Woof!
Encyclopedia
Woof! is a Children's ITV
television series produced by Central Independent Television
about the adventures of a boy who turns into a dog
. It was based on the book by Allan Ahlberg. It was directed by David Cobham
. It was written by Richard Fegen and Andrew Norriss
.
. It starred Liza Goddard
as teacher Mrs Jessop. Edward Fidoe
played Eric Banks, the boy who turned into a dog (played by Pippin
) of the same name. It also starred Thomas Aldwinckle as Eric's friend Roy Ackerman and later Sarah Smart
as his tomboy best friend Rachel Hobbs. Filming was interrupted for a while when Smart broke her leg. The character Rachel was created by an independent episode. In this episode, written by a fan, we meet Rachel who kidnaps Eric the dog, wanting a dog of her own.
The show generally featured weekly escapades to do with the dog power. Late in Eric's run of episodes, a start at a plot arc was developed, with Eric discovering the transition is caused by adrenaline, and meeting up with an adult (played by Anthony Head
) who has the same affliction.
From Series Six which began airing in 1993, the episodes featured the adventures of Rex Thomas (played by Adam Roper) and his best friend Michael Tully (Monty Allan). Rex inherits Eric's "condition", and later becomes Mrs Jessop's stepson after she marries his father, Ken (Owen Brenman
). Lionel Jeffries
also guest-starred as Rex's Grandfather. Leslie Grantham
appeared in some of the later episodes as Mr Garrett, a ruthless dog warden from the local dog pound. Stephen Fry
appeared in one episode, as a cartoonist whose work is disrupted by Grandad and Rex.
The ninth and final series, consisting of seven episodes, aired in 1997. It featured Jim Walters (Sebastian Mahjouri), accompanied by his cousin Brian Barford (Jack Allen
) and next door neighbour Carrie Howard (Faye Jackson). By the time the show ended, Liza Goddard was the only original cast member to feature through all nine series.
There have been 4 dogs used over the years. Pippin was the first, and she also starred in Children's BBC
programme Come Outside
, and a number of educational schools films. She was the offspring of one of the dogs who played Benji
. Tich was the second dog to play Eric. Punch, a small white dog, played Rex the Dog. Tinka appeared as Jim the dog in the final series. Pippin was owned and trained by Ann Head.
Early series were filmed around the suburb of Moseley
in Birmingham
. Later in the series, production moved to Nottingham
and much location filming took place in and around West Bridgford
, a suburb just south of Nottingham
, Keyworth
(a large village, 7 miles south of Nottingham) and various other Nottinghamshire towns. The show broadcast in Australia at 6:50am on weekdays on 7TWO
starting on Monday 5 April 2010.
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
television series produced by Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television, more commonly known as Central is the Independent Television contractor for the Midlands, created following the restructuring of ATV and commencing broadcast on 1 January 1982. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting...
about the adventures of a boy who turns into a dog
Shapeshifting
Shapeshifting is a common theme in mythology, folklore, and fairy tales. It is also found in epic poems, science fiction literature, fantasy literature, children's literature, Shakespearean comedy, ballet, film, television, comics, and video games...
. It was based on the book by Allan Ahlberg. It was directed by David Cobham
David Cobham
David Cobham is a UK Film and TV producer and director, notable for the film Tarka the Otter. He also directed children's TV series Bernard's Watch, Brendon Chase, Out of Sight and Woof...
. It was written by Richard Fegen and Andrew Norriss
Andrew Norriss
Andrew Norriss is a British children's author and a writer for television .- Background :Andrew Norriss was born in 1947, was educated at St John’s School, Leatherhead followed by University at Trinity College Dublin 1966-70. PGCE 1973-4. He taught at Stroud School, Romsey and then Peter Symonds...
.
History
The show was first broadcast in 19891989 in British television
This is a list of British television related events from 1989.-Events:*5 February – The world's first commercial DBS system, Sky Television, goes on air in the United Kingdom....
. It starred Liza Goddard
Liza Goddard
Liza Goddard is an English television and stage actress best known for her work in the 1970s and 1980s.-Early life:Goddard was born in Smethwick, West Midlands, England...
as teacher Mrs Jessop. Edward Fidoe
Edward Fidoe
Edward Fidoe is former British actor, best known for playing Eric in Central's children's television series Woof! from 1989 to 1993. As an adult, he co-founded a theatre production company specialising in comedy.-References:...
played Eric Banks, the boy who turned into a dog (played by Pippin
Pippin (dog)
Pippin is the Tibetan Terrier who featured on the children's television programme Come Outside with Auntie Mabel . Come Outside features Autie Mabel who takes Pippin on adventures do discover how things are made, some of the episodes included: A Carton Drink, Apples, Crisps, Carrots, Eggs and Pencils...
) of the same name. It also starred Thomas Aldwinckle as Eric's friend Roy Ackerman and later Sarah Smart
Sarah Smart
Sarah Smart is an English actress.Smart was born in Birmingham, West Midlands, England. Her career started as a child, notably in the television series Woof!. She is best known for a series of well-regarded television roles including Virginia Braithwaite, daughter of a lottery winning family in...
as his tomboy best friend Rachel Hobbs. Filming was interrupted for a while when Smart broke her leg. The character Rachel was created by an independent episode. In this episode, written by a fan, we meet Rachel who kidnaps Eric the dog, wanting a dog of her own.
