Magic Grandad (1993)

Magic Grandad

Magic Grandad was an educational programme which originally aired on BBC Two under the title 'Switch On, Switch Off' during Schools section of 1993. The show saw 'Magic' Grandad take his young grandchildren back in time, many of the adventures are about comparing the past and the present and seeing how evidence of what happened in the olden days still survives. The show was said to make learning about history "fun for youngsters" and was aimed at children aged 5-7 years. The series was introduced to support the History National Curriculum at Key Stage 1. New seasons have been made periodically to support new areas of the infant history curriculum such as seaside holidays and toys. The early season have a companion booklet of teacher's notes with descriptions of the episodes, various suggestions for follow-up work and photocopiable worksheets.

Magic Grandad

Watch Providers

Casting arrow_drop_down

Kristy Bruce
Kristy Bruce
as Kimberley
Geoffrey Bayldon
Geoffrey Bayldon
as Grandad Albert
Georgi Fisher
Georgi Fisher
as Gary
Peter Armitage
Peter Armitage
as Grandad
Sam Kelly
Sam Kelly
as Grandad
Nicholas Hoult
Nicholas Hoult
as Tom
James Moreno
James Moreno
as Gary
Owen Birch
Owen Birch
as Grandad as a boy
Sarah Huntley
Sarah Huntley
as Mrs Layton
Cheryl Hall
Cheryl Hall
as Various
Trevor Peacock
Trevor Peacock
as Grandad
Miriam Margolyes
Miriam Margolyes
as Grandma
Georgina Hagen
Georgina Hagen
as Nikki
Jessica Mann
Jessica Mann
as Lily
Michael Maloney
Michael Maloney
as Mr Leyton
Tim Healy
Tim Healy
as Grandad
Scarlett Gee
Scarlett Gee
as Scarlet as Maddy
John Warnaby
John Warnaby
as Samuel Pepys as Dr Edward Jenner
Duncan Harrison
Duncan Harrison
as Duncan as Paul
Ryan Watson
Ryan Watson
as Ryan
Lucy Parry
Lucy Parry
as Beth as Lucy
Angus Harrison
Angus Harrison
as Drummerboy Charlie as James
Shyanne Sanders
Shyanne Sanders
as Yasmin
Georgia Paterson
Georgia Paterson
as Millie
Timon Greaves
Timon Greaves
as Jamie
Bobbie Brown
Bobbie Brown
as Harry
William Ilkley
William Ilkley
as Mr Deakin
Toyah Gibbs
Toyah Gibbs
as Eliza Deakin
René Zagger
René Zagger
as Blacksmith boy / Mechanic
Barry Luck
Barry Luck
as Blacksmith
Christopher Benjamin
Christopher Benjamin
as Sir John Gage
Robin Weaver
Robin Weaver
as Princess Elizabeth
Rory Jennings
Rory Jennings
as Ned
Terrence Hardiman
Terrence Hardiman
as Governor of the School system
Simon Slater
Simon Slater
as Dr Pignier
Carolyn James
Carolyn James
as Auntie Pat
Matthew Brown
Matthew Brown
as Louis Braille
Sam Beer
Sam Beer
as School Mate
James Berry
James Berry
as School Mate
Mark Higgins
Mark Higgins
as School child
Simon Webb
Simon Webb
as Boy
Kate Isitt
Kate Isitt
as Florence Nightingale / Hospital Nurse
Randel Hurley
Randel Hurley
as Dr Menzies
Andrew Falvey
Andrew Falvey
as Drummerboy Billy
Elli Garnett
Elli Garnett
as Jane
Tessa Pritchard
Tessa Pritchard
as Mum
Kerry Joy Stewart
