The Magic Key

{{Infobox television

| image =

| caption =

| genre = Adventure
Children's

| runtime = 14 minutes
9 minutes (without educational segments; BBC One and CBeebies broadcast)

| creator =

| writer = Diane Redmond
Jan Page
Mellie Buse
James Mason
Jocelyn Stevenson
Lucy Daniel Raby
Julie Middleton
Joe Boyle

| developer =

| based_on = {{based on|Characters from the Oxford Reading Tree}}

| director = Tony Collingwood

| producer = Christopher O'Hare

| voices = Sophie Aldred
Maria Darling
David de Keyser
Kate Harbour
Adam Henderson
David Holt
Gary Martin
Richard Pearce
Emma Tate

| company = Collingwood O'Hare Entertainment Limited
HIT Entertainment

| composer = Roger Jackson

| country = United Kingdom

| network = BBC One
BBC Two

| num_seasons = 1

| num_episodes = 26

| first_aired = {{Start date|2000|09|25|df=yes}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2001|06|11|df=yes}}

}}

The Magic Key is a British educational animated television series based on the "Biff, Chip and Kipper" stories from the Oxford Reading Tree published by Oxford University Press, originally written by Roderick Hunt and illustrated by Alex Brychta. The series is co-produced by Collingwood O'Hare Entertainment Limited and HIT Entertainment in association with the BBC{{cite news|url=http://www.tes.co.uk/article.aspx?storycode=338574|title=TV holds Magic Key|work=Times Educational Supplement|publisher=TSL Education Ltd|date=22 September 2000|first=Elaine|last=Williams|accessdate=18 July 2009}} and aired within the BBC Schools strand on BBC Two from 2000 until 2001.

Plot

The series centres on the lives of three children, Biff, Chip and Kipper Robinson, their parents, their grandmother, their friends, Wilf and Wilma Page, Nadim Shah, Anneena Patel and the Robinsons' dog, Floppy. Floppy wears a collar around his neck with a golden key upon it. The key is magic, as the title suggests, and seems to do some strange things whenever one of the children asks a question and Floppy wishes for something. It starts to glow and transports the 7 children, Floppy and sometimes the Robinsons' grandmother through a vortex to other worlds, where they have exciting adventures, such as dealing with trolls in a cavern, being characters inside of a computer game, or finding the Fountain of Youth and when the adventure is done, they get a gift and the key glows and they all go home.

Alongside the main story, to fit in with the book's original educational values, there are helpful hints towards teaching children the best use of English.

Characters

Kipper Robinson
Biff Robinson
Chip Robinson
Mum
Dad
Floppy the dog
Gran
Wilf Page
Wilma Page
Anneena Patel
Nadim Shah
Mrs. May

Original Stories

The Oxford Reading Tree series was first published in 1985 with a set of 30 stories, and there are now over 300 stories altogether. It is used by more than 80% of schools in the United Kingdom{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}, and has been translated into numerous languages in over 120 countries.{{cite web|url=http://fds.oup.com/www0.oup.com/ort/pdf/era09/rod_and_alex_press_release.pdf|title=Series Creators of Oxford Reading Tree, Roderick Hunt MBE and Alex Brychta, receive the prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award in this year's Education Resources Awards|work=Oxford University Press|accessdate=18 July 2009|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726010144/http://fds.oup.com/www0.oup.com/ort/pdf/era09/rod_and_alex_press_release.pdf|archivedate=26 July 2011}}

The books are aimed at children aged four to nine, and could form part of an English language syllabus in line with the National curriculum, designed to help children learn to speak and read Standard English.

The original book that the series is named after was first published in January 1986.{{cite book|isbn=978-0199160686|title=The Magic Key|last1=Hunt|first1=Roderick|year=1986|publisher=Oxford University Press }} It has many differences from what the TV series would have, with the titular item being kept inside a chest instead of on Floppy's collar. The latter would not always be on every adventure with the key, either and the adventures would take place in a magic doll house.

