Look and Read/The Legend of the Lost Keys

From LookingAndSeeing.co.uk - a website about schools broadcasting

A passive re-invention of the Look and Read formula, that maintains the classic structure of episodes but does something that hadn't yet been managed in the programme's thirty year history: it seemlessly blends the teaching bits in with the story bit. The storyline is about twins on holiday with their uncle George, who discover that this uncle is descended from another world and is guardian of the gateway between this other world - Heritron - and the Earth, in the form of a mysterious old box. When some scientists come and take away the box, George realises that the evil rulers of the other world are trying to open up the gateway, which would allow them to come through and enslave Earth's children. He and the twins have to get the box back, find the three ancient keys which work it, and seal off the other world permanently. They are aided by two surviving rebels from Heritron living in secret in an abandoned shop, who use an old prophecy called the Legend of the Lost Keys to give guidance and advice. This prophecy comes in the form of various riddles and poems, one of which must conveniently be solved in the middle of each episode - they form the teaching bits.

Contents 1 The Story 2 Episodes 3 Credits 4 Broadcasts

[edit] The Story

Twins Mark and Lisa go to spend their annual holiday with their Uncle George, when they are disturbed by tycoon Sir Derek Janus and two scientists, Waters and Burns, who've got a court order to break into an ancient building on George's land and rob off with an old box that they find there. George then reveals himself to be descended from another world, Heritron, whose inhabitants are called Takers, and who used to send Catchers to kidnap Earth children to use as slaves on Heritron. This also means he has powers of telekinesis. Ages ago a rebellious Taker had closed the box thing, which is the gateway between Heritron and Earth, and George as his descendant is now the Guardian of the gateway.

There's this ancient Heritron prophecy which says that in order to permanently save Earth from the Catchers the box must be opened using three special keys and then closed again by the 'Children of Heritron', who turn out to be Mark and Lisa. There are still several Watchers from Heritron on Earth who are trying to open the gateway. Janus is the chief of them, Burns is also one and in a plot twist George's housekeeper Erica transpires to be one too.

The twins go and find the three keys, beginning to use their own powers of telekinesis. Janus soon nicks the box off of Professor Waters, who had been studying it and is just a normal Earth bloke, along with the three keys, but Waters gets the police to help him get everything back. George opens the box but can't close it again. Consulting two other Heritron rebels on Earth, Anna and Ariana, he discovers that someone has to go through the tunnel and lock the door on that end. George goes through but is captured.

The children, after nearly being abducted by Erica but rescued by Waters, go through after him, rescue him with their mind powers and then lock the door. The connection between Heritron and Earth is severed forever, the box disintegrates and everyone returns to their normal lives.

[edit] Episodes

Episode listings from the old BBC Online Schedules, edited to remove a big plot spoiler!

1. The Box
   • Mark and Lisa must help their uncle prevent an ancient and mysterious box from being opened. For the box is a doorway to a dark and menacing world.
2. The First Key
   • George and the twins begin the search for the keys to the box of destiny. Lisa is woken in the night by intruders.
3. The Watchers
   • Lisa and Mark search for a second key, and are followed by the Watchers who have been ordered to kidnap them.
4. Kidnap
   • Having thwarted an attempt by the Watchers to kidnap them, the children team up with Uncle George and locate the final key at the Roman baths.
5. The Crystal Connection
   • George and the children have all three keys and they persuade Professor Waters to take them to the Box.
6. The Trap
   • When George breaks into the Janus Foundation to get to the Box, the children realise it is a trap.
7. The Box is Opened
   • The doorway to Heritron is opened. George and the children escape from the Janus Foundation, but they are betrayed.
8. Into the Box
   • Professor Waters gets the Box back from the Watchers, and George goes through to lock the doorway into Heritron. But the Catchers are waiting for him.
9. Betrayed
   • George is held captive on Heritron. Anna tells the children they must rescue him.
10. The Final Hour
    • Lisa and Mark find George trapped in a crystal cell. They manage to set him free, but can they escape from Heritron?

[edit] Credits

Starring	Andrew Sachs as George Gardener Jonathan Kitchens as Mark Astor Abigail Ansell as Lisa Astor Sabra Williams as Erica Turner Richard Morant as Sir Derek Janus David Gant as Professor Humphrey Waters Tatiana Strauss as Dr Burns Nicola Arumugan as Ariana Sonia Graham as Anna Sita Ramamurphy as The Taker Stafford Gordon as The Catcher
Singers	Donald Greig Miriam Stockley Tony Wharmby Michael Dore Robert Fardell

Written by	Jim Eldridge
Music composed by	Debbie Wiseman
Production designer	Alan Spalding
Executive producer	Anne Brogan
Producer	Cas Lester
Director	Colin Cant

Education officer	Chris Hughes
Production manager	Terry Wright
Programme co-ordinator	Nicki Coles
Location co-ordinator	Elaine Herraghty
Programme cost co-ordinator	Paulette Gardiner
Digital effects	Ian Simpson Paul Kavanagh
Animation by	Ealing Animation
Graphic artists	Barbara Horne Monica Herman
Calligraphers	Hammond & Hagon
Art director	Sarah Milton
Properties buyer	Nick Barnett
Property master	Martin Carley
Standby props	Simon Bailey Ray Morgan
Make-up designer	Kay Smith
Make-up design assistant	Ashley Johnson
Costume designer	Eric Doughney
Costume design assistant	Sue Burrows
Digital sound editor	Kian Wong
Dubbing mixer	Chris Graver
Sound recordist	Brian Robinson
Sound assistant	David Webster
Gaffer	Jim Russell
Best boy	Tom Shirley
Grip	Richard Toomey
Rigger	Andy Robertson
Vision engineer	Peter Lester
Cameraman	Dave Hunter
On-line editor	Duncan Bragg
Off-line editor	Peter Harris
Lighting director	John King

[edit] Broadcasts

Here is a list of all of the broadcasts of this story on the BBC. See the Schedules section for precise dates and times.

• Spring 1998, BBC2
• Spring 1999, BBC2
• Autumn 2001, BBC2
• Spring 2006, BBC2
• Autumn 2007, BBC2

• Spring 2002, CBBC
• Autumn 2002, CBBC
• Spring 2003, CBBC
• Autumn 2003, CBBC
• Autumn 2004, CBBC
• Spring 2006, CBBC
• Autumn 2006, CBBC
• Spring 2007, CBBC