Round the Twist

Round the Twist
Company type	Television series
Industry	Television production
Founded	1989
Founder	Patricia Edgar
Headquarters	Australia
Products	Children's television series
Parent	Australian Children's Television Foundation

Round the Twist is an Australian children's comedy-drama television series that chronicles the eerie and whimsical escapades of the Twist family after relocating to a lighthouse in the fictional seaside town of Port Niranda. Inspired by tales from author Paul Jennings, the program was developed by the Australian Children's Television Foundation (ACTF) with Patricia Edgar as its creator and producer. The show originally premiered on the Seven Network.

History

Patricia Edgar joined forces with writer Paul Jennings and director Esben Storm, combining their talents to bring the series to fruition. Edgar focused on integrating family relationships with humor and issues relevant to children’s everyday experiences. Production began under ACTF in 1989, and the series earned 16 prestigious national and international honors, including the Prix Jeunesse and several Australian Film Institute awards.

The show was broadcast in over 70 countries, reaching significant audiences on networks such as Fox Kids in the United States, BBC One in the United Kingdom, Nickelodeon UK, CBC in Canada, France 2, Germany’s ZDF, Ireland’s RTÉ2, and Japan’s NHK. In 1998, it was featured in KidScreen’s "Dream Block," alongside prominent programs like Rugrats and The Simpsons.

Synopsis

The narrative centers on a family residing in an old lighthouse along Victoria’s coastline. The Twist household includes Tony, a widower father, and his three children: 14-year-old twins Pete and Linda, plus their younger brother Bronson, aged eight. Each episode presents bizarre supernatural events combined with humor and modern fantasy storytelling.

Over an 11-year span, four series comprising 52 episodes were aired. The initial series adapted stories from Jennings’ books; later seasons introduced original plots while preserving key characters and themes. A recurring storyline involves Harold Gribble, a local entrepreneur who persistently tries to force the family out for development schemes.

Production

Filming took place both in Melbourne studios and on location at Split Point Lighthouse in Aireys Inlet as well as other Victorian locales. The first two series featured scripts written by Jennings with Storm serving as script editor; subsequent seasons incorporated additional writers under Storm’s supervision. Series three and four were filmed consecutively in the late 1990s with new casts due to the original actors aging beyond their roles.

Plans for a feature film adaptation were explored but ultimately abandoned because of funding difficulties linked to market conditions.

Distribution and Reception

Internationally, the series garnered high viewership ratings, frequently topping children’s programming charts in countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and the United Kingdom. It received numerous accolades including Logie Awards for Outstanding Children's Program in Australia and Banff Rockie Awards in Canada.

Pre-sale agreements for later seasons involved broadcasters like ABC Australia, BBC UK, Disney Europe, Nickelodeon UK, among others across Europe, Asia, and North America. Commercially, the series performed well with video sales surpassing 7,000 units distributed to schools by the mid-1990s.

Marketing and Publishing

Paul Jennings’ tie-in books were released concurrently with the television broadcasts. The ACTF actively promoted the series at international TV markets such as MIPCOM and MIP-TV, securing extensive distribution agreements spanning Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas. Home video versions were distributed by Magna Home Entertainment within Australia and through various partners worldwide.

Digital Presence

In 2000, a dedicated website was introduced to coincide with the broadcast of Series 3 on ABC and BBC. This platform offered detailed cast biographies, episode summaries, information about international broadcasts, and interactive features designed for audience engagement.

Awards

Throughout its four-season run, the series earned numerous prestigious honors, including AWGIE Awards for outstanding writing, AFI nominations and wins in the children's drama category, recognition at the Banff Rockie Awards, BAFTA submissions, as well as Logie Awards celebrating excellence in children’s television.

Stage Adaptation

A theatrical musical version was announced in 2021, featuring book, music, and lyrics by Paul Hodge and incorporating the original theme tune. The production debuted at Queensland Theatre in Brisbane in November 2024, directed by Simon Phillips.

Home Releases

The entire series has been issued on DVD several times across Australia and the United Kingdom. In April 2023, Via Vision released a remastered eight-disc collection titled Round the Twist: The Complete Series.