Edward Woodward and that of Shop-Steward Harry in the Yorkshire Television sitcom The Gaffer.-Life:Born Russell Ellis in Glasgow,...

, is defeated by Ace of Wandss lead Tarot, yet returns, again played by Hunter, in an episode of the anthology series Shadows
Shadows (TV series)
Shadows is a British Supernatural television anthology series produced by Thames Television for ITV between 1975 and 1978. Extending over three seasons, it featured ghost and horror dramas for children....

. The character's final appearance was in Dramarama
Dramarama (TV series)
Dramarama is the name of a British children's' anthology series broadcast on ITV between 1983 and 1989. It tended to feature drama of a science fiction or supernatural bent. The programme was administered by Tyne Tees Television in Newcastle, who had a track-record for organising cross-franchise...

, this time portrayed by David Jason
David Jason
Sir David John White, OBE , better known by his stage name David Jason, is an English BAFTA award-winning actor. He is best known as the main character Derek "Del Boy" Trotter on the BBC sit-com Only Fools and Horses from 1981, the voice of Mr Toad in The Wind In The Willows and as detective Jack...

. However, the Dramarama story was a prequel to the previous ones.

A DVD of all existing episodes was released by Network UK in July 2007 and features a new documentary in 3 parts by Classic TV enthusiasts and experts Andrew Pixley and Simon Coward.

The theme music, "Tarot" was written and performed by Andy Bown
Andy Bown
Andy Bown is an English musician, who has specialised in keyboards and bass guitar. He is a member of the rock band Status Quo.-Career:...

 (now with Status Quo). It was available at the time as a single.

Season One (29 July to 21 October 1970)

  • One and One and One are Four - 3 episodes. Tarot is on the trail of a cure for paralysis which in the wrong hands, those of Madame Midnight (Hildegarde Neil
    Hildegarde Neil
    Hildegarde Neil is an English actress.She first appeared on television in a BBC schools' television production of Julius Caesar in 1963 and after that appeared mostly as a guest artiste in a variety of TV series over the last 40 years...

    ) and accomplice Teddy Talk (Michael Standing), is a formidable weapon. Also - Frederick Peisley as Prof Ekdorf, Dave Prowse as Kal, Tony Caunter
    Tony Caunter
    Anthony Peter "Tony" Caunter is a British actor best known for his role as Jack Shepherd in the Yorkshire TV sitcom Queenie's Castle and also his portrayal of Roy Evans in EastEnders from 1994-2003....

     as Six, Daphne Heard
    Daphne Heard
    Daphne Heard was an English actress. She was born in Plymouth, Devon.She had a long and distinguished career on the stage, especially in classical roles, but was perhaps best known to the general public in latter years as "Mrs...

     as Ma Epps, Bruce Boa
    Bruce Boa
    Bruce Boa was a Canadian actor, who found success playing the token North American in British films and television....

     as Mr. America and Jan Conrad as Mr. Russia.
  • The Mind Robbers - 4 episodes. Old adversary Senor Zandor (Vernon Dobtcheff
    Vernon Dobtcheff
    Vernon Dobtcheff is a French and British actor.Dobtcheff was born in Nîmes, France, to a family of Russian descent. He attended Ascham Preparatory School in Eastbourne, Sussex, England, in the 1940s, where he won the Acting Cup...

    ) has kidnapped two Government ministers and Tarot traces them to a mysterious house where he meets Fat Boy (Michael Wynne) and some strange creatures. Also - Sheelah Wilcox as Miss Jelicoe, Geoffrey Lumsden
    Geoffrey Lumsden
    Geoffrey Lumsden was a British character actor who had a lengthy career on television.By some way his best known role was Captain Square in Dad's Army, the pompous commander of the Eastgate platoon of the Home Guard who was a rival of Captain Mainwaring.He appeared in a few episodes, though...

     as Sir William, Terry Walsh
    Terry Walsh (actor)
    Terry Walsh was a British actor stuntman, stunt arranger and fight arranger who contributed much to British television and film, especially during the 1970s. He stunt-doubled for Michael Caine, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker and David Warner amongst others.Walsh is known for his work on the science...

     as Castor and Alan Chuntz as Pollux.
  • Now You See It, Now You Don't - 2 episodes. A bank robbery leads to a villain with delusions of grandeur in a houseboat filled with computers and Nazis. Christopher Benjamin as Falk, Kevin Stoney
    Kevin Stoney
    Kevin Stoney was an English actor, best known for his television roles.During World War II, Stoney served with the Royal Air Force....

     as Bank Manager, Tim Curry
    Tim Curry
    Timothy James "Tim" Curry is a British actor, singer, composer and voice actor, known for his work in a diverse range of theatre, film and television productions. He currently resides in Los Angeles, California....

     as a Cashier, Ray Barron as Macready, Alan Tucker as Gaston and Billy Cornelius as a Guard.
  • The Smile - 4 episodes. Master art thief Tun-Ju (Willoughby Goddard
    Willoughby Goddard
    Willoughby Wittenham Rees Goddard was a British actor whose trademark rotund figure was well known on television and in films for over 40 years.Goddard was born in Bicester, Oxfordshire. He played Mr...

