Grandpa in My Pocket

Did You Know?

• Exterior scenes for the first three series were filmed in Southwold and Aldeburgh, Suffolk; the Mason house was on Crabbe Street, Aldeburgh.
• The fourth series windmill is Cley Windmill in Cley next the Sea, Norfolk.
• The first series was released on DVD by Warner Home Video; Abbey Home Media handled DVD rights for the second and third series.

Characters

Grandpa Jeremy Mason, played by James Bolam, seems like any ordinary grandfather, but he has a magic shrinking cap. Only his grandchildren Jason, Josh, and Elsie know about it. He is the oldest Mason and the family’s leader. Jason Mason, played by Jay Ruckley, is the main character for the first three series. He starts at age ten and becomes a teenager in the fourth series. Joshua “Josh” Mason, played by Harvey Thorn, is Jason and Jemima’s younger cousin and Elsie’s older brother. Elsie Mason, played by Sezen Djouma, is Jason and Jemima’s younger cousin and Josh’s younger sister. Julie Mason, played by Zara Ramm, is called Auntie Jules by Josh and Elsie. She is Jason and Jemima’s mother, Christopher’s wife, and Grandpa’s daughter. Christopher Mason, played by Sam Ellis, is known as Uncle CJ to Josh and Elsie. He is Jason and Jemima’s father, Julie’s husband, and Grandpa’s son-in-law. He works in a bicycle shop and is quite forgetful, a typical clueless dad. Jemima Mason, played by Josie Cable, is Jason’s older sister. In the fourth series, she starts a fashion course. Great Aunt Loretta, played by Susan Jameson, is Grandpa’s bossy, mean, loudmouthed younger sister. She often visits, cooks gross food like sausages and sardine sauce or kipper and marmalade sandwiches, and constantly drinks spinach and sprout shake, nicknamed Green Gloop. Beowulf, also called Wolfy, is Grandpa’s Yorkshire Terrier. Mr. Whoops, played by Steve Elias, owns Sunnysands Toy Shop and is accident-prone. He is married to Miss Smiley. Troy, played by Shaheen Jafargholi, is the Mason family’s spiteful, rude neighbor. He only appears in the first series. Troy’s Dad, played by David Davies, appears in just one episode. Miss Smiley, played by Lorna Laidlaw, owns the Sunnysands café and is married to Mr. Whoops. Other characters include Mr. Liker-Biker, an optimistic local biker more interested in gear than cycling; Lady Prigsbottom, a rich, demanding, posh woman; Princess Purpelovna, a celebrity film star in one episode; her chauffeur Igor; Mr. Krumpgrumble, a taste tester; Miss Snip, a dog groomer; Baby Boris; Mr. Hackitt, a gardener; and Josh.

Episodes

Episodes include "Captain Dumbletwit's Toughest Mission Yet!" (15 February 2010), in which Grandpa visits an old childhood friend who has lost his imagination. "Mr Mentor's Custard Puff Plopper" (16 February 2010) involves Grandpa fixing an invention complicated by Great Aunt Loretta. "No Two Rings the Same" (17 February 2010) sees Mr. Liker Biker complicating Dad's work. "A Carrot Called Christopher and Other Odd Vegetables" (18 February 2010) has Grandpa and Jason stopping Great Aunt Loretta from cooking vegetables. "Taking Floyd for a Ride" (19 February 2010) is another episode. "Trying to Play with Shy Shanay" (22 February 2010) features Grandpa helping Jemima bring a shy boy out of his shell. Other episodes include "A Day for a Play at Miss Smiley's Café", "Jemima's New Best Friend", "Bubbles and Squeak", "No More Dolls for Dora", "A Very Needy Speedy Edie", "Making the Most of Max", "Miss Smiley's Strawberry Surprise", "In It to Win It!", "Horatio Heave Ho!", "Great Aunt Loretta's Not-So-Great Plan", "Mr Whoops' Toy of the Week", "The Perfect Little Litter Picker", "Big Elf, Little Elf", "A Song for Miss Smiley", "Mr Scoffbucket the Goat", "Miss Smiley's Dancing Tea" (16 March 2010), "A Sunnysands Tick Tock Shock", "Wulfy's Day with Mr Whoops", "Captain Shipshape and a Fish Called Bryan", "Grandpa's Greatest Escape Ever", "The Magic of Christmas" (15 December 2010), "No Ordinary Pig" (14 February 2011), "Lighthouse View, as Good as New" (15 February 2011), "Boom a Boom Whoop Zing Zoo!" (16 February 2011), "Lenora the Explorer" (17 February 2011), and "A Captain Dumbletwit Box of Tricks" (18 February 2011).