# The Riddlers

The Riddlers is a British children's programme produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV between 2 November 1989 and 27 August 1998.

## Synopsis

The series centred on Marjorie Dawe and the two Riddlers (small humanoid creatures, portrayed by puppets, whose main aim in life was to "riddle things out") named Mossop (voiced by Richard Robinson) and Tiddler (female, but voiced by Mike Gallant), who inhabited her garden at Riddleton End. It would later be revealed that Tiddler was an orphan and had no other next of kin, so Mossop adopted Tiddler as an infant. Tiddler was not the latter's real name, but a title given to young apprentice Riddlers: once they achieved full Riddler status there would be a special (graduation type) ceremony, at which they would be given their 'real' name. Tiddler's training included being told twelve stories by a Riddlestone, usually one of 'Eesup's Foibles' (Yorkshire dialect for Aesop's Fables) – she would then have to 'riddle out' the moral of the story.
When Tiddler had achieved full Riddler status (by getting the morals of twelve stories correctly) she chose to be called Tiddlup at the ceremony. Marjorie wanted to go to the ceremony but was told by Mossop that only Riddlers and Tiddlers could go as it was a Riddler law. In order to go, she became a Riddler and started to study as a Riddler.
Other characters featured in the show included Marjorie's neighbour, Mr. Montgomery Grimley (a gardener and odd-job man), and several other Riddler characters – including another Tiddler known as Middler, Mossop's brother Glossop, and Eesup, a story-teller. Marjorie's sister Monica was also featured as a recurring character. Many of the plots featured in the series revolved around the male characters making mistakes which would then be solved by the female ones.

## Series cast

* Marjorie Dawe: Victoria Williams
* Mr. Montgomery Grimley: Peter Llewellyn Jones
* Monica: Sally Sheridan
* Mossop/Middler: Richard Robinson
* Tiddlup/Glossop/Eesup/McEyup: Mike Gallant

## Production

Total of episodes were produced and broadcast during the series' nine-year run. For much of its run, The Riddlers was produced by Ian Fell and directed by Chris Ryder (later a series producer). Later series were directed by Ann Ayoub. The executive producer was Chris Jelley.
All episodes were written by Rick Vanes (whose previous work for YTV included Puddle Lane and Mooncat). Eesup's Foibles stories were written by Shirley Isherwood. Neil Innes provided the music and songs featured. Puppeteer for Middler and Mossop, Richard Robinson, created the puppets and provided illustrations for the Eesup's Foibles stories. David Baker was assistant puppeteer series 1 through 6 and Garry Rutter for the show's last three years. Garry Rutter would later work on MacDonalds Farm puppeteering Baa Baa and The Fimbles Doing animatronic work.
Many of the programmes were recorded in Yorkshire Television's studios on Kirkstall Road, Leeds, although some later episodes were filmed on location. Five VHS releases were issued by Video Collection International, two DVDs were issued by Kids Club (VCI) and several tie-in books were published.
An episode from the fifth series was broadcast on the CITV channel on 6 January 2013, as part of a weekend of archive programmes to celebrate CITV's 30th anniversary.

