The Riddlers

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The Riddlers
GenrePuppet show
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons9
No. of episodes224
Production
Running time15 minutes
Original release
NetworkITV
Release2 November 1989 (1989-11-02) –
27 August 1998 (1998-08-27)

The Riddlers is a British children's programme produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV between 2 November 1989 and 27 August 1998.

Synopsis

The series centred on Marjorie Dawe and the two Riddlers (small humanoid creatures, portrayed by puppets, whose main aim in life was to "riddle things out") named Mossop (voiced by

Richard Robinson) and Tiddler (female, but voiced by Mike Gallant), who inhabited her garden at Riddleton End. It would later be revealed that Tiddler was an orphan and had no other next of kin, so Mossop adopted Tiddler as an infant. Tiddler was not the latter's real name, but a title given to young apprentice Riddlers: once they achieved full Riddler status there would be a special (graduation type) ceremony, at which they would be given their 'real' name. Tiddler's training included being told twelve stories by a Riddlestone, usually one of 'Eesup's Foibles' (Yorkshire dialect for Aesop's Fables
) – she would then have to 'riddle out' the moral of the story.

When Tiddler had achieved full Riddler status (by getting the morals of twelve stories correctly) she chose to be called Tiddlup at the ceremony. Marjorie wanted to go to the ceremony but was told by Mossop that only Riddlers and Tiddlers could go as it was a Riddler law. In order to go, she became a Riddler and started to study as a Riddler.

Other characters featured in the show included Marjorie's neighbour, Mr. Montgomery Grimley (a gardener and odd-job man), and several other Riddler characters – including another Tiddler known as Middler, Mossop's brother Glossop, and Eesup, a story-teller. Marjorie's sister Monica was also featured as a recurring character. Many of the plots featured in the series revolved around the male characters making mistakes which would then be solved by the female ones.

Series cast

  • Marjorie Dawe:
    Victoria Williams
  • Mr. Montgomery Grimley: Peter Llewellyn Jones
  • Monica: Sally Sheridan
  • Mossop/Middler:
    Richard Robinson
  • Tiddlup/Glossop/Eesup/McEyup: Mike Gallant

Production

Total of episodes were produced and broadcast during the series' nine-year run. For much of its run, The Riddlers was produced by Ian Fell and directed by Chris Ryder (later a series producer).[1] Later series were directed by Ann Ayoub. The executive producer was Chris Jelley.

All episodes were written by Rick Vanes (whose previous work for YTV included

Mooncat). Eesup's Foibles stories were written by Shirley Isherwood. Neil Innes
provided the music and songs featured. Puppeteer for Middler and Mossop, Richard Robinson, created the puppets and provided illustrations for the Eesup's Foibles stories. David Baker was assistant puppeteer series 1 through 6 and Garry Rutter for the show's last three years. Garry Rutter would later work on MacDonalds Farm puppeteering Baa Baa and The Fimbles Doing animatronic work.

Many of the programmes were recorded in Yorkshire Television's studios on Kirkstall Road, Leeds, although some later episodes were filmed on location. Five VHS releases were issued by Video Collection International, two DVDs were issued by Kids Club (VCI) and several tie-in books were published.

An episode from the fifth series was broadcast on the CITV channel on 6 January 2013, as part of a weekend of archive programmes to celebrate CITV's 30th anniversary.

Transmission guide

Series 1 (1989-1990)

  1. Moving In – 2 November 1989
  2. A Present for Marjorie – 9 November 1989
  3. The Wedding Hat – 16 November 1989
  4. The House-Warming Party – 23 November 1989
  5. The Riddling Tree – 30 November 1989
  6. The Potted Plants – 7 December 1989
  7. Sleepy Heads – 14 December 1989
  8. Riddling Boots – 21 December 1989
  9. Fishing – 11 January 1990
  10. The Fairy – 18 January 1990
  11. Decisions, Decisions – 25 January 1990
  12. Missing the Bus – 1 February 1990
  13. Gone Camping – 8 February 1990
  14. Mossop the Strongman – 15 February 1990
  15. The Flittering – 22 February 1990
  16. Bothersome Birds – 1 March 1990
  17. Grimley's Tuba – 8 March 1990
  18. In Search of the Lost Nuts – 15 March 1990
  19. Tiddler's Beads – 22 March 1990
  20. Postie the Prisoner – 29 March 1990
  21. Robins Nest – 5 April 1990
  22. House-Hunting – 12 April 1990
  23. Mossop Shows the Way – 19 April 1990
  24. Peace and Quiet – 26 April 1990
  25. That's Torn It – 3 May 1990
  26. Tiddler's Time Magic – 10 May 1990

