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Other characters in The Worst Witch
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Tabby
Tabby
Mildred's beloved pet cat. While all students at Cackle's have their own pet cat, Tabby is the only one of them that isn't black, and the only one not specifically bred as a witch's cat — which means he's not suited to the role at all. However, Mildred loves him dearly and wouldn't swap him for anything.
- Adaptational Dye-Job: In the books and the 1998 series, Tabby is gray. In the movie, he's brown and white. In the 2017 series he's very obviously played by two different cats who don't particularly resemble one another, and so he'll be a darker brownish gray in one episode, and white and brown in another.
- All Witches Have Cats: All witches at Cackle's do, at least, which is why Mildred has Tabby — there weren't enough black cats to go around, but since Mildred did get into the school she couldn't be the only witch without a cat. Hence, they got Tabby, who wasn't intended as a witch's pet (in the '98 series he's one of the kittens of Mrs. Tapioca's cat, which she keeps to chase the mice away), but was deemed to be good enough for Mildred.
- Cat Stereotype: It's more apparent in the books than in either TV shows (probably because it's easier writing a cat behaving a certain way than it is directing a real cat to do what the script demands), but Tabby's a klutz who can't stay on a broomstick to save his life, and (pretty par for the course for fictional tabbies) also a dimwitted coward. He is, however (another classic trait for fictional tabbies), very friendly and affectionate, and remains Mildred's faithful companion throughout.
- Cute Kitten: Tabby may not be the most useful cat out there, but he is adorable, very sweet-natured and affectionate.
- Demoted to Extra: A fairly constant presence in the books, but gets far less attention in the movie and the 1998 series. He gets a somewhat bigger role in the 2017 series, though.
- A Dog Named "Dog": A tabby cat named "Tabby." In Mildred's defense, when she thought she was getting a black cat she planned on calling it "Sooty," but when she got a tabby cat instead she changed it to something more fitting.
- Lovable Coward: Poor Tabby is not very brave. He's scared of heights, which makes him an unreliable broomstick companion, and if he encounters something new and unfamiliar he's likely to run and hide.
Pippa Pintangle
Pippa Pentangle
Portrayed by: Charmian May (1998 series), Amanda Holden (2017 series)
The headmistress of rival school Pentangle's Academy, and Hecate's old friend from school.
- Adaptation Name Change: Was Phyllis Pentangle in the 1998 series.
- Ambiguously Gay: Her relationship with Hecate.
- Cool Teacher: If her fans at Cackle's are anything to go by. Her students get doughnuts once a week, and they're very jealous.
- Girly Skirt Twirl: Does a variation of this - but with her witches' hat.
- Heel Realization: When talking to Hecate - she really did break off their friendship because she thought there was no way Pippa could want to be friends with her. Pippa cries.
- Hot Teacher
- Pink Heroine: Wears a LOT of pink.
- Pink Means Feminine
- Politeness Judo: When snarking with Hecate.
- Rules Lawyer: Has a hint of this. Points out to Hecate that dressing in pink is not - technically - against the witches' code, and uses the rules in the Spelling Bee to give Mildred a chance.
- Smart People Wear Glasses: Dons a pair to hunt through the very long rule book of the Spelling Bee.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Doughnut - especially ones with pink icing.
Charlie Blossom
Charlie Blossom (Nicholas Pepper)
Frank's nephew in the 1998 series, who desires to be a witch too. He makes it to a wizard academy in Season 3. Occasional love interest for Mildred.
- Agent Scully: Doubts the existence of witches in his first episode. But he quickly comes around.
- Ambiguously Brown: His father and uncle are white but he's darker-skinned, possibly being mixed race.
- Character Development: Starts off as a bratty sceptic. By the time he reappears in Season 2, he's matured and loves Cackles.
- Commuting on a Bus: By the time he shows up for his second episode, he's apparently been visiting every other weekend.
- Continuity Drift: It's implied that Frank's sister is his mother. Season 3 has his father Ted, Frank's brother as a regular. Though since Charlie's last name was Blossom too, the first one seems to be the goof.
- A Day in the Limelight: "Up In The Air" is entirely from his POV.
- Everybody Hates Mathematics: Does not like HB's maths test.
- Forced Transformation: Gets turned into a donkey by Ethel.
- Muggle: And one who's annoyed about it.
- The One Guy: Desires to be this for one episode, wanting to become a student at Cackle's.
