{"id":6763,"date":"2021-11-04T18:25:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-04T17:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=692822"},"modified":"2021-11-04T18:36:14","modified_gmt":"2021-11-04T17:36:14","slug":"meet-the-cast-of-worzel-gummidge","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/meet-the-cast-of-worzel-gummidge\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the cast of Worzel Gummidge"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Paul Kirkley\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Thursday, 04 November 2021 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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BBC One\u2019s Worzel Gummidge<\/a>\u00a0is back on Saturday with a bonfire night-themed episode, with Mackenzie Crook reprising his role as the titular scarecrow for another special.<\/p>\n

The upcoming episode guest-stars Crook\u2019s Detectorists co-star Toby Jones and After Life<\/a>\u2018s Paul Kaye as Guy Forks arrives in Scatterbrook for the town\u2019s festivities \u2013 however, Worzel soon gets into an argument with his straw cousin about whose job is easiest and agrees to swap places with Guy at the top of the bonfire.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s up to Susan (India Brown) and John (Thierry Wickens) to save Worzel once again \u2013 but will they be able to get him down in time?<\/p>\n

Read on for everything you need to know about the cast of Worzel Gummidge\u2019s upcoming special Guy Forks.<\/p>\n

Mackenzie Crook plays Worzel Gummidge<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Worzel\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
BBC<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Who is Worzel Gummidge?\u00a0<\/strong>The irascible titular scarecrow is the main character in Euphan Todd\u2019s Puffin Books series. He lives in Ten Acre Field and befriends children Susan and John, becoming inanimate whenever his pride is wounded (which is rather often). Mackenzie Crook\u2019s version is gentler than Jon Pertwee\u2019s.<\/p>\n

What else has Mackenzie Crook been in?<\/strong> The man in the turnip mask made his name as deluded assistant regional manager \u2013 sorry, assistant to<\/em> the regional manager \u2013 Gareth Keenan in Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant\u2019s seminal mockumentary The Office. After that, he found success in Hollywood, as one-eyed sea dog Ragetti in the Pirates of the Caribbean mega-franchise, and was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in the Broadway transfer of Jez Butterworth\u2019s Jerusalem.<\/p>\n

The 49-year-old can also be seen \u2013 again in heavy prosthetics \u2013 as the skull-headed shaman Veran in Butterworth\u2019s trippy Sky Atlantic Roman invasion drama Britannia. But arguably his crowning achievement to date is writing, directing and starring in three series of the BAFTA-winning BBC sitcom Detectorists.<\/p>\n

India Brown and Thierry Wickens play Susan and John<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Susan\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
BBC\/Leopard Pictures\/Amanda Searle<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Who are Susan and John?<\/strong> Siblings Susan and John are foster children. They\u2019ve come to Scatterbrook for the summer to work as farmhands for the Braithwaites. Initially, they\u2019re very attached to their smartphones and struggle to adapt to life in Scatterbrook, but that changes when Worzel takes them under his wing.<\/p>\n

What else have India Brown and Thierry Wickens been in?<\/strong> India has previously appeared in Silent Witness and The Athena. Prior to Worzel, her most prominent role was Amber in the 2018 Christmas TV adaptation of David Walliams\u2019 The Midnight Gang. Worzel Gummidge marks Thierry Wickens TV debut.<\/p>\n

Steve Pemberton plays Mr Braithwaite<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Steve\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n

Who is Mr Braithwaite? <\/strong>He is the rather grumpy farmer who doesn\u2019t realise his scarecrow has the uncanny ability to come to life. He usually blames the children for the messes the turnip-headed stick figure leaves behind. He was played by Norman Bird in the ITV adaptation of the classic tale.<\/p>\n

What else has Steve Pemberton been in?<\/strong> As one of The League of Gentlemen, Steve created a menagerie of comic grotesques including Tubbs, Royston Vasey\u2019s murderous, porcine-nosed keeper of the local shop for local people, and Pauline, the sadistic restart officer with a passion for pens and a burning hatred of \u2018dole scum\u2019.<\/p>\n

