Monsters, witches and wizards are rife in this full-cast adaptation of the spooky fantasy adventure from Anthony Horowitz
When twelve-year-old David Eliot is expelled from his exclusive boarding school, Belton College, his parents are furious. A surprise invitation from a new school arrives in mysterious circumstances the very next day and young David find himself enrolled into Groosham Grange, a school that is strict on disciple, much to the delight of his irate father.
But things aren't quite as they seem. After David is rowed across the lake to Skrull Island by Captain Bloodbath, along with new-found classmates Jill and Jeffrey, things go from strange to stranger and David is worried... The children must sign the register in their own blood and they begin to suspect Mr Kilgraw, the deputy head, might be a vampire. They soon discover that the headteacher is actually the 'heads' teachers - two heads, one body - and that the English teacher is mostly held together by bandages. The other students are hiding something, and when kids start disappearing without a trace in the middle of the night, David and Jill don't know where to turn...
Anthony Horowitz is an English novelist and screenwriter. His works for children and young adult readers include the Alex Rider series featuring a 14-year-old British boy who spies for MI6, The Power of Five series and The Diamond Brothers series. He also writes for adults and has written two Sherlock Holmes novels, the popular Magpie Murders series and was commissioned by the Ian Fleming estate to write three new Bond books using unpublished material from Ian Fleming's notes.
Cast and credits
Written by Antony Horowitz
Adapted by Stephen Sheridan
Directed by Sally Avens
David - Daniel Isen
Jill - Lucy Speed
Jeffrey - James Holland
Mr Kilgraw - Jack Klaff
Mrs Windergast - Sheila Hancock
Gregor - Peter Gunn
Mr Eliot - Clive Merrison
Mrs Eliot - Polly James
Captain Bloodbath - Peter Penry Jones
Mr Teagle and Mr Fitch - John Church and Frey LeCar
Monsieur LeLoup - Mark Straker
Mr Nellerby - Bret Asher
Horris Tobago - Robert Portal
First Broadcast BBC Radio 7, 27th January - 10th February 1992
©2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
