The Riddlers
This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2024) |
The Riddlers | |
---|---|
Genre | Puppet show |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 9 |
No. of episodes | 224 |
Production | |
Running time | 15 minutes |
Original release | |
Network | ITV |
Release | 2 November 1989 27 August 1998 | –
The Riddlers is a British children's programme produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV between 2 November 1989 and 27 August 1998.
Synopsis[edit]
The series centred on Marjorie Dawe and the two Riddlers (small humanoid creatures, portrayed by puppets, whose main aim in life was to "riddle things out") named Mossop (voiced by Richard Robinson) and Tiddler (female, but voiced by Mike Gallant), who inhabited her garden at Riddleton End. It would later be revealed that Tiddler was an orphan and had no other next of kin, so Mossop adopted Tiddler as an infant. Tiddler was not the latter's real name, but a title given to young apprentice Riddlers: once they achieved full Riddler status there would be a special (graduation type) ceremony, at which they would be given their 'real' name. Tiddler's training included being told twelve stories by a Riddlestone, usually one of 'Eesup's Foibles' (Yorkshire dialect for Aesop's Fables) – she would then have to 'riddle out' the moral of the story.
When Tiddler had achieved full Riddler status (by getting the morals of twelve stories correctly) she chose to be called Tiddlup at the ceremony. Marjorie wanted to go to the ceremony but was told by Mossop that only Riddlers and Tiddlers could go as it was a Riddler law. In order to go, she became a Riddler and started to study as a Riddler.
Other characters featured in the show included Marjorie's neighbour, Mr. Montgomery Grimley (a gardener and odd-job man), and several other Riddler characters – including another Tiddler known as Middler, Mossop's brother Glossop, and Eesup, a story-teller. Marjorie's sister Monica was also featured as a recurring character. Many of the plots featured in the series revolved around the male characters making mistakes which would then be solved by the female ones.
Series cast[edit]
- Marjorie Dawe: Victoria Williams
- Mr. Montgomery Grimley: Peter Llewellyn Jones
- Monica: Sally Sheridan
- Mossop/Middler: Richard Robinson
- Tiddlup/Glossop/Eesup/McEyup: Mike Gallant
Production[edit]
Total of episodes were produced and broadcast during the series' nine-year run. For much of its run, The Riddlers was produced by Ian Fell and directed by Chris Ryder (later a series producer).[1] Later series were directed by Ann Ayoub. The executive producer was Chris Jelley.
All episodes were written by Rick Vanes (whose previous work for YTV included Puddle Lane and Mooncat). Eesup's Foibles stories were written by Shirley Isherwood. Neil Innes provided the music and songs featured. Puppeteer for Middler and Mossop, Richard Robinson, created the puppets and provided illustrations for the Eesup's Foibles stories. David Baker was assistant puppeteer series 1 through 6 and Garry Rutter for the show's last three years. Garry Rutter would later work on MacDonalds Farm puppeteering Baa Baa and The Fimbles Doing animatronic work.
Many of the programmes were recorded in Yorkshire Television's studios on Kirkstall Road, Leeds, although some later episodes were filmed on location. Five VHS releases were issued by Video Collection International, two DVDs were issued by Kids Club (VCI) and several tie-in books were published.
An episode from the fifth series was broadcast on the CITV channel on 6 January 2013, as part of a weekend of archive programmes to celebrate CITV's 30th anniversary.
