Woof ( TV Series 1989 - 1997 )





 

Plot

Woof! is a Children's ITV television series produced by Central Independent Television about the adventures of a boy who turns into a dog. It was based on the book by Allan Ahlberg. It was directed by David Cobham. It was written by Richard Fegen and Andrew Norriss.

 

The show was first broadcast in 1989. It starred Liza Goddard as teacher Mrs Jessop. Edward Fidoe played Eric Banks, the boy who turned into a dog (played by Pippin) of the same name. It also starred Thomas Aldwinckle as Eric's friend Roy Ackerman and later Sarah Smart as his tomboy best friend Rachel Hobbs. Filming was interrupted for a while when Smart broke her leg.

The show generally featured weekly escapades to do with the dog power. Late in Eric's run of episodes, a start at a plot arc was developed, with Eric discovering the transition is caused by adrenaline, and meeting up with an adult (played by Anthony Stewart Head) who has the same affliction.



 

From Series Six which began airing in 1993, the episodes featured the adventures of Rex Thomas (played by Adam Roper) and his best friend Michael Tully (Monty Allan). Rex inherits Eric's "condition", and later becomes Mrs Jessop's stepson after she marries his father, Ken (Owen Brenman). Lionel Jeffries also guest-starred as Rex's Grandfather. Leslie Grantham appeared in some of the later episodes as Mr Garrett, a ruthless dog warden from the local dog pound. Stephen Fry appeared in one episode, as a cartoonist whose work is disrupted by Grandad and Rex.



The ninth and final series, consisting of seven episodes, aired in 1997. It featured Jim Walters (Sebastian Mahjouri), accompanied by his cousin Brian Barford (Jack Allen) and next door neighbour Carrie Howard (Faye Jackson). By the time the show ended, Liza Goddard was the only original cast member to feature through all nine series.



 

There have been 4 dogs used over the years. Pippin was the first, and she also starred in Children's BBC programme Come Outside, and a number of educational schools films. She was the offspring of one of the dogs who played Benji. Tich was the second dog to play Eric. Punch, a small white dog, played Rex the Dog. Tinka appeared as Jim the dog in the final series. Pippin was owned and trained by Ann Head.





Series Guide

 

Series 1: 4 episodes - 18 February 1989 - 11 March 1989
Series 2: 7 episodes - 23 November 1989 - 11 January 1990
Series 3: 8 episodes - 20 February 1991 - 17 April 1991
Series 4: 7 episodes - 10 January 1992 - 21 February 1992
Series 5: 6 episodes - 7 October 1992 - 11 November 1992
Series 6: 10 episodes - 13 October 1993 - 15 December 1993
Series 7: 10 episodes - 12 October 1994 - 14 December 1994
Series 8: 10 episodes - 5 October 1995 - 14 December 1995
Series 9: 7 episodes - 8 January 1997 - 19 February 1997