## Transmission guide
### Series 1 (1989-1990)

| No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
| 1 | "Moving In" | Unknown | Unknown | 2 November 1989 (1989-11-02) |
| Marjorie has just moved in to Riddleton End a small cottage in the countryside. To her delight she discovers that two Riddlers living in the garden, the magical little folk who find human ways very confusing. |||||
| 2 | "A Present for Marjorie" | Unknown | Unknown | 9 November 1989 (1989-11-09) |
| The Riddlers want to give Marjorie a present, but they have some odd ideas about what it should be. |||||
| 3 | "The Wedding Hat" | Unknown | Unknown | 16 November 1989 (1989-11-16) |
| Lampshades can look like hats and Mossop needs a hat for a wedding he's been invited to attend. |||||
| 4 | "The House-Warming Party" | Unknown | Unknown | 23 November 1989 (1989-11-23) |
| Thanks to Mr Grimley there's insufficient food to go round at Marjorie's house warming party. |||||
| 5 | "The Riddling Tree" | Unknown | Unknown | 30 November 1989 (1989-11-30) |
| Filbert the squirrel will get a new home if Tiddler can work out the answer to the secrets of the Riddling Tree. |||||
| 6 | "The Potted Plants" | Unknown | Unknown | 7 December 1989 (1989-12-07) |
| Mossop can't tell the difference between a pedal bin and a plant pot. |||||
| 7 | "Sleepy Heads" | Unknown | Unknown | 14 December 1989 (1989-12-14) |
| The Riddlers have trouble with a hammock especially as Mossop wants to sleep in it at the bottom of the well. |||||
| 8 | "Riddling Boots" | Unknown | Unknown | 21 December 1989 (1989-12-21) |
| A Riddler's proudest possession is his Riddling Boots and Tiddler can hardly wait for the day she gets hers. In the meantime, she borrows Mossop's but unfortunately things go wrong. |||||
| 9 | "Fishing" | Unknown | Unknown | 11 January 1990 (1990-01-11) |
| Mossop and Tiddler are fishing in the well but don't want to catch a fish. Marjorie is confused! |||||
| 10 | "The Fairy" | Unknown | Unknown | 18 January 1990 (1990-01-18) |
| One of the most magical things in the garden is the fairy but you can only see her if you believe in her. |||||
| 11 | "Decisions, Decisions" | Unknown | Unknown | 25 January 1990 (1990-01-25) |
| Have the Riddlers got a better way than humans when it comes to making decisions? |||||
| 12 | "Missing the Bus" | Unknown | Unknown | 1 February 1990 (1990-02-01) |
| Mossop and Tiddler help Marjorie because she has such a lot to do before going to the theatre and she could miss her bus. |||||
| 13 | "Gone Camping" | Unknown | Unknown | 8 February 1990 (1990-02-08) |
| An unusual object in the garden found when they return from holiday puzzles Tiddler but Mossop is confident he knows what it is. |||||
| 14 | "Mossop the Strongman" | Unknown | Unknown | 15 February 1990 (1990-02-15) |
| A strange large box has been delivered to the house. What secret does it contain? |||||
| 15 | "The Flittering" | Unknown | Unknown | 22 February 1990 (1990-02-22) |
| Tiddler tells a ghost story but Mr Grimley isn't afraid of anything or so he says! |||||
| 16 | "Bothersome Birds" | Unknown | Unknown | 1 March 1990 (1990-03-01) |
| Mossop has plans to frighten away the birds because they have been pecking holes in Marjorie's milk bottle tops. |||||
| 17 | "Grimley's Tuba" | Unknown | Unknown | 8 March 1990 (1990-03-08) |
| Mossop and Tiddler find Mr Grimley's tuba but can't work out what it is. |||||
| 18 | "In Search of the Lost Nuts" | Unknown | Unknown | 15 March 1990 (1990-03-15) |
| Mr Grimley strikes lucky in a surprising way when Filbert loses his hoard of nuts as he awakens from his winter sleep. |||||
| 19 | "Tiddler's Beads" | Unknown | Unknown | 22 March 1990 (1990-03-22) |
| Marjorie helps Tiddler to thread some colourful beads on to a string. But when Mossop comes along, things begin to go wrong. |||||
| 20 | "Postie the Prisoner" | Unknown | Unknown | 29 March 1990 (1990-03-29) |
| Mossop, Tiddler and Marjorie look everywhere for the postman, but he's nowhere to be seen. |||||
| 21 | "Robins Nest" | Unknown | Unknown | 5 April 1990 (1990-04-05) |
| Mr Grimley is proud of his discovery but the others have their doubts. |||||
| 22 | "House-Hunting" | Unknown | Unknown | 12 April 1990 (1990-04-12) |
| Mossop tries to find a new home for himself and Tiddler then has an unfortunate accident. |||||
| 23 | "Mossop Shows the Way" | Unknown | Unknown | 19 April 1990 (1990-04-19) |
| Things go wrong when Mossop and Tiddler wearing blindfold play follow my leader. When Marjorie suggests an alternate game, things get even worse. |||||
| 24 | "Peace and Quiet" | Unknown | Unknown | 26 April 1990 (1990-04-26) |
| Mossop and Tiddler find a new way of lighting the well. |||||
| 25 | "That's Torn It" | Unknown | Unknown | 3 May 1990 (1990-05-03) |
| Mossop's trousers are torn and Marjorie lends a hand. |||||
| 26 | "Tiddler's Time Magic" | Unknown | Unknown | 10 May 1990 (1990-05-10) |
| Mossop suggests that Tiddler should use a magic spell to allow Marjorie and Mr Grimley to see the Dawn Fairy. |||||

