Chorlton and the Wheelies

2025-09-29T19:35:40Z

92.16.57.37: /* Characters */

{{Short description|British children's television series (1976–1978)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2016}}
{{Infobox television
| image =
| caption =
| genre = [[Children's television series|Children's]]
| creator = Brian Cosgrove<br/>Mark Hall
| developer =
| writer = Brian Trueman
| director = Chris Taylor
| voices = [[Joe Lynch (actor)|Joe Lynch]]
| theme_music_composer = Joe Griffiths
| composer = Joe Griffiths
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| num_seasons = 3
| num_episodes = 40 
| list_episodes = List of Chorlton and the Wheelies episodes
| executive_producer = Brian Cosgrove<br/>Mark Hall
| company = [[Cosgrove Hall Films|Cosgrove Hall Productions]]
| runtime = 11 minutes
| channel = [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]
| first_aired = {{start date|1976|9|26|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{end date|1979|12|17|df=y}}
}}
'''''Chorlton and the Wheelies''''' is an [[animated television series|animated]] children's television series that ran from 26 September 1976 until 17 December 1979 on the British television channel [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]. 40 episodes were produced.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Crump |first1=William D. |title=Happy Holidays—Animated! A Worldwide Encyclopedia of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Cartoons on Television and Film |date=2019 |publisher=McFarland & Co |isbn=9781476672939 |page=46}}</ref> The show followed the adventures of Chorlton, an [[anthropomorphic]] "happiness [[dragon]]", in "Wheelie World" (where people moved on wheels instead of legs).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sheridan |first1=Simon |title=The A-Z of Classic Children's Television: From Alberto Frog to Zebedee |date=2004 |publisher=Reynolds & Hearn Ltd |isbn=1903111277 |pages=82–85}}</ref>

''Chorlton and the Wheelies'' was created by [[Cosgrove Hall Productions]] for [[Thames Television]] and broadcast on the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] network.

The eponymous lead character gets his name from the suburb of [[Manchester]] in which the Cosgrove Hall studio was based: the legend "Made in [[Chorlton-cum-Hardy]]" is found written on the inside of the egg from which he hatches in the very first episode of the series.<ref>{{cite episode |title=Happiness Is Hatched |series=Chorlton And The Wheelies |season=1 |number=1 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Anthony|last=Hayward |title=Mark Hall obituary, Animator whose TV cartoon series created with his friend Brian Cosgrove included Danger Mouse and The Wind in the Willows |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/nov/19/mark-hall?newsfeed=true |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=2011-11-18 |accessdate=2011-11-20}}</ref>

==Synopsis==
The series takes place in "Wheelie World", which is inhabited principally by the "wheelies", a race of [[anthropomorphic]] creatures who [[Rolling and wheeled creatures in fiction and legend|locomote by means of wheels]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Toonhound - Chorlton and the Wheelies (1976-1979) |url=http://www.toonhound.com/chorlton.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000929100751/http://www.toonhound.com/chorlton.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 September 2000 |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=www.toonhound.com}}</ref> They have three wheels each: two large ones at the front (resembling feet), and a smaller centred one at the back (resembling a tail). The wheels are replaceable, and suitable wheels grow on vegetation found in Wheelie World.

The wheelies are in conflict with Fenella the Kettle [[Witch]], an evil witch who speaks in a very strong [[Welsh language|Welsh]] accent and lives in Wheelie World but separately from the wheelies, in Spout Hall, an oversized [[kettle]]. Fenella hates happiness, and uses her powers primarily to make the wheelies unhappy. She has [[magic (paranormal)|magical]] capabilities, including a form of [[teleportation]] which is her main mode of transport, and enchanted assistants including a magic book called 'Claptrap Von Spilldebeans' (who helps concoct her spells) and O'Reilly the Telescope, which gives her advice her on magic. Minions include '''spikers''' (sinister looking objects like [[Horse chestnut|conker]] shells with baleful eyes, which roll everywhere) and '''toadies''' (pointed toadstools with similar eyes, which travel by bobbing through the ground as though it were water and who speak with a Chinese accent).

The wheelies have adopted into their society a "happiness [[dragon]]", Chorlton, who appears in Wheelie World at the very beginning of the series, hatching out of an egg. Chorlton is perpetually good-natured and perpetually clueless. For example, he fails to perceive Fenella as a villain, and affectionately refers to her as a "little old lady". Nevertheless, his presence negates the unhappiness magic, so the wheelies treat him as a hero. Being "[[Made in Chorlton-cum-Hardy]]" (Greater Manchester) he has a strong Lancashire accent.