Since then, he\u2019s barely been off our screens, with roles in everything from Whitechapel and Happy Valley to Midsomer Murders and Doctor Who, as well as spending eight years by the pool as Mick Garvey in ITV\u2019s sunburn and sangria sitcom Benidorm. In partnership with fellow Leaguer Reece Shearsmith, the 52-year-old has also continued to probe the darker corners of TV comedy in macabre sitcom Psychoville and the brilliant, BAFTA-winning anthology series Inside No 9.<\/p>\n

Rosie Cavaliero plays Mrs Braithwaite<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Rosie\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
BBC<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Who is Mrs Braithwaite?<\/strong> Mr Braithwaite\u2019s strong-willed wife runs Scatterbrook Farm alongside her husband. She isn\u2019t all that fond of the titular scarecrow, who she thinks has seen better days. Originally played by Megs Jenkins, she spends her days bossing Susan and John around and trying to get rid of Worzel.<\/p>\n

What else has Rosie Cavaliero been in?<\/strong> With more than 50 screen credits, Rosie is one of the busiest actors in Britain. Notable roles include troubled nurse Marion Kelsey in the second series of Unforgotten, Anne Lister\u2019s maid Elizabeth in Sally Wainwright\u2019s recent Gentleman Jack, and jilted wife Wendy in John Cleese sitcom Hold the Sunset. She also starred as DS Susan Reinhart in two series of ITV crime thriller Prey. Earlier this year, the 52-year-old was seen as Frances in Cleaning Up, starring Sheridan Smith, who she first worked with on the 2003 bingo sitcom Eyes Down, starring Paul O\u2019Grady.<\/p>\n

Francesca Mills plays Earthy Mangold<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Francesca\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n

Who is Earthy Mangold?<\/strong> In the books, Earthy Mangold is Worzel\u2019s wife but the pair are just friends in the new series. The character did not appear in the \u201970s series.<\/p>\n

What else has Francesca Mills been in?<\/strong> Most recently seen as Cherry Dorrington in period drama Harlots, Francesca\u2019s other credits include Zoolander 2 and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.<\/p>\n

Paul Kaye plays Guy Forks<\/h2>\n
\""Guy\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
BBC<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Appears in:\u00a0<\/strong>\u2018Guy Forks\u2019<\/p>\n

Who is Guy Forks?\u00a0<\/strong>Guy Forks is the cousin of Worzel Gummidge who arrives in Scatterbrook and takes his place at the top of the town\u2019s bonfire.<\/p>\n

What else has Paul Kaye been in?\u00a0<\/strong>Paul Kaye is best known for appearing as Dennis Pennis on The Sunday Show and for his roles in Game of Thrones, After Life, The Watch, Vera, and Three Girls.<\/p>\n

Toby Jones plays The Bonfire Night Committee<\/h2>\n
\""Guy\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
BBC<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Appears in:<\/strong>\u00a0\u2018Guy Forks\u2019<\/p>\n

Who are the Bonfire Night Committee?\u00a0<\/strong>The Bonfire Night Committee is made up of the baker, butcher, mayor, postmaster, publican and alderman \u2013 all of whom are preparing for the Scatterbrook bonfire. They are all played by Toby Jones.<\/p>\n

What else has Toby Jones been in?\u00a0<\/strong>Toby Jones is best known his roles in Detectorists, Marvellous, The Girl, Wayward Pines, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, The Hunger Games and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.<\/p>\n

Shirley Henderson plays Saucy Nancy<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Saucy\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
BBC\/Leopard Pictures\/Amanda Searle<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Appears in:<\/strong> \u2018Saucy Nancy\u2019 (2020)<\/p>\n

Who is Saucy Nancy?\u00a0<\/strong>A ship\u2019s figurehead with a foul mouth, Nancy is discovered by Worzel, Susan and John at a scrapyard. The character was played by the late Barbara Windsor in the \u201970s series.<\/p>\n

What else has Shirley Henderson been in? <\/strong>Henderson is known for her role as Jude in the Bridget Jones film trilogy and for playing Moaning Myrtyle in the Harry Potter films. She has also appeared in the series Hamish Macbeth, Southcliffe, Happy Valley and The Nest, and voiced Babu Frik in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.<\/p>\n

