The Riddlers

The Riddlers
Genre	Puppet show
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of seasons	9
No. of episodes	224
Production
Running time	15 minutes
Original release
Network	ITV
Release	2 November 1989 (1989-11-02) – 27 August 1998 (1998-08-27)

The Riddlers is a British children's programme produced by Yorkshire Television for ITV between 2 November 1989 and 27 August 1998.

Synopsis

The series centred on Marjorie Dawe and the two Riddlers (small humanoid creatures, portrayed by puppets, whose main aim in life was to "riddle things out") named Mossop (voiced by Richard Robinson) and Tiddler (female, but voiced by Mike Gallant), who inhabited her garden at Riddleton End. It would later be revealed that Tiddler was an orphan and had no other next of kin, so Mossop adopted Tiddler as an infant. Tiddler was not the latter's real name, but a title given to young apprentice Riddlers: once they achieved full Riddler status there would be a special (graduation type) ceremony, at which they would be given their 'real' name. Tiddler's training included being told twelve stories by a Riddlestone, usually one of 'Eesup's Foibles' (Yorkshire dialect for Aesop's Fables) – she would then have to 'riddle out' the moral of the story.

When Tiddler had achieved full Riddler status (by getting the morals of twelve stories correctly) she chose to be called Tiddlup at the ceremony. Marjorie wanted to go to the ceremony but was told by Mossop that only Riddlers and Tiddlers could go as it was a Riddler law. In order to go, she became a Riddler and started to study as a Riddler.

Other characters featured in the show included Marjorie's neighbour, Mr. Montgomery Grimley (a gardener and odd-job man), and several other Riddler characters – including another Tiddler known as Middler, Mossop's brother Glossop, and Eesup, a story-teller. Marjorie's sister Monica was also featured as a recurring character. Many of the plots featured in the series revolved around the male characters making mistakes which would then be solved by the female ones.

Series cast

• Marjorie Dawe: Victoria Williams
• Mr. Montgomery Grimley: Peter Llewellyn Jones
• Monica: Sally Sheridan
• Mossop/Middler: Richard Robinson
• Tiddlup/Glossop/Eesup/McEyup: Mike Gallant

Production

Total of episodes were produced and broadcast during the series' nine-year run. For much of its run, The Riddlers was produced by Ian Fell and directed by Chris Ryder (later a series producer). Later series were directed by Ann Ayoub. The executive producer was Chris Jelley.

All episodes were written by Rick Vanes (whose previous work for YTV included Puddle Lane and Mooncat). Eesup's Foibles stories were written by Shirley Isherwood. Neil Innes provided the music and songs featured. Puppeteer for Middler and Mossop, Richard Robinson, created the puppets and provided illustrations for the Eesup's Foibles stories. David Baker was assistant puppeteer series 1 through 6 and Garry Rutter for the show's last three years. Garry Rutter would later work on MacDonalds Farm puppeteering Baa Baa and The Fimbles Doing animatronic work.

Many of the programmes were recorded in Yorkshire Television's studios on Kirkstall Road, Leeds, although some later episodes were filmed on location. Five VHS releases were issued by Video Collection International, two DVDs were issued by Kids Club (VCI) and several tie-in books were published.

An episode from the fifth series was broadcast on the CITV channel on 6 January 2013, as part of a weekend of archive programmes to celebrate CITV's 30th anniversary.

