Bagthorpe Saga, The

1 9 8 1 (UK)
6 x 30 minute episodes

This six-part BBC comedy series from Helen Cresswell related the adventures of the eccentric Bagthorpe family – ineffective advice columnist Laura (Angela Thorne), frustrated and emotionless comedy writer Henry (Edward Hardwicke), Scrabble cheating Grandma (Phillada Sewell), sixteen-year-old electronics whizz and tennis champion William (Ceri Seel), artistic fourteen-year-old Tess (Ruth Potter), and twelve-year-old  “ordinary” Jack (Richard Orme), who decides to train their mongrel dog Zero into a super dog.

Down the road lived Henry’s sister, Aunt Celia (Madeline Smith), and Uncle Parker (Tim Preece), along with their four-year-old daughter, Daisy (Rebecca Lalonde), a serial arsonist.

Dandy Nichols played the Bagthorpe’s charmless housekeeper, Mrs Fosdyke.

The series was filmed in the summer of 1980 in Tetbury, Gloucestershire.

Henry Bagthorpe
Edward Hardwicke
Laura Bagthorpe
Angela Thorne
Jack Bagthorpe
Richard Orme
Grandma (Grace Bagthorpe)
Phillada Sewell
William Bagthorpe
Ceri Seel
Tess Bagthorpe
Ruth Potter
Mrs Fosdyke
Dandy Nichols
Uncle Parker
Tim Preece
Daisy Parker
Rebecca Lalonde
Aunt Celia Parker
Madeline Smith
Zero
Lottie

Episodes

Ordinary Jack – Part 1 | Ordinary Jack – Part 2 | Ordinary Jack – Part 3 | Absolute Zero – Part 1 | Absolute Zero – Part 2 | Absolute Zero – Part 3

Video