    ) and accomplice Mrs Kite (Dorothy Reynolds) plan to steal the Mona Lisa. Also - John Barron
    John Barron (actor)
    John Barron was an English actor.-Biography:Born in Marylebone, London, Barron was interested in acting from an early age. For his 18th birthday his godfather paid his entry fee to RADA. After serving as a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, he returned to stage acting...

     as Bartlett Bonnington, Reg Lye as Digger Farmer, Patrick McAlinney
    Patrick McAlinney
    Patrick McAlinney was an Irish-born character actor who starred in many British dramas and sitcoms. His most memorable roles included a brother on the hit sitcom Oh, Brother! which starred Derek Nimmo, Mr. O'Reilly in The Tomorrow People and Dr...

     as Sir Patrick Landau, Diana King
    Diana King (actress)
    Diana King was an English television actress who had a career on British television from 1939 to 1986. She was sometimes credited as Diane King, and was born in Buckinghamshire....

     as Lady Landau and Tom Gan as Japanese Bodyguard

Season Two (21 July to 13 October 1971)

  • Seven Serpents, Sulphur and Salt - 3 episodes. Mr Stabs (Russell Hunter
    Russell Hunter
    Russell Hunter was a popular Scottish television, stage and film actor. He is perhaps best known as the character "Lonely" in the TV thriller series Callan, starring Edward Woodward and that of Shop-Steward Harry in the Yorkshire Television sitcom The Gaffer.-Life:Born Russell Ellis in Glasgow,...

    ), an evil magician plans with the help of Polandi (Harriet Harper) and servant Luko (Ian Trigger) to steal the missing segment of the Secret Seven Serpents from Tarot. Also - Jack Woolgar
    Jack Woolgar
    Jack Woolgar was a British character actor working in television and film in the 1960s and 1970s.He began acting towards the end of the Second World War and turned professional shortly afterwards, working in repertory theatre and touring around the UK...

     as Charlie Postle and Llewellyn Rees
    Llewellyn Rees
    Llewellyn Rees was an English actor.Television Roles include: Doctor Who , The Brothers, Inspector Morse, Doomwatch and Coronation Street....

     as Mr. Christopher.
  • Joker - 3 episodes. Tarot investigates why children suddenly go berserk
    Berserker
    Berserkers were Norse warriors who are reported in the Old Norse literature to have fought in a nearly uncontrollable, trance-like fury, a characteristic which later gave rise to the English word berserk. Berserkers are attested in numerous Old Norse sources...

     and meets the fiendish Uncle Harry (Dermot Tuohy) and his strange troupe of travelling entertainers. Also - Carmen Munroe
    Carmen Munroe
    Carmen Munroe OBE is a British actress, born in Berbice, Guyana. Since the early 1950s she has been a resident of the UK. She made her West End stage debut in 1962 and has since played an instrumental role in the development of black British theatre and representation on small screen...

     as The Queen, Roy Holder
    Roy Holder
    Roy Holder is an English television actor who has appeared in various programmes including Ace of Wands, Z-Cars, Spearhead, the Doctor Who serial The Caves of Androzani and Sorry! His first notable appearance on the screen was in the 1961 film Whistle Down the Wind...

     as The Jack, Walter Sparrow
    Walter Sparrow
    Walter Leonard Sparrow was a British film and television actor best known for his appearance as Duncan in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves starring Kevin Costner....

     as The King, George Waring
    George Waring
    George Waring was a British television actor from 1962 to 2000. He also had occasional feature film credits...

     as The Headmaster, Sheila Raynor as The Headmistress and Lorna Heilbron
    Lorna Heilbron
    Lorna Heilbron is a Scottish actress born on the 8 June 1948 in Glasgow.She appeared in television series such as Ace of Wands, Van der Valk, Blake's 7, Taggart and Lovejoy...

     as Miss Pascoe
  • Nightmare Gas - 3 episodes. Thalia (Isobel Black
    Isobel Black
    Isobel Amy Black is a British actress who is noted for her roles on film and television. She is the daughter of the late screenwriter Ian Stuart Black...

    ) and brother Dalbiac (Jonathan Newth
    Jonathan Newth
    Jonathan Newth is a British actor, best known for his performances in television.Credits include: Emergency Ward 10, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, Ace of Wands, The Troubleshooters, Z-Cars, Callan, Van der Valk, The Brothers, Softly, Softly, Poldark, Doctor Who, Notorious Woman, Secret Army , The...