- Prince Charming: Plays him in the school pantomime.
- She Cleans Up Nicely: Averted when he's enchanted to wear the prince's costume in the pantomime. It was made for Drucilla after all.
- Ship Tease: With Mildred. They do kiss in the school pantomime in the Christmas Episode.
- Wholesome Crossdresser: A small example. He steals Drucilla's hat and cloak to pass as a student.
Agatha Cackle
Agatha Cackle
Portrayed by: Charlotte Rae (1986 film), Clare Coulter (1998 series), Clare Higgins (2017 series)
Miss Cackle's Evil Twin sister who claims she was cheated out of owning the academy. Frequently tries to take over it with her band of Wicked Witches.
- Adaptation Dye-Job: In the TV movie she has pink hair.
- Adaptation Expansion: In addition to her canon appearance, the TV series gives her more plots to try and conquer the school.
- Adaptational Early Appearance:
- In the 1998 TV series, she appears as a guest at the Halloween tableau and is mentioned in a conversation between the teachers. This foreshadows her plan to conquer the school.
- In the 2017 series, she appears in the very first episode and her plan to conquer the school is revealed very quickly.
- Always Identical Twins: She and Miss Cackle are identical, allowing Agatha to impersonate her in the TV series. Unknown if she was planning to in the books.
- Ascended Extra: Gets a larger role in both TV series. In the 2017 series she's right in the thick of it from the very first episode.
- Better to Die than Be Killed: In the fourth season finale of the 2017 series, faced with her defeat and return to the photograph, Agatha chooses to go to Vanishment as it 'disintegrates'.
- Cain and Abel: The Cain to Amelia/Ada's Abel.
- Clark Kenting: In the Season 1 finale, Agatha is able to pose as Amelia by swapping the glasses. Ultimately it doesn't quite work, as the other girls notice her odd squint or sudden tendency to bump into things.
- Diabolus ex Nihilo: In the books, she suddenly appears with a band of wicked witches plotting to take over Cackle's at the end of the first book. Slightly justified since the books are exclusively from Mildred's point of view. The 1998 series foreshadows her a little, and in the 2017 series she's a recurring antagonist from the very first episode.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Agatha may be a ruthless and sadistic witch, but usually she would imprison her twin sister rather than trying to outright kill her. This does show that she isn't completely heartless.
- Evil Laugh: Well her last name is Cackle.
- Evil Principal: Sometimes takes over as headmistress. She'll usually be giving the students a hard time and/or trying to destroy the school when she does that.
- Evil Twin: To Miss Cackle, via jealousy of believing that she should have been given the school.
- Faux Affably Evil: In the 2017 series she's quite soft-spoken and polite, and can mimic her sister's affability quite well... but it's all an act. She's completely ruthless and sadistic.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Does this to Mildred when she tries to stop them invading Cackle's - trapping her in the ground with the same spell she used on them. Millie returns the favour in the finale; defeating Agatha with the very spell she taught them in her class.
- Identical Twin ID Tag: In the 1998 TV series, she wears round thick glasses while Amelia wears horn-rimmed ones, while in the 2017 TV series, Agatha doesn't wear glasses at all, except when impersonating her sister. This isn't in the books, as they both wear the same glasses. In the TV film, Agatha was told apart by having pink hair.
- Ignorant of Their Own Ignorance: In the 2017 fourth season finale, Agatha is distracted by Mildred because she was unaware of Mildred's change of appearance.
- Involuntary Shapeshifting: Plans to turn all the teachers and students into frogs. Ends up being turned into a snail by Mildred.
- Loophole Abuse: Although she accepted defeat, she finds a loophole to allow her to take over the school: "On the night after a full moon in the month of July, the laws against retaliation do not apply", a little used rule only relevant to hillforts and castles.
- Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: In the 2017 series, her plotting against Miss Cackle to take over the Academy gives Mildred the opportunity to prove herself worthy of attending the Academy. Had it not been for her, Mildred would have been failed on her entrance exam and be forced to leave Cackle's before the year even started. Then it happens again in the Season 1 finale where Mildred nearly gets expelled.
- Sadist Teacher: Judging by the season 1 finale, this is what she would be if she got control of the school.
- Soft-Spoken Sadist: In the 2017 show. She seldom raises her voice, but she delights in cruel uses of magic.
- Twin Switch: In the season 1 finale.
