Woof! | |
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Original 1989 title
|
|
Written by |
Allan Ahlberg Richard Fegen Andrew Norriss Graham Alborough |
Directed by | David Cobham |
Starring |
Edward Fidoe (1989–1992) Adam Roper (1993–1995) Sebastian Mahjouri (1997) Liza Goddard Thomas Aldwinckle Sarah Smart Lizzie Mickery John Bowler Monty Allan Owen Brenman Faye Jackson (1997) Jack Allen (1997) |
Theme music composer | Paul Lewis |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language(s) | English |
No. of series | 9 |
No. of episodes | 69 |
Production | |
Executive producer(s) | Lewis Rudd |
Producer(s) | David Cobham |
Running time | 25 minutes |
Production company(s) | Central Independent Television |
Release | |
Original network | ITV |
Picture format | 4:3 |
Audio format | Mono |
Original release | 18 February 1989 | – 19 February 1997
Woof! is a British children's television series produced by Central Independent Television about the adventures of a boy who shapeshifts into a dog. It was based on the book by Allan Ahlberg. It was directed by David Cobham. It was written by Richard Fegen and Andrew Norriss.
The show was first broadcast in 1989. It starred Liza Goddard as teacher Mrs Jessop. Edward Fidoe played Eric Banks, the boy who turned into a dog (played by Pippin) of the same name. It also starred Thomas Aldwinckle as Eric's friend Roy Ackerman and later Sarah Smart as his tomboy best friend Rachel Hobbs. Filming was interrupted for a while when Smart broke her leg.
The show generally featured weekly escapades to do with the dog power. Late in Eric's run of episodes, a start at a plot arc was developed, with Eric discovering the transition is caused by adrenaline, and meeting up with an adult (played by Anthony Head) who has the same affliction.
From Series Six which began airing in 1993, the episodes featured the adventures of Rex Thomas (played by Adam Roper) and his best friend Michael Tully (Monty Allan). Rex inherits Eric's "condition", and in the final episode of series 8 he becomes Mrs Jessop's stepson after she marries his father, Ken (Owen Brenman). Lionel Jeffries also guest-starred as Rex's Grandfather.
The ninth and final series, consisting of seven episodes, aired in 1997. It featured Jim Walters (Sebastian Mahjouri), accompanied by his cousin Brian Barford (Jack Allen) and next door neighbour Carrie Howard (Faye Jackson). By the time the show ended, Liza Goddard was the only original cast member to feature through all nine series.