### Series 2 (1990-1991)

| No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
| 1 | "Mossop Needs a Haircut" | Unknown | Unknown | 15 November 1990 (1990-11-15) |
| Tiddler sends Mossop for a haircut. |||||
| 2 | "Rat in the Garden" | Unknown | Unknown | 22 November 1990 (1990-11-22) |
| A cat called Simon and a rat called Bella are found in the garden by Mossop and Tiddler. But is Bella nasty or nice? |||||
| 3 | "Middler" | Unknown | Unknown | 29 November 1990 (1990-11-29) |
| There's a shock for Marjorie who thought that Mossop and Tiddler were the only Riddlers living in her garden. |||||
| 4 | "A Present from Middler" | Unknown | Unknown | 6 December 1990 (1990-12-06) |
| Middler's present to Mossop is quite surprising. |||||
| 5 | "Tiddler at Bedtime" | Unknown | Unknown | 13 December 1990 (1990-12-13) |
| Tiddler protests because she always has to go to bed first. |||||
| 6 | "The Siege of Riddleton End" | Unknown | Unknown | 20 December 1990 (1990-12-20) |
| Mossop and Tiddler prepare to defend their garden. |||||
| 7 | "In the Soup" | Unknown | Unknown | 10 January 1991 (1991-01-10) |
| Mossop and Mr Grimley make some soup with a difference when Marjorie tells them she isn't very well. |||||
| 8 | "Tiddletricks Day" | Unknown | Unknown | 17 January 1991 (1991-01-17) |
| Tiddletricks Day is the special day that the Riddlers play tricks on people, so Marjorie had better be on her guard. |||||
| 9 | "The Singing Tree" | Unknown | Unknown | 24 January 1991 (1991-01-24) |
| Middler is trying to convince the Riddlers that the riddling tree is a singing tree. |||||
| 10 | "Grooming Grimley" | Unknown | Unknown | 31 January 1991 (1991-01-31) |
| The Riddlers help to smarten up Mr Grimley for a new job. |||||
| 11 | "Daft as Brushes" | Unknown | Unknown | 7 February 1991 (1991-02-07) |
| 12 | "Mossop Builds a Car" | Unknown | Unknown | 14 February 1991 (1991-02-14) |
| Marjorie learns to ride a bike and Mossop goes for a spin. |||||
| 13 | "Cat on the Run" | Unknown | Unknown | 21 February 1991 (1991-02-21) |
| Tiddler is not happy when Mossop tells Marjorie a fib. |||||
| 14 | "Wet Paint" | Unknown | Unknown | 28 February 1991 (1991-02-28) |
| Mossop talks Tiddler into helping him to surprise Marjorie. |||||
| 15 | "Spring Time for Middler" | Unknown | Unknown | 7 March 1991 (1991-03-07) |
| 16 | "A Question of Balance" | Unknown | Unknown | 14 March 1991 (1991-03-14) |
| 17 | "Mossop the Artist" | Unknown | Unknown | 21 March 1991 (1991-03-21) |
| 18 | "Middler the Invisible" | Unknown | Unknown | 28 March 1991 (1991-03-28) |
| 19 | "The Mystery of the Shrinking Tiddler" | Unknown | Unknown | 4 April 1991 (1991-04-04) |
| 20 | "Mossop Loses His Voice" | Unknown | Unknown | 11 April 1991 (1991-04-11) |
| 21 | "The Flood" | Unknown | Unknown | 18 April 1991 (1991-04-18) |
| 22 | "Red Herring" | Unknown | Unknown | 25 April 1991 (1991-04-25) |
| 23 | "Stop, Look and Listen" | Unknown | Unknown | 2 May 1991 (1991-05-02) |
| Marjorie comes up with some original ways to learn how to cross the road. |||||
| 24 | "The Lighting Machines" | Unknown | Unknown | 9 May 1991 (1991-05-09) |
| 25 | "Holiday Plans" | Unknown | Unknown | 16 May 1991 (1991-05-16) |
| Mossop decides that a flying holiday would make a nice change but can Riddlers fly? |||||
| 26 | "Tiddler's Test" | Unknown | Unknown | 23 May 1991 (1991-05-23) |

