Pugwall

Pugwall
Company type	Television program
Industry	Children's television
Founded	1989
Headquarters	Australia
Area served	Australia, United Kingdom, South Africa
Products	Television series, soundtrack albums, DVDs

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article Pugwall, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 11 August 2025

Pugwall is a children's television program from Australia that debuted on the Nine Network in 1989. Based on Margaret Clark's novels for young adults, the story revolves around Peter Unwin George Wall—nicknamed "PUGWALL"—and his friends as they establish a band. The series' second installment was named Pugwall's Summer.

Premise

On his 13th birthday, Pugwall receives an electric guitar, inspiring him and his friends Bazza, Orfo, and Stringbean to create a band; however, they lack a lead singer. Pugwall encounters Jenny in hospital following a bicycle accident, and she joins as the vocalist, completing the Orange Organics lineup. The show explores Pugwall’s home life alongside the band's pursuit of a recording deal.

The Orange Organics

Peter Unwin George Wall (Pugwall) – guitar and vocals
Jenny Fleet – lead vocals
Jeremy Bazlington (Bazza) – keyboard
Yuri Orfonsinski (Orfo) – drums
Stringbean – bass guitar

Character profiles

Pugwall

Pugwall (Jason Torrens) is a typical adolescent with ambitions of rock fame and financial gain. After receiving a guitar without an amplifier, he forms the band to chase his aspirations and generate funds.

Jenny Fleet

Jenny (Rebecca Blomberg), whom Pugwall meets during a hospital stay, becomes the group's lead singer. She is a reserved girl with an enigmatic background suggested by her use of a wheelchair and gradually develops romantic feelings for Pugwall.

Bazza

Bazza (Troy Beckwith), the keyboard player, is the son of a frequently absent businessman and has a younger sibling named Jimmy.

Orfo

Orfo (Jay McCormack), Pugwall’s closest friend and drummer, has Russian heritage. The band rehearses in his garage despite complaints from neighbors. His mother often supports the group by preparing meals for them.

Stringbean

Stringbean (Ricky Fleming), the tall and slender bassist, spends mornings working on his family farm. His actual name remains undisclosed but is hinted to be Millard.

Hughesy

Hughesy (Gareth Morely) joins from the second season onward, handling the band's audio and recording duties.

Margaret "Supes" Wall

Supes (Louise Hall) is Pugwall's lively mother, nicknamed for her remarkable speed in cleaning tasks.

Frank "Herohead" Wall

Herohead (Ken James) is Pugwall's father who works as a real estate agent and prefers that his son follow a more traditional career path.

Marion "Marmaloid" Wall

Marion (Emma Snow), Pugwall's younger sister, persistently encourages him to participate in the band and leads her own group called the Marmalodians. She features on the Orange Organics album with "The Marmaloid Rap."

Con Tarcopolis and Wazza

(played by Peter Tzefrios and Anthony Engelman) serve as Pugwall’s primary rivals whose plans often fail. Con is the strategist while Wazza acts as his assistant.

Daniella Valentina

(played by Marcella Toro) aims to join the band as a singer and becomes Orfo’s girlfriend. She works at a fish and chip shop and uses complimentary food as incentives.

Aunt Annabelle

(played by Elspeth Ballantyne) is Herohead's quirky aunt who offers access to her recording studio and helps secure a record label for the band's album.

Uncle Harry

(played by Maurie Fields) is Herohead's uncle who frequently causes disruptions but can be appeased with dessert.

Dr Pongerton

(played by Frank Bren) serves as principal of Greythorn High School, balancing discipline with praise toward Pugwall.

Bashem

(played by Roy Edmunds) is a strict teacher who enforces discipline but receives assistance from Pugwall during a health emergency.

Summerbum

(played by Jennifer Jarman-Walker) is another educator at Greythorn High involved in Pugwall's school life.

Soundtrack Releases

Each series' music was made available on vinyl and cassette formats. The initial soundtrack received a nomination for the ARIA Award for Best Children's Album in 1990.

Tracklist

A1. "Opening Theme" – 5:02
A2. "A Rock and a Roll." – 4:08
A3. "Dogs" (Instrumental) – 4:06
A4. "There's No Reason Why" – 3:42
A5. "Pugwall Instrumental 1" – 5:17
A6. "I'm in Love" – 2:59
A7. "Na Na Na" – 2:21
A8. "It Must Be Love" – 2:44
A9. "Pugwall Instrumental 2" – 1:24
B1. "Party Song" – 2:03
B2. "Was There Something" – 3:17
B3. "Supes" – 0:47
B4. "Only Ewe" – 1:47
B5. "Pugwall Instrumental 3" – 2:00
B6. "B B Boppin'" – 1:14
B7. "Belly Dance" – 1:34
B8. "You So and So" – 2:31
B9. "I'm Gonna Tell Your Mama" – 0:56
B10. "Uptown Tokyo" – 1:54
B11. "Closing Credits Theme" – 1:30

Side One

Pugwall's Summer (Instrumental) – Orange Organics
True Blues – Orange Organics
Bad Boys – Marcee Jones
Hoochie Coochie – Maurie Fields
Uptown Tokyo – Orange Organics
Marmaloid Rap – Emma Snow, Aimee Robertson and the Marmaloidians
Mix It Up Pugwall – Andrea Lees
Single Word – Orange Organics
His Eyes – Orange Organics
Pugwall's Summer (Slow) – Darryl Cotton

Side Two

Lately – No Justice
A Rock and a Roll – Maurie Fields
Somebody To Love – Orange Organics
Ever Be The Same – Rebecca Blomberg
It's Alright – Orange Organics
Baby Let's Dance – Simone Robertson
The Things People Do (Environment Song) – Orange Organics
Pugwall's Summer – Darryl Cotton
Party Song – Orange Organics

DVD Availability

The first season of Pugwall was issued as a two-disc PAL Region 4 DVD collection in Australia, with Pugwall's Summer also released subsequently on DVD. These editions can be purchased from Australian outlets including EZY DVD and Sanity.com.au.

Global Broadcasts

In the United Kingdom, the show was shown on Channel 4 during school holidays and Sundays, as well as on TCC. Additionally, in 1998, it aired on Trouble. In South Africa, the series was broadcast in the early 1990s on KTV (M-Net) and later appeared on Tube (SABC2).

External Links

References