Transmission guide

Series 1 (1989-1990)

1. Moving In – 2 November 1989
2. A Present for Marjorie – 9 November 1989
3. The Wedding Hat – 16 November 1989
4. The House-Warming Party – 23 November 1989
5. The Riddling Tree – 30 November 1989
6. The Potted Plants – 7 December 1989
7. Sleepy Heads – 14 December 1989
8. Riddling Boots – 21 December 1989
9. Fishing – 11 January 1990
10. The Fairy – 18 January 1990
11. Decisions, Decisions – 25 January 1990
12. Missing the Bus – 1 February 1990
13. Gone Camping – 8 February 1990
14. Mossop the Strongman – 15 February 1990
15. The Flittering – 22 February 1990
16. Bothersome Birds – 1 March 1990
17. Grimley's Tuba – 8 March 1990
18. In Search of the Lost Nuts – 15 March 1990
19. Tiddler's Beads – 22 March 1990
20. Postie the Prisoner – 29 March 1990
21. Robins Nest – 5 April 1990
22. House-Hunting – 12 April 1990
23. Mossop Shows the Way – 19 April 1990
24. Peace and Quiet – 26 April 1990
25. That's Torn It – 3 May 1990
26. Tiddler's Time Magic – 10 May 1990

Series 2 (1990-1991)

1. Mossop Needs A Haircut – 15 November 1990
2. Rat in the Garden – 22 November 1990
3. Middler – 29 November 1990
4. A Present from Middler – 6 December 1990
5. Tiddler at Bedtime – 13 December 1990
6. The Siege of Riddleton End – 20 December 1990
7. In the Soup – 10 January 1991
8. Tiddletricks Day – 17 January 1991
9. The Singing Tree – 24 January 1991
10. Grooming Grimley – 31 January 1991
11. Daft as Brushes – 7 February 1991
12. Mossop Builds a Car – 14 February 1991
13. Cat on the Run – 21 February 1991
14. Wet Paint – 28 February 1991
15. Spring Time for Middler – 7 March 1991
16. A Question of Balance – 14 March 1991
17. Mossop the Artist – 21 March 1991
18. Middler the Invisible – 28 March 1991
19. The Mystery of the Shrinking Tiddler – 4 April 1991
20. Mossop Loses His Voice – 11 April 1991
21. The Flood – 18 April 1991
22. Red Herring – 25 April 1991
23. Stop, Look and Listen – 2 May 1991
24. The Lightning Machines – 9 May 1991
25. Holiday Plans – 16 May 1991
26. Tiddler's Test – 23 May 1991

Series 3 (1991-1993)

1. Stones from the Sky – 12 December 1991
2. Lights Out – 19 December 1991
3. Treasure of Riddleton End – 9 January 1992
4. Mossop the Hero – 16 January 1992
5. Mossop and Grimley – Builders – 23 January 1992
6. Middler's Invisible Horse – 30 January 1992
7. A Brush With Mossop – 6 February 1992
8. The Riddlestone Necklace – 13 February 1992
9. The Search for a Riddling Tree – 20 February 1992
10. Top Hat and Tails – 27 February 1992
11. The Honorary Riddler – 5 March 1992
12. A Riddler at Last – 12 March 1992
13. Mossop's Magic Cleaner – 19 March 1992
14. Tiddlup Doesn't Live Here Anymore – 26 March 1992
15. Mossop the Thinker – 2 April 1992
16. Learning to Teach – 9 April 1992
17. Counting on Mossop – 16 April 1992
18. Skate Expectations – 23 April 1992
19. The Speeding Detective – 30 April 1992
20. The Magnificent Handcart – 7 May 1992
21. Spider, Spider – 14 May 1992
22. Heavy Reading – 21 May 1992
23. Cold Comfort Cottage – 28 May 1992
24. That's Hen-Tertainment – 4 June 1992
25. Water Music - 26 November 1992
26. Belt and Braces - 3 December 1992
27. Worrying Developments - 10 December 1992
28. Edgar Saves the Day - 17 December 1992
29. Water, Water Anywhere? - 7 January 1993

Series 4 (1993)

