1 9 8 1 – 1 9 8 2 (UK)
18 x episodes
Lunchtime programme from Yorkshire Television based on the Woofits children’s books by popular television and radio personality Michael Parkinson, best known for his TV chat shows.
The anthropomorphic dog-like creatures lived in the fictional Yorkshire coal mining village of Grimeworth (based on the real-life Cudworth, where Parkinson was born, and the nearby village of Grimethorpe – as featured in the film Brassed Off (1996).
The main members of the Woofit family lived in three neighbouring terraced houses on Grimeworth Street, Grimeworth.
Grandpa Ironside and Grandma Emily (the heads of the family) lived at number 8, brothers Uncle Athelstone (miner, gardener and bandleader of Grimeworth Colliery Brass Band) and Uncle Gaylord, (who had won the football pools and considered himself posh) lived at number 10, and coal miner John Willy Woofit (Ironside’s son) lived at number 12 with his wife Lavina and their kids, Elton and Angela, and their pet dog, Gershwin.
John Willy played trombone in the colliery band, while Elton dreamed of being a pop star, and Angela had ambitions to be a TV newsreader.
Other characters included Baskerville Woofit (editor of the Daily Woofit), Cluff Woofit (manager of the local football team) and local policeman, Sergeant Cox.
Narrator
Michael Parkinson