Family-Ness, The

1 9 8 4 – 1 9 8 5 (UK)
25 x 5 minute episodes

“You’ll never see a Nessie in the zoo”.

Angus and Elspeth MacTout are the son and daughter of the Lochkeeper of the world-famous Loch Ness in Scotland.

While their father thinks all the stories of the Loch Ness Monster are “stuff and nonsense”, Angus and Elspeth discover that not only is Nessie real, but there is a whole colony of them.

The Queen monster (Her High-Ness) gives each of the children a secret thistle whistle, which summons any Nessie in the vicinity to come to Angus and Elspeth’s aid.

Over the course of the series, we meet a whole host of different members of the Family-Ness, all of whom are named after personality traits, such as Eager-Ness, Sad-Ness, Clever-Ness, Ferocious-Ness and Silly-Ness.

Angus and Elspeth have a recurring nemesis – a mad scientist called Professor Dumkopf who is obsessed with proving the existence of the Loch Ness Monster.

Other recurring characters include Captain Standfast, Sergeant MacFuzz the local policeman, and the self-obsessed Mayor and Mayoress.

The animation was created by Peter Maddocks, who went on to produce Jimbo and the Jet-Set as a result of the success of The Family-Ness.

Voices
Peter Hawkins
Susan Sheridan

Episodes

Elspeth and Angus Meet the Loch Ness Monster | Professor Dumpkopf’s Underwater Telescope | Elspeth and Angus Buy a Puppy | Ferocious-Ness Changes His Colour | Ferocious-Ness and the Look-A-Like Contest | Clever-Ness Helps with the Homework | Speedy-Ness Save the Day | Ferocious-Ness Loses His Roar | Baby-Ness Gets the Measles | Silly-Ness and the Bubble Machine | Ferocious-Ness and the Sound Machine | Clever-Ness and the Curling Championship | The Maze of Urquhart Castle | Professor Dumkopf Makes a Monster Film | Professor Dumkopf and His Amazing Cannonball | Sporty-Ness and the Highland Games | Hungry-Ness and the Diving Bell | Professor Dumkopf and the Hungry Monster | Clumsy-Ness Upsets Captain Standfast | Angus and the Monster Kite | Captain Standfast and the Golden Key | Thirsty-Ness and the Part-Time Witch | Baby-Ness and the Mayor’s Statue | Captain Standfast and the Stowaway | You’ll Never Find a Nessie in a Zoo

Video