    ) steal the deadly hallucinatory gas H23, a gas which produces not just a deep sleep and nightmares which causes a person to scare themselves to death 23 minutes later. Also - Laurence Carter as Dr Winthrop, Lewis Wilson as Police Sergeant and Alan Chuntz as Trooper
  • The Eye of Ra - 4 episodes. Ceribraun (Oscar Quitak
    Oscar Quitak
    Oscar Quitak is a British film and television actor.His television credits include: Z-Cars, Man in a Suitcase, Doomwatch, Ace of Wands, Colditz, The Changes, The New Avengers, Open All Hours, Kessler as Josef Mengele, Chessgame, Howards' Way, A Very British Coup, Yes, Prime Minister and...

    ) decides to steal a huge diamond called the Eye of Ra which it is claimed will turn people into chalk and tracing him, Tarot is prisoner of a talking computer who plans to use giant chess pieces to crush him to death. Also - Edward Jewesbury
    Edward Jewesbury
    Edward Jewesbury was a British actor, notable for his film, stage and television work and as a member of the Renaissance Theatre Company. In his later years he appeared in such television comedies as Yes Minister and Blackadder II.His son Ian was a senior civil servant at the UK Department of...

     as Mr Quince, Nicholas Smith as Fredericks, Charles Morgan as the Computer.

Season Three (19 July to 29 November 1972)

  • The Meddlers - 3 episodes. New assistants Chas and Mikki live in a flat overlooking a street market which is under a curse and involved in this is Mockers (Barry Lineham) the local Prophet of Doom. Also - Paul Dawkins as Dove, Michael Standing as Spoon, Norma West
    Norma West
    Norma West is a British actress, born 19 November 1943 in Cape Town, South Africa.Her most prolific television appearance was as Queen Elizabeth of York in the 1972 BBC series The Shadow of the Tower. Other TV roles include Ace of Wands, A Touch of Frost, Lovejoy, The Murder at the Vicarage...

     as Chauferse and Stefan Kalipah as Drum.
  • The Power of Atep - 4 episodes. Strange dreams after a meeting with medium John Pentacle (Sebastian Graham-Jones) leads Tarot and companions to Egypt where in Atep's tomb he encounters a High Priest (Michael Mulcaster) and double, Quabel. Also - Michael Rose as a Tramp, Joe Dunlop as Fergus Wilson.
  • Peacock Pie - 3 episodes. Mr Peacock (Brian Wilde
    Brian Wilde
    Brian George Wilde was an English actor, best known for his roles in television comedy, including Mr Barrowclough in Porridge and "Foggy" Dewhurst in Last of the Summer Wine...

    ) has the irresistible power of suggestion where torn strips of paper can become bank notes and people do things they do not want to do. Also - Jenny McCracken as Young Mrs. MacFadyean, Dorothy Frere as Mrs Macfadyean, Valerie Van Ost
    Valerie Van Ost
    Valerie Van Ost is an English actress.She is best known for her appearance in four Carry On films - Carry On Cabby, Carry On Doctor, Carry On Again Doctor and Carry On Don't Lose Your Head.At school she became the youngest adult dancer at the London Palladium before moving into films and...

     as the Manageress.
  • Mama Doc - 3 episodes. When one of Mr Sweet's colleagues vanishes, Tarot traces him to a bizarre Doll's Hospital where Mama Doc (Pat Nye) and assistant Bobby (Michael Mundell) change real people into dolls. Also - Robert Grange as Prof. Dorian, Wendy Hamilton as Posy Peagram, Ivor Roberts
    Ivor Roberts (actor)
    Ivor Roberts was an English television continuity announcer and television actor who often appeared in comedic roles....

     as Dr. MacDonald.
  • Sisters Deadly - 3 episodes. Chas returns from a photo assignment with no memory of the assignment or that he robbed a village post office, which leads Tarot into a plot to kidnap a NATO Commander-in-Chief. Henrietta Rudkin
    James Bree
    James Bree was a British actor who played many supporting roles in both film and television.Bree was educated at Radley College and during World War II served in the RAF. He later trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama...

     as Mathilda Edginton, Bartlett Mullins as Postmaster, Sylvia Coleridge
    Sylvia Coleridge
    Sylvia Coleridge was a British stage, radio and television actress.-Career:Her acting credits include: Out of the Unknown, The Avengers, Paul Temple, The Lotus Eaters, Ace of Wands, The Tomorrow People, Z Cars, Public Eye, Sutherland's Law, Dixon of Dock Green, The Onedin Line, Doctor Who Sylvia...

     as Letty Edgington, James Bree
    James Bree
    James Bree was a British actor who played many supporting roles in both film and television.Bree was educated at Radley College and during World War II served in the RAF. He later trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama...

     as The Major.
  • The Beautiful People - 4 episodes. Two beautiful girls Dee (Susan Glanville) and Emm (Vivian Heilbron) refuse Mikki entrance to a small town fete, which leads Tarot into an investigation of Extra Terrestrials with strange powers. Also - Edward Hammond as Jay, Kathleen Sainsbury as an Elderly Woman.

External links

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