The Worst Witch (40th anniversary)The Worst Witch (40th anniversary)
Rock to Recovery
Mark J. Parker and guest Tom Virtuoso look back at the 1986 TV movie The Worst Witch, sharing childhood memories, favourite scenes and Halloween traditions. The conversation blends light-hearted nostalgia with chat about 80s TV movies, horror fandom and the film’s enduring charm.
1:47:52•1 Nov 2026
Keeping Spooky Season Alive with The Worst Witch at 40
Episode Overview
- The episode celebrates 40 years of The Worst Witch as a cosy, campy 80s Halloween staple.
- Mark and Tom share personal stories of watching the film repeatedly on HBO and The Disney Channel.
- The conversation highlights standout performances from Fairuza Balk, Diana Rigg, Charlotte Rae and Tim Curry.
- They compare The Worst Witch to later witch-school stories like Hocus Pocus and Harry Potter while stressing its unique low-budget charm.
- Tom discusses his Beefcakes of Horror project and love of 80s horror, adding recommendations like The Midnight Hour.
“Growing up isn't easy, but at least we had The Worst Witch to get us through those awkward years.”
Get ready for a full-on 80s nostalgia trip as film fan and host Mark J. Parker teams up with guest Tom Virtuoso to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the TV movie favourite, *The Worst Witch*. If you grew up glued to cable channels in the 80s or 90s, you’ll recognise the joy of this chat straight away.
Mark and Tom swap memories of first seeing the film on HBO and The Disney Channel, comparing it to *Hocus Pocus* and even *Harry Potter* as a “school for witches” story that feels much more homemade and charming. Tom calls it “kind of like our *Hocus Pocus*” and shares how he and his twin sister watched it so many times they ruined their VHS tape.
The pair geek out over low-budget sets, dodgy blue-screen effects and those very 80s haircuts, while still agreeing the film is irresistibly cosy and perfectly Halloween. You’ll hear plenty of love for Fairuza Balk’s early witchy work, from *Return to Oz* through to this movie, plus a lot of appreciation for Diana Rigg’s terrifyingly strict Miss Hardbroom and Charlotte Rae double-playing sweet Miss Cackle and villainous twin Agatha.
Tim Curry’s legendary "Anything Can Happen on Halloween" number gets its own mini celebration, right down to the cheesy visual gags and gigantic bat cape. Things widen out beyond the film too: Tom talks about his horror-obsessed Instagram project Beefcakes of Horror, his time working at Blockbuster, and the Halloween TV movie *The Midnight Hour*.
Cameos from friends Jackie Renee and Ashley from the *How Do You Drew* podcast add more fan perspectives, including a cheeky “girl crush” on mean girl Ethel Hallow. If you’re the sort of person who keeps spooky season going long after October ends, this affectionate look back at *The Worst Witch* might be just the cosy, campy broomstick ride you’ve been waiting for. Ready to revisit your childhood Halloween favourite and see if it’s still pure magic?
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