Transmission guide[edit]
Series 1 (1989-1990)[edit]
- Moving In – 2 November 1989
- A Present for Marjorie – 9 November 1989
- The Wedding Hat – 16 November 1989
- The House-Warming Party – 23 November 1989
- The Riddling Tree – 30 November 1989
- The Potted Plants – 7 December 1989
- Sleepy Heads – 14 December 1989
- Riddling Boots – 21 December 1989
- Fishing – 11 January 1990
- The Fairy – 18 January 1990
- Decisions, Decisions – 25 January 1990
- Missing the Bus – 1 February 1990
- Gone Camping – 8 February 1990
- Mossop the Strongman – 15 February 1990
- The Flittering – 22 February 1990
- Bothersome Birds – 1 March 1990
- Grimley's Tuba – 8 March 1990
- In Search of the Lost Nuts – 15 March 1990
- Tiddler's Beads – 22 March 1990
- Postie the Prisoner – 29 March 1990
- Robins Nest – 5 April 1990
- House-Hunting – 12 April 1990
- Mossop Shows the Way – 19 April 1990
- Peace and Quiet – 26 April 1990
- That's Torn It – 3 May 1990
- Tiddler's Time Magic – 10 May 1990
Series 2 (1990-1991)[edit]
- Mossop Needs A Haircut – 15 November 1990
- Rat in the Garden – 22 November 1990
- Middler – 29 November 1990
- A Present from Middler – 6 December 1990
- Tiddler at Bedtime – 13 December 1990
- The Siege of Riddleton End – 20 December 1990
- In the Soup – 10 January 1991
- Tiddletricks Day – 17 January 1991
- The Singing Tree – 24 January 1991
- Grooming Grimley – 31 January 1991
- Daft as Brushes – 7 February 1991
- Mossop Builds a Car – 14 February 1991
- Cat on the Run – 21 February 1991
- Wet Paint – 28 February 1991
- Spring Time for Middler – 7 March 1991
- A Question of Balance – 14 March 1991
- Mossop the Artist – 21 March 1991
- Middler the Invisible – 28 March 1991
- The Mystery of the Shrinking Tiddler – 4 April 1991
- Mossop Loses His Voice – 11 April 1991
- The Flood – 18 April 1991
- Red Herring – 25 April 1991
- Stop, Look and Listen – 2 May 1991
- The Lightning Machines – 9 May 1991
- Holiday Plans – 16 May 1991
- Tiddler's Test – 23 May 1991
Series 3 (1991-1993)[edit]
- Stones from the Sky – 12 December 1991
- Lights Out – 19 December 1991
- Treasure of Riddleton End – 9 January 1992
- Mossop the Hero – 16 January 1992
- Mossop and Grimley – Builders – 23 January 1992
- Middler's Invisible Horse – 30 January 1992
- A Brush With Mossop – 6 February 1992
- The Riddlestone Necklace – 13 February 1992
- The Search for a Riddling Tree – 20 February 1992
- Top Hat and Tails – 27 February 1992
- The Honorary Riddler – 5 March 1992
- A Riddler at Last – 12 March 1992
- Mossop's Magic Cleaner – 19 March 1992
- Tiddlup Doesn't Live Here Anymore – 26 March 1992
- Mossop the Thinker – 2 April 1992
- Learning to Teach – 9 April 1992
- Counting on Mossop – 16 April 1992
- Skate Expectations – 23 April 1992
- The Speeding Detective – 30 April 1992
- The Magnificent Handcart – 7 May 1992
- Spider, Spider – 14 May 1992
- Heavy Reading – 21 May 1992
- Cold Comfort Cottage – 28 May 1992
- That's Hen-Tertainment – 4 June 1992
- Water Music - 26th November 1992
- Belt and Braces - 3rd December 1992
- Worrying Developments - 10th December 1992
- Edgar Saves the Day - 17th December 1992
- Water, Water Anywhere? - 7th January 1993
Series 4 (1993)[edit]
- Not Wanted on Voyage - 16th January 1993
- Camp Sights - 21st January 1993
- Beside the Seaside - 28th January 1993
- Tickets To Ride - 4th February 1993
- A Head for Heights - 11th February 1993
- Fish & Ships - 18th February 1993
- A Room for the Knight - 25th February 1993
- A Ticklish Problem - 4th March 1993
- Getting in Shape - 11th March 1993
- Return To Lender - 18th March 1993
