Wizbit

*Wizbit*
Wizbit
Created by	Barry Murray; Paul Daniels
Starring	Paul Daniels; Debbie McGee
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No.of seasons	3
No.of episodes	27
Production
Production locations	Ewart Television Studios (Series 1); IDC Stonebridge Studios (Series 2); Cannon Elstree Studios(Series 3)
Running time	12 x 25mins, 15 x 10mins
Production companies	White Magic Productions; World Audio Visual Entertainment plc.
Original release
Network	BBC1
Release	8 January 1986–; 10 February 1988

Wizbitis a 1980sBBCchildren's television show about an alien magician, Wizbit. It starred the established TV and stage magicianPaul Danielsand his assistantDebbie McGee.^[1]^[2]

The series is set in Puzzleopolis, a town inhabited by walking, talking sponge-balls, dice, magic wands, playing cards and rabbits, where the protagonists must solve puzzles. Wizbit's year-and-a-day mission is to find out all about planetEarth.

The show is partly educational, with the (oftenlateral thinking) puzzles Wizbit is set often being presented to the audience at home, with the solutions being revealed towards the end of the episode. Wizbit's magic word was "Ostagazuzulum", and he came from the planet WOW, an acronym for "World of Wizards".^[3]

The show was created by Barry Murray, who had formerly beenMungo Jerry's record producer, with assistance from Daniels. Its theme tune is based on a song byLead Belly,named "Ha-Ha This A Way", sung by Daniels. All rights to characters and designs were retained by Daniels, and the music rights by Murray.

Production for the series started in 1985.

During the show's cancellation in 1988, re-runs continued to air until 24 July 1989. A CGI revival of the series was announced in 2009 with a movie set for Summer 2010 with the production of the reboot was ready to being made in 2007 but they were both cancelled and the production of the Wizbit revival stopped. Books based on said revival have been released however.

The show has also aired overseas being shown inSingapore,IrelandandMalaysiaas well as on British forces television inGermanyandCyprus.^{[citation needed]}

Characters

Wizbit, a large yellow cone-shaped wizard's hat, voiced by Paul Daniels and played by Tony Friel
Wooly, an 8-foot-tall (2.4 m) white rabbit, best friend of Wizbit, also voiced by Paul Daniels
Wilbur, Wooly's younger brother
Squidgy Bog, a purple swamp monster, voiced byMartin Daniels
Professor Doom, a moustachioedevil geniusand arch-villain who lives in a castle, which sits atop a giant stone fist in the sky. Played byRob Inglis
Jinx, Professor Doom's cat
Badbit, an evil version of Wizbit generated by Professor Doom
The Gatekeeper, a woman who guarded the gates to Puzzleopolis by refusing to let anyone in until they had solved a riddle, played by Vicky Licorish
Madame Martinka, a fortune teller who owned the magic shop in Puzzleopolis
Grocer Green, a greengrocer with green hair
Pierre Oe, a mime artist
Spoof & Bluff
Paul Daniels(playing himself) who owned the theatre in Puzzleopolis
Various townsfolk shaped like magician's props - spongeballs, dice, wands and so forth
Troll, a hideous and vicious purple-haired hag.

References

^"Paul Daniels' Wizbit returns to children's TV".The Daily Telegraph.27 May 2009.Retrieved17 March2016.
^"Magician Paul Daniels diagnosed with incurable brain tumour".Sunday Post.20 February 2016.Retrieved17 March2016.
^"Is Wizbit the worst kids' TV programme ever?".Den of Geek.Retrieved17 March2016.

External links

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[1] "Paul Daniels' Wizbit returns to children's TV".The Daily Telegraph.27 May 2009.Retrieved17 March2016.

[2] "Magician Paul Daniels diagnosed with incurable brain tumour".Sunday Post.20 February 2016.Retrieved17 March2016.

[3] "Is Wizbit the worst kids' TV programme ever?".Den of Geek.Retrieved17 March2016.

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