==Development==
Plots are extremely simple, mainly revolve around Fenella's schemes to make the wheelies unhappy and Chorlton's accidental rectification of everything that goes wrong. Around these events, the characters' simple and exaggerated personalities are on show.

The idea of 'wheelies' came about after the difficulties of moving many different characters using [[stop-frame animation]]. Characters on wheels were easier to manipulate than those with legs that needed fractionally moving many times for each second of filming. Similarly, choosing teleportation as Fenella's principal means of transportation means that usually Chorlton is the only character whose walking needs to be animated.

The show was sold to numerous countries around the world.

==Characters==
The characters include, amongst others:
*'''Chorlton the Happiness Dragon''' - where he goes, happiness follows. He thwarts Fenella's evil schemes by accident, and is always apologetic to her afterwards. His catchphrase at the end of every episode is "Bye bye, little old lady!" (addressed to Fenella). He does not understand that the witch is evil.
*'''Fenella Fellorick, the Kettle Witch''' - a Welsh witch who does not like anyone to enjoy themselves. She lives in a gigantic kettle called Spout Hall, along with her henchmen Claptrap and O'Reilly.
*'''Zoomer''' - a wheelie boy, notable for his speed of locomotion. He wears an old-fashioned flying cap and goggles.
*'''Jenny''' - a wheelie girl with ginger hair and freckles. She fancies Chorlton.
*'''King Otto and Queen Doris''' - The monarchy of Wheelieworld. Otto has a huge red nose and a bow tie, while Doris has purple hair and an enormous clown smile.
*'''The Minister of wheel estate''' - the political wheelie, who bears a striking resemblance to Harold Wilson, who had recently been Prime Minister of the UK. His real name is revealed to be ''Arthur'' in season 3.
*'''Claptrap von Spilldebeans''' - A German spellbook who often speaks in rhyme and comes up with Fenella's schemes.
*'''O'Reilly the one eyed telescope''' - An Irish telescope that Fenella stole from the end of [[Dún Laoghaire]] East pier.
*'''Clifford''' - A giant, Fenella's son and Quinine's nephew. He is so tall the only part of him that ever is in shot is his leg.
*'''Pablo Perdito''' - A world famous Latin American dancing duck.
*'''Floyd''' - The only toady to have pink spots rather than green (first called by name in the series two episode "Toady Trouble" - possible hidden reference to the band [[Pink Floyd]]).
*'''Quinine Fellorick the Pink Suit''' - Fenella's sister, who also does not like anyone to enjoy themselves.

[[Joe Lynch (actor)|Joe Lynch]] narrated the show as well as providing all the voices for the characters and the show's theme tune was written and sung by Joe Griffiths.

==Episodes==
{{main|List of Chorlton and the Wheelies episodes}}

==Credits==
*Narrator: [[Joe Lynch (actor)|Joe Lynch]] (UK version)
*Written by: Brian Trueman
*Music: Joe Griffiths
*Animation: Joe Dembinski, [[Jackie Cockle]]
*Props: Chris Walker
*Original Storyline: Jo Kemp
*Camera: Jim Noble
*Editing: Dave Street
*Executive Producer: John Hambley
*Produced by: Brian Cosgrove, Mark Hall
*Directed by: Chris Taylor
*Cosgrove-Hall Productions MCMLXXVI-MCMLXXIX
*Thames Colour Production

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|0313048|Chorlton And The Wheelies}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chorlton And The Wheelies}}
[[Category:British children's animated fantasy television series]]
[[Category:British stop-motion animated television series]]
[[Category:1976 British television series debuts]]
[[Category:1976 animated television series debuts]]
[[Category:1979 British television series endings]]
[[Category:1970s British children's television series]]
[[Category:Television shows produced by Thames Television]]
[[Category:ITV children's television shows]]
[[Category:Television series by Fremantle (company)]]
[[Category:Television series by FremantleMedia Kids & Family]]
[[Category:British English-language television shows]]
[[Category:1970s British animated television series]]
[[Category:Television series by Cosgrove Hall Films]]
[[Category:ITV animated television series]]
[[Category:Animated television series about dragons]]
[[Category:Television series about witchcraft]]

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Chorlton and the Wheelies