Round the Twist ( TV Series 1989 - 2001 )





 

Plot

Round the Twist is a Logie Award-winning Australian 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 rhymes 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.



Characters

 

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 feminism, environmentalism and judo;
Bronson Twist  the twins' younger brother, who is obsessed with food and odours.

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 doesn't 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.

Episode Guide

 

​Season 1
Season 1, Episode 1: Skeleton on the Dunny
Original Air Date4 April 1989
Season 1, Episode 2: Birdsdo
Original Air Date11 April 1989
Season 1, Episode 3: A Good Tip for Ghosts
Original Air Date18 April 1989
Season 1, Episode 4: The Cabbage Patch Fib
Original Air Date25 April 1989
Season 1, Episode 5: Spaghetti Pig Out
Original Air Date2 May 1989
Season 1, Episode 6: The Gum-Leaf War
Original Air Date8 May 1989
Season 1, Episode 7: Santa Claws
Original Air Date16 May 1989
Season 1, Episode 8: WunderPants
Original Air Date23 May 1989
Season 1, Episode 9: Lucky Lips
Original Air Date6 June 1989
Season 1, Episode 10: Know All
Original Air Date13 June 1989
Season 1, Episode 11: The Copy
Original Air Date20 June 1989
Season 1, Episode 12: Without My Pants
Original Air Date27 June 1989
Season 1, Episode 13: Lighthouse Blues
Original Air Date4 July 1989



​Season 2
Season 2, Episode 1: Next Time Around
Original Air Date4 April 1993
Season 2, Episode 2: Copy Cat
Original Air Date11 April 1993
Season 2, Episode 3: Little Squirt
Original Air Date18 April 1993
Season 2, Episode 4: Pink Bow Tie
Original Air Date25 April 1993
Season 2, Episode 5: Nails
Original Air Date1 May 1993
Season 2, Episode 6: Sloppy Jalopy
Original Air Date8 May 1993
Season 2, Episode 7: Smelly Feet
Original Air Date15 May 1993
Season 2, Episode 8: Grandad's Gifts
Original Air Date22 May 199
Season 2, Episode 9: Ice Maiden
Original Air Date29 May 1993
Season 2, Episode 10: Yuckles
Original Air Date5 June 1993
Season 2, Episode 11: Quivering Heap
Original Air Date12 June 1993
Season 2, Episode 12: Little Black Balls
Original Air Date19 June 1993
Season 2, Episode 13: Seeing the Light
Original Air Date26 June 1993

 

​Season 3
Season 3, Episode 1: The Big Burp
Original Air Date2000
Season 3, Episode 2: Viking Book of Love
Original Air Date1 March 2000
Season 3, Episode 3: Whirling Derfish
Original Air Date2 March 2000
Season 3, Episode 4: Imu Umi
Original Air Date2000
Season 3, Episode 5: Truth Hits Everybody
Original Air Date6 March 2000
Season 3, Episode 6: The Nirandathal Beast
Original Air Date2000
Season 3, Episode 7: Mali-Boo!
Original Air Date2000
Season 3, Episode 8: Brainless
Original Air Date2000
Season 3, Episode 9: Toy Love
Original Air Date2000
Season 3, Episode 10: The Tears of Innocence
Original Air Date13 March 2000
Season 3, Episode 11: The Ice Cream Man Cometh
Original Air Date14 March 2000
Season 3, Episode 12: If the Walls Could Talk
Original Air Date2000
Season 3, Episode 13: The Big Rock
Original Air Date 2000



​Season 4
Season 4, Episode 1: Welcome Back
Original Air Date8 January 2001
Season 4, Episode 2: Monster Under the Bed
Original Air Date2001
Season 4, Episode 3: Linda Godiva
Original Air Date2001
Season 4, Episode 4: Dog by Night
Original Air Date2001
Season 4, Episode 5: TV or Not TV
Original Air Date2001
Season 4, Episode 6: Face the Fear
Original Air Date2000
Season 4, Episode 7: Hair Brain
Original Air Date2001
Season 4, Episode 8: The Princess and the Pete
Original Air Date2001
Season 4, Episode 9: Bird Boy
Original Air Date2001
Season 4, Episode 10: The Shadow Player
Original Air Date2001
Season 4, Episode 11: Radio Da Da
Original Air Date18 April 2001
Season 4, Episode 12: Skunk Man
Original Air Date2001
Season 4, Episode 13: Isle of Dreams
Original Air Date2001