1. Not Wanted on Voyage - 14 January 1993
2. Camp Sights - 21 January 1993
3. Beside the Seaside - 28 January 1993
4. Tickets To Ride - 4 February 1993
5. A Head for Heights - 11 February 1993
6. Fish & Ships - 18 February 1993
7. A Room for the Knight - 25 February 1993
8. A Ticklish Problem - 4 March 1993
9. Getting in Shape - 11 March 1993
10. Return To Lender - 18 March 1993
11. The Riddler Christmas - 25 March 1993
12. Mossop on His Metal - 1 April 1993
13. Mossop the Genius - 8 April 1993
14. Too Big for His Boots - 15 April 1993
15. A Few Hiccups - 22 April 1993
16. The New Mossy Boots - 29 April 1993
17. Special Delivery - 6 May 1993
18. Doing Things Day - 13 May 1993

Series 5 (1993-1994)

1. Relatively Speaking – 7 September 1993
2. Squeamish - 9 September 1993
3. A Miner Problem - 14 September 1993
4. The Tooth Will Out – 16 September 1993
5. Back To School - 21 September 1993
6. Legend of the Vampire Hedgehog - 23 September 1993
7. Lucks and Ducks – 28 September 1993
8. A Whale of a Time – 30 September 1993
9. A Shady Character - 5 October 1993
10. A Complete Washout - 7 October 1993
11. The Wrong Lines - 12 October 1993
12. Not So Smart - 14 October 1993
13. A Hat For Middler - 19 October 1993
14. All the Fun of the Festival - 21 October 1993
15. Middler the Plotter - 26 October 1993
16. Daring in the Diary - 28 October 1993
17. Feeding Time - 2 November 1993
18. The Stowaway - 4 November 1993
19. The Isle Of Riddlers - 9 November 1983
20. The Rocket - 11 November 1993
21. The Missing Tickets - 16 November 1993
22. Vikings And Black Dogs - 18 November 1993
23. Three Legs, Four Horns, Seven Kingdoms - 23 November 1993
24. Fairies and Tales - 25 November 1993
25. Who’s Been Sleeping In My Cellar - 2 December 1993
26. Oh Brother - 7 December 1993
27. A Job at the Circus - 9 December 1993
28. Roll Up, Fall Down - 14 December 1993
29. Glossop Moves In - 16 December 1993
30. The Unwelcome Guest - 4 January 1994

Series 6 (1994-1995)

1. All Fall Down - 8 September 1994
2. Home and Wahey! - 15 September 1994
3. In Branches Everywhere - 22 September 1994
4. Trouble In Store - 29 September 1994
5. The Super Well - 6 October 1994
6. A Caravan For Middler - 13 October 1994
7. Flight To Holy Island - 20 October 1994
8. On Hadrian’s Wall - 27 October 1994
9. Dipping And Tripping - 3 November 1994
10. Tiddlup At The Wicket - 10 November 1994
11. A Face From The Past - 17 November 1994
12. Job Hunting - 24 November 1994
13. Last With The News - 1 December 1994
14. The Riddleton Circus - 8 December 1994
15. Punch And Judy - 15 December 1994
16. Oh, Baby! - 12 January 1995
17. Hush A Bye Mossop - 19 January 1995
18. Mossop Steps Out - 26 January 1995
19. A Tiddler At Play School - 2 February 1995
20. Mossop Returns - 9 February 1995

Series 7 (1995-1996)

1. Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow - 7 September 1995
2. Just for Kicks - 14 September 1995
3. A Test for Middler - 21 September 1995
4. Trick Cycling - 28 September 1995
5. Where on Earth? - 5 October 1995
6. French Lessons - 12 October 1995
7. Bon Appetit - 19 October 1995
8. Alarms and Excursions - 26 October 1995
9. Eesup - 2 November 1995
10. Let Loose in the Library - 9 November 1995
11. A Tiddler’s Best Friend - 16 November 1995
12. It’s a Dog Life - 23 November 1995
13. Dog Tired - 30 November 1995
14. The Phantom Piper - 7 December 1995
15. Loch Ness Mess - 14 December 1995
16. Cabers and Kilts - 4 January 1996
17. Highland Fun and Games - 11 January 1996
18. A Little Bit Of Dirt - 18 January 1996
19. At the Hospital - 25 January 1996
20. Mossop the Invalid - 1 February 1996
21. Thanks a Lot - 8 February 1996
22. Flea Market - 15 February 1996
23. Mossop the Conkeror - 22 February 1996
24. Grimley the Golfer - 29 February 1996
25. Listen To The Band - 7 March 1996

