Wizbit

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Wizbit
Format	Children's
Created by	Barry Murray Paul Daniels
Starring	Paul Daniels Debbie McGee
Country of origin	UK
No. of episodes	27
Production
Running time	12 x 25mins, 15 x 10mins
Broadcast
Original channel	BBC One
Original run	1986 – 1988

Wizbit was a 1986 BBC children's television show in which an alien magician called Wizbit and a large rabbit called Wooly had adventures in a place called Puzzleopolis.

Although it was stated in the show that Wizbit's year-and-a-day mission was to find out all about planet Earth, this clashed somewhat with the events witnessed on screen. Wizbit was (apparently) to learn about everyday life on earth by solving puzzles in a town inhabited by walking, talking (and often singing) sponge-balls, dice, magic wands, playing cards and 7-foot tall rabbits.

The show made an attempt to be semi-educational. The (often lateral thinking) puzzles Wizbit was set were usually presented to the audience at home, with the solutions being revealed towards the end of the episode.

The show was created by Barry Murray, who had formerly been Mungo Jerry's record producer, with assistance from conjuror Paul Daniels. It starred Daniels and his assistant (and wife) Debbie McGee.

Its theme tune contained the lyrics: "Ha ha this-a-way, ha ha that-a-way, ha ha this-a-way, my oh my". It featured Daniels rapping the lyrics. The theme has been prominently featured on BBC BBC Radio 1's breakfast show in January 2008 following a comparison with a near-identical pop song.

Wizbit's magic word was "Ostagazuzulum". Wizbit came from the planet WOW, an acronym for 'World Of Wizards'. Wizbit was visiting planet Earth for a year and a day.

All rights to characters and designs are now owned by Paul Daniels. All music rights are the property of Barry Murray.

[edit] Characters

Wizbit, a large yellow cone-shaped wizard's hat, played by Charlotte Parsons
Wooly, a seven foot tall white rabbit
Squidgy Bog, a purple swamp monster
Professor Doom, an evil genius and arch-villain who lives in a castle, which sits atop a giant stone fist in the sky.
Jinx, Professor doom's cat.
Wozbit, an evil version of Wizbit generated by Professor Doom
The Gatekeeper, a woman who guarded the gates to Puzzleopolis and wouldn't let anyone in until they had solved a puzzle.
Madame Martinka, a fortune teller who owned the magic shop in Puzzleopolis
Grocer Green, a greengrocer with green hair.
Pierre Oe, a mime artist.
Spoof & Bluff
Paul Daniels (playing himself) who owned the theatre in Puzzleopolis
Various townsfolk shaped like magician's props - spongeballs, dice, wands and so forth.