- Theme Twin Naming: Only for the TV series, since Miss Cackle's first name Amelia wasn't revealed in the books.
- The Un-Favourite: Claims she was this, annoyed that Granny Cackle favoured Amelia instead of her.
- Wicked Witch: A non-stereotypical example. She just looks like a normal woman who's been living in the woods for a while.
Mistress Hecate Broomhead
Mistress Hecate Broomhead
Portrayed by: Janette Henfrey
A stern school inspector from Off Witch, who causes lots of problems for Cackle's Academy. She's also the one who trained Ms Hardbroom.
- An Ice Person: Apparently tried to encase the whole school inside a block of ice when she was a child.
- Big Bad: Whenever she shows up, she causes trouble for the school.
- The Dreaded: Miss Hardbroom is terrified of her, to the point her voice actually trembles. That should tell you something.
- Enfant Terrible: It's revealed she used to be this.
- Evil Is Petty
- Evil Mentor: To Miss Hardbroom.
- Freudian Excuse: Tried to blame her bad behaviour on a bat biting her when she was younger.
- I Am Very British: As an adult. It may be put on, as her childish self doesn't speak like this.
- Meaningful Rename: Renamed herself from Wilhelmina Wormwood to Hecate Broomhead. Naming herself after the Greek Goddess of Witches could be a coincidence. Could be.
- Names to Run Away from Really Fast: Most evil witches have last names that are like some kind of plant or weed. Wormwood is no exception.
- Prim and Proper Bun: Her hair is tied up like this. Her childhood self has pigtails.
- Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: Claims that it's bats. To the degree that she doesn't like Miss Bat's name.
- Wicked Witch: Not a stereotypical one, but wicked nonetheless.
Chief Wizard Egbert Hellibore
Chief Wizard Egbert Hellibore
Portrayed by: Tim Curry (1986 film), Terrence Hardiman (1998 series, seasons 1 and 3), Richard Durden (1998 series, season 2), Nicholas Jones (2017 series)
1998
2017
The Grand Wizard, for whom the Halloween celebrations are performed every year. Gets a slightly bigger role in the 1998 TV series.
- Adaptation Personality Change: A stern mentor sort in the books and the 2017 series. He starts out that way in the 1998 series too, but evolves into more of a pompous Manchild in later appearances.
- Adaptational Attractiveness: In the books, he's a typical elderly grey wizard. In the TV film, he's Tim Curry. Both TV series are more in line with the books.
- Big Good: He appears to be more powerful than the witches at Cackle's. At least they all respect him.
- Characterisation Marches On: His first episode in the 1998 TV series has him in line with his book self. The second establishes more of a funny side to him.
- Contrived Coincidence: He's the only wizard Mildred knows, and just so happens to be an old friend of the wizard-turned-frog in the school pond.
- Grumpy Old Man: He's got definite traces of this, though less so in the 1998 TV series — and of course not at all in the movie, where he's a young, if slightly pompous Tim Curry.
- Manchild: He gets incredibly into the school pantomime."That's not our Cinders!"
- The Mentor: He has his own set of wizard students.
- Not So Stoic: In the 2017 series, he's usually calm, collected and soft-spoken...until something riles him up.
- Politically Incorrect Hero: Believes that wizards are inherently superior to witches, though he's not nasty about his views. In the 2017 series he's got a bit of a Fantastic Racism going on as he doesn't have much respect for non-magical people — though again it seems to be rooted more in a belief that magic is too dangerous for them to handle safely.
- Purple Is Powerful: His default costume in the 1998 series is a purple tunic and hat. The 2017 incarnation seem to favor dark blue, though.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Not always, but he can usually be reasoned with once he's finished blustering, and he will readily admit it if he discovers that he's been wrong about something.
- Small Name, Big Ego: Oh, he's definitely a powerful wizard and can usually back up any bragging he might partake in... but he may not be quite as awesome as he himself thinks.
- That Reminds Me of a Song: In the TV film, "Anything Can Happen On Halloween", which is really just an excuse to give Tim Curry a song.
Algernon Rowan Webb
Algernon Rowan Webb
Portrayed by: Paul Copley (1998 series) Philip Martin Brown (2017 series)
1998
2017
A wizard who has been turned into a frog, found by Mildred in the school pond. He's an old friend of the Grand Wizard and (in the 2017 series) the fiancee of Miss Bat.