### Series 3 (1991-1992)

| No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
| 1 | "Stones from the Sky" | Unknown | Unknown | 12 December 1991 (1991-12-12) |
| 2 | "Lights Out" | Unknown | Unknown | 19 December 1991 (1991-12-19) |
| 3 | "Treasure of Riddleton End" | Unknown | Unknown | 9 January 1992 (1992-01-09) |
| 4 | "Mossop the Hero" | Unknown | Unknown | 16 January 1992 (1992-01-16) |
| 5 | "Mossop and Grimley - Builders" | Unknown | Unknown | 23 January 1992 (1992-01-23) |
| 6 | "Middler's Invisible Horse" | Unknown | Unknown | 30 January 1992 (1992-01-30) |
| 7 | "A Brush with Mossop" | Unknown | Unknown | 6 February 1992 (1992-02-06) |
| 8 | "The Riddlestone Necklace" | Unknown | Unknown | 13 February 1992 (1992-02-13) |
| 9 | "The Search for a Riddling Tree" | Unknown | Unknown | 20 February 1992 (1992-02-20) |
| 10 | "Top Hat and Tails" | Unknown | Unknown | 27 February 1992 (1992-02-27) |
| Mr Grimley models a frock and, as the big day approaches, the Riddlers explore the art of photography. |||||
| 11 | "The Honorary Riddler" | Unknown | Unknown | 5 March 1992 (1992-03-05) |
| 12 | "A Riddler at Last" | Unknown | Unknown | 12 March 1992 (1992-03-12) |
| 13 | "Mossop's Magic Cleaner" | Unknown | Unknown | 19 March 1992 (1992-03-19) |
| 14 | "Tiddlup Doesn't Live Here Anymore" | Unknown | Unknown | 26 March 1992 (1992-03-26) |
| 15 | "Mossop the Thinker" | Unknown | Unknown | 2 April 1992 (1992-04-02) |
| 16 | "Learning to Teach" | Unknown | Unknown | 9 April 1992 (1992-04-09) |
| 17 | "Counting on Mossop" | Unknown | Unknown | 16 April 1992 (1992-04-16) |
| 18 | "Skate Expectations" | Unknown | Unknown | 23 April 1992 (1992-04-23) |
| 19 | "The Speeding Detective" | Unknown | Unknown | 30 April 1992 (1992-04-30) |
| 20 | "The Magnificent Handcart" | Unknown | Unknown | 7 May 1992 (1992-05-07) |
| 21 | "Spider, Spider" | Unknown | Unknown | 14 May 1992 (1992-05-14) |
| 22 | "Heavy Reading" | Unknown | Unknown | 21 May 1992 (1992-05-21) |
| 23 | "Cold Comfort Cottage" | Unknown | Unknown | 28 May 1992 (1992-05-28) |
| 24 | "That's Hen-Tertainment" | Unknown | Unknown | 4 June 1992 (1992-06-04) |

