Harry and the Wrinklies
Encyclopedia
Harry and the Wrinklies was a children's television series
which produced three series between 1999 and 2002. The show was produced by Scottish TV and SMG TV Productions that aired on CITV
. It was based on a novel of the same name
by Alan Temperley
. It starred Nick Robinson
as the title role. The show has often been repeated since February 2007 on the CITV
channel.
where every inhabitant is a retired criminal or scam artist, and these "Wrinklies," in a new twist on the Robin Hood
tale, routinely commit various crimes in order to donate large sums of money to charity
. The Wrinklies' archenemies were a corrupt judge
and his evil girlfriend, Percy 'Beastly' Priestly and Gestapo Lil.
Harry has a dog called Tangle.
Later on in the series, Lil brings along her niece Katie to spy and find out what the wrinklies are planning although she is close friends with Harry even though she has to work for Lil. In the final series, Percy invites his brother Piggy to help out with his and Lil's scheming plans while Percy is in prison.
By the start of Series 3 Percy Priestly is in Prison and his brother Mr Piggy stays with Lil McScrew to try to get the better of the Wrinklies.
NOTE: Since its original broadcast, Series 1 has not been repeated since. Series 2 and 3 have been repeated on and off occasions since February 2007 on the CITV channel.
Harry and The Wrinklies - Book - Written By Alan Temperley (1997)
Harry and The Treasure Of Eddie Carver - Book - Written By Alan Temperley
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
which produced three series between 1999 and 2002. The show was produced by Scottish TV and SMG TV Productions that aired on CITV
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
. It was based on a novel of the same name
Harry and the Wrinklies
Harry and the Wrinklies was a children's television series which produced three series between 1999 and 2002. The show was produced by Scottish TV and SMG TV Productions that aired on CITV. It was based on a novel of the same name by Alan Temperley. It starred Nick Robinson as the title role...
by Alan Temperley
Alan Temperley
Alan Temperley is a British author. He was born in Sunderland and initially began a career as an English teacher before becoming a writer. His first novel, Murdo's War was published in 1988 and he has written a further five novels, with the most recent, Scar Hill, published in 2009.He has become...
. It starred Nick Robinson
Nick Robinson (actor)
Nick Robinson is a British actor who has appears regularly on British television, most famously as Willie Beech in Goodnight Mister Tom, starring the late John Thaw. He also played the lead in a three-part series based upon Harry and the Wrinklies, a novel by Alan Temperley, produced by Scottish...
as the title role. The show has often been repeated since February 2007 on the CITV
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
channel.
Synopsis
When Harry's parents die on holiday, he is adopted by his aunts. These aunts run an old folks' homeRetirement home
A retirement home is a multi-residence housing facility intended for senior citizens. Typically each person or couple in the home has an apartment-style room or suite of rooms. Additional facilities are provided within the building, including facilities for meals, gathering, recreation, and some...
where every inhabitant is a retired criminal or scam artist, and these "Wrinklies," in a new twist on the Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
tale, routinely commit various crimes in order to donate large sums of money to charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
. The Wrinklies' archenemies were a corrupt judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
and his evil girlfriend, Percy 'Beastly' Priestly and Gestapo Lil.
Harry has a dog called Tangle.
Later on in the series, Lil brings along her niece Katie to spy and find out what the wrinklies are planning although she is close friends with Harry even though she has to work for Lil. In the final series, Percy invites his brother Piggy to help out with his and Lil's scheming plans while Percy is in prison.
