Kizzy: What Shall We Do With Kizzy? (BBC-1 28 Jan 1976, with Melissa Docker)

In episode two What Shall We Do With Kizzy? the young gypsy girls first day at school is not going very well. Prue Cuthbert is a little horror and very quickly sets out to make Kizzy’s life a misery. A situation made worse by the fact that Kizzy has been given Prue’s clothes as hand-me-downs.

Poor Kizzy, she is truly given a terrible time by the kids at school, only one young boy, Clem Oliver, showing her any kindness. Her situation is made worse by the sudden death of her Gran. The rest of the gypsy group return for Gran’s funeral and begin sorting out her belongings between them, much to Kizzy’s distress. Even worse according to old Gypsy tradition the families burn Gran’s wagon.

Sadly none of the gypsy families seem over keen on taking her in either. Kizzy decides to strike out on her own….

It really couldn’t get any worse for Kizzy at this point. As the episodes ends she is completely on her own.

production details
UK / BBC One / 1×30 minute episode / Broadcast Monday 28 January 1976 at 5.15pm

Writer: John Tully / Production Design: Myles Lang / Director: Dorothea Brooking

Series: Kizzy Episode 2 (of 6)

cast
Vanessa Furst as Kizzy
Melissa Docker as Prue Cuthbert
Lisa Welsford as Elizabeth Oliver
Isobel Gordon as Mary Jo
Meg Ritchie as Mildred Blount
Betty Hardy as Gran
Anne Ridler as Olivia
Toby Bridge as Clem Oliver
John Welsh as Admiral Twiss
Patrick McAlinney as Peters
Ernest C Jennings as Uncle Jess
Ben Howard as Lumas Doe
Miriam Margolyes as Mrs Doe
John Udall as Boyo
Norah Blaney as Emma Smith
Francis Sargent as Albert