Broadcast

It ran on the BBC Schools strand on BBC Two from 2000 to 2008 and it was also on the CBBC strand on BBC One strand from October 2000 to March 2001.{{cite web|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/72202e8ea3e54f2c8a4e90d2aaf63659|title=Children's BBC: The Magic Key – BBC One London – 12 October 2000 – BBC Genome|date=12 October 2000|publisher=Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk|access-date=2022-09-03}}{{cite web|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/fd788627165f44ecaa5e2e130a60c4b8|title=CBBC – BBC One London – 30 March 2001 – BBC Genome|date=30 March 2001|publisher=Genome.ch.bbc.co.uk|access-date=2022-09-03}} It also aired on CBBC Channel's Class TV strand in 2003 and again in 2007. It also ran during the BBC Learning Zone late night strand between August and September and again in December 2006. A Welsh version titled Yr Allwedd Hud was broadcast on the S4C Ysgolion strand from 2001 to 2004.{{cite web|url=https://www.broadcastforschools.co.uk/site/Yr_Allwedd_Hud|title=Yr Allwedd Hud - Broadcast for Schools|publisher=broadcastforschools.co.uk|access-date=2022-10-26}}

Episodes

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" width="100%" style="background:#FFFFFF;"

!width="1%" style="background:#E8FD03;"|Number

!style="background:#E8FD03;"|Title

!style="background:#E8FD03;"|Original Air Date

{{Episode list

|Title=HMS Sweet Tooth

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|09|25|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/3710759406274563ba65221af927bf78|title=School programmes – BBC Two England – 25 September 2000 – BBC Genome|date=25 September 2000|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=1

|ShortSummary=Biff, unable to suppress her chocoholic tendencies, opens the cargo hold of HMS Sweet Tooth, alerting the pirates' chocolate radar to the ship's location.

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=Lug and the Giant Storks

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|10|02|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/086b98979f73468387e2e1a212084e88|title=Schools programmes – BBC Two England – 2 October 2000 – BBC Genome|date=2 October 2000|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=2

|ShortSummary=Kipper, Wilma and Floppy meet Lug, a lonely Space Elf, and some giant Space Storks.

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=The Rook King

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|10|09|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/9dc8b706b6fc40da9068cb5cc68b9364|title=School programmes – BBC Two England – 9 October 2000 – BBC Genome|date=9 October 2000|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=3

|ShortSummary=Kipper, Chip, Wilma and Floppy are turned into a scarecrow, an invisible boy, a cat and a frog by the wicked Rook King.

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=Clutterland Band

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|10|16|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/683550ccc5f24d3b82058ff1c4e536bc|title=School programmes – BBC Two England – 16 October 2000 – BBC Genome|date=16 October 2000|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=4

|ShortSummary=Nadim, Biff and Floppy are taken to Clutterland, where they must persuade Old Mother Clutter to feed some of her possessions to the Great Green Garbage Gobbler before the island sinks.

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=Troll Talk

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|10|30|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magic-Key-Troll-Other-Stories/dp/B000050YIA|accessdate=21 November 2022|title=The Magic Key - Troll Talk and Other Stories|website=Amazon UK |date=30 October 2000}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f6ec1fc5cb8f4675ba50719b93d3d934|title=Schools programmes – BBC Two England – 30 October 2000 – BBC Genome|date=30 October 2000|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=5

|ShortSummary=Biff and Gran are captured by trolls who want to use them in a people stew. But when Wilf tries to reason with the trolls, they think he's being rude. How can he make the trolls release them?

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=The Patchworker

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|11|06|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magic-Key-Rook-Other-Stories/dp/B000050YI9|accessdate=21 November 2022|title=Amazon.co.uk |website=Amazon UK |date=30 October 2000}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1b8fdee6894249cba41a935b81389988|title=Schools programmes – BBC Two England – 6 November 2000 – BBC Genome|date=6 November 2000|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=6

|ShortSummary=Anneena, Chip and Floppy arrive in a patchwork world that needs rearranging.

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=Code Calling

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|11|13|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magic-Key-Troll-Other-Stories/dp/B000050YIA|accessdate=21 November 2022|title=The Magic Key - Troll Talk and Other Stories|website=Amazon UK |date=30 October 2000}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/482b6514645d4b299f56ba53f901879d|title=Schools programmes – BBC Two England – 13 November 2000 – BBC Genome|date=13 November 2000|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=7

|ShortSummary=Wilma, Wilf and Floppy are transported to an ancient world, where coded messages are used. Wilma misreads a coded message and mistakenly announces an impending battle. There is then a race against time to find out the true meaning of the message before it is too late.

