''Young Dracula'' is a British children's
horror drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance: a play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a genre of poetry in general, the dramatic mode has been ...
comedy
Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in theatre, film, stand-up comedy, television, radio, books, or any other entertainment medium. The term o ...
television series
A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite television, satellite, or cable television, cable, excluding breaking news, television adverti ...
which aired on
CBBC
CBBC (initialised as Children's BBC and also known as the CBBC Channel) is a British free-to-air Public service broadcasting in the United Kingdom, public broadcast children's television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is also the bran ...
, loosely based on ''
Young Dracula
''Young Dracula'' is a British children's horror drama comedy television series which aired on CBBC, loosely based on '' Young Dracula'', a 2002 children's book by Michael Lawrence. It is also based on the epistolary novel ''Dracula'', writt ...
'', a 2002
children's
A child ( : children) is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The legal definition of ''child'' generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger ...
book by
Michael Lawrence. It is also based on the epistolary novel ''
Dracula
''Dracula'' is a novel by Bram Stoker, published in 1897. As an epistolary novel, the narrative is related through letters, diary entries, and newspaper articles. It has no single protagonist, but opens with solicitor Jonathan Harker taking ...
'', written by Bram Stoker and published in 1897. The final episode aired on 31 March 2014.
The first two series follow the Dracula family, a family of
vampire
A vampire is a mythical creature that subsists by feeding on the Vitalism, vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead, undead creatures that often visited loved ones and caused mi ...
s:
Vladimir
Vladimir may refer to:
Names
* Vladimir (name) for the Bulgarian, Croatian, Czech, Macedonian, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Slovak and Slovenian spellings of a Slavic name
* Uladzimir for the Belarusian version of the name
* Volodymyr for the Ukr ...
(Vlad), his father
Count Dracula
Count Dracula () is the title character of Bram Stoker's 1897 gothic horror novel '' Dracula''. He is considered to be both the prototypical and the archetypal vampire in subsequent works of fiction. Aspects of the character are believed by som ...
, and sister Ingrid. Having lived in
Transylvania
Transylvania ( ro, Ardeal or ; hu, Erdély; german: Siebenbürgen) is a historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and south its natural border is the Carpathian Mountains, and to the west the Ap ...
, they move to Stokely, a small town in
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
after various incidents involving angry peasant mobs. It was filmed in various locations around Wales, including
Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf
Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf (''Taff Bank Welsh Language Comprehensive School'') is a Welsh-medium coeducational secondary school in Llandaff North, a district in the north of Cardiff, Wales; it is the largest of its kind in the country. Of the ...
,
Caerphilly Castle
Caerphilly Castle ( cy, Castell Caerffili) is a medieval fortification in Caerphilly in South Wales. The castle was constructed by Gilbert de Clare in the 13th century as part of his campaign to maintain control of Glamorgan, and saw extensi ...
,
Tretower Court
Tretower Court () is a medieval fortified manor house in Wales, situated in the village of Tretower, near Crickhowell in modern-day Powys, previously within the historical county of Breconshire or Brecknockshire.
Local & national importance
T ...
and parts of
Llantrisant
Llantrisant (; "Parish of the Three Saints") is a town in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, Wales, lying on the River Ely and the Afon Clun. The three saints of the town's name are SS ...
. Directed by
Joss Agnew
''The Sarah Jane Adventures'' is a British science fiction television programme that was produced by BBC Cymru Wales for CBBC, created by Russell T Davies, and starring Elisabeth Sladen. The programme is a spin-off of the long-running BBC sc ...
, the first series was broadcast in 2006 and the second series, which started in late 2007, concluded in early 2008.
The third series, commissioned three years after the second, sees Vlad and the Count flee both vampires and slayers, while the
Count
Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...
is determined that Vlad should fulfil his destiny to become "
the Chosen One". This series was filmed in
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. With a population of in 2019, it is the 10th largest English district by population and its metropolitan area is the fifth largest in the United Kingdom, with a popul ...
during 2011, in various locations including the disused
Margaret Bevan School,
Croxteth Hall
Croxteth Hall is a country estate and Grade II* listed building in the West Derby suburb of Liverpool, England. It is the former country estate and ancestral home of the Molyneux family, the Earls of Sefton. After the death of the sevent ...
and
Stanley Docks
Stanley Dock is a Dock (maritime), dock on the River Mersey, England, and part of the Port of Liverpool. It is situated in the Vauxhall, Liverpool, Vauxhall area of Liverpool and is part of the northern dock system. The dock is connected to the ...
