Round the Twist
Encyclopedia
Round the Twist is a Logie Award
-winning Australia
n children's television series
about three children and their widowed father who live in a lighthouse
and become involved in many magical
adventures.
Only four series were made despite the show having an eleven year run. The first two series were based on fantasy
stories written by author Paul Jennings
; the latter two were based on a variety of authors' work. Its first series was made in 1989. A second series, with many roles re-cast, was made in 1992. A third series, again re-cast, was made in 1999, followed by a fourth (with some roles again re-cast) in 2000.
The show's distinctive theme song, with the lyrics "have you ever... ever felt like this?..."
was sung by Tamsin West
, who played the lead female role of Linda in the first series. It borrowed lines from popular nursery rhyme
s such as "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
", "Humpty Dumpty
" and "Rain Rain Go Away
".
Many external scenes were shot around the region of the Split Point Lighthouse
in Aireys Inlet, Victoria
, Australia
.
, Marzena Godecki
made a cameo appearance
in season 2 as the character credited as "Beautiful Girl".
* Except Series 1 episode The Gum Leaf War, in which Lachlan Jeffrey appears only as Foxy Jr.
Other characters:
Characters who appear briefly in each episode of a series:
The Twist family also have frequent conflicts with a ruthless local businessman, Harold Gribble and his family. Typically, Gribble seeks to remove the Twists from the lighthouse in order to more profitably use it as a tourist attraction for Port Niranda. This is a continuous feature of the first series, and a recurring feature of the third and fourth series.
In a subplot, Tony falls in love with Faye, and spends the series developing a relationship with her, culminating in a marriage proposal at the finale. The answer to the proposal is left open-ended.
Another recurring theme in Series Two is Bronson's foul-smelling feet. In episode 7, Smelly Feat, he reveals that he has been 'saving the stink' to stop the Gribbles from killing an endangered turtle. In the end, he helps save the turtle.
Tony and Faye become officially engaged, but Faye becomes increasingly concerned that Bronson does not want her to marry Tony, eventually leading to the engagement being broken off. They are re-engaged at the end of the series.
For the only time in the show's run, Mr Gribble's primary concern is not with removing the Twists from the lighthouse. Rather, he spends the series campaigning for a senate seat with the fictional Progressive Conservative Party. Disagreeing with his policies, Nell runs against him in a party similar to the Australian Greens
, and ultimately wins in a landslide.
Pete finds out he's pregnant by a tree spirit.
A subplot in this series is Faye's pregnancy to Tony. The baby, named Ariel, is born in the series finale.
Another subplot is Bronson collecting various smells throughout the series with his Smellsucker, a vacuum cleaner with a nose built into it for storing the smells. This leads Bronson to becoming a superhero of sorts called Skunkman. He appears randomly throughout the series, but the true identity not revealed. His friend Lois, appearing in only the Skunkman episode, is made out to be Skunkman to Gribble's gang.
The first two series were written by Paul Jennings
, with heavy editing by director Esben Storm (who also played Mr. Snapper in series 1-3). Each of these episodes, with the exception of the second series' final episode Seeing the Light, were based on Jennings' short stories. A Round the Twist movie was planned, but due to creative differences, it was never made. After the second series Jennings left the show, taking the rights to his stories with him. Paul Jennings also made some cameo appearances, in particular as the ghost of Ben Byron in series 1's Without my Pants.
The third and fourth series were written by various writers, and did not draw from Jennings' material. The latter series did not match the popular acclaim of the originals, and because of this, the show was cancelled. Incidentally, at around the same time as the third series was released, Jennings' stories were being adapted into a different show called Driven Crazy
, which also failed to match the popularity of the early Round the Twists, and of which only one series was produced.
Several locations were used for the filming of the series. The most notable location is the Twist family's lighthouse
home, with exterior scenes shot at the Split Point Lighthouse
in Aireys Inlet, Victoria
. School and some town scenes were shot in Williamstown, Victoria
, Point Lonsdale, Victoria
and Queenscliff, Victoria
.
had difficulty finding a distributor for it: according to the ACTF's marketing Manager Jenny Buckland, "the scripts were declared 'too rude',
'not for television' and 'outrageous'".
