The New Worst Witch

Although The New Worst Witch released 20 years ago, at the time of writing, I watched it about a year ago, and did enjoy what I saw.

I like to watch school-based shows and I watch a lot of them, and this is not a bad one.

I like the characters, however, I do not like the character of Belladonna as much as Ethel Hallow, who was the enemy in the original series.

Alice Connor does a fine job of portraying Hettie, Anabel Barnston is good, and Cressie is an interesting character.

As for the teachers, Clare Coulter is the only main cast member from the original series to return, and I am happy she did, because she is brilliant at playing Miss Cackle, just like she was in the original show. And she also plays Agatha Cackle, an evil witch, and she is good at this too.

As for Miss Hardbroom, I preferred Kate Duchene's portrayal in the original series, however Caroline O'Neill is alright. O'Neill is alright at being the strict teacher, however Duchene added more to the role, because she added a more comedic edge.

The other teachers Miss Nightingale, Miss Widget and Miss Swoop are good too. Miss Swoop is very good and she also appeared as a student in the other shows, which is a great character progression to see her now as a teacher!

Miss Nightingale does not really have much personality or backstory as Miss Swoop, and her replacement in the 2nd season Miss Widget is better in my opinion and adds a fresh face to the show.

All in all, the New Worst Witch is a good show. However, I preferred the original Worst Witch and also Weirdsister College, the first spin-off.

However, I give it a solid 8 out of 10.

The New Worst Witch is absolutely terrible. Firstly, gone is the realistic castle they filmed on location in Canada. Instead, we have a horrible set, probably filmed somewhere up north. The new Mrs Hardbroom is absolutely silly. The first one was acted so well and serious, but this recast is terrible. The woman who plays her acts her as if she's a comedian, its awful. Then there is the new "Worst Witch" and although she's starred in quite a few things and has had her experience, she is no patch on the last "Worst Witch". The friends that are by her side are a joke. It's obvious that this show is trying to make every sort of stereotype, even a girl in a ginger wig - its laughable. This "New Worst Witch" is 3/10 - terribly dire.

I absolutely adore the Worst Witch, and I still watch it to this day. The New Worst Witch is a nice TV series, if not as good as the Worst Witch. Cackle's Academy isn't quite what I imagined here, and Caroline O'Neill is good as Miss Hardbroom, but she lacks the frostiness of Kate Duchene and Diana Rigg. Plus, like I felt with Wierdsister College, the story lines aren't as clever or as original. However, the music is fantastic, the writing is good with some funny moments and the camera work and special effects are decent. Out of the original Worst Witch series, as far as I can remember only Clare Coulter returns as Miss Cackle and she is great. Georgina Sherrington who played Mildred even appears in one episode. The acting from all the girls are all very spirited especially Alice Connor(who played Dolphin in the superb 2003 TV drama The Illustrated Mum). Annabel Barnston and Dominique Jackson(who starred alongside John Thaw in Buried Treasure). And Belladonna Bindweed is just as effectively stuck-up and irritating as Ethel Hallow. All in all, good TV series. 7/10 Bethany Cox

I really like the new series of The New Worst Witch, the acting seems more realistic, in the old series everything seemed forced. I also find the story lines are more interesting than the old series, as the story lines are all very different and although sometimes predictable they always have plenty of twists and turns that leave you in suspense. Hettie's friends are more interesting, Cressie is my favourite as she is weird but also kind and a bit flaky which makes it more fun. And although at first i didn't like the new Miss Hardbroom, i think she actually does quite a good job, she looks strict and acts well. I always watch the show whenever it is on and really enjoy it.

I find 'The new worst witch' awesome! I haven't watched the old one before it which was called 'The worst witch' but I don't think u should compare the 2 as 'The new worst witch' is supposed to be 'new' not another copy of the old one, otherwise it would be totally boring. I think Alice Connor is fabulous in it, she plays 'Hettie Hubble' really well, I can't compare Miss Hardbroom to the old one as I haven't seen it. But in the second series of the 'New worst witch' there is some new characters like 'Miss Widget' who I can't help but laugh when I see her as she seems really funny in the things she says and does, the actress plays her well. I think 'Hettie Hubble's friends are good, but I'm wondering if Anabel Branstan's hair is really that colour, or if it is faked???? All in all its great, but one downside is the script as I think the script is too predictable and you've already made up your mind what is going to happen and u were right! But apart from that its marvellous to watch and I recommend it to any1!