User Reviews

I'm so pleased the first one wasn't simply a nostalgic fluke, this second one was equally good, if not better. BBC you need to make more of these, this, along with Gavin and Stacey, the highlights of Christmas 2019.

Mackenzie Crook once again terrific as Worzel Gummidge, so utterly impressive, I loved the legendary Michael Palin. What a combination.

Great story, great special effects, this was nostalgic and fun. More needed. 8/10

Another lovely story featuring Scatterbrook's enigmatic scarecrow. Possibly not as endearing as the previous installment but still a great tale with beautiful accompanying music and scenic rural vistas. The environmental message was a bit more obvious this time but still a great watch with brilliant performances by Mackenzie Crook as Worzel Gummidge and Michael Palin as The Green Man in a strong cast. An hour might be a long time for little children to sit still and watch all the way through but great family viewing once again. I watched these episodes thinking they wouldn't be able to be a touch on the ITV series from my youth but they have proven me wrong. Hopefully, children if all ages will enjoy the show for the fun it is but also understand the message being portrayed. A different Worzel Gummidge but in a good way. Hoping for another series soon.

I've never read the original source stories, but I do have the faintest recollections of repeats of the ITV series that adapted them 40 years ago. (Not particularly fond ones, but not the nightmares that others appear to have carried forward). I hadn't specifically intended to watch these, but I'm really glad that I happened to be in the room when my wife put them on, as I enjoyed them enormously.

(On a technical note, I'm going to review them as if they were the first ones in a series, though at the time of writing, no more have been confirmed.)

Two children, Susan (India Brown) and John (Thierry Wickens), arrive in the countryside for a summer holiday. They are living and working on the farm of Mr. Braithwaite (Steve Pemberton) who lives with his wife (Rosie Cavaliero). Though initially not enjoying their experience, their appreciation of the countryside increases when they meet Worzel Gummidge (MacKenzie Crook) a Scarecrow who mistakes the children for fellow scarecrows, so breaks the usual rules of not talking to the humans.

I too initially baulked at the redesign of the character. I'm still not entirely sure what his face is supposed to be, but to be fair, that uneasiness doesn't last long. And that's really the only criticism I can think of in what was a wonderful pair of shows. Wonderfully written, genuinely funny, a brilliantly romantic portrayal of British country life. It reminded me a lot of "The Dectectorists", both with that love of the country, the long lingering shots of a spider or whatever, but also with the music (which IMDB tells me is the same people).

The characters are great, the stories make sense and were clever. The kids! The kids are really good. Not stagy or annoying. Just natural and engaging. It's definitely a family friendly show, but there is enough wit in the dialogue that I, a cynical middle aged man laughed out loud several times.

I really hope that Crook is allowed to make some more in the future.

I used to love this as a kid, and I loved this just the same. Folky music, paganesque in nature with relevant themes. Please make more !

Worzel Gummidge is keen to take part in the scarecrow competition held by Lady Bloomsbury Barton as part of the village fete.

However Worzel is not happy that other contenders plan to crash into the competition.

The farmer recognises an old face in Scatterbrook who is mending the hedges. The Green Man is mysterious, wordless and has been away for some years.

However he is someone who is more than just a vagrant who fixes the fences and hedgerows. He is the creator of the scarecrows including Worzel. The Green Man tells Worzel in no uncertain terms that he should not be speaking to the children and leaving his patch of land.

This was a better episode than the first. Michael Palin adds something extra as The Green Man and his portrayal is a lot different than that of the Crow Man from the Pertwee series. The Green Man has heard what Worzel as been up to, adding to the mystical and folklore aura of the countryside.

The scarecrow gang led by Soggy Boggart with his marrow head were a lot of fun. It was both edgy and playful.

Mackenzie Crook certainly deserves the plaudits for his reinvention of Worzel Gummidge. It has been more based on the books, yet he has updated it enough and made sure the stories kept its charm for family viewing.