The show generally featured weekly escapades to do with the dog power. Late in Eric's run of episodes, a start at a plot arc was developed, with Eric discovering the transition is caused by adrenaline, and meeting up with an adult (played by Anthony Head
Anthony Head
Anthony Stewart Head , usually credited as Anthony Head, is an English actor and musician. He rose to fame in the UK following his role in television advertisements for Nescafé Gold Blend , and is known for his roles as Rupert Giles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and as Uther Pendragon in...
) who has the same affliction.
From Series Six which began airing in 1993, the episodes featured the adventures of Rex Thomas (played by Adam Roper) and his best friend Michael Tully (Monty Allan). Rex inherits Eric's "condition", and later becomes Mrs Jessop's stepson after she marries his father, Ken (Owen Brenman
Owen Brenman
Owen Brenman is an English actor best known for his role as next-door neighbour Nick Swainey in the multi-award-winning BBC sitcom One Foot in the Grave, which ran for ten years and was written by David Renwick. He currently plays Dr...
). Lionel Jeffries
Lionel Jeffries
Lionel Charles Jeffries was an English actor, screenwriter and film director.-Early life and career:Jeffries attended the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wimborne Minster, Dorset. In 1945, he received a commission in the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry...
also guest-starred as Rex's Grandfather. Leslie Grantham
Leslie Grantham
Leslie Michael Grantham is an English actor best known for his role as "Dirty" Den Watts in the soap opera EastEnders. He is also a convicted murderer, having served 10 years for the killing of a German taxi driver, and he generated significant press coverage as the result of an online sex scandal...
appeared in some of the later episodes as Mr Garrett, a ruthless dog warden from the local dog pound. Stephen Fry
Stephen Fry
Stephen John Fry is an English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter and film director, and a director of Norwich City Football Club. He first came to attention in the 1981 Cambridge Footlights Revue presentation "The Cellar Tapes", which also...
appeared in one episode, as a cartoonist whose work is disrupted by Grandad and Rex.
The ninth and final series, consisting of seven episodes, aired in 1997. It featured Jim Walters (Sebastian Mahjouri), accompanied by his cousin Brian Barford (Jack Allen
Jack Allen
Jack Allen may refer to:* Jack Allen * Jack Allen * Jack Allen * Jack Allen , Unionist in Northern Ireland* John F...
) and next door neighbour Carrie Howard (Faye Jackson). By the time the show ended, Liza Goddard was the only original cast member to feature through all nine series.
There have been 4 dogs used over the years. Pippin was the first, and she also starred in Children's BBC
CBBC
CBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...
programme Come Outside
Come Outside
Come Outside is a BBC educational children's television series that ran from 23 September 1993 to 18 March 1997. The two main characters of the show are Auntie Mabel , and her dog Pippin. They go on adventures in Auntie Mabel's aeroplane which is covered in coloured spots...
, and a number of educational schools films. She was the offspring of one of the dogs who played Benji
Benji
Benji is the name of a fictional dog who has been the focus of several movies from 1974 through the 2000s. It is also the title of the first film in the Benji series....
. Tich was the second dog to play Eric. Punch, a small white dog, played Rex the Dog. Tinka appeared as Jim the dog in the final series. Pippin was owned and trained by Ann Head.
Early series were filmed around the suburb of Moseley
Moseley
Moseley is a suburb of Birmingham, England, two miles south of the city centre. The area is a popular cosmopolitan residential location and leisure destination, with a number of bars and restaurants...
in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
. Later in the series, production moved to Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
and much location filming took place in and around West Bridgford
West Bridgford
West Bridgford is a town in the Rushcliffe borough of Nottinghamshire, England. It lies immediately south of the city of Nottingham, delimited by the River Trent; this proximity means that it forms a continuous urban area with Nottingham, effectively makes West Bridgford a suburb of the city, and...
, a suburb just south of Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, Keyworth
Keyworth
Keyworth is a village and civil parish in Nottinghamshire, England. It is located about 6 miles southeast of the centre of Nottingham...
(a large village, 7 miles south of Nottingham) and various other Nottinghamshire towns. The show broadcast in Australia at 6:50am on weekdays on 7TWO
7Two
7TWO is an Australian free-to-air standard definition digital television channel which was launched by the Seven Network on Sunday 1 November 2009 at 12pm....
starting on Monday 5 April 2010.
Series guide
- Series 1: 4 episodes - 18 February 1989 - 11 March 1989
- Series 2: 7 episodes - 23 November 1989 - 11 January 1990
- Series 3: 8 episodes - 20 February 1991 - 17 April 1991
- Series 4: 7 episodes - 10 January 1992 - 21 February 1992
- Series 5: 6 episodes - 7 October 1992 - 11 November 1992
- Series 6: 10 episodes - 13 October 1993 - 15 December 1993
- Series 7: 10 episodes - 12 October 1994 - 14 December 1994
- Series 8: 10 episodes - 5 October 1995 - 14 December 1995
- Series 9: 7 episodes - 8 January 1997 - 19 February 1997