Kerry Joy Stewart
as photo lady
Paul Penlington
Paul Penlington
as Bathing machine man
Phylip Harries
Phylip Harries
as Theatre Manager
Joseph Cox
Joseph Cox
as Billy
Lynn Hunter
Lynn Hunter
as lady 2
Carol Ashton-Ainswirth
Carol Ashton-Ainswirth
as lady 1
Leah-Verity White
Leah-Verity White
as Leah
Matthew Thomas Davies
Matthew Thomas Davies
as Mathew
Suzette Llewellyn
Suzette Llewellyn
as Carmen
Victor Romero Evans
Victor Romero Evans
as Leroy
La Charne Jolly
La Charne Jolly
as Selena
Ann Warungu
Ann Warungu
as Roni
JJ Angel
JJ Angel
as JJ
Melissa Suffield
Melissa Suffield
as Melissa
Tom Hoffman-Lagro
Tom Hoffman-Lagro
as Tom
Ivana Mazzacoates
Ivana Mazzacoates
as Katie
Maggie Lynskey
Maggie Lynskey
as Lady
Paul Greenwood
Paul Greenwood
as Uncle Tom
Sam Friend
Sam Friend
as Harry
Janet Dale
Janet Dale
as Teacher
Julia Tobin
Julia Tobin
as Nanny
James Ellis
James Ellis
as Johnny
Torin Allen-Thomas
Torin Allen-Thomas
as Albert
Samantha Beckinsale
Samantha Beckinsale
as Boudica
Cat McKenzie-Smith
Cat McKenzie-Smith
as Daughter 1
Rebecca Harding
Rebecca Harding
as Daughter 2
Emilie Smith
Emilie Smith
as Phoebe
Ross Harvey
Ross Harvey
as John Raphael Smith
Karen Moss
Karen Moss
as Sarah
Morgan Sass
Morgan Sass
as Morgan
Jasper Reed
Jasper Reed
as Harry
Crispin Letis
Crispin Letis
as Isambard Kingdom Brunel
Phil Hobbis
Phil Hobbis
as Judge 1
Paul Stryke
Paul Stryke
as Judge 2
Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills
as Mary Seacole
Vanessa Mallinson
Vanessa Mallinson
as Amy Johnson
Joanna Cunningham
Joanna Cunningham
as Jo
Adrianna Bertola
Adrianna Bertola
as Eliza
Richard Linnell
Richard Linnell
as Francis
Dominic Cazenove
Dominic Cazenove
as Rev Railton
Thomas Dennis
Thomas Dennis
as Sebastien
Holly Jeffery
Holly Jeffery
as Mary
Paul-James Corrigan
Paul-James Corrigan
as Private MacGregor
Sandy Batchelor
Sandy Batchelor
as Private Macleod
Rod Hallett
Rod Hallett
as Charles Darwin
Lee Turnbull
Lee Turnbull
as Syms
Ryan Heenan
Ryan Heenan
as Henry
Ben Greaves-Neal
Ben Greaves-Neal
as Bernard
Joanna Dunn
Joanna Dunn
as Mrs Beeton
arrow_drop_up

Seasons

Season 1

90 years Ago

Season 2

Famous People

Season 3

Seaside Holiday

Season 4

Toys

Season 5

Famous People 2

Season 6

More Famous People

Episodes season 1

  • 1x1

    In the kitchen

  • 1x2

    Cars and no cars

  • 1x3

    Bathtime

Episodes season 2

  • 2x1

    Elizabeth i

  • 2x2

    Louis braille

  • 2x3

    Florence nightingale

  • 2x4

    Samuel pepys

Episodes season 3

  • 3x1

    The promenade

  • 3x2

    The beach

  • 3x3

    Entertainment

Episodes season 4

  • 4x1

    1969

  • 4x2

    1953

  • 4x3

    1870

Episodes season 5

  • 5x1

    Boudica

  • 5x2

    Dr jenner

  • 5x3

    Brunel

  • 5x4

    Mary seacole

Episodes season 6

  • 6x1

    Amy johnson

  • 6x2

    Mrs beeton

  • 6x3

    The unknown warrior

  • 6x4

    Charles darwin

NextFilm 2025