- The Riddler Christmas - 25th March 1993
- Mossop on His Metal - 1st April 1993
- Mossop the Genius - 8th April 1993
- Too Big for His Boots - 15th April 1993
- A Few Hiccups - 22nd April 1993
- The New Mossy Boots - 29th April 1993
- Special Delivery - 6th May 1993
- Doing Things Day - 13th May 1993
Series 5 (1993-1994)[edit]
- Relatively Speaking – 7 September 1993
- Squeamish - 9 September 1993
- A Miner Problem - 14 September 1993
- The Tooth Will Out – 16 September 1993
- Back To School - 21 September 1993
- Legend of the Vampire Hedgehog - 23 September 1993
- Lucks and Ducks – 28 September 1993
- A Whale of a Time – 30 September 1993
- A Shady Character - 5 October 1993
- A Complete Washout - 7 October 1993
- The Wrong Lines - 12 October 1993
- Not So Smart - 14 October 1993
- A Hat For Middler - 19 October 1993
- All the Fun of the Festival - 21 October 1993
- Middler the Plotter - 26 October 1993
- Daring in the Diary - 28 October 1993
- Feeding Time - 2 November 1993
- The Stowaway - 4 November 1993
- The Isle Of Riddlers - 9 November 1983
- The Rocket - 11 November 1993
- The Missing Tickets - 16 November 1993
- Vikings And Black Dogs - 18 November 1993
- Three Legs, Four Horns, Seven Kingdoms - 23 November 1993
- Fairies and Tales - 25 November 1993
- Who’s Been Sleeping In My Cellar - 2 December 1993
- Oh Brother - 7 December 1993
- A Job at the Circus - 9 December 1993
- Roll Up, Fall Down - 14 December 1993
- Glossop Moves In - 16 December 1993
- The Unwelcome Guest - 4 January 1994
Series 6 (1994-1995)[edit]
- All Fall Down - 8 September 1994
- Home and Wahey! - 15 September 1994
- In Branches Everywhere - 22 September 1994
- Trouble In Store - 29 September 1994
- The Super Well - 6 October 1994
- A Caravan For Middler - 13 October 1994
- Flight To Holy Island - 20 October 1994
- On Hadrian’s Wall - 27 October 1994
- Dipping And Tripping - 3 November 1994
- Tiddlup At The Wicket - 10 November 1994
- A Face From The Past - 17 November 1994
- Job Hunting - 24 November 1994
- Last With The News - 1 December 1994
- The Riddleton Circus - 8 December 1994
- Punch And Judy - 15 December 1994
- Oh, Baby! - 12 January 1995
- Hush A Bye Mossop - 19 January 1995
- Mossop Steps Out - 26 January 1995
- A Tiddler At Play School - 2 February 1995
- Mossop Returns - 9 February 1995
Series 7 (1995-1996)[edit]
- Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow - 7th September 1995
- Just for Kicks - 14th September 1995
- A Test for Middler - 21st September 1995
- Trick Cycling - 28th September 1995
- Where on Earth? - 5th October 1995
- French Lessons - 12th October 1995
- Bon Appetit - 19th October 1995
- Alarms and Excursions - 26th October 1995
- Eesup - 2nd November 1995
- Let Loose in the Library - 9th November 1995
- A Tiddler’s Best Friend - 16th November 1995
- It’s a Dog Life - 23rd November 1995
- Dog Tired - 30th November 1995
- The Phantom Piper - 7th December 1995
- Loch Ness Mess - 14th December 1995
- Cabers and Kilts - 4th January 1996
- Highland Fun and Games - 11th January 1996
- A Little Bit Of Dirt - 18th January 1996
- At the Hospital - 25th January 1996
- Mossop the Invalid - 1st February 1996
- Thanks a Lot - 8th February 1996
- Flea Market - 15th February 1996
- Mossop the Conkeror - 22nd February 1996
- Grimley the Golfer - 29th February 1996
- Listen To The Band - 7th March 1996
Series 8 (1996-1997)[edit]
- Vote for Mossop - 12th September 1996
- The Chief Riddler - 19th September 1996
- Statue There? - 26th September 1996
- Your Place Or Mine - 3rd October 1996
- Well Dressed Wells - 10th October 1996
