When I was a kid, my mother wouldn't let me watch a program called Chocky.
For those of you who live outside the UK, and those who didn't even know about this childrens program if you lived in the UK,
see the link below...My mother thought this show had "spiritism" in it. I loved this show, and only got to watch a few episodes.
HeMan and the Masters of the Universe were out too, so was Thundercats. I couldn't watch Dungeons and Dragons either,
but I was allowed to watch that interactive show called "Knightmare" which ran for a few short years.
http://freespace.virgin.net/greg.taylor1/watched_it/chocky.htm
Chocky was adapted for television in 1984 from the book by John Wyndham. From Thames Television, who had produced many other acclaimed children's dramas in the preceding years including Stig of the Dump and Nobody's Hero , the six episodes were shown weekly the same year.
The series is the story of young Matthew Gore (Andrew Ellams), an intelligent boy from the Home Counties of England who is chosen by a mysterious extra-terrestrial visitor to Earth, Chocky, as a source of information about life on earth.
The drama follows the story as his parents witness a strange change in Matthew's behaviour as he becomes more attentive and inquisitive about life around him. His schoolwork improves dramatically, as does his artistic talent and manual dexterity on mid-80s computer games!
In an effort to understand what is happening to their son, Matthew's parents refer to a child psychiatrist. The dubious social connections of this man lead to Matthew's subsequent kidnap, as ruthless businessman tries to tap into the amazing extra-terrestrial knowledge that Chocky has imparted to him.
Matthew also saves his sister Polly from drowning thanks to Chocky taking control of his mind - ordinarily he was a non-swimmer. In the final episode when Chocky leaves Matthew for good, she is able to explain to his father (James Hazeldine) who she is, why she has been here, and why she is leaving. At this point the original book ends, although Thames produced, in association with the estate of John Wyndham, two further series,
Chocky's Children and Chocky's Challenge .The movie version of the original series, which was also shown on ITV at Christmas 1984, was released by Thames Video that year.
Last Updated 8 June 1998.
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Chocky © Pearson Television.