- Age Lift: In the books, he was very old and grey when he was turned back to a human form. In both TV series, he's much younger.
- Ascended Extra: In the 2017 series, he stays on as the Spell Science Teacher after having been turned back into a human.
- Cool Old Guy: To contrast his friend Egbert Hellibore's Grumpy Old Man tendencies, Algernon is far more genial and friendly.
- Cloudcuckoolander: Definitely in the 2017 series, though a lot of it can be blamed on having spent so many years as a frog.
- Ditzy Genius: He's often a little confused, absent-minded and eccentric, but he's actually a very good wizard
- Early-Bird Cameo: He appears in frog form in the first two episodes of the 2017 series, giving some minor assistance to Mildred, but he's not properly introduced as the transformed wizard he is until episode five.
- Forced Transformation: Has been stuck as a frog for thirty years.
- Identity Amnesia: Forgets his full name after spending so long as a frog.
- Intergenerational Friendship: He's quite old and has a very strong bond with the teenage Mildred.
- Meaningful Name: Quite coincidental that the man with 'Webb' as a last name gets turned into a frog.
- The Mind Is a Plaything of the Body: To some extent. He was unable to remember his name after so long as a frog, and even after turning back into a human there are a few frog-like habits he can't quite seem to shake. It's most prominent in the 2017 series where he retains the occasional craving for flies.
- Nice Guy: You couldn't ask for a more good-natured and friendly wizard.
- Official Couple: With Miss Bat in the 2017 series.
- The One Guy: In the 2017 series, becomes the only male teacher at Cackle's.
- Promoted to Love Interest: Thankfully not to Mildred or any of the students — but in the 2017 series, he turns out to be Miss Bat's long-lost fiancee. Their romance is usually understated and in the background for the rest of the series, but it's still there; they are often seen together, and when Miss Bat at one point has a breakdown and considers quitting her job and leaving Cackle's, Algernon tells the others that if she does leave he'll have to leave along with her.
- Trademark Favourite Food:
- Crumpets with honey, to the degree where an episode is named "Crumpets For Tea" after it.
- In the 2017 series, all his years as a frog has given him a taste for flies. He keeps an "emergency jar of flies" on hand, and has been seen to catch flies that are flying around the school with a frog-like Overly-Long Tongue.
Algernon: (spots a fly, catches it with his tongue) Mmm! That's what I love about this school, the snacks! (walks off)
Enid: (disgusted face) Ugh... I will never get used to that.
Miss Gullet
Miss Gullet
Portrayed by: Kacey Ainsworth
The former Spell Science Teacher before Rowan Webb.
- Composite Character: She's a mix of the wizard who transformed Algernon into a frog as well as all the members in Agatha's coven plotting to overthrow the school.
- The Dragon: She becomes Agatha's right hand witch after being fired from Cackles for what it was discovered she did to Algernon.
- Not-So-Harmless Villain: She might be a little air headed, but she's still quite cold blooded and be just as threatening as Agatha at times.
Mr Hallow
Mr Hallow
Portrayed by: Patrick Pearson
Father to Ethel and Sybil and chair of the school governors.
- Black Sheep: He comes from a family of prestigious witches. He displays no magic himself and is a real technophile.
- City Mouse: He fills this role in his first two episodes, wishing to modernise the school.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: Played with. While he has many elements of this, he's not shown to be corrupt in any way and just wants to improve the school. The girls even say as much - but they'd rather just have the school the way it is.
- Eating the Eye Candy: Miss Bat and Miss Drill do so through the Great Hall's keyhole.
- Horrible Judge of Character: Appoints Mistress Broomhead as a suitable replacement for Miss Cackle, presumably because of this trope.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Especially considering that the show aired in the late nineties, the resemblance to Tony Blair is hard to ignore. In addition to looking a lot like Blair, Mr Hallow is also slick, flashy, and an ardent moderniser.
- Not So Above It All: Check out his dancing in the Season 2 finale.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Twice. Firstly is his attempt to set up an internet connection in the school - giving Bonzo a chance to brainwash everyone around the world. Secondly is his appointment of Mistress Broomhead as Miss Cackle's replacement - not knowing what bad news she really is.
- Villainy-Free Villain: Causes a few problems for the school whenever he appears, but never out of maliciousness.
