Chorlton and the Wheelies
Encyclopedia
Chorlton and the Wheelies was an animated children's television series that ran from September 1976 until June 1979 on British Television Channel (ITV
). It followed the adventures of Chorlton, a fictional happiness dragon
, in Wheelie World.
Chorlton and the Wheelies was created by Cosgrove Hall for the ITV
station Thames Television
, and the eponymous lead character gets his name from the suburb of Manchester
in which the Cosgrove Hall studio was based: the legend "Made in Chorlton-cum-Hardy
" is found written on the inside of the egg from which he hatches in the very first episode of the series.
The wheelie society is in conflict with Fenella the Kettle Witch, who lives in Wheelie World but separately from the wheelies, in Spout Hall, an oversized kettle
. She has magical
capabilities, including a form of teleportation
which is her main mode of transport, and enchanted assistants including a talking book (called 'Claptrap Von Spilldebeans') and Reilly the Telescope, which advise her on magic spells. Minions include spikers (sinister looking objects like conker
shells with baleful eyes, which roll everywhere) and toadies (pointed toadstools with similar eyes, which travel by bobbing through the ground as though it were water and who speak with a Chinese accent). Fenella hates happiness, and uses her powers primarily to make the wheelies unhappy. She also has a very strong Welsh
accent.
The wheelies have adopted into their society a "happiness dragon
", Chorlton, who appears in Wheelie World at the very beginning of the series, hatching out of an egg. Chorlton is perpetually good-natured and perpetually clueless. For example, he fails to perceive Fenella as a villain, and affectionately refers to her as a "little old lady". Nevertheless, his presence negates the unhappiness magic, so the wheelies treat him as a hero. Despite being "Made in Chorlton-cum-Hardy" (Lancashire) he has a strong Yorkshire accent, although this is probably due to the voice talents of Joe Lynch more than any planning by Cosgrove Hall.
Plots are extremely simple, mainly revolve around Fenella's schemes to make the wheelies unhappy and Chorlton's accidental rectification of everything that goes wrong. Around these events, the characters' simple and exaggerated personalities are on show.
The idea of 'wheelies' came about after the difficulties of moving many different characters using stop-frame animation. Characters on wheels were easier to manipulate than those with limbs that needed fractionally moving many times for each second of filming. Similarly choosing teleportation as Fenella's principal means of transportation means that usually Chorlton is the only character whose walking needs to be animated.
The show was sold to numerous countries around the world. However it was never sold to Israel
after a graphic artist mistakenly drew a Star of David
instead of a Pentagram
on the front of the talking spellbook, which spoke with a Germanic
accent, causing accusations of antisemitism towards the show's creators.
The characters include, amongst others:
The late Joe Lynch narrated the show as well as providing all the voices for the characters. The show's theme tune was written and sung by Joe Griffiths.
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
). It followed the adventures of Chorlton, a fictional happiness dragon
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
, in Wheelie World.
Chorlton and the Wheelies was created by Cosgrove Hall for the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
station Thames Television
Thames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
, and the eponymous lead character gets his name from the suburb of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in which the Cosgrove Hall studio was based: the legend "Made in Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Chorlton-cum-Hardy
Chorlton-cum-Hardy is a suburban area of the city of Manchester, England. It is known locally as Chorlton. It is situated about four miles southwest of Manchester city centre. Pronunciation varies: and are both common....
" is found written on the inside of the egg from which he hatches in the very first episode of the series.
Synopsis
The series takes place in "Wheelie World", which is inhabited principally by the "wheelies", a race of anthropomorphic creatures who locomote by means of wheels. They have three wheels each: two large ones at the front, and a smaller centred one at the back. The wheels are replaceable, and suitable wheels grow on vegetation found in Wheelie World.The wheelie society is in conflict with Fenella the Kettle Witch, who lives in Wheelie World but separately from the wheelies, in Spout Hall, an oversized kettle
Kettle
A kettle, sometimes called a tea kettle or teakettle, is a small kitchen appliance used for boiling water. Kettles can be heated either by placing on a stove, or by their own electric heating element.- Stovetop kettles :...
