The Witch's Daughter
Encyclopedia
The Witch's Daughter is a children's novel by Nina Bawden
, first published in 1966. It has been dramatised for television twice, with Fiona Kennedy
(1971) and Sammy Glenn
(1996) in the title role.
of Skua, Perdita has been branded "the witch's daughter" by islanders. They believe her mother died cursing the sea on which they depend for their livelihood. She lives alone in a tumbledown house by the loch, never goes to school, and has no friends.
One summer Janey, who is blind, and her brother Tim visit the island with their naturalist father. The children befriend the lonely girl, and together they search for rare orchids, explore the island caves, investigate a crime, and find treasure.
adaptation was a five-episode mini-series starring Fiona Kennedy
as Perdita, Gillian Bailey
as Janey and Spencer Banks as Tim. The 1996 Scottish Television
production was a 90-minute television film, with Sammy Glenn
as Perdita, Richard Claxton as Tim, Peter Firth
as Mr Jones, and Patrick Bergin
as Mr Smith. Changes between the novel and the film included the excision of the character Janey and a more upbeat ending.
Nina Bawden
Nina Bawden CBE is a popular British novelist and children's writer. Her mother was a teacher and her father a marine.-Life:...
, first published in 1966. It has been dramatised for television twice, with Fiona Kennedy
Fiona Kennedy
Fiona Kennedy is a Scottish singer, actress and broadcaster, and the daughter of Scottish and Gaelic singers Calum Kennedy and Anne Gillies. As a child she appeared with her parents as they performed as a family, and this developed into a successful solo career.Kennedy has moved on to other areas...
(1971) and Sammy Glenn
Sammy Glenn
Samantha "Sammy" Glenn is an English film and television actress. She trained at the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London. Her sister, Wendy Glenn, is also an actress....
(1996) in the title role.
Plot summary
On the remote Scottish islandOuter Hebrides
The Outer Hebrides also known as the Western Isles and the Long Island, is an island chain off the west coast of Scotland. The islands are geographically contiguous with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, one of the 32 unitary council areas of Scotland...
of Skua, Perdita has been branded "the witch's daughter" by islanders. They believe her mother died cursing the sea on which they depend for their livelihood. She lives alone in a tumbledown house by the loch, never goes to school, and has no friends.
One summer Janey, who is blind, and her brother Tim visit the island with their naturalist father. The children befriend the lonely girl, and together they search for rare orchids, explore the island caves, investigate a crime, and find treasure.
Television adaptations
The Witch's Daughter has been twice adapted for television. The 1971 BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
adaptation was a five-episode mini-series starring Fiona Kennedy
Fiona Kennedy
Fiona Kennedy is a Scottish singer, actress and broadcaster, and the daughter of Scottish and Gaelic singers Calum Kennedy and Anne Gillies. As a child she appeared with her parents as they performed as a family, and this developed into a successful solo career.Kennedy has moved on to other areas...
as Perdita, Gillian Bailey
Gillian Bailey
Gillian Bailey or Gilli Bush-Bailey is a British academic and former actress.She was mainly known as a child actor. Her best known role was Billie in Here Come the Double Deckers...
as Janey and Spencer Banks as Tim. The 1996 Scottish Television
Scottish Television
Scottish Television is Scotland's largest ITV franchisee, and has held the ITV franchise for Central Scotland since 31 August 1957. It is the second oldest ITV franchisee still active...
production was a 90-minute television film, with Sammy Glenn
Sammy Glenn
Samantha "Sammy" Glenn is an English film and television actress. She trained at the Sylvia Young Theatre School in London. Her sister, Wendy Glenn, is also an actress....
as Perdita, Richard Claxton as Tim, Peter Firth
Peter Firth
Peter Firth is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Sir Harry Pearce in the BBC show Spooks, of which he is the only actor to have starred in every episode of the show's 10 series lifespan...
as Mr Jones, and Patrick Bergin
Patrick Bergin
Patrick Connolly Bergin is an Irish actor and singer. He may be best-known internationally for playing the menacing husband of Julia Roberts' character in the thriller Sleeping with the Enemy and is also known for his role as Irish terrorist Kevin O'Donnell in the film adaption of Patriot Games....
as Mr Smith. Changes between the novel and the film included the excision of the character Janey and a more upbeat ending.