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    Nostalgia Central
    Home»Television»Kids TV
    Kids TV TV Shows - 1980s 3 Mins Read

    Box of Delights, The

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    1 9 8 4 (UK)
    6 x 30 minute episodes

    Based on the classic children’s novel by John Masefield, the story follows the exploits of a young boy, Kay Harker (Devin Stanfield), who finds himself drawn into a world of magic and danger when he encounters an old Punch and Judy man.

    Described by some critics as capturing the true spirit of Christmas better than any other children’s drama – and surpassing The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as the ultimate winter’s tale – The Box of Delights begins with Kay’s train journey to Seekings near Tatchester, where he will spend his Christmas holiday from school.

    On the journey, he meets Cole Hawlings (Patrick Troughton), an old Punch and Judy man who tells Kay that “the wolves are running” – a warning that evil is close at hand.

    devinstanfield

    Hawlings is the keeper of the elixir of life, as well as the custodian of a magic box that has the ability to make the owner ‘go small’ and ‘go swift’.

    But in order to keep his secret and to stop the box falling into the hands of wrongdoers, he has been on the run for 700 years – occasionally requiring the help of a human ally.

    He is being chased by a magician called Abner Brown (Robert Stephens) and his gang, which includes Kay’s former governess.

    With the wolves closing in Kay agrees to take the box home with him, and so begins an adventure that takes the young boy back into the past “when the wolves ran wild across England” and to ancient Greece where he meets the inventor of the box.

    The BBC sold the series to 215 American PBS stations where it was shown during prime-time with the six 30-minute episodes being shown as three 60-minute broadcasts.

    Most of the budget was spent on special effects which today look very dated but at the time were the best and most ambitious attempted for a British TV series.

    Kay Harker
    Devin Stanfield
    Abner Brown
    Robert Stephens
    Foxy Faced Charles
    Geoffrey Larder
    Chubby Joe
    Jonathan Stephens
    Jemima
    Heidi Burton
    Maria
    Joanna Dukes
    Susan
    Flora Page
    Inspector
    James Grout
    Caroline Louisa
    Carol Frazer
    Peter
    Crispin Mair
    Herne the Hunter
    Glyn Baker
    Sylvia Daisy Pouncer
    Patricia Quinn
    Bishop of Tatchester
    John Horsley
    Ellen
    Helen Fraser
    Cole Hawlings
    Patrick Troughton
    Old Lady
    Anne Dyson
    Pirate Rat
    Nick Berry
    Pirate Rat
    Stewart Harwood
    Rat
    Bill Wallis
    Chief Constable
    Charles Pemberton
    Old Jim
    Johnny Casino
    Mouse
    Simon Barry
    Waterfall Boy
    Jason Kemp
    Puppeteer
    John Styles

    Video

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