### Series 4 (1992-1993)

* Water Music - 26 November 1992
* Belt and Braces - 3 December 1992
* Worrying Developments - 10 December 1992
* Edgar Saves the Day - 17 December 1992
* Water, Water Anywhere? - 7 January 1993
* Not Wanted on Voyage - 14 January 1993
* Camp Sights - 21 January 1993
* Beside the Seaside - 28 January 1993
* Tickets To Ride - 4 February 1993
* A Head for Heights - 11 February 1993
* Fish & Ships - 18 February 1993
* A Room for the Knight - 25 February 1993
* A Ticklish Problem - 4 March 1993
* Getting in Shape - 11 March 1993
* Return To Lender - 18 March 1993
* The Riddler Christmas - 25 March 1993
* Mossop on His Metal - 1 April 1993
* Mossop the Genius - 8 April 1993
* Too Big for His Boots - 15 April 1993
* A Few Hiccups - 22 April 1993
* The New Mossy Boots - 29 April 1993
* Special Delivery - 6 May 1993
* Doing Things Day - 13 May 1993

### Series 5 (1993-1994)

* Relatively Speaking – 7 September 1993
* Squeamish - 9 September 1993
* A Miner Problem - 14 September 1993
* The Tooth Will Out – 16 September 1993
* Back To School - 21 September 1993
* Legend of the Vampire Hedgehog - 23 September 1993
* Lucks and Ducks – 28 September 1993
* A Whale of a Time – 30 September 1993
* A Shady Character - 5 October 1993
* A Complete Washout - 7 October 1993
* The Wrong Lines - 12 October 1993
* Not So Smart - 14 October 1993
* A Hat For Middler - 19 October 1993
* All the Fun of the Festival - 21 October 1993
* Middler the Plotter - 26 October 1993
* Daring in the Diary - 28 October 1993
* Feeding Time - 2 November 1993
* The Stowaway - 4 November 1993
* The Isle Of Riddlers - 9 November 1983
* The Rocket - 11 November 1993
* The Missing Tickets - 16 November 1993
* Vikings And Black Dogs - 18 November 1993
* Three Legs, Four Horns, Seven Kingdoms - 23 November 1993
* Fairies and Tales - 25 November 1993
* Who’s Been Sleeping In My Cellar - 2 December 1993
* Oh Brother - 7 December 1993
* A Job at the Circus - 9 December 1993
* Roll Up, Fall Down - 14 December 1993
* Glossop Moves In - 16 December 1993
* The Unwelcome Guest - 4 January 1994

### Series 6 (1994-1995)

* All Fall Down - 8 September 1994
* Home and Wahey! - 15 September 1994
* In Branches Everywhere - 22 September 1994
* Trouble In Store - 29 September 1994
* The Super Well - 6 October 1994
* A Caravan For Middler - 13 October 1994
* Flight To Holy Island - 20 October 1994
* On Hadrian’s Wall - 27 October 1994
* Dipping And Tripping - 3 November 1994
* Tiddlup At The Wicket - 10 November 1994
* A Face From The Past - 17 November 1994
* Job Hunting - 24 November 1994
* Last With The News - 1 December 1994
* The Riddleton Circus - 8 December 1994
* Punch And Judy - 15 December 1994
* Oh, Baby! - 12 January 1995
* Hush A Bye Mossop - 19 January 1995
* Mossop Steps Out - 26 January 1995
* A Tiddler At Play School - 2 February 1995
* Mossop Returns - 9 February 1995

### Series 7 (1995-1996)

* Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow - 7 September 1995
* Just for Kicks - 14 September 1995
* A Test for Middler - 21 September 1995
* Trick Cycling - 28 September 1995
* Where on Earth? - 5 October 1995
* French Lessons - 12 October 1995
* Bon Appetit - 19 October 1995
* Alarms and Excursions - 26 October 1995
* Eesup - 2 November 1995
* Let Loose in the Library - 9 November 1995
* A Tiddler’s Best Friend - 16 November 1995
* It’s a Dog's Life - 23 November 1995
* Dog Tired - 30 November 1995
* The Phantom Piper - 7 December 1995
* Loch Ness Mess - 14 December 1995
* Cabers and Kilts - 4 January 1996
* Highland Fun and Games - 11 January 1996
* A Little Bit Of Dirt - 18 January 1996
* At the Hospital - 25 January 1996
* Mossop the Invalid - 1 February 1996
* Thanks a Lot - 8 February 1996
* Flea Market - 15 February 1996
* Mossop the Conkeror - 22 February 1996
* Grimley the Golfer - 29 February 1996
* Listen To The Band - 7 March 1996

