Catweazle

Geoffrey Bayldon and Robin Davies are reunited after thirty years, at the Hexwood Farm location to reminisce about the filming of Catweazle...

This black and white interview with Richard Carpenter was shot on location for the filming of the second series of Catweazle in 1970.

Catweazle is casting spells in his secretive cave in ''the great forest'' and his chantings are overheard by the Normans who enter his cave and attempt to capture him for practicing witchcraft. Biting one of the soldiers he is able to escape into the forest complete with his ''familiar'' ''Touchwood''. He is chased by some other Norman soldiers and is trapped by them leaving him no option but to dive into the lake. He reappears in a small pond located at Hexworth Farm in 20th century England having flown through time 900 years into the future. Here the magic of his journey begins. Hiding himself in a barn at Hexworth Farm he soon meets up with Edward (aka Carrot) when he returns to the barn with farmhand Sam riding on the farm's tractor whose noise scares Catweazle. Carrott manages to hide Catweazle from his father despite the strong smell on Catweazle's clothes. Carrott promises to bring Catweazle food later in the evening and this is where the fun begins.

Returning to the house to learn about the ''Electrickery" Catweazle hears the kettle whistling in the kitchen and thinks it's a demon. He hides under the dining room table and draws a circle in chalk around him to protect himself whilst blowing on his magic thumb ring and chanting ''sator arepo tenet opera rotas''. Meanwhile Carrot's father comes into the house and can smell the same smell he first noticed in the barn the night before. Wondering how he can get Catweazle out of the room he deliberately knocks something over on the table and his father leaves to get something from the kitchen to clean it with. Trying to leave the house Catweazle is almost spotted by farmhand Sam and takes himself up to Carot's bedroom. After trying to clean the chalk stain off the carpet that Catweazle had made, Carrot follows his nose up to his bedroom where he finds Catweazle hiding in his wardrobe. Catweazle is in awe of how Carrot discovers him and then begs to be shown the ''magic of electrickery"...

Episode 3 of series one sees Hexworth Farm in financial troubles with Mr Bennett played by Aussie actor Charles Tingwell overdrawn at the bank by 800 pounds. Believing there is a curse on the farm, Carrot seeks the help of Catweazle. Deciding the owner of a local history museum may help via some books which immediately sparks Catweazle's interest, Carrot and Catweazle head off to the museum. During which Catweazle after causing havoc by letting ''touchwood'' get loose and scaring a bunch of schoolgirls visiting the museum, discovers the book of Rapkyn. Via the book it's discovered that 2 stones hidden somewhere on the farm must be found to remove the curse. One ''in the tower and one in the water''. The tower being the living room chimmney and the the water being an old well. Both leading to hillarious situations. The two stones are found in perfect condition and also fit the missing pieces of a rare artefact at the museum who pay Mr Bennett 800 pounds thus lifting the financial burden.

Catweazle is back. Inevitably the return of the 11th century wizard for a new series of 20th century adventures spells trouble. Especially for Cedric, the 12 year old son of Lord and Lady Collingford who finds the magician hiding in his bedroom.

Now that Catweazle has been introduced to life in King's Farthing, he needs somewhere to live. But where? And why is he so interested in the sign swinging before the Bull Inn? The sign of Taurus.

"Magic is magic" says Catweazle in one of his more profound moments. But even he seems confused when he meets a modern-day magician at a children's party.