Whizziwig
Encyclopedia
Whizziwig was a science fiction
children's programme broadcast on CITV
between 1998 and 2000 based on the books by award winning children's author Malorie Blackman
.
approximately the size of a rugby
ball. Whizziwig had the ability to grant wishes to anyone who uttered the words "I wish..", however wishes had to be made unintentionally and would last a maximum of 24 hours. A recurring theme was Ben and Steve trying to deceive their friend into granting their intentional wishes only for the alien to become wise to the scheme.
Ben would keep Whizziwig hidden, often smuggling her into school in his gym bag. Many hilarious escapades ensued as the wishes made by unaware students in Whizziwigs earshot would be granted. However in one notable incident a student wished his teacher was dead resulting in an unusually sombre episode.
, death, and mereological nihilism
, whilst still being accessible to its young audience.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
children's programme broadcast 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...
between 1998 and 2000 based on the books by award winning children's author Malorie Blackman
Malorie Blackman
Malorie Blackman OBE is an author of literature and television drama for children and young adults. She has used science fiction to explore social and ethical issues. Her critically and popularly acclaimed Noughts & Crosses series uses the setting of a fictional dystopia to explore racism...
.
Plot summary
Whizziwig centred on the adventures of a boy called Ben and his best friend Steve who befriended a small pink alienExtraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
approximately the size of a rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
ball. Whizziwig had the ability to grant wishes to anyone who uttered the words "I wish..", however wishes had to be made unintentionally and would last a maximum of 24 hours. A recurring theme was Ben and Steve trying to deceive their friend into granting their intentional wishes only for the alien to become wise to the scheme.
Ben would keep Whizziwig hidden, often smuggling her into school in his gym bag. Many hilarious escapades ensued as the wishes made by unaware students in Whizziwigs earshot would be granted. However in one notable incident a student wished his teacher was dead resulting in an unusually sombre episode.
Critical acclaim
Despite never achieving commercial success many critics hailed the show as groundbreaking in the manner in which it dealt with adult themes such as moralityMorality
Morality is the differentiation among intentions, decisions, and actions between those that are good and bad . A moral code is a system of morality and a moral is any one practice or teaching within a moral code...
, death, and mereological nihilism
Mereological nihilism
Mereological nihilism is the position that objects with proper parts do not exist , and only basic building blocks without parts exist...
, whilst still being accessible to its young audience.
Cast
- Rebecca Nagen - Whizziwig
- Louis McKenzie - Ben Sinclair
- Matthew BarkerMatthew BarkerMatthew Barker was an English Independent minister and parliamentarian, known for his work on natural theology and for his participation in English 17th century politics.-Life:...
- Steve Fleming - Joan Oliver - Gina Sinclair
- Brian BovellBrian BovellBrian Bovell is an English actor.He has appeared regularly on television since 1980, as well as featuring in the cult film Babylon released the same year. He has also appeared in the play Where There Is Darkness in 1981, winning the 1982 London Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Supporting...
- Daniel Sinclair - Mona HammondMona HammondMona Hammond OBE is a Chinese Jamaican actress and co-founder of the Talawa Theatre Company. Born in Jamaica, Hammond emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1959, where she has remained ever since. Hammond has had a long and distinguished stage career...
- Auntie Dottie - Jasmine Ledwaba - Lizzie Sinclair
- 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...
- Mr. Archer - Colin ProckterColin ProckterColin Prockter is an actor and TV writer who has appeared on many TV series and films since the 1960s. Colin is probably best known for his role as Eddie Maddocks in Coronation Street .-Filmography:-Other works:...
- Mayor - Andre Mahjouri - Paul
- Ebony Francis - Jennifer
- Catherine Barr - Paula
- David LloydDavid LloydDavid Lloyd may refer to:*David Lloyd , chief justice of colonial Pennsylvania*David Lloyd Welsh cleric and translator*David Lloyd , British tenor...
- Brian Trump - Kaefan Shaw and Anthony Asbury - Archie the Parrot
- Glen Kinch - Budgie
- Douglas Fielding - Foreman
- Anna GilbertAnna GilbertAnna Gilbert is an American artist born in Eugene, Oregon. She was the 2007 and 2009 winner of the "Inspirational Artist of the Year" award for the National Momentum Awards on Indieheaven.com in Nashville, TN. She self-produced her first two albums with music and lyrics that she wrote herself...
- Mrs. Morton - Yvonne Marlowe - Woman In Park
- Sheila Halse - Woman In Street
- Natasha LeeNatasha LeeNatasha Lee is an Australian actress and journalist. She is best known for appearing on the Australian television series Always Greener as Kimberly Taylor....
- Jessica - Melissa Simpson - Katie
- Sue CleaverSue CleaverSue Cleaver is an English actress. She is best known for her regular role in Coronation Street.She studied at the Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre and her first television appearance was a small part in an episode of A Touch of Frost...
- Inspector Pascal - Richard Trinder - P.C. Reid
- Anna Winkles - Caitlin
- Paul TownsendPaul TownsendPaul Kingsley Townsend FRS is a British physicist, currently a Professor of Theoretical Physics in Cambridge University's Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics. He is notable for his work on string theory....
- Postman