Series 2 (1990-1991)

  1. Mossop Needs A Haircut – 15 November 1990
  2. Rat in the Garden – 22 November 1990
  3. Middler – 29 November 1990
  4. A Present from Middler – 6 December 1990
  5. Tiddler at Bedtime – 13 December 1990
  6. The Siege of Riddleton End – 20 December 1990
  7. In the Soup – 10 January 1991
  8. Tiddletricks Day – 17 January 1991
  9. The Singing Tree – 24 January 1991
  10. Grooming Grimley – 31 January 1991
  11. Daft as Brushes – 7 February 1991
  12. Mossop Builds a Car – 14 February 1991
  13. Cat on the Run – 21 February 1991
  14. Wet Paint – 28 February 1991
  15. Spring Time for Middler – 7 March 1991
  16. A Question of Balance – 14 March 1991
  17. Mossop the Artist – 21 March 1991
  18. Middler the Invisible – 28 March 1991
  19. The Mystery of the Shrinking Tiddler – 4 April 1991
  20. Mossop Loses His Voice – 11 April 1991
  21. The Flood – 18 April 1991
  22. Red Herring – 25 April 1991
  23. Stop, Look and Listen – 2 May 1991
  24. The Lightning Machines – 9 May 1991
  25. Holiday Plans – 16 May 1991
  26. Tiddler's Test – 23 May 1991

Series 3 (1991-1993)

  1. Stones from the Sky – 12 December 1991
  2. Lights Out – 19 December 1991
  3. Treasure of Riddleton End – 9 January 1992
  4. Mossop the Hero – 16 January 1992
  5. Mossop and Grimley – Builders – 23 January 1992
  6. Middler's Invisible Horse – 30 January 1992
  7. A Brush With Mossop – 6 February 1992
  8. The Riddlestone Necklace – 13 February 1992
  9. The Search for a Riddling Tree – 20 February 1992
  10. Top Hat and Tails – 27 February 1992
  11. The Honorary Riddler – 5 March 1992
  12. A Riddler at Last – 12 March 1992
  13. Mossop's Magic Cleaner – 19 March 1992
  14. Tiddlup Doesn't Live Here Anymore – 26 March 1992
  15. Mossop the Thinker – 2 April 1992
  16. Learning to Teach – 9 April 1992
  17. Counting on Mossop – 16 April 1992
  18. Skate Expectations – 23 April 1992
  19. The Speeding Detective – 30 April 1992
  20. The Magnificent Handcart – 7 May 1992
  21. Spider, Spider – 14 May 1992
  22. Heavy Reading – 21 May 1992
  23. Cold Comfort Cottage – 28 May 1992
  24. That's Hen-Tertainment – 4 June 1992
  25. Water Music - 26th November 1992
  26. Belt and Braces - 3rd December 1992
  27. Worrying Developments - 10th December 1992
  28. Edgar Saves the Day - 17th December 1992
  29. Water, Water Anywhere? - 7th January 1993

Series 4 (1993)

  1. Not Wanted on Voyage - 16th January 1993
  2. Camp Sights - 21st January 1993
  3. Beside the Seaside - 28th January 1993
  4. Tickets To Ride - 4th February 1993
  5. A Head for Heights - 11th February 1993
  6. Fish & Ships - 18th February 1993
  7. A Room for the Knight - 25th February 1993
  8. A Ticklish Problem - 4th March 1993
  9. Getting in Shape - 11th March 1993
  10. Return To Lender - 18th March 1993
  11. The Riddler Christmas - 25th March 1993
  12. Mossop on His Metal - 1st April 1993
  13. Mossop the Genius - 8th April 1993
  14. Too Big for His Boots - 15th April 1993
  15. A Few Hiccups - 22nd April 1993
  16. The New Mossy Boots - 29th April 1993
  17. Special Delivery - 6th May 1993
  18. Doing Things Day - 13th May 1993