. She has magical
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
capabilities, including a form of teleportation
Teleportation
Teleportation is the fictional or imagined process by which matter is instantaneously transferred from one place to another.Teleportation may also refer to:*Quantum teleportation, a method of transmitting quantum data...
which is her main mode of transport, and enchanted assistants including a talking book (called 'Claptrap Von Spilldebeans') and Reilly the Telescope, which advise her on magic spells. Minions include spikers (sinister looking objects like conker
Conker
Conkers is a traditional English children's game played using the seeds of horse-chestnut trees – the name 'conker' is also applied to the seed and to the tree itself...
shells with baleful eyes, which roll everywhere) and toadies (pointed toadstools with similar eyes, which travel by bobbing through the ground as though it were water and who speak with a Chinese accent). Fenella hates happiness, and uses her powers primarily to make the wheelies unhappy. She also has a very strong Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
accent.
The wheelies have adopted into their society a "happiness dragon
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
", Chorlton, who appears in Wheelie World at the very beginning of the series, hatching out of an egg. Chorlton is perpetually good-natured and perpetually clueless. For example, he fails to perceive Fenella as a villain, and affectionately refers to her as a "little old lady". Nevertheless, his presence negates the unhappiness magic, so the wheelies treat him as a hero. Despite being "Made in Chorlton-cum-Hardy" (Lancashire) he has a strong Yorkshire accent, although this is probably due to the voice talents of Joe Lynch more than any planning by Cosgrove Hall.
Plots are extremely simple, mainly revolve around Fenella's schemes to make the wheelies unhappy and Chorlton's accidental rectification of everything that goes wrong. Around these events, the characters' simple and exaggerated personalities are on show.
The idea of 'wheelies' came about after the difficulties of moving many different characters using stop-frame animation. Characters on wheels were easier to manipulate than those with limbs that needed fractionally moving many times for each second of filming. Similarly choosing teleportation as Fenella's principal means of transportation means that usually Chorlton is the only character whose walking needs to be animated.
The show was sold to numerous countries around the world. However it was never sold to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
after a graphic artist mistakenly drew a Star of David
Star of David
The Star of David, known in Hebrew as the Shield of David or Magen David is a generally recognized symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism.Its shape is that of a hexagram, the compound of two equilateral triangles...
instead of a Pentagram
Pentagram
A pentagram is the shape of a five-pointed star drawn with five straight strokes...
on the front of the talking spellbook, which spoke with a Germanic
Germanic languages
The Germanic languages constitute a sub-branch of the Indo-European language family. The common ancestor of all of the languages in this branch is called Proto-Germanic , which was spoken in approximately the mid-1st millennium BC in Iron Age northern Europe...
accent, causing accusations of antisemitism towards the show's creators.
The characters include, amongst others:
- Chorlton the Happiness Dragon - where he goes happiness follows.
- Fenella Fellorick the Kettle Witch - who does not like anyone to enjoy themselves.
- Zoomer - a wheelie, notable for his speed of locomotion.
- Jenny - a wheelie girl with blonde hair who fancies Chorlton.
- King Otto and Queen Doris - The monarchy of Wheelieworld.
- The Minister of wheel estate - the political wheelie, who bears a striking resemblance to Harold Wilson, who had recently been Prime Minister of the UK.
- Claptrap von Spilldebeans - A German spellbook who often speaks in rhyme and comes up with Fenella's schemes.
- O'Reilly the one eyed telescope - An Irish telescope that Fenella stole from the end of Dún LaoghaireDún LaoghaireDún Laoghaire or Dún Laoire , sometimes anglicised as "Dunleary" , is a suburban seaside town in County Dublin, Ireland, about twelve kilometres south of Dublin city centre. It is the county town of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County and a major port of entry from Great Britain...
East pier. - Clifford - Fenella's giant son, who is so tall the only part of him that ever is in shot is his leg.
- Pablo Perdito - A world famous Latin American dancing duck.
- Floyd - The only toady to have pink spots rather than green (first called by name in the series two episode "Toady Trouble" - possible hidden reference to the band Pink FloydPink FloydPink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
).
The late Joe Lynch narrated the show as well as providing all the voices for the characters. The show's theme tune was written and sung by Joe Griffiths.
Credits
- Written by: Brian Trueman
- Music: Joe Griffiths
- Animation: Joe Dembinski, Jackie Cockle
- Props: Chris Walker
- Original Storyline: Jo Kemp (now Jo Marsden)
- Camera: Jim Noble
- Editing: Dave Street
- Executive Producer: John Hambley
- Produced by: Brian Cosgrove, Mark Hall
- Directed by: Chris Taylor