### Series 8 (1996-1997)

* Vote for Mossop - 12 September 1996
* The Chief Riddler - 19 September 1996
* Statue There? - 26 September 1996
* Your Place Or Mine - 3 October 1996
* Well Dressed Wells - 10 October 1996
* Light Fantastic - 17 October 1996
* Middler’s Mansion - 24 October 1996
* The Tiddlers' Holiday Camp - 31 October 1996
* Tickling Trout - 7 November 1996
* Daylight Snobbery - 14 November 1996
* Rootin' Tootin' Cowboys - 21 November 1996
* Under The Greenwood Tree - 28 November 1996
* A-Hunting We Will Go - 5 December 1996
* Eesup Junior - 12 December 1996
* Not A Leg To Stand On - 19 December 1996
* Chairs And Stairs - 9 January 1997
* Mossop Calling - 16 January 1997
* Middler’s Taxi Service - 23 January 1997
* Lollipop Middler - 30 January 1997
* Clothes For Your Nose - 6 February 1997
* Highly Alarming - 13 February 1997
* A Word In The Hand... - 20 February 1997
* Leisure Hunt - 27 February 1997
* Stereo-oh! - 6 March 1997
* Playing Chopsticks - 13 March 1997

### Series 9 (1997-1998)

* Ideal Home - 9 September 1997
* Dumb Waiter - 16 September 1997
* That Sinking Feeling - 23 September 1997
* All Stuck Up - 30 September 1997
* All at Sea - 7 October 1997
* Castaways - 14 October 1997
* On the Line - 21 October 1997
* Cycling Proficiency - 28 October 1997
* Middler's Cafe - 4 November 1997
* Metal Detector - 11 November 1997
* The Time Machine - 18 November 1997
* Mystery in History - 25 November 1997
* Back to the Stone Age - 2 December 1997
* Blow Up - 16 December 1997
* Spooks Of Riddleton End - 18 June 1998
* Mossop’s Art Gallery - 25 June 1998
* Good Sports - 2 July 1998
* Hoe, Hoe, Hoe - 9 July 1998
* Riddler Scouts - 16 July 1998
* Tall and Small and Basketball - 23 July 1998
* Creepy Crawlies - 30 July 1998
* Fashion Victims - 6 August 1998
* Little Red Riding Hood - 13 August 1998
* That’s Rich - 20 August 1998
* Good Morning, Mr. Magpie - 27 August 1998

## UK VHS releases

| VHS Title | Release Date | Episodes |
| The Riddlers: Mossop Needs A Haircut And Other Stories (YTVE 17) | 1991 | Mossop Needs A Haircut, Siege of Riddlers End, Daft As A Brush, Holiday Plans |
| The Riddlers: Mossop The Hero And Other Stories (VC1264) | 5 October 1992 | Stones From the Sky, Lights Out, The Treasure of Riddleton End, Mossop the Hero |
| The Riddlers: The Riddlestone Necklace And Other Stories (VC1278) | 8 February 1993 | Mossop and Grimley Builders, Middler's Invisible Horse, A Brush with Mossop, The Riddlestone Necklace |
| The Riddlers: A Riddler at Last and Other Stories (VC1309) | 5 July 1993 | The Search For a Riddling Tree, Top Hat and Tails, The Honorary Riddler, A Riddler at Last |
| The Riddlers: Mossop The Thinker and Other Stories (KC1513) | 9 March 1998 | Mossop's Magic Cleaner, Tiddlup Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Mossop The Thinker, Learning To Teach |