Written by Stuart Manning
There are not many factual books based on TV series nowadays
that explore, absolutely, everything you could think of to do with the series
they are written for! Even with a series such as Doctor Who there are countless
avenues to explore because of the boundless format of the show. Then there are
other series, that may not have had as long a series run as shows like Doctor
Who, but are still just as splendid and marvellous today as they were back when
they were first made. They are fondly and avidly remembered by thousands across
the globe. Some factual books tend to focus on one area of a programme, and
miss a huge deal from all the other avenues left untouched. But that is most
certainly not the case with Stuart Manning's absolutely sublime loveletter to that
wonderful children's show, Worzel Gummidge.
The Worzel Book may just be the most thorough and beautiful
factual book that has ever been written about ANY TV show. There is nothing
that is not dwelt upon in this TARDIS interior of a book. From Barbara Euphan
Todd's original books, to the other stage and radio plays that have been
performed since the infancy of radio. From the development of Jon Pertwee's
masterstroke of a character into the incredibly successful series it was to the
New Zealand "Down Under" series that followed after the first four
series in the UK.
This book is a magical maze of the amazing. The photography is
something one would have thought could only be dreamed of. The black and white
photos or the rich colour plates are lovingly displayed. The depth of
production information is boundless. Even each individual episode's goofs are
written up and described, as are the dates and transmission times of every
single episode. There are some wonderful interviews with the surviving members
of the cast. Honestly cannot fault the breadth of sheer knowledge encased
within these pages.
Stuart Manning must have taken such a massive amount of time
whilst compiling this book. It is most certainly not a churn them out in a few months’
effort. This book has had time taken over it, to make sure it is the best it
could possibly be. It most certainly surpasses all other factual books on
programmes that I have ever read. It's a veritable monster among books.
Perhaps, maybe, this book is definitely aimed at the mature fan
though. Children would easily get lost within the huge amount of information
found in here. But if, as I, you are a keen and avid fan of Worzel Gummidge,
then the old cliché that this is a "Must have" could not be truer if
it tried.
It's time to revisit the good old days of Children's TV at its
best. To see the late great Jon Pertwee don his carrot nose and moth-eaten
scarecrow jacket and run amok in either Scatterbrook or Zoo Neeland! If you are
a Worzel fan, and you don’t have this book, then you are missing the cream of
your collection. A Worzel Gummidge collection without The Worzel Book is like a
salad without watercress....
The Worzel Book is more than just a mere book. It is the
ultimate compendium of all things Worzel Gummidge. It's a testament to Barbara
Euphan Todd, who created the character. It's a testament to Keith Waterhouse
and Willis Hall, who adapted the show for TV. It's a testament to James Hill,
who directed almost every episode of the cherished show. It's also a fine
memorial to Jon Pertwee and Una Stubbs, forever immortalized as Worzel and the
mean old Aunt Sally. This is the Bible of Worzel Gummidge, yes that is the
nearest decently descriptive word I can give to fully explain how good this
book truly is....
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