Some episodes include references to defecation, urination, body odor, underwear, birth, death, nudity, incest, and genitalia.
However these are all used for comic effect, and the series also engages with significant personal or social issues such as environmental conservation, or relations with the opposite sex.
Many episodes revolve around helping restless spirits of dead people or animals find peace.
In the UK Round The Twist was released on DVD, the first three DVDs were given a U
rating and the fourth dvd was given a PG
rating.
In Australia, the series was released on DVD through Magna Pacific originally in 2000/2001 consisting of 7 volumes.
Volume 1: Series 1: Episodes 1-9 (2 Disc Set)
Volume 2: Series 1 & 2: Episodes 10-18 (2 Disc Set)
Volume 3: Series 2: Episodes 19-26 (2 Disc Set)
Volume 4: Series 3: Episodes 27-32
Volume 5: Series 3: Episodes 33-39
Volume 6: Series 4: Episodes 40-45
Volume 7: Series 4: Episodes 46-52
In 2005 these same 7 volumes were then placed in a box and given the "Box Set" name and sold as a complete series and in 2009 the series was re-packed and re-issued.
On 2 February 2010, Magna re-released the whole series in a new packaged box set as 'Completely Twisted Collection'. Series 1, Series 2, Series 3 and Series 4 were released as individual season sets on 1 July 2010 through Magna.
's CBBC
segment several times in the 1990s and early 2000s, and was repeated again in 2007 on Five on Sunday mornings.
It also regularly appeared on Network 2
in Ireland
. The show was also popular in the Netherlands
. In Canada
it won the Banff Television Festival award for "Best Children's Programme" in 2000, and in Australia
it won the Logie Award
for "Outstanding Children's Programme" in 2001 and 2002. It was also nominated for an award at the Australian Film Institute
. The show is currently seen in Australia on ABC3
.
The only time the series was ever shown in America was a brief run on Fox Kids in 1997.
Logie Award
The TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
-winning Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n children's television series
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...
about three children and their widowed father who live in a lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
and become involved in many 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...
adventures.
Only four series were made despite the show having an eleven year run. The first two series were based on fantasy
Fantastic
The Fantastic is a literary term that describes a quality of other literary genres, and, in some cases, is used as a genre in and of itself, although in this case it is often conflated with the Supernatural. The term was originated in the structuralist theory of critic Tzvetan Todorov in his work...
stories written by author Paul Jennings
Paul Jennings (Australian author)
Paul Jennings AM is an English-born Australian children's book writer. His books mainly feature short stories that lead the reader through an unusual series of events that end with a twist.-Biography:...
; the latter two were based on a variety of authors' work. Its first series was made in 1989. A second series, with many roles re-cast, was made in 1992. A third series, again re-cast, was made in 1999, followed by a fourth (with some roles again re-cast) in 2000.
The show's distinctive theme song, with the lyrics "have you ever... ever felt like this?..."
was sung by Tamsin West
Tamsin West
Tamsin West is an Australian actress, best known for her role as Linda Twist in Round the Twist. Tamsin was the first Linda Twist.-Biography:...
, who played the lead female role of Linda in the first series. It borrowed lines from popular nursery rhyme
Nursery rhyme
The term nursery rhyme is used for "traditional" poems for young children in Britain and many other countries, but usage only dates from the 19th century and in North America the older ‘Mother Goose Rhymes’ is still often used.-Lullabies:...
s such as "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
"There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" is a children's song with a cumulative structure. The song was written by Alan Mills, and the lyrics were penned by Rose Bonne...
", "Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty is a character in an English language nursery rhyme, probably originally a riddle and one of the best known in the English-speaking world. He is typically portrayed as an egg and has appeared or been referred to in a large number of works of literature and popular culture...
" and "Rain Rain Go Away
Rain Rain Go Away
"Rain Rain Go Away" is a popular English language nursery rhyme. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 19096.-Lyrics:There are many versions and variations of this rhyming couplet. The most common modern version of is:-Origins:...
".