Vanessa Redgrave plays Peg<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Peg\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
BBC\/Leopard Pictures\/Amanda Searle<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Appears in:<\/strong> \u2018Saucy Nancy\u2019 (2020)<\/p>\n

Who is Peg? <\/strong>Peg is an old seawoman who mends fishermen\u2019s nets and lives in a shipwreck on the beach.<\/p>\n

What else has Vanessa Redgrave been in? <\/strong>Vanessa Redgrave CBE is a legend of stage and screen, having earned six Academy Award nominations and winning in the Best Supporting Actress category for her performance in 1977\u2019s Julia. Her many film credits include Blowup (1966), Mary, Queen of Scots (1971), Murder on the Orient Express (1974), Mission: Impossible (1996) and Atonement (2007), while previous small-screen credits include Nip\/Tuck and Man in an Orange Shirt. She narrates Call the Midwife as the voice of the older Jenny Worth.<\/p>\n

Tim Plester plays Fisherman Stan<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Appears in:<\/strong> \u2018Saucy Nancy\u2019 (2020)<\/p>\n

Who is Fisherman Stan? <\/strong>Stan is \u2013 you guessed it \u2013 a fisherman, and friend to Peg.<\/p>\n

What else has Tim Plester been in? <\/strong>Plester has appeared on Game of Thrones (as Black Walder Rivers), After Life (as drug addict Julian Kane) and, earlier this year, in The Sister (as Justin). He is also a filmmaker, known for his documentaries Way of the Morris and The Ballad of Shirley Collins.<\/p>\n

Spencer Jones plays Reggie<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Reggie\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>
BBC\/Leopard Pictures\/Amanda Searle<\/i> <\/span>\n<\/div>\n

Appears in:<\/strong> \u2018Saucy Nancy\u2019 (2020)<\/p>\n

Who is Reggie? <\/strong>Reggie works at the local scrapyard, but his business acumen leaves quite a lot to be desired.<\/p>\n

What else has Spencer Jones been in? <\/strong>Jones is a stand-up comedian, actor and writer who plays Shakespeare actor William Kempe in Upstart Crow and played the title character in BBC Two sitcom Mr Winner earlier this year. He has also appeared in Still Open All Hours, Skins and Pulling.<\/p>\n

Brian Blessed plays Abraham Longshanks<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Appears in:<\/strong> \u2018Saucy Nancy\u2019 (2020)<\/p>\n

Who is Abraham Longshanks? <\/strong>Abraham is a tiny scarecrow who used to be much larger \u2013 but his booming voice has never diminished.<\/p>\n

What else has Brian Blessed been in? <\/strong>With screen credits dating back to the late 1950s, Blessed is a household name and cult icon known for his aforementioned booming voice, with roles in I, Claudius (as Augustus), Z Cars (as PC Fancy Smith) and Doctor Who (as King Ycarnos, in the 1986 story The Trial of a Time Lord).<\/p>\n

He also voiced the alien Boss Nass in 1999\u2019s Star Wars: Episode I \u2013 The Phantom Menace and played the winged Prince Vultan in the 1980 big-screen version of Flash Gordon, from which his catchphrase \u201cGORDON\u2019S ALIVE?!\u201d originates.<\/p>\n

Youseff Kerkour plays Farmer Brawn<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Appears in:<\/strong> \u2018Saucy Nancy\u2019 (2020)<\/p>\n

Who is Farmer Brawn? <\/strong>On a trip to the seaside, Susan and John meet Farmer Brawn in a local pub, along with Farmer Strong (Christopher Patrick Nolan), Farmer Beef (Denise Mack), Farmer Bonce (Daniel Copeland) and Farmer Gout (Daniel Page).<\/span><\/p>\n

What else has Youseff Kerkour been in? <\/strong>Kerkour is probably best known for his role as the gentle Sami in Channel 4 comedy-drama Home. He has also appeared in Criminal: UK, Dracula, Sex Education and Baghdad Central, and made a brief appearance in the 2019 Gavin & Stacey Christmas special.<\/p>\n

