The Worst Witch (2017 series): Trailer, certificate and where to watch
Bella Ramsey plays a girl who discovers she's a witch
Year: 2017-2020
Certificate: u
Years before Harry Potter, there were Jill Murphy's Worst Witch books. The first was published in 1974 and her adventures were brought to life in a CITV series in 1998, notable now for co-starring Felicity Jones in the plum role of entitled nasty girl Ethel Hallow.
The BBC had a go in 2017 and this excellent show is the result. Game Of Thrones's Bella Ramsey is well-cast in the central role of Mildred Hubble, the ordinary girl who suddenly learns she's a witch and has a place at Cackle's Academy.
What follows is a classic British boarding-school adventure as Mildred (played by Lydia Page in the final series) makes new friends, deals with uppity enemies who look down on her lack of magical background and generally deals with being three steps behind everyone else in terms of spells, potions and the like.
That leads to a lot of slapstick antics in the classroom, much to the withering disdain of imperious teacher Miss Hardbroom, perfectly played by Raquel Cassidy. This is a lovely piece of family entertainment and both a faithful adaptation and an imaginative extension of the books. (Four series)
