Jamie TV Series

Jamie

1971 - United Kingdom

Sunday teatime series aimed at children and no doubt inspired by the success of the previous year's Timeslip, Jamie was yet another variation on the time travel theme with, in this case, the hero being transported from era to era on a magic carpet.

Jamie TV series 1971

Young Jamie Dodger (not to be confused with Jammie Dodgers), as played by Garry Miller, is an imaginative, intelligent and curious thirteen-year-old boy who lives in a remote village called Five-Mile Fork, so-called because it is five miles from nowhere. One day Jamie enters what might be described as an old curiosity shop, selling all sorts of bric-a-brac, and owned by the mysterious Mr Zed (Aubrey Morris). Whilst there Jamie discovers a carpet, which Mr Zed encourages him to buy as it is of no use to him. But the carpet has certain magical properties and allows Jamie to fly near and far through time itself.

Jamie TV series LWT

Encouraged by Mr Zed, Jamie and his friend Tink (Nigel Chivers), the poacher’s son, take flight into all sorts of adventures. But everywhere they go Mr Zed is there, too. Not always in the same guise; sometimes appearing younger and sometimes incredibly older. One thing is certain, Mr Zed is no ordinary shopkeeper - he may not be of this world, he is most certainly not of this time.

Jamie science fiction series

The one warning that Mr Zed gives Jamie is that whatever else he can do, he cannot alter the course of history, even when encouraged to do so. As a result, attempts to stop the Great Fire of London or warn the gunpowder plot conspirators of treachery are doomed to failure. Jamie even meets his own father when he was Jamie's age and they have an adventure together, but when Jamie returns to his own time his dad has no recollection of the meeting.

Jamie - Children's Drama Series

On their journey Jamie and Tink encounter famous figures from British history such as Robert the Bruce, Guy Fawkes and Horatio Nelson. There's something of a Doctor Who meets Mr Benn similarity in this series which plays out history in a much more entertaining way than perhaps history lessons at school  were doing at that time and adheres more to Sydney Newman'soriginal notion for the former; to educate in an entertaining way. However, there was only a single series of thirteen episodes of Jamie so perhaps the direction that Verity Lambert took 'Who' in, despite Newman's objections, is the reason it has endured so long, whereas Jamie appears to be (ironically) consigned to television history.

Published on April 12th, 2020. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

Danger Island

A 12-year old boy overhears two sinister men plotting to assassinate their country's ruler.

Also tagged Childrens Drama

Brendon Chase

Classic children's story shown over thirteen episodes concerning the Hensman brothers, Robin, John and Harold, who spend eight months living as outlaws in the forest of Brendon Chase.

Also tagged Childrens Drama

Bless This House

Devised by Vince Powell and Harry Driver, Bless This House was a starring vehicle for Sid James that showed him in a new and unfamiliar light-as a family man.

Also released in 1971

Box of Delights

John Masefield's enchanting children's fantasy The Box of Delights, tells the story of a young boy whose chance meeting with a Punch-and-Judy man leads him to a world where almost anything is possible.

Also tagged Childrens Drama

All In The Family

British critics have called 'All In The Family' "a reworked, far less provocative version" of the show it was based on, BBC's 'Till Death Us Do Part'...

Also released in 1971

And Mother Makes Three

Almost a direct follow on from the BBC's hugely popular Not In Front Of The Children starring Wendy Craig who was in an almost constant state of domestic discord...

Also released in 1971

The Flaxton Boys

This fondly remembered epic children’s drama created by Sid Waddell, set over four series, each featuring a different generation of the Flaxton boys, was inspired by a lunch-time meeting in a pub and an offer that an upcoming writer couldn't refuse.

Also tagged Childrens Drama

Flight of the Heron

Epic period drama made by Scottish Television and based on D.K. Broster's 1925 novel centred round fictional events at the time of the non-fictional Jacobite Rebellion of 1746 and leading up to the battle of Culloden.

Also tagged Childrens Drama

Follyfoot

One of the most ambitious children's series undertaken by an Independent Television company involved the entire reconstruction of a farmhouse and its surrounding buildings on the estate of the Earl of Harewood.

Also released in 1971