Merlin "Loppy Luggs" Langstaff
Merlin "Loppy Luggs" Langstaff
Portrayed by: (Guy Witcher):
One of Chief Wizard Hellibore's students who is picked on by the others.
- Affectionate Nickname: Mildred still calls him 'Loppy' as a term of endearment.
- Butt-Monkey: He's picked on by Baz and Gaz. Even the girls look down on him.
- Give Geeks a Chance: He's the geekiest of the wizard students, and gets a friendship (that may be something more) with Mildred.
- Heel–Face Turn: Throughout "Sweet Talking Guys" he goes from an (unwilling) helper of Baz and Gaz to a friend of Mildred's.
- Nerd Glasses: They add to the effect. Doubles as Smart People Wear Glasses.
- Not What It Looks Like: Maud notices that he and Mildred are spending a lot of time together. It's actually because he's helping her hide Tabby from the teachers.
- Only Known by Their Nickname: He's called 'Loppy Luggs' by Baz and Gaz, and just 'Loppy' by Mildred.
- Secret-Keeper: On the school trip, he's the only one who knows Mildred has brought Tabby.
- Ship Tease: Not as much as Mildred has with Charlie, but the other girls tease her about him and they get the wrong idea when she spends lots of time with him.
- Token Good Team Mate: In "Sweet Talking Guys", he's the lone Nice Guy among the trio of wizards.
- Took a Level in Badass: By the time the girls visit Rowan-Webb, he's able to turn himself into a lizard and back and his magic has got much better.
Barry "Baz" Dragonsbane and Garry "Gaz Grailquest
Barry "Baz" Dragonsbane and Garry "Gaz" Grailquest
Barry is portrayed by: Paul Child
Garry is portrayed byAnthony Hamblin
Baz on the left, Gaz on the right.
A pair of trouble-making wizard students.
- The Bully: Towards Merlin and the girls.
- Disproportionate Retribution: They start an Escalating War after Hellibore embarrasses them in front the girls.
- Foil: To Fenny and Griz - two older students Only Known by Their Nickname and always together, but bullying and troublesome instead of kind and helpful.
- The Rival: To Fenny and Griz, for the reasons described above.
- Straw Misogynist: They're quite sexist in their first episode. Unlike Hellibore, they're not portrayed sympathetically.
- Those Two Guys: They're always together and always causing trouble.
- Villain Team-Up: With Ethel and Drucilla from time to time.
Julie Hubble
Julie Hubble
Portrayed by: Nicola Stephenson)
Mildred's mother, who's left out of most incarnations of the story, but is a recurring character in the 2017 series. Not a witch herself, but immensely proud of her daughter for being one. In season 3, she becomes the new art teacher at Cackle's Academy.
- Deadpan Snarker: Usually good-natured, but she gets in a few digs from time to time — often at Miss Hardbroom.
- Drunk with Power: When Mildred uses a wish-granting potion in season three to give Julia magic, it takes two episodes for the power to go to her head, and she starts turning students and teachers into clay figurines when they say things she doesn't like. Mildred manages to invoke an "I Know You Are in There Somewhere" Fight to bring her mother to her senses long enough to take the power back.
- Good Parents: She's a kind, understanding and loving mother to Mildred; while she obviously can't take a huge part in her daughter's life while she's at Cackle's, she never hesitates to step in and help out if the situation calls for it.
- Hidden Depths: She turns out to be so well-informed about witch culture and the witch's code that Mildred at one point suspects that she secretly is a witch after all. Turns out she just pored over Mildred's academy rulebook.
- Like Mother, Like Daughter: More together and less of a Klutz than her daughter, but it's easy to see where Mildred got her spirited nature, kind heart, cheeky sense of humour — and even her talent for trouble and lapses of poor judgment.
- Mama Bear: Don't mess with her Millie, even if you are magical and much more powerful than her.
- Muggle: Doesn't appear to have any magical talents of her own, and was in fact quite surprised to discover that magic exists. Turns out that she is, in fact, descended from a witch, but thanks to a sacrifice her family has been without magic for twelve generations. Julie was unaware of this, and only learned of magic when her daughter Mildred (generation thirteen) became a witch.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: On two separate occasions she gives one to Miss Hardbroom of all people, telling her just how unimpressed she is with her."All right, Mrs 'I'm-so-magical,' if you think you're so much better than me, how about conjuring up some manners?"
- Unfazed Everyman: While not the main character, she's definitely this in her meeting with witch society.