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=Zandoodle and the Wheezlebang

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|11|20|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magic-Key-Troll-Other-Stories/dp/B000050YIA|accessdate=21 November 2022|title=The Magic Key - Troll Talk and Other Stories|website=Amazon UK |date=30 October 2000}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b545c0829c2a4b15835c7890a28e3b5c|title=Schools programmes – BBC Two England – 20 November 2000 – BBC Genome|date=20 November 2000|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=8

|ShortSummary=Zandoodle the wizard creates a monster vacuum cleaner.

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=Biff of the Jungle

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|11|27|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magic-Key-Troll-Other-Stories/dp/B000050YIA|accessdate=21 November 2022|title=The Magic Key - Troll Talk and Other Stories|website=Amazon UK |date=30 October 2000}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/21375734384d46ec967a5c434dd3a4a2|title=Schools programmes – BBC Two England – 27 November 2000 – BBC Genome|date=27 November 2000|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=9

|ShortSummary=Nora Lockmeup has captured a selection of rare animals with the intent of selling them. Wilma sets about releasing the animals – and is promptly captured herself.

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=Nadim's Machine

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2000|12|04|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Magic-Key-Troll-Other-Stories/dp/B000050YIA|accessdate=21 November 2022|title=The Magic Key - Troll Talk and Other Stories|website=Amazon UK |date=30 October 2000}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f6f090b6065d4016a214068933952b83|title=Schools programmes – BBC Two England – 4 December 2000 – BBC Genome|date=4 December 2000|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=10

|ShortSummary=Wilf and Floppy are captured by the evil Grabber Lotterdosh and turned into robots. Can Nadim de-robotise them?

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=The Flying Circus

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|01|15|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/079d35682d034e7eb01d440a259b38c8|title=Schools programmes – BBC Two England – 15 January 2001 – BBC Genome|date=15 January 2001|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=11

|ShortSummary=Chip, Biff and Floppy are whisked into a world where planes fly themselves, and chaos ensues when Chip finds himself at the flight controller's desk.

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=Fraser the Eraser

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|01|22|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/22c3b369d2c941e287d0e83c7bf3cf13|title=Schools programmes – BBC Two England – 22 January 2001 – BBC Genome|date=22 January 2001|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=12

|ShortSummary=Kipper, Gran and Floppy spin into Crayon World, where Fraser the Eraser is intent on rubbing everything out.

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=The Anneena Academy

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|01|29|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/4666f63276204c009af0d76276547dbf|title=Schools programmes – BBC Two England – 29 January 2001 – BBC Genome|date=29 January 2001|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=13

|ShortSummary=Anneena, Wilf and Floppy find themselves in a nightmare world – where everyone looks and sounds like Anneena.

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=Dragon Land

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|02|05|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/dd30212e862b40a7924215fedf9d6cc0|title=Schools programmes – BBC Two England – 5 February 2001 – BBC Genome|date=5 February 2001|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=14

|ShortSummary=Wilma, Nadim and Floppy end up inside the Dragon Land computer game – and if their opponents win, they'll be trapped there for ever.

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=The Queen of Hearts

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|02|12|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/42b98033a9cb47229cd5fd11d5b2fe46|title=Schools programmes – BBC Two England – 12 February 2001 – BBC Genome|date=12 February 2001|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=15

|ShortSummary=The bad-tempered Queen of Hearts throws Biff and Kipper into a dungeon after a mix-up over some washing.

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=Floppy & the Puppies

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|02|26|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f5a4fd0c777241caa4de00c7f396e0a0|title=Schools programmes – BBC Two England – 26 February 2001 – BBC Genome|date=26 February 2001|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=16

|ShortSummary=Floppy is tricked by a couple of scheming puppies.

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=The Giant & the Knee Nibblers

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|03|05|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/89410f45c02a42f3b66dd5f77eaff01b|title=Schools programmes – BBC Two England – 5 March 2001 – BBC Genome|date=5 March 2001|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=17

|ShortSummary=The gang are doomed to take part in a never-ending story.

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=The Cream Cake Mystery

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|03|12|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/8e0ea3c2aa304dbbbfd45f310614fafe|title=Schools programmes – BBC Two England – 12 March 2001 – BBC Genome|date=12 March 2001|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=18

|ShortSummary=Chip, Nadim and Floppy become embroiled in a crime mystery – someone is stealing the baker's cakes.