Vicki Pepperdine plays Aunt Sally<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Vicki\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n

Appears in:<\/strong> \u2018The Scarecrow of Scatterbrook\u2019 (2019)<\/p>\n

Who is Aunt Sally?<\/strong> Una Stubbs played the fairground doll in the 70s, but Mackenzie Crook\u2019s eerie version is closer to the one in Euphan Todd\u2019s books. Instead of his love interest, Aunt Sally is Worzel\u2019s actual aunt, who has been left to rot in a museum and is not exactly thrilled about it.<\/p>\n

What else has Vicki Pepperdine been in?<\/strong> Like Mackenzie Crook, 58-year-old Pepperdine is as happy bashing out scripts as performing them. With Jo Brand and Joanna Scanlan, she co-wrote the award-winning hospital sitcom Getting On, in which she played Dr Pippa Moore, a geriatric care consultant whose bedside manner left something to be desired. On radio, she was one half of comedy duo Hudson and Pepperdine, with Melanie Hudson, and she currently hosts a podcast, Dear Joan and Jericha, with her friend Julia Davis, who also cast her in her TV comedies Camping, Nighty Night and Sall4Ever. Vicki played Princess Anne in Channel 4 comedy The Windsors, while recent film roles include Goodbye Christopher Robin and Johnny English Strikes Again.<\/p>\n

Zo\u00eb Wanamaker plays Lady Bloomsbury Barton<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Zoe\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n

Appears in: <\/strong>\u2018The Green Man\u2019 (2019)<\/p>\n

Who is Lady Bloomsbury Barton?<\/strong> Lady Bloomsbury Barton is the eccentric local lady of the manor, with whom Worzel takes tea despite lacking the insides to absorb it. The aristocrat was a bit of a freeloader in the first Worzel series, and was driven around in a Rolls-Royce by her chauffeur Humphrey.<\/p>\n

What else has Zo\u00eb Wanamaker been in?<\/strong> The daughter of American actor and producer Sam Wanamaker, Zo\u00eb\u2019s stage career \u2013 including extensive engagements with both the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre \u2013 has earned her two Olivier Awards and seven nominations, along with four Tony nominations for her work on Broadway. On screen, she received BAFTA nods for her roles in the original Prime Suspect and the romantic comedy drama Love Hurts. In more recent years, she has been best known for playing Susan Harper in the BBC sitcom My Family, Ariadne Oliver in Agatha Christie\u2019s Poirot and Princess Marie in Mr Selfridge. And of course, she earned her place in the Hogwarts hall of fame as Madam Hooch in the first Harry Potter film. Zo\u00eb, who turned 70 in May, was made a CBE in 2001 for services to drama.<\/p>\n

Michael Palin plays The Green Man<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\""Michael\"<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n

Appears in:<\/strong> \u2018The Green Man\u2019 (2019)<\/p>\n

Who is The Green Man?<\/strong> He is the creator of all scarecrows, including Worzel, and keeper of scarecrow lore. The Green Man is more akin to Worzel\u2019s mysterious creator in the books, rather than the Crowman from Pertwee\u2019s Worzel Gummidge. He isn\u2019t pleased when he learns Worzel has befriended humans.<\/p>\n

What else has Michael Palin been in?<\/strong> Actor, writer, comedian, traveller, Python\u2026 national treasures don\u2019t come much more cherished than Sir Michael. As one sixth of the Monty Python team, he starred in such iconic skits as the Dead Parrot sketch, The Spanish Inquisition and the Fish-Slapping Dance, as well as performing The Lumberjack Song. He teamed up with fellow Python Terry Jones to co-write and star in the 70s comedy anthology Ripping Yarns, and won a BAFTA for his role in the 1988 film A Fish Called Wanda. The same year, he embarked on a journey Around the World in 80 Days, the first of many TV travel documentaries that have since taken him Pole to Pole, Full Circle and, most recently into North Korea. From 2009-20012, he was also president of the Royal Geographical Society.<\/p>\n

Having previously been made a CBE and a BAFTA fellow, Sir Michael, 76, received a knighthood in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to travel, culture and geography.<\/p>\n