Series 5 (1993-1994)

  1. Relatively Speaking – 7 September 1993
  2. Squeamish - 9 September 1993
  3. A Miner Problem - 14 September 1993
  4. The Tooth Will Out – 16 September 1993
  5. Back To School - 21 September 1993
  6. Legend of the Vampire Hedgehog - 23 September 1993
  7. Lucks and Ducks – 28 September 1993
  8. A Whale of a Time – 30 September 1993
  9. A Shady Character - 5 October 1993
  10. A Complete Washout - 7 October 1993
  11. The Wrong Lines - 12 October 1993
  12. Not So Smart - 14 October 1993
  13. A Hat For Middler - 19 October 1993
  14. All the Fun of the Festival - 21 October 1993
  15. Middler the Plotter - 26 October 1993
  16. Daring in the Diary - 28 October 1993
  17. Feeding Time - 2 November 1993
  18. The Stowaway - 4 November 1993
  19. The Isle Of Riddlers - 9 November 1983
  20. The Rocket - 11 November 1993
  21. The Missing Tickets - 16 November 1993
  22. Vikings And Black Dogs - 18 November 1993
  23. Three Legs, Four Horns, Seven Kingdoms - 23 November 1993
  24. Fairies and Tales - 25 November 1993
  25. Who’s Been Sleeping In My Cellar - 2 December 1993
  26. Oh Brother - 7 December 1993
  27. A Job at the Circus - 9 December 1993
  28. Roll Up, Fall Down - 14 December 1993
  29. Glossop Moves In - 16 December 1993
  30. The Unwelcome Guest - 4 January 1994

Series 6 (1994-1995)

  1. All Fall Down - 8 September 1994
  2. Home and Wahey! - 15 September 1994
  3. In Branches Everywhere - 22 September 1994
  4. Trouble In Store - 29 September 1994
  5. The Super Well - 6 October 1994
  6. A Caravan For Middler - 13 October 1994
  7. Flight To Holy Island - 20 October 1994
  8. On Hadrian’s Wall - 27 October 1994
  9. Dipping And Tripping - 3 November 1994
  10. Tiddlup At The Wicket - 10 November 1994
  11. A Face From The Past - 17 November 1994
  12. Job Hunting - 24 November 1994
  13. Last With The News - 1 December 1994
  14. The Riddleton Circus - 8 December 1994
  15. Punch And Judy - 15 December 1994
  16. Oh, Baby! - 12 January 1995
  17. Hush A Bye Mossop - 19 January 1995
  18. Mossop Steps Out - 26 January 1995
  19. A Tiddler At Play School - 2 February 1995
  20. Mossop Returns - 9 February 1995

Series 7 (1995-1996)

  1. Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow - 7th September 1995
  2. Just for Kicks - 14th September 1995
  3. A Test for Middler - 21st September 1995
  4. Trick Cycling - 28th September 1995
  5. Where on Earth? - 5th October 1995
  6. French Lessons - 12th October 1995
  7. Bon Appetit - 19th October 1995
  8. Alarms and Excursions - 26th October 1995
  9. Eesup - 2nd November 1995
  10. Let Loose in the Library - 9th November 1995
  11. A Tiddler’s Best Friend - 16th November 1995
  12. It’s a Dog Life - 23rd November 1995
  13. Dog Tired - 30th November 1995
  14. The Phantom Piper - 7th December 1995
  15. Loch Ness Mess - 14th December 1995
  16. Cabers and Kilts - 4th January 1996
  17. Highland Fun and Games - 11th January 1996
  18. A Little Bit Of Dirt - 18th January 1996
  19. At the Hospital - 25th January 1996
  20. Mossop the Invalid - 1st February 1996
  21. Thanks a Lot - 8th February 1996
  22. Flea Market - 15th February 1996
  23. Mossop the Conkeror - 22nd February 1996
  24. Grimley the Golfer - 29th February 1996
  25. Listen To The Band - 7th March 1996

