Product: The Worst Witch Collection - Set 1 (1999)
Rating: 5.0
Essential for Pre-teen girls - Episodes 1-6, series One
An excellent series about Mildred a young witch starting at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches (a witch's secondary boarding school). It's based on the few 'Worst Witch' books by Jill Murphy (an easy good read as well) - which were rather an inspiration for Harry Potter, but lacks those book's home life and complete world view. There are three TV Worst Witch series (UK years 7, 8 and 9 at school - secondary school 11 to 13 years old) - so it's well suited to younger secondary and primary school girls (6+).This DVD has the first six episodes taken from the first series (year 7), including the first one ever screened, and so is very good value. Note that in the US this UK/Canadian series was rather tastelessly dubbed in `American' but fortunately there is a `UK English' option in the DVD setup menu where you can hear the stars real voices [the choice is yours]. The rest of series one is on the 'Miss Cackles Birthday Surprise and sorcery and chips' NTSC two DVD set', also available from Amazon.Annoyingly only series 1 is available in the UK. In the US though the complete series two is available, so look out for the two double DVD region 1 sets 'Up in the air' (yellow cover -Mildred + Hardbroom) and 'Old hats and new brooms' (blue cover Mildred + 4 witches), also available from Amazon (and with UK English options).At 9 these DVD's were my daughters favourite viewing and she now has all the original books (now at 12 she has now moved onto Charmed and Bewitched). The Worst Witch isn't as scary as Harry Potter and all the cast are really excellent in their roles - Miss Hardbroom [Kate Duchene] even turned down a role in the Harry Potter film to remain true to her TV character. The special effects are actually quite good as well and even the 'Cackles Academy' theme tune very catchy.Typical quotes: "Magic must not be used for selfish or trivial ends!" - Miss Cackle, "Confidence and control, Mildred - that's the secret of success." - Miss Hardbroom. So highly recommended for non-boy offspring - this series is easily a notch above the average TV sitcom or teen movie.