Many external scenes were shot around the region of the Split Point Lighthouse
Split Point Lighthouse
Split Point Lighthouse is a lighthouse located in Aireys Inlet, a small town on the Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia.-History:Originally called Eagles Nest Point, the lighthouse was originally built in 1891. It was converted to automatic operation in 1919.The original British-made first order...
in Aireys Inlet, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Cast
Making a show about children which spanned more than a decade meant many changes in actors were required, as the child actors became too old for their parts. Therefore, three sets of children (the Twists, the Gribbles and Fiona) have been used. Also, two Tonys, two Nells, three Fays, two Mr. Gribbles, and three Matron Gribbles have been used. Furthermore, before gaining fame in the series Ocean GirlOcean Girl
Ocean Girl is an Australian science fiction TV series aimed for family audiences and starring Marzena Godecki as the lead character...
, Marzena Godecki
Marzena Godecki
Marzena Godecki is a Polish-born Australian actress. She is best known for her starring role as Neri in Ocean Girl.-Early life:...
made a cameo appearance
Cameo appearance
A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television...
in season 2 as the character credited as "Beautiful Girl".
| Character | Series 1 | Series 2 | Series 3 | Series 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Twist | Richard Moir Richard Moir -Biography:In 1990, Moir was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, the degenerative effects of which gradually brought his acting career to a premature end... |
Andrew Gilbert Andrew S. Gilbert Andrew S. Gilbert is an Australian actor best known for his AFI Award-winning role in Kiss or Kill and other supporting work in Look Both Ways and The Dish and his recent role as Gavin Braithwaite on the ABC series, Bed of Roses. He is also known for his collaboration with Director David Caesar on... |
||
| Pete Twist | Sam Vandenberg | Ben Thomas | Rian McLean | |
| Linda Twist | Tamsin West Tamsin West Tamsin West is an Australian actress, best known for her role as Linda Twist in Round the Twist. Tamsin was the first Linda Twist.-Biography:... |
Joelene Crnogorac | Ebonnie Masini | |
| Bronson Twist | Rodney McLennan | Jeffrey Walker Jeffrey Walker (actor) Jeffrey Walker was an Australian child actor best known for his appearances in Ocean Girl and Round the Twist. He is currently a director of Australia's soaps Neighbours and Home and Away, and H2O: Just Add Water.-Career:Walker's first acting credit was a small role in The Flying Doctors in 1989... |
Mathew Waters Mathew Waters Mathew Waters is an Australian actor best known for his roles in Round the Twist, SNOBS, The Pacific, Peter Pan The Movie and of course the original world premier cast of the musical The Boy From Oz, where he played Young Peter Allen... |
|
| Fay James/Twist | Robyn Gibbes Robyn Gibbes Robyn Gibbes is an Australian actress, probably best known for her roles in Prisoner and Round the Twist .... |
Trudy Hellier Trudy Hellier Trudy Hellier is an Australian actress with many television credits to her name. She was a presenter on the children's show Play School and was a main star in the Australian television programs Round the Twist and Frontline... |
Susanne Chapman | |
| Nell | Bunney Brooke Bunney Brooke Bunney Brooke was an Australian actress best known for her television acting roles including the long-running role of Flo Patterson in soap opera Number 96 in the 1970s, and Vi Patchett in E Street in 1990.Brooke was adopted at an early age and had an unhappy early life... |
Marion Heathfield | ||
| Harold Gribble | Frankie J. Holden | Mark Mitchell | ||
| Matron Gribble | Judith McGrath Judith McGrath Judith McGrath is an Australian actress. She spent many of her formative years training at Brisbane Arts Theatre and was a company member of Twelfth Night Theatre under theatre director, Joan Whalley.... |
Jan Friedl | Christine Keogh | |
| James Gribble | Lachlan Jeffrey* | Richard E. Young | Brook Sykes Brook Sykes Brook Sykes, also known as Brook Rowan , is an Australian actor born in Melbourne. He plays Garth King in the Wicked Science TV series... |
|
| Tiger Gleeson | Cameron Nugent | Nick Mitchell | Tom Budge Tom Budge Tom Budge is an Australian actor. Budge was born in Melbourne, Victoria. Early in his acting career, Budge appeared in a number of Australian television shows, includingNeighbours, Round the Twist and Shock Jock etc... |
|
| Fiona | Daisy Cameron | Zeta Briggs | Katie Barnes | |
| Rabbit | Stuart Atkin | Drew Campbell | Samuel Marsland | |
| Ralph Snapper | Esben Storm Esben Storm Esben Storm was a Danish-born Australian actor, screenwriter, television producer and director, well known for his work with Australian children's program Round the Twist. He worked to adapt John Marsden's Tomorrow series but lost the rights to the film... |
Ernie Gray | ||
* Except Series 1 episode The Gum Leaf War, in which Lachlan Jeffrey appears only as Foxy Jr.
