Fatty and George

Lore & Background

Fatty and George is a 10-episode children's sci-fi series produced in 1979 and 1980 by the Tasmanian Film Corporation, a state government initiative to generate film and television ventures in Tasmania. Filming took place at various Hobart locations and on set at the corporation's studios in Moonah. The series was screened nationally on the ABC in 1981 and internationally, becoming one of Tasmania's most successful exports.

Reader's Guide

The series follows siblings Fatty and George, whose scientist father becomes trapped in a limbo-like dimension while experimenting with time travel. A rod-like crystal at the heart of his experiment, capable of freezing time around its bearer, is sought by the wealthy and evil Nancy, who pursues the children with her henchman Phil. With help from their friend Izzy, aunty Kath, and grandad Bert, the siblings search for a way to bring their father back while evading Nancy and a gang of BMX biker kids named Slasher, Jonsey, and Maggot. The series received several repeat screenings on the ABC in subsequent years, but its rights have long since expired, making further broadcast unlikely. In 2004, Screen Tasmania presented the first three episodes in their 'Tasmanian Travelling Picture Show.' Each episode was digitally remastered by the Tasmanian Archive & Heritage Office and released on DVD due to public demand, including a Facebook site for the series. Director, producer, and co-writer John Honey expressed delight at the digital release, noting the large number of people who remember the series.

Did You Know?

• The series was produced by the Tasmanian Film Corporation, created by the Tasmanian state government.
• Filming took place at various Hobart locations and at the Tasmanian Film Corporation's studios in Moonah.
• The series was one of Tasmania's most successful exports.
• Each episode was digitally remastered by the Tasmanian Archive & Heritage Office and released on DVD.

The Story & Its Central Conflict

The premise of Fatty and George centers on two ordinary siblings whose scientist father becomes trapped in a limbo-like dimension after his time-travel experiment goes catastrophically wrong. The rod-shaped crystal that sits at the core of his machine becomes the focal point of a dangerous pursuit, as the wealthy and ruthless Nancy seeks to seize it. The crystal's ability to freeze time around whoever carries it makes it a weapon of potentially devastating consequence if it lands in the wrong hands.

Fatty and George must navigate this high-stakes chase while trying to find a way to rescue their father. They are aided by a small circle of allies: their friend Izzy, aunty Kath, and grandad Bert. Their enemies extend beyond Nancy and her henchman Phil, as the children also contend with a gang of BMX-riding kids named Slasher, Jonsey, and Maggot. The series, structured across ten twenty-five-minute episodes, weaves together family drama, sci-fi adventure, and the everyday struggles of childhood into a single compelling narrative.

Production & the Tasmanian Connection

Fatty and George was produced between 1979 and 1980 by the Tasmanian Film Corporation, a body established by the Tasmanian state government with the specific mission of generating film and television ventures within the state. The series was made for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and filmed across multiple locations in Hobart, as well as on the TFC's own studio set in Moonah.

The production's deep roots in Tasmania made it a point of genuine state pride. The series went on to become one of Tasmania's most successful cultural exports, reaching audiences both nationally and internationally. Its creation was a direct product of the state government's investment in local media infrastructure, demonstrating that a regional production body could deliver a polished, competitive children's programme for a national broadcaster. The ten-episode format, each running twenty-five minutes, was designed for the ABC's children's programming slot, and the series fulfilled that brief while carrying a distinctly Tasmanian production identity.

Broadcast History & Availability

Fatty and George first reached Australian viewers through the ABC in 1981, where it was broadcast nationally. The series also found an international audience, cementing its reputation as one of Tasmania's most successful exports. In the years following its original run, the ABC scheduled several repeat screenings, keeping the show in front of audiences well beyond its initial broadcast window.

However, the series' broadcast life has since come to a close. The ABC's rights to screen Fatty and George have long since expired, and it is considered unlikely that the show will return to television screens. In 2004, Screen Tasmania offered a partial revival by presenting the first three episodes as part of their "Tasmanian Travelling Picture Show," a curated screening event that brought the series back to audiences in a more intimate, event-based format. This limited re-screening served as a reminder that the show still held a place in the cultural memory of those who had grown up watching it, even as its availability on mainstream television had effectively ended.

Legacy, Nostalgia & the DVD Release

Decades after its original broadcast, Fatty and George experienced a remarkable resurgence of public interest. The Tasmanian Archive & Heritage Office (TAHO) digitally remastered every episode and released the complete series on DVD, a decision driven directly by public demand. Viewers who had grown up with the show were actively seeking out copies, prompting TAHO to prioritize the project.

Ron Moss, the Digital Services Officer at TAHO, noted that the public's eagerness to obtain a copy was the primary motivation behind the release, and he pointed to the existence of a dedicated Facebook page for the series as evidence of its enduring fan community. He observed that "everything old is in vogue again," capturing the broader cultural trend of nostalgia for vintage television. John Honey, who served as director, producer, and co-writer on the original production, expressed genuine delight at seeing the series in its new digital form, remarking that the number of people who still remember Fatty and George is "enormous." The DVD release ensured that a generation's shared childhood memory could be preserved and revisited.

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