The Worst Witch

Mayhem and mishaps follow young witch Mildred Hubble wherever she goes. She just can't help it! But with her friends' help, Mildred always manages to avoid disaster just in time.

The Worst Witch (2017-2020) is a British children's fantasy series created by Jill Murphy and Brian Grant for CBBC. Adapted from Jill Murphy's beloved children's books, it follows clumsy young witch Mildred Hubble (Bella Ramsey, with Lydia Page also playing the role in some episodes) as she tries to keep up at a strict boarding school of witchcraft. Mildred's engine is simple and relatable: she wants to do well, but her spells keep going wrong, and each episode is built around a fresh mishap that threatens to spiral into disaster. Her loyal friends Maud Spellbody (Megan Hughes, with Meibh Campbell in some episodes), Enid Nightshade (Tamara Smart) and the rest of the class help her climb out just in time. Across four seasons of thirteen-episode runs, the show stays a light, episodic comedy with a continuing school setting, a shape that suits a family audience. Its tone is whimsical, warm and cozy, with gentle slapstick and a sense of friendship at its heart. Set in a fantasy version of an English boarding school, it sits comfortably beside the wholesome witch-school fare of Harry Potter and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, offering a softer, younger take on magic school life.

Audiences broadly enjoy the gentle, warm school-based magic adventures, with early seasons rated highly and the final season rated notably lower.

• Harry Pottergentle school witchcraft setting, whimsical family tone, friendship-driven episodes
• Sabrina the Teenage Witchyoung witch protagonist, magic school comedy, light fantasy tone
• The Worst Witch (1986)children's fantasy adventure, magical mishaps, cozy whimsical tone

Created by

Jill Murphy, Brian Grant

Release Date

2017-01-11

Episode runtime

29 min

Rating

7.1 / 10 (213)

What is The Worst Witch about?

A clumsy young witch's magical mishaps at a witch school are repeatedly averted with the help of her loyal friends.

What is The Worst Witch like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Worst Witch as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.

Is The Worst Witch violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Worst Witch.

What did critics think of The Worst Witch?

Audiences broadly enjoy the gentle, warm school-based magic adventures, with early seasons rated highly and the final season rated notably lower.

Which shows are like The Worst Witch?

Shows with a similar feel include Harry Potter, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and The Worst Witch (1986).

How long is The Worst Witch?

The Worst Witch: 4 seasons, 52 episodes.

Is The Worst Witch still running?

No, The Worst Witch has ended.

Where can I watch The Worst Witch?

In United States, The Worst Witch streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads, Dove Amazon Channel.