Cast
- Nick RobinsonNick Robinson (actor)Nick Robinson is a British actor who has appears regularly on British television, most famously as Willie Beech in Goodnight Mister Tom, starring the late John Thaw. He also played the lead in a three-part series based upon Harry and the Wrinklies, a novel by Alan Temperley, produced by Scottish...
as Harry - Gareth HuntGareth HuntAlan Leonard Hunt was an English actor, known as Gareth Hunt, best remembered for playing the footman Frederick Norton in Upstairs, Downstairs and Mike Gambit in The New Avengers.-Early life:...
as Percy Priestly - Briony McRobertsBriony McRobertsBriony McRoberts, , is a British actress.On television, she played 'Tessa Kilpin' in Episode 057 'No Stone' of The Professionals, and has also appeared in The Bill, Heartbeat, EastEnders, Taggart, and Diamonds...
as Gestapo Lil - Mona Bruce as Aunt Bridget
- Elsie KellyElsie KellyElsie Kelly is a British actress born on 13 May 1935 in Lancashire, England.-Career:Kelly first appeared in the popular television soap opera Crossroads as early as 1964 but it wasn't until 1968, after playing lots of small parts in the series, that she was given a more regular role as cleaner and...
as Aunt Florie - Toni Palmer as Dot
- George SewellGeorge SewellGeorge Sewell was an English actor.-Early life and early career:The son of a Hoxton printer and a florist; Sewell left school at age 14 and worked briefly in the printing trade before switching to building work, specifically the repair of bomb-damaged houses...
as Huggy - Victor SpinettiVictor SpinettiVictor Spinetti is a Welsh comic actor.-Early life:Spinetti was born in Cwm, Ebbw Vale, Wales of Welsh and Italian heritage from a grandfather who was said to have walked from Italy to Wales to work as a coal miner...
as Max - Emma Durkin as Katie (Series 2)
- Tyler ButterworthTyler ButterworthTyler Butterworth is an English actor, who has appeared in Rumpole Of The Bailey, Bergerac, Last of the Summer Wine, The Bill, The Darling Buds of May, Hetty Wainthropp Investigates and Osborne in the ITV sitcom Fiddlers Three...
as Piggy Priestly(Series 3) - John Quentin as Freddie (Series 3)
- Craig McLean as Dancing Security Guard (Series 2)
Series 2
(Originally Broadcast: May 2001 on ITV and repeated before the transmission of Series 3, 5 September to 17 October 2002).- Episode 1 - 'The Mayor's Story'
- Episode 2 - 'The Bank's Story'
- Episode 3 - 'Hobnail's Story'
- Episode 4 - 'The Painting Story'
- Episode 5 - 'Ron's Story'
- Episode 6 - 'The Diamond Story'
- Episode 7 - 'The Flashbacks' - selection of clips from S1 and S2
Series 3
(Originally Broadcast: 24 October to 12 December 2002 on ITV)By the start of Series 3 Percy Priestly is in Prison and his brother Mr Piggy stays with Lil McScrew to try to get the better of the Wrinklies.
- Episode 1 - 'Introducing Mr. Piggy'
- Episode 2 - 'Hobnail In Love'
- Episode 3 - 'Where's My Mummy?'
- Episode 4 - 'Madame Acarte'
- Episode 5 - 'Great Movie Scam'
- Episode 6 - 'Great Hospital Robbery'
- Episode 7 - 'Great Pantomime'
- Episode 8 - 'Great TV Show'
NOTE: Since its original broadcast, Series 1 has not been repeated since. Series 2 and 3 have been repeated on and off occasions since February 2007 on the CITV channel.
Merchandise
Harry and The Wrinklies - VHS (1999)Harry and The Wrinklies - Book - Written By Alan Temperley (1997)
Harry and The Treasure Of Eddie Carver - Book - Written By Alan Temperley
Trivia
- Before Harry and The Wrinklies, Nick Robinson was well known for playing the role of William Beech in the film adaptation of Goodnight Mister TomGoodnight Mister TomGoodnight Mister Tom novel by Michelle Magorian. It follows a young boy, William Beech, who is evacuated from London during the Blitz of World War II, and put into the care of Tom Oakley, an elderly recluse...
in 1998.
- Toni Palmer who plays Dot in the show made an appearance on the BBC sitcom series Hi-de-Hi!Hi-de-Hi!Hi-de-Hi! is a British sitcom that aired on the BBC from 1980-1988. It was set in a holiday camp during the 1950s and 1960s and was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, who had written Dad's Army and It Ain't Half Hot Mum. The title was the phrase used to greet the campers and in early episodes...
on the Christmas special 'September Song' in 1986.