Characters
The show revolves around the four members of the Twist family:- Tony Twist ("Dad") — a widower with a kind heart, romantically interested in Bronson's schoolteacher;
- Pete Twist — Linda
' s twin brother, into girls and who occasionally goes out with Fiona; - Linda Twist — Pete
' s twin sister, into feminismFeminismFeminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
, environmentalismEnvironmentalismEnvironmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
and judoJudois a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
; - Bronson Twist — the twins' younger brother, who is obsessed with food and odors.
Other characters:
- Helen "Nell" Rickards — the old woman who lives in a cottage next door, whose brother, Tom, had been the former lighthouse keeper;
- Harold Gribble — a greedy real-estate agent and one-time senate candidate, who often tries to force the Twists to move out of the lighthouse with business schemes;
- "Matron" Cecilia Gribble — his supportive wife, a nurse;
- James Gribble — his no-good son, a bully at school who often antagonises Pete;
- "Rabbit" — one of James Gribble
' s friends, often downtrodden; - "Tiger" Gleeson — the other of James Gribble
' s friends, often seen commentating various events; - Faye James — Bronson
' s schoolteacher; a love interest for Dad, she lives with the Twists in their lighthouse during the third and fourth series; - Ralph Snapper — Pete and Linda
' s teacher; with the children he is a harsh disciplinarian who does not respond well to insolence, but with adults he is very socially awkward - Fiona — Linda's friend, and Pete
' s sometime girlfriend. - Hugh Townsend — Linda's crush in the first series only.
- Anthony — in the third and fourth series only, a well-meaning nerd with a crush on Linda.
Characters who appear briefly in each episode of a series:
- Ghost Matthew and Ghost Jeremiah — two ghosts whose spirits were trapped in the lighthouse during series two after they failed to guide a boat to shore one hundred years earlier.
- Ariel — a girl from the "Isle of Dreams" who comes seeking to take Pete away in the fourth series.
Storylines
Four series of Round the Twist have been made, each comprising thirteen episodes. Although each episode has a self-contained plot each series has a recurring theme, usually an object or character which appears briefly in every episode. This gradually develops the theme until the final episode of the series in which it is explained and resolved.The Twist family also have frequent conflicts with a ruthless local businessman, Harold Gribble and his family. Typically, Gribble seeks to remove the Twists from the lighthouse in order to more profitably use it as a tourist attraction for Port Niranda. This is a continuous feature of the first series, and a recurring feature of the third and fourth series.
Series 1 (1989)
The lighthouse is haunted by eerie music coming from upstairs. In the final episode, Lighthouse Blues, the music is revealed to be played by the ghosts of Nell's deceased family. The ghosts help the Twists to stop one of Mr. Gribble's business associates from destroying the lighthouse.In a subplot, Tony falls in love with Faye, and spends the series developing a relationship with her, culminating in a marriage proposal at the finale. The answer to the proposal is left open-ended.
Series 2 (1993)
The lighthouse is again haunted, this time by ghosts visible to the viewers, but not to the characters until the final episode. The two ghosts are Matthew and Jeremiah, who fade into view once in each episode. They are being punished because as lighthouse keepers 100 years previously they failed to stop a ship bearing Matthew's love, Jane, from being wrecked on the rocks. In the final episode, "Seeing the Light", the ghost ship comes again, and this time, all of the characters from the show help to turn on the lighthouse light and save the family who were lost at sea, redeeming the ghosts.Another recurring theme in Series Two is Bronson's foul-smelling feet. In episode 7, Smelly Feat, he reveals that he has been 'saving the stink' to stop the Gribbles from killing an endangered turtle. In the end, he helps save the turtle.
Tony and Faye become officially engaged, but Faye becomes increasingly concerned that Bronson does not want her to marry Tony, eventually leading to the engagement being broken off. They are re-engaged at the end of the series.