Series 8 (1996-1997)

1. Vote for Mossop - 12 September 1996
2. The Chief Riddler - 19 September 1996
3. Statue There? - 26 September 1996
4. Your Place Or Mine - 3 October 1996
5. Well Dressed Wells - 10 October 1996
6. Light Fantastic - 17 October 1996
7. Middler’s Mansion - 24 October 1996
8. The Tiddlers' Holiday Camp - 31 October 1996
9. Tickling Trout - 7 November 1996
10. Daylight Snobbery - 14 November 1996
11. Rootin' Tootin' Cowboys - 21 November 1996
12. Under The Greenwood Tree - 28 November 1996
13. A-Hunting We Will Go - 5 December 1996
14. Eesup Junior - 12 December 1996
15. Not A Leg To Stand On - 19 December 1996
16. Chairs And Stairs - 9 January 1997
17. Mossop Calling - 16 January 1997
18. Middler’s Taxi Service - 23 January 1997
19. Lollipop Middler - 30 January 1997
20. Clothes For Your Nose - 6 February 1997
21. Highly Alarming - 13 February 1997
22. A Word In The Hand... - 20 February 1997
23. Leisure Hunt - 27 February 1997
24. Stereo-oh! - 6 March 1997
25. Playing Chopsticks - 13 March 1997

Series 9 (1997-1998)

1. Ideal Home - 9 September 1997
2. Dumb Waiter - 16 September 1997
3. That Sinking Feeling - 23 September 1997
4. All Stuck Up - 30 September 1997
5. All at Sea - 7 October 1997
6. Castaways - 14 October 1997
7. On the Line - 21 October 1997
8. Cycling Proficiency - 28 October 1997
9. Middler's Cafe - 4 November 1997
10. Metal Detector - 11 November 1997
11. The Time Machine - 18 November 1997
12. Mystery in History - 25 November 1997
13. Back to the Stone Age - 2 December 1997
14. Blow Up - 16 December 1997
15. Spooks Of Riddleton End - 18 June 1998
16. Mossop’s Art Gallery - 25 June 1998
17. Good Sports - 2 July 1998
18. Hoe, Hoe, Hoe - 9 July 1998
19. Riddler Scouts - 16 July 1998
20. Tall and Small and Basketball - 23 July 1998
21. Creepy Crawlies - 30 July 1998
22. Fashion Victims - 6 August 1998
23. Little Red Riding Hood - 13 August 1998
24. That’s Rich - 20 August 1998
25. Good Morning, Mr. Magpie - 27 August 1998

UK VHS releases

VHS Title	Release Date	Episodes
The Riddlers: Mossop Needs A Haircut And Other Stories (YTVE 17)	1991	Mossop Needs A Haircut, Siege of Riddlers End, Daft As A Brush, Holiday Plans
The Riddlers: Mossop The Hero And Other Stories (VC1264)	5 October 1992	Stones From the Sky, Lights Out, The Treasure of Riddleton End, Mossop the Hero
The Riddlers: The Riddlestone Necklace And Other Stories (VC1278)	8 February 1993	Mossop and Grimley Builders, Middler's Invisible Horse, A Brush with Mossop, The Riddlestone Necklace
The Riddlers: A Riddler at Last and Other Stories (VC1309)	5 July 1993	The Search For a Riddling Tree, Top Hat and Tails, The Honorary Riddler, A Riddler at Last
The Riddlers: Mossop The Thinker and Other Stories (KC1513)	9 March 1998	Mossop's Magic Cleaner, Tiddlup Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Mossop The Thinker, Learning To Teach

External links

• The Riddlers at Little Gems
• The Riddlers at IMDb
• Rick Vanes official site – pre-school television