Series 8 (1996-1997)

  1. Vote for Mossop - 12th September 1996
  2. The Chief Riddler - 19th September 1996
  3. Statue There? - 26th September 1996
  4. Your Place Or Mine - 3rd October 1996
  5. Well Dressed Wells - 10th October 1996
  6. Light Fantastic - 17th October 1996
  7. Middler’s Mansion - 24th October 1996
  8. The Tiddlers' Holiday Camp - 31st October 1996
  9. Tickling Trout - 7th November 1996
  10. Daylight Snobbery - 14th November 1996
  11. Rootin' Tootin' Cowboys - 21st November 1996
  12. Under The Greenwood Tree - 28th November 1996
  13. A-Hunting We Will Go - 5th December 1996
  14. Eesup Junior - 12th December 1996
  15. Not A Leg To Stand On - 19th December 1996
  16. Chairs And Stairs - 9th January 1997
  17. Mossop Calling - 16th January 1997
  18. Middler’s Taxi Service - 23rd January 1997
  19. Lollipop Middler - 30th January 1997
  20. Clothes For Your Nose - 6th February 1997
  21. Highly Alarming - 13th February 1997
  22. A Word In The Hand... - 20th February 1997
  23. Leisure Hunt - 27th February 1997
  24. Stereo-oh! - 6th March 1997
  25. Playing Chopsticks - 13th March 1997

Series 9 (1997-1998)

  1. Ideal Home - 9th September 1997
  2. Dumb Waiter - 16th September 1997
  3. That Sinking Feeling - 23rd September 1997
  4. All Stuck Up - 30th September 1997
  5. All at Sea - 7th October 1997
  6. Castaways - 14th October 1997
  7. On the Line - 21st October 1997
  8. Cycling Proficiency - 28th October 1997
  9. Middler's Cafe - 4th November 1997
  10. Metal Detector - 11th November 1997
  11. The Time Machine - 18th November 1997
  12. Mystery in History - 25th November 1997
  13. Back to the Stone Age - 2nd December 1997
  14. Blow Up - 16th December 1997
  15. Spooks Of Riddleton End - 18th June 1998
  16. Mossop’s Art Gallery - 25th June 1998
  17. Good Sports - 2nd July 1998
  18. Hoe, Hoe, Hoe - 9th July 1998
  19. Riddler Scouts - 16th July 1998
  20. Tall and Small and Basketball - 23rd July 1998
  21. Creepy Crawlies - 30th July 1998
  22. Fashion Victims - 6th August 1998
  23. Little Red Riding Hood - 13th August 1998
  24. That’s Rich - 20th August 1998
  25. Good Morning, Mr. Magpie - 27th August 1998

UK VHS releases

VHS Title Release Date Episodes
The Riddlers: Mossop Needs A Haircut And Other Stories (YTVE 17) 1991 Mossop Needs A Haircut, Siege of Riddlers End, Daft As A Brush, Holiday Plans
The Riddlers: Mossop The Hero And Other Stories (VC1264) 5 October 1992 Stones From the Sky, Lights Out, The Treasure of Riddleton End, Mossop the Hero
The Riddlers: The Riddlestone Necklace And Other Stories (VC1278) 8 February 1993 Mossop and Grimley Builders, Middler's Invisible Horse, A Brush with Mossop, The Riddlestone Necklace
The Riddlers: A Riddler at Last and Other Stories (VC1309) 5 July 1993 The Search For a Riddling Tree, Top Hat and Tails, The Honorary Riddler, A Riddler at Last
The Riddlers: Mossop The Thinker and Other Stories (KC1513) 9 March 1998 Mossop's Magic Cleaner, Tiddlup Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Mossop The Thinker, Learning To Teach

References

  1. ^ Heartbeat and Beyond: Memoirs of 50 Years of Yorkshire Television. Ed. John Fairley, Graham Ironside. Pen and Sword, 2017.

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Riddlers&oldid=1218099532"