For the only time in the show's run, Mr Gribble's primary concern is not with removing the Twists from the lighthouse. Rather, he spends the series campaigning for a senate seat with the fictional Progressive Conservative Party. Disagreeing with his policies, Nell runs against him in a party similar to the Australian Greens
Australian Greens
The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, is an Australian green political party.The party was formed in 1992; however, its origins can be traced to the early environmental movement in Australia and the formation of the United Tasmania Group , the first Green party in the world, which...
, and ultimately wins in a landslide.
Series 3 (2000)
In the second episode Linda is given a book of poetry, The Viking Book of Love by a young Viking who finds the lighthouse. In most of the episodes, a character falls in love with someone who reads poetry from the book to them; each love spell lasts up until the next one is cast. In the final episode, the Big Rock, the Vikings return and the book's effects are reversed, with terrible consequences.Pete finds out he's pregnant by a tree spirit.
Series 4 (2001)
In each episode, a knight in armour enters the lighthouse through a magical door. At the beginning of the series the knight's face is hidden behind a visor, in the second half of the series the visor is raised. In the final episode, The Isle of Dreams, the stranger is revealed to be a girl, Ariel, who has come to offer the children a perfect life on the Isle of Dreams, if Pete will become her husband. In the end, they decline, and Ariel disappears forever, along with the enchanted isle.A subplot in this series is Faye's pregnancy to Tony. The baby, named Ariel, is born in the series finale.
Another subplot is Bronson collecting various smells throughout the series with his Smellsucker, a vacuum cleaner with a nose built into it for storing the smells. This leads Bronson to becoming a superhero of sorts called Skunkman. He appears randomly throughout the series, but the true identity not revealed. His friend Lois, appearing in only the Skunkman episode, is made out to be Skunkman to Gribble's gang.
Production
Paul Jennings (Australian author)
Paul Jennings AM is an English-born Australian children's book writer. His books mainly feature short stories that lead the reader through an unusual series of events that end with a twist.-Biography:...
, with heavy editing by director Esben Storm (who also played Mr. Snapper in series 1-3). Each of these episodes, with the exception of the second series' final episode Seeing the Light, were based on Jennings' short stories. A Round the Twist movie was planned, but due to creative differences, it was never made. After the second series Jennings left the show, taking the rights to his stories with him. Paul Jennings also made some cameo appearances, in particular as the ghost of Ben Byron in series 1's Without my Pants.
The third and fourth series were written by various writers, and did not draw from Jennings' material. The latter series did not match the popular acclaim of the originals, and because of this, the show was cancelled. Incidentally, at around the same time as the third series was released, Jennings' stories were being adapted into a different show called Driven Crazy
Driven Crazy
Driven Crazy is an Australian childrens' television series, based on the short stories by author Paul Jennings. It first aired in 1998, and was the second television series based on his works.-Plot:...
, which also failed to match the popularity of the early Round the Twists, and of which only one series was produced.
Several locations were used for the filming of the series. The most notable location is the Twist family's lighthouse
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
home, with exterior scenes shot at the Split Point Lighthouse
Split Point Lighthouse
Split Point Lighthouse is a lighthouse located in Aireys Inlet, a small town on the Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia.-History:Originally called Eagles Nest Point, the lighthouse was originally built in 1891. It was converted to automatic operation in 1919.The original British-made first order...
in Aireys Inlet, Victoria
Aireys Inlet, Victoria
Aireys Inlet is a small coastal inlet and town located on the Great Ocean Road, southwest of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Aireys Inlet is located between Anglesea and Lorne, and joined with Fairhaven to the west. At the 2006 census, Aireys Inlet had a population of 1,148.Many surfers holiday in...
. School and some town scenes were shot in Williamstown, Victoria
Williamstown, Victoria
Williamstown is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hobsons Bay. At the 2006 Census, Williamstown had a population of 12,733....
, Point Lonsdale, Victoria
Point Lonsdale, Victoria
Point Lonsdale is a coastal township on the Bellarine Peninsula, near Queenscliff, Victoria, Australia, and included in the Borough of Queenscliffe. Point Lonsdale is also one of the headlands which, with Point Nepean, frame The Rip, the entrance to Port Phillip. The headland is dominated by the...
and Queenscliff, Victoria
Queenscliff, Victoria
Queenscliff is a small town on the Bellarine Peninsula in southern Victoria, Australia, south of Swan Bay at the entrance to Port Phillip. It is the administrative centre for the Borough of Queenscliffe...
