Worzel Gummidge may have only originally ran for four series between 1979 and 1981, but its iconic look coupled with the legendary cast ensured that it is remembered as a classic.
Not to mention the fact that it was predominantly set in Hampshire.
The genius in Barbara Euphan Todd’s rural children’s fantasy books based on the adventures of Worzel Gummidge, the scarecrow of Scatterbrook Farm, was brought to our television screens in the late 1970s.
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The books were hugely popular for over 30 years and there was a 1950s televised incarnation of Worzel played by Frank Atkinson in Worzel Gummidge Turns Detective, written directly for the screen by Todd before it was decided for a longer-form version to be made.
Throughout 31 episodes, including a Christmas special in 1980, viewers saw Worzel get into mischief, and into some serious trouble too, while those around him tried to keep the scarecrow from running into, or being the cause of, utter calamity.
The main locations for filming were the villages of Stockbridge, King's Somborne and Braishfield, along with Broughton for the fourth series, all of which are near Romsey in Hampshire.
The Scatterbrook Farm scenes were filmed at Pucknall in Braishfield while Michelmersh was used for the scenes in the Scatterbrook barn.
Elsewhere, Worzel's scarecrow stand was filmed near Fishpond's Farm between Braishfield and King's Somborne.
One of the first decisions that would have to be made was who would be the man to play the iconic role of Worzel Gummidge himself.
Jon Pertwee had recently concluded his role as the Third Doctor in Doctor Who, leaving in 1974, and was openly concerned about being typecast in similar roles.
Well he certainly achieved that as he landed the role as Worzel, a character as far removed from the time lord as you could get.
Pertwee got the chance to breathe extraordinary life into his second iconic screen character, and broaden the range of parts he was offered significantly.
Geoffrey Bayldon added a spirit of rural mysticism as the Crowman, maker of scarecrows, and quite possibly he who imbues them with life.
Una Stubbs, famous from films with Cliff Richard and as Alf Garnett’s long-suffering daughter Rita in Till Death Do Us Part, was also a prominent figure as the character Aunt Sally, a pretentious fairground doll who was the apple of Worzel’s eye.
Her partnership with Pertwee was one of the memorable aspects of the show.
Other cast members included Connie Booth, Barbara Windsor, Bill Maynard and Lorraine Chase; an ensemble group that was second to none for late ‘70s/early ‘80s TV.
While perhaps the most famous invention from the TV version was the different heads of Worzel Gummidge, a gag so good it was recycled in Red Dwarf despite the books only giving Worzel the one, permanent head.
Episode names included Worzel's Washing Day (the pilot episode), Worzel and the Saucy Nancy, The Jumbly Sale and Worzel's Birthday (the final episode on 12 December 1981).
There was a return for the scarecrow in 1987 with Worzel Gummidge Down Under, in a New Zealand location while only Pertwee and Stubbs were on board from the original cast.
To illustrate how timeless the brand is, a recent re-interpretation starring Mackenzie Crook in the lead role showcased how the magic is still there after all this time.
Worzel Gummidge was a charm-sprinkled children’s story, with an unpredictable, sometimes cranky, but always exhilarating central character, with a plethora of Hampshire villages proving the backdrop to this chaotic but immersive world.
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