25 minSeason 1 • Episode 8
LatestWhen the children take the Phoenix to the theatre, he gets so excited that he starts a fire.
The Phoenix and the Carpet is an eight-part British miniseries based on E. Nesbit's 1904 fantasy novel of the same name. Produced by the BBC, it aired from 29 December 1976 to 16 February 1977. Four Edwardian children find a strange egg in their newly-arrived Persian carpet. It hatches into a Phoenix bird that grants wishes and also transforms the rug into a magic carpet, which takes them on a series of adventures all over the world and at home.
Practical Effects
Charming pre-CGI effects that age like a beloved storybook.
Acting
Richard Warner's magnificently pompous Phoenix voice performance.
Production
Authentic Edwardian period detail on a shoestring BBC budget.
Creator
Edith Nesbit
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Gary Russell (Cyril) later became a prolific Doctor Who audio drama producer—clearly the BBC fantasy bug stuck.
E. Nesbit essentially invented the 'magical object causes domestic chaos' genre that Harry Potter later conquered.
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