.
Content
Round the Twist is notable for having pushed the boundaries of what is acceptable for children's television, to the extent that the Australian Children's Television FoundationAustralian Children's Television Foundation
The Australian Children's Television Foundation is a non-profit, government-funded organisation in Australia concerned with the development, production, dissemination and promotion of children's television and other audio-visual material for children....
had difficulty finding a distributor for it: according to the ACTF's marketing Manager Jenny Buckland, "the scripts were declared 'too rude',
'not for television' and 'outrageous'".
Some episodes include references to defecation, urination, body odor, underwear, birth, death, nudity, incest, and genitalia.
However these are all used for comic effect, and the series also engages with significant personal or social issues such as environmental conservation, or relations with the opposite sex.
Many episodes revolve around helping restless spirits of dead people or animals find peace.
In the UK Round The Twist was released on DVD, the first three DVDs were given a U
British Board of Film Classification
The British Board of Film Classification , originally British Board of Film Censors, is a non-governmental organisation, funded by the film industry and responsible for the national classification of films within the United Kingdom...
rating and the fourth dvd was given a PG
British Board of Film Classification
The British Board of Film Classification , originally British Board of Film Censors, is a non-governmental organisation, funded by the film industry and responsible for the national classification of films within the United Kingdom...
rating.
In Australia, the series was released on DVD through Magna Pacific originally in 2000/2001 consisting of 7 volumes.
Volume 1: Series 1: Episodes 1-9 (2 Disc Set)
Volume 2: Series 1 & 2: Episodes 10-18 (2 Disc Set)
Volume 3: Series 2: Episodes 19-26 (2 Disc Set)
Volume 4: Series 3: Episodes 27-32
Volume 5: Series 3: Episodes 33-39
Volume 6: Series 4: Episodes 40-45
Volume 7: Series 4: Episodes 46-52
In 2005 these same 7 volumes were then placed in a box and given the "Box Set" name and sold as a complete series and in 2009 the series was re-packed and re-issued.
On 2 February 2010, Magna re-released the whole series in a new packaged box set as 'Completely Twisted Collection'. Series 1, Series 2, Series 3 and Series 4 were released as individual season sets on 1 July 2010 through Magna.
Reception
In the UK it was aired on the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's CBBC
CBBC
CBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...
segment several times in the 1990s and early 2000s, and was repeated again in 2007 on Five on Sunday mornings.
It also regularly appeared on Network 2
RTÉ Two
RTÉ Two is a free-to-air general entertainment channel operated by Irish state broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann. RTÉ Two is available throughout the island of Ireland through digital terrestrial service Saorview, VHF and UHF bands, and is also available via satellite to Irish subscribers of...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. The show was also popular in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. In Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
it won the Banff Television Festival award for "Best Children's Programme" in 2000, and in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
it won the Logie Award
Logie Award
The TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
for "Outstanding Children's Programme" in 2001 and 2002. It was also nominated for an award at the Australian Film Institute
Australian Film Institute
The Australian Film Institute was founded in 1958 as a non-profit organisation devoted to developing an active film culture in Australia and fostering engagement between the general public and the Australian film industry...
. The show is currently seen in Australia on ABC3
ABC3
-Future shows:Programming confirmed for future broadcast will include:* After School Care * Bindi's Boot Camp * Bushwacked! * Dance Academy * Dancing Down Under...
.
The only time the series was ever shown in America was a brief run on Fox Kids in 1997.
External links
- Round the Twist website
- Writing Round the Twist (Paul Jennings)
- Learning resources for Round the Twist from the Australian Children's Television FoundationAustralian Children's Television FoundationThe Australian Children's Television Foundation is a non-profit, government-funded organisation in Australia concerned with the development, production, dissemination and promotion of children's television and other audio-visual material for children....
- Round The Twist at ClassicKidsTV.co.uk
- Round the Twist at the National Film and Sound Archive
- Jeffrey Walker biography