- Light Fantastic - 17th October 1996
- Middler’s Mansion - 24th October 1996
- The Tiddlers' Holiday Camp - 31st October 1996
- Tickling Trout - 7th November 1996
- Daylight Snobbery - 14th November 1996
- Rootin' Tootin' Cowboys - 21st November 1996
- Under The Greenwood Tree - 28th November 1996
- A-Hunting We Will Go - 5th December 1996
- Eesup Junior - 12th December 1996
- Not A Leg To Stand On - 19th December 1996
- Chairs And Stairs - 9th January 1997
- Mossop Calling - 16th January 1997
- Middler’s Taxi Service - 23rd January 1997
- Lollipop Middler - 30th January 1997
- Clothes For Your Nose - 6th February 1997
- Highly Alarming - 13th February 1997
- A Word In The Hand... - 20th February 1997
- Leisure Hunt - 27th February 1997
- Stereo-oh! - 6th March 1997
- Playing Chopsticks - 13th March 1997
Series 9 (1997-1998)[edit]
- Ideal Home - 9th September 1997
- Dumb Waiter - 16th September 1997
- That Sinking Feeling - 23rd September 1997
- All Stuck Up - 30th September 1997
- All at Sea - 7th October 1997
- Castaways - 14th October 1997
- On the Line - 21st October 1997
- Cycling Proficiency - 28th October 1997
- Middler's Cafe - 4th November 1997
- Metal Detector - 11th November 1997
- The Time Machine - 18th November 1997
- Mystery in History - 25th November 1997
- Back to the Stone Age - 2nd December 1997
- Blow Up - 16th December 1997
- Spooks Of Riddleton End - 18th June 1998
- Mossop’s Art Gallery - 25th June 1998
- Good Sports - 2nd July 1998
- Hoe, Hoe, Hoe - 9th July 1998
- Riddler Scouts - 16th July 1998
- Tall and Small and Basketball - 23rd July 1998
- Creepy Crawlies - 30th July 1998
- Fashion Victims - 6th August 1998
- Little Red Riding Hood - 13th August 1998
- That’s Rich - 20th August 1998
- Good Morning, Mr. Magpie - 27th August 1998
UK VHS releases[edit]
VHS Title | Release Date | Episodes |
---|---|---|
The Riddlers: Mossop Needs A Haircut And Other Stories (YTVE 17) | 1991 | Mossop Needs A Haircut, Siege of Riddlers End, Daft As A Brush, Holiday Plans |
The Riddlers: Mossop The Hero And Other Stories (VC1264) | 5 October 1992 | Stones From the Sky, Lights Out, The Treasure of Riddleton End, Mossop the Hero |
The Riddlers: The Riddlestone Necklace And Other Stories (VC1278) | 8 February 1993 | Mossop and Grimley Builders, Middler's Invisible Horse, A Brush with Mossop, The Riddlestone Necklace |
The Riddlers: A Riddler at Last and Other Stories (VC1309) | 5 July 1993 | The Search For a Riddling Tree, Top Hat and Tails, The Honorary Riddler, A Riddler at Last |
The Riddlers: Mossop The Thinker and Other Stories (KC1513) | 9 March 1998 | Mossop's Magic Cleaner, Tiddlup Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Mossop The Thinker, Learning To Teach |
References[edit]
- ^ Heartbeat and Beyond: Memoirs of 50 Years of Yorkshire Television. Ed. John Fairley, Graham Ironside. Pen and Sword, 2017.
External links[edit]
- 1989 British television series debuts
- 1998 British television series endings
- 1980s British anthology television series
- 1980s British children's television series
- 1990s British anthology television series
- 1990s British children's television series
- 1990s preschool education television series
- British children's fantasy television series
- British preschool education television series
- British television shows featuring puppetry
- British English-language television shows
- Fictional people from Yorkshire
- Fictional species and races
- ITV children's television shows
- Television series by ITV Studios
- Television series by Yorkshire Television
- Television shows set in Yorkshire