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=Mister Hansel & Miss Gretel

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|03|19|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/14326e3f94e743fdb6236fe7ccd661d7|title=Schools programmes – BBC Two England – 19 March 2001 – BBC Genome|date=19 March 2001|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=19

|ShortSummary=Anneena, Kipper and Floppy meet Hansel and Gretel and find that they have starring roles in the Grimm Brothers' most famous fairy tale. The question is, does this unique version of the story have a happy ending? It's up to Kipper to confound the wicked witch and save Anneena and Floppy from being oven roasted...if only he could remember what happens next!

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=The Sound Monster

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|03|26|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/87528ffaaf244dbd8b9609946947759b|title=Schools programmes – BBC Two England – 26 March 2001 – BBC Genome|date=26 March 2001|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=20

|ShortSummary=Wilma and Floppy find themselves on an island where the sounds made by the animals are all mixed up.

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=Tumbleweed Desert

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|04|23|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/548fa47fc6d04c11a8ab55193d8482ab|title=Schools programmes – BBC Two England – 23 April 2001 – BBC Genome|date=23 April 2001|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=21

|ShortSummary=The Moochacha family are so cold that they can no longer dance or play their instruments. It all started when Mickey Gringone, the Weather Man, stopped smiling.

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=The Stone of Contentment

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|04|30|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/cfa79f97aa724749b1160ad0b4362fc3|title=Schools programmes – BBC Two England – 30 April 2001 – BBC Genome|date=30 April 2001|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=22

|ShortSummary=Wilf, Chip and Floppy help a distraught Queen Sharon recover the Magic Stone of Contentment from the evil Sir Vile. The trouble is, Sir Wilf has an unhelpful habit of breaking rules, which means Sir Chip is captured and forced to feed coal to Sir Vile's fire-breathing Dragon, Toast. Can Sir Wilf distract Toast, rescue Sir Chip and retrieve the Magic Stone?

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=The Demon Drill

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|05|14|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/9f429b97829940d684084c83309184fd|title=Schools programmes – BBC Two England – 14 May 2001 – BBC Genome|date=14 May 2001|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=23

|ShortSummary=Nadim must persuade all members of the Tool World to pool their resources and work together before their land begins to literally fall apart.

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=The Fountain of Youth

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|05|21|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d735e422705f4dcda8dc942f334e6a43|title=Schools programme – BBC Two England – 21 May 2001 – BBC Genome|date=21 May 2001|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=24

|ShortSummary=Wilf and Floppy take a drink from the Fountain of Youth, in spite of protests from wary Wilma.

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=Underwater World

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|06|08|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/464a943ceead42c2af0a94f21a865b34|title=Schools programmes – BBC Two England – 8 June 2001 – BBC Genome|date=8 June 2001|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=25

|ShortSummary=The gang get trapped underwater with 3 fruits, a trapeze artist, an alien and a dangerous shark.

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

{{Episode list

|Title=Fabulous Fancy Foods

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2001|06|11|df=yes}}{{cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/6f344712e3e949a0bdc26f171178a5d3|title=Schools programmes – BBC Two England – 11 June 2001 – BBC Genome|date=11 June 2001|accessdate=3 September 2022}}

|EpisodeNumber=26

|ShortSummary=Kipper has to choose which new product Fabulous Fancy Foods should promote. The answer is obvious to Floppy, but Kipper isn't very good at making decisions.

|LineColor=E8FD03

}}

Merchandise / Home Media

To coincide with the TV series, Oxford University Press published a series of books based on the episodes in 2000.{{cite book|isbn=978-0192724298|title=HMS Sweet Tooth|last1=Redmond|first1=Diane|year=2000|publisher=Oxford University Press }}

HIT Entertainment released six VHS tapes of the series. The first two – "Troll Talk and Other Stories" and "The Rook King and Other Stories" were released on 30 October 2000. The other three – "Capital Letters And Full Stops". "Adjectives And Labels", and "Sentences And Questions", were released on 24 September 2001, and were aimed to teach children the basics of the English language. Another VHS titled "The Flying Circus and Other Stories" was released in the same year, 2001. HIT would later release all 26 episodes on a two-disc box set on 11 September 2006.