Worst Witch series comes to CBBC

A new 12-part series for CBBC, The Worst Witch, begins on Wednesday 11th January at 4.30-5pm. The series is based on Jill Murphy's much loved Worst Witch books about Mildred Hubble, a seemingly ordinary girl who is catapulted into a whole new world of magic.

Jill Murphy has written and illustrated seven The Worst Witch novels, published by Puffin, and is working on number eight. She began writing the first while she was still at school over 40 years ago. Emma Reeves, who has adapted the series for the BBC, wrote on a blog for the BBC, "Talking to Jill gave me invaluable insights into the world of the books and the characters, how they related to the 'real' world, and why they've captured the hearts and imaginations of generations of readers. "As Jill vividly described her experiences at a strict Catholic grammar school, I realised how deeply the books were rooted in Jill's own early life. The nuns - stern women in flowing black, whose mysterious rituals both fascinated and terrified the young Jill, became Miss Hardbroom and her coven of teacher-witches. And Jill, as she describes herself - a bright, well-intentioned but accident-prone working class girl with a tendency to daydream - became Mildred Hubble." The new series also tries to answer why Mildred is at Miss Cackle's Academy, despite her seeming lack of magical ability, and what her family think about it - elements which aren't covered in the books. In the first programme airing on 11th January (and available on iPlayer shortly afterwards), we discover how Mildred came to be at Cackle Academy. For Mildred Hubble, it's an ordinary day until a witch called Maud Spellbody crash-lands onto her balcony. Maud has lost her glasses on her way to the selection day at Cackle's Academy for witches, so Mildred offers to help her get there - even though that means flying on a broomstick! Mildred is wide-eyed at the amazing world of magic and her new friendship with Maud encourages her to try out for the school herself. But first she has to work her way through a written exam and a potions test, where her lack of knowledge and the fact she accidentally gets on the wrong side of snooty Ethel Hallow means she fails and is sent away. On her way out, however, Mildred runs into Miss Cackle's devious twin sister Agatha, who is pretending to be Miss Cackle. Mildred is suspicious and learns she plans to take over the school - but the teachers ignore her warning. Can Mildred save Miss Cackle and the school in time...?