Simon and the Witch

I fondly remember this from the first time round, and recently saw it again on a BBC cable channel, it had lost very little of its charm. The acting was generally superb (especially Spriggs and Sims), but the child actors were good in their roles too.

The premise is a good one, and the episodes fast paced with 'punchy' cliff hanger endings. Brings back happy memories of 1980s childhood, just before the dawn of a new safety age where children still had some opportunity to go off out on their own.

One last thing, the scenes in the english primary school were really realistic I thought, and the teachers treatment of the witch (who they saw as a slightly demented old lady) excellent.

I forgot all about Simon and the Witch as I was compiling my list of old kids shows I'd love to see again, then I remembered something about a café and a school and remembered found Simon and the Witch.

It's pure Children's TV Gold! It's unbelievable to think that it is 20 years old. I don't know what kids are like now, but it captures an essence of exactly what it was like in junior school at that time.

I find the show to be incredibly appealing even now 20 years later. Perhaps it is a work of genius? Maybe its the acting. The Witch, as played by the then nearly 60 year old Elizabeth Spriggs who we now recognise as the Fat Lady from Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, put in a sprightly performance with some great physical acting and comedy. The entire supporting adult cast of adults also produce some of the best work I have ever seen for the genre. Timing, expressions, comedy. Perfect.

The young stars are great too. Watching the first episode, with the now never heard of Hugh Pollard putting in an absolutely stellar performance. If it wasn't for his size and voice, you might consider him a classically trained adult actor with a full range and an ability that comes naturally.

It's a shame he has never kept it up, because he was destined for something more.

A great joy to watch, a pleasure to recommend - even 20 years on.