The Return of the Psammead

United Kingdom

The story

The Return of the Psammead is a 1993 TV series directed by Marilyn Fox and starring Toby Ufindell-Phillips, Laura Clarke, Leonard Kirby and Vicci Avery. The Return of the Psammead was a six-part British television series that aired on BBC from 6 January to 10 February 1993. It was written by Helen Cresswell and inspired by E. Nesbit's Five Children and It.

Plot

The story follows four children (George, Ellie, Pip, and Lucy) who are sent to stay with their Great-Aunt Marchmont in the English countryside during the early 20th century while their younger siblings recover from scarlet fever. When they arrive at their aunt's estate, they stumble upon the Psammead, a cranky sand fairy that grants wishes. It does not take long for the children to realize that this fairy will make any wish come true, even the ones they toss out without much thought, sparking a string of funny and chaotic adventures. Some standout moments include Ellie wishing for a twin, the kids zipping 80 years into the future to 1993 (where they encounter modern gadgets and a disco party), and their aunt wishing to feel young again, which turns her into a playful, childlike version of herself. Through all these wild escapades, the children have to deal with the unexpected fallout of their wishes while growing closer to their stern aunt, who gradually softens up.

Cast

Toby Ufindell-Phillips as George
Laura Clarke as Ellie
Leonard Kirby as Pip
Vicci Avery as Lucy
Polly Kemp as Bessie
Frank Taylor as Mr. Dobbs
Joanna Barrett as Lil Dawkins
Simon Slater as Dawkins
Francis Wright as The Psammead
Anna Massey as Aunt Marchmont
Calum MacPherson as Albert Dobbs
Carol MacReady as Cook
Anne Orwin as Mrs. Dobbs
Neil Conrich as Policeman
Colin Wyatt as Arthur
Jodie Hartill as Stella Dawkins
Linda Slade as Lady with baby
Jessica James as Elderly Lady
Nicola Maddock as Supermarket Checkout

Production

The series has six episodes. Malcolm James was the visual effects designer. 30 students from the Salisbury educational institution Westwood St Thomas School participated in three days of filming of the television series at Dorchester. The 27 January 1993 episode had 4.90 million viewers.

Reception

The Sydney Morning Herald reviewer Robin Oliver called The Return of the Psammead "three nicely acted episodes of utter enchantment" and "enchanting television of the highest quality". The director Roger Singleton-Turner found it to be "a clever sequel to the original, keeping very much to Nesbit's own style—and period".