T-Bag Strikes Again Episode 9: Charlie Chuckles

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Episode 1The Town Clock
Episode 2One, Two Buckle My Shoe
Episode 3Ben And Bunty Badshott
Episode 4Scrap Harry
Episode 5Ali Barber
Episode 6Dick Gherkin
Episode 7Long John Sylvia
Episode 8Professor Pockets
Episode 9Charlie Chuckles
Episode 10The Magic Garden

UK Air Date22/10/1986, 4.20pm
Repeat Screening01/06/1988, 4.20pm
Copyright YearMCMLXXXVI (1986)
VTR Date15/11/1985
Fremantle Archive Ref33212 (series ref)
Runtime00:20:09:23
Consecutive Episode Number19
IMDB LinkEpisode page

T. Bag (Tallulah Bag)Elizabeth Estensen
T. ShirtJohn Hasler
DebbieJennie Stallwood
Charlie ChucklesChristopher Lillicrap
The KingBrian Murphy

Make UpLesley Sanders
Costume DesignerRaymond Childe
Graphic DesignerAlex Forbes
Conjuring Tricksby courtesy of
Davenports Magic
Stage ManagerBobby Webber
Production AssistantPat Lees
Song ByTerry Trower
Written ByLee Pressman
Grant Cathro
DesignerJohn Plant
Executive ProducerMarjorie Sigley
ProducersCharles Warren
Leon Thau
DirectorLeon Thau

Debbie and T-Shirt are in the forest in story 9, T-Shirt uses his magic to show the next number is in the castle but T-Bag takes his magic away so he can not use it anymore. They meet Charlie Chuckles, a jester, who T-Shirt stays with to be his assistant. Debbie goes to the castle and meets the King who hires Charlie for some entertainment for T-Bag who he thinks is a Queen. Who will get the Silver number 9 from the King?
The High-T Website synopsis

If you would like to contribute your favourite/funniest etc quotes from this episode please contact me.

Oh mighty plant, oh sacred weed

(T-Bag is playing darts but still has the bandages on her fingers).
T-Bag: One hundred and Eight-T. Oh these stupid things. That insolent traitorous little pup T-Shirt, how dare he bite the hand that feeds him? Use his magical powers against me, would he? Well I'll just have to take them back before he does anymore damage.
(T-Bag stands and walks over to the T-Plant, the room glows a dark eerie red as T-Bag begins her magical chant).
T-Bag: Oh mighty plant, oh sacred weed, attend my wishes now with speed. Reach out to T-Shirt where-ere he be and bring his magic back to me.
(The scene continues in the forest with Debbie and T-Shirt).
Debbie: T-Shirt, we've really got to try and find the silver number nine.
T-Shirt: Don't worry Debbie.
(A loud high-pitched screeching sound is heard as the forest plunges into darkness, within moments daylight returns and the screeching sounds stop).
Debbie: What was that?
T-Shirt: I don't know.
Debbie: Look!
T-Shirt: What?
Debbie: The T on your T-Shirt. T-Shirt, it's gone.
(T-Shirt looks at his cap).
T-Shirt: And it's gone from here as well, that's funny.
Debbie: What does it mean?
T-Shirt: I don't know and I don't care, let's find this number once and for all. Come in number nine (T-Shirt blinks but nothing happens). Come in number nine (T-Shirt blinks again and still nothing happens), eh?
Debbie: I don't like this.
T-Shirt: Just a minute, come in number nine please.

Added: 04/04/2015

Charlie Chuckles' Pom Poms

Charlie Chuckles: Now watch carefully. The yellow pom pom’s attached to the red pom pom; and the red pom pom’s attached to the white pom pom; and the white pom pom’s attached to the blue pom pom; and the blue pom pom’s attached to the yellow pom pom; but also the yellow pom pom’s attached to the white pom pom; and the white pom pom’s attached to the yellow pom pom. Now Sir, if you pull down the white pom pom (T-Shirt pulls down the white pom pom and the yellow pom pom stays still), I thank you. Ahh I know what you’re thinking they’re joined in the middle and you’d be absolutely wrong (Charlie Chuckles pulls the adjoining pole apart). Right ahh come on now you have a try.

This is rubbish

T-Bag: This is rubbish.
The King: Oh there’s more, there’s more.
T-Bag: I was afraid of that.

Disappearing act

Charlie Chuckles: The object of the first trick will to make a valuable item disappear without trace.
T-Bag: I want you to make her disappear without trace.

The Silver Number Nine

Charlie Chuckles: This useless piece of silver disappear into thin air.
Debbie & T-Bag: The Silver number nine.
T-Bag: I want that, give it to me.
Debbie: No give it to me please.
T-Bag: Drat you, you interfering brat.
Charlie Chuckles: Ladies, ladies.

"That's Hat!"
Before T-Bag takes T-Shirt’s magic from him, his cap has a golden letter T on plain turquoise fabric but when his powers are removed instead of being plain turquoise where the T was there is a turquoise and black chequered fabric. There were most likely two caps made for filming (one with and one without the golden T) but Raymond Childe (the costume designer) or his assistant didn’t use the same for both caps!

"That's Hat 2!"
In the scene where T-Shirt loses his magic, the scene starts before he loses his magic but he is already wearing his hat without the 'T' but he is obscuring his T-Shirt with the black and white stripy top so we can't see that it is the one without the T.

"Back-To-Front T-Shirt"
When T-Shirt and Debbie are watching Charlie Chuckles’ magic tricks, T-Shirt has his T-Shirt on back to front. Look at the seams around his shoulders to spot this mis-dressed mistake – his collar is too close to his neck at the front and too far down at the back!

For more mistakes from other episodes, please see the Nitpicker's Guide

  • Brian Murphy appeared in Mike & Angelo which was also written by Lee Pressman and Grant Cathro. Brian Murphy appeared in the episode 'An Actor's Life For Me' (#8.6, 08/02/1996) as Mervyn K. Mertz.
  • According to the design sketches from John Plant, but not mentioned during the episode, the King's castle is called Castle Neinpintz, a play on words for 'Nine Pins'.