. It began airing on 31 October 2011. The fourth series follows on from season three's predicament and had a new director, airing on 29 October 2012. Young Dracula was renewed for a fifth and final series in 2013, with filming beginning in April. The hour long finale, "The Darkest Hour", aired 31 March 2014.
''Young Dracula'' was nominated for Best Children's Drama in the 2008
BAFTA Awards
The British Academy Film Awards, more commonly known as the BAFTA Film Awards is an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) to honour the best British and international contributions to film. The cere ...
and has been nominated for several other awards. An additional series, the ''Young Dracula Files'', began broadcasting on 24 October 2012, in which the main characters tell their stories of the past. It was primarily hosted by the character Bertrand Du Fortunesa, played by Cesare Taurasi.
Characters
Main
*
Gerran Howell
Gerran Lyn Howell (born 25 February 1991) is a Welsh actor, director and writer of short films, best known for playing "Vladimir Dracula" in ''Young Dracula'', a CBBC television series that initially aired in 2006.
Early life
Howell was born in ...
as Vlad Dracula, a reluctant vampire and the son and heir of Count Dracula, who later discovers he is the Chosen One and is a half-human dimidius. He initially resists his destiny, fighting to find any way to become fully human, but ultimately embraces his full power in order to protect his family and friends and bring peace between humans and vampires.
*
Keith-Lee Castle
Keith-Lee Castle (born 14 September 1968) is a British actor.
Career
Throughout his career, he has guest-starred in numerous television shows, mostly British. He has also appeared in several films, including playing 'the psychotic Psychs', th ...
as
Count Dracula
Count Dracula () is the title character of Bram Stoker's 1897 gothic horror novel '' Dracula''. He is considered to be both the prototypical and the archetypal vampire in subsequent works of fiction. Aspects of the character are believed by som ...
, the infamous 600-year-old vampire known as the 'Prince of Darkness', who often behaves maliciously and has no qualms about drinking blood, killing his enemies, and abusing Ingrid and Renfield. He has a softer side, which grows due to Vlad's influence and his fondness for certain humans, particularly Alex McCauley. Despite his reputation, Dracula displays frequent incompetence and weakened abilities due to his old age, but can prove formidable in battle on occasion.
*
Clare Thomas
Clare Lucy Prosser (née Thomas; born 2 April 1989) is a British actress who has appeared in several British films and television
Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and ...
as Ingrid Dracula, Dracula's malicious daughter and Vlad's elder sister, who is neglected by her father and underestimated by the vampire community, making her determined to prove herself. She later seizes control of Stokely Castle and tries to kill her family, but is forced to seek refuge with them after being attacked by slayers years later. Ingrid eventually becomes a member of the Vampire High Council and the owner of Garside Grange. She may be a reference to
Ingrid Pitt
Ingrid Pitt (born Ingoushka Petrov; 21 November 193723 November 2010) was a Polish-British actress and writer best known for her work in horror films of the 1970s.
Early life
Ingoushka Petrov was born in Warsaw, Poland, one of two daughters ...
.
*
Craig Roberts
Craig Haydn Roberts (born 21 January 1991) is a Welsh actor and director. He is best known for lead roles as Oliver Tate in the coming-of-age comedy-drama film ''Submarine'' (2010) and David Meyers in the series ''Red Oaks'' (2014–2017), and f ...
as Robin Branaugh (series 1-2), Vlad's human best friend and confidante, who is obsessed with vampires and wants to become one himself. When Vlad discovers he is the Chosen One, he mind-wipes Robin, leaving him with no memory of vampires.
* Terence Maynard as Eric Van Helsing (series 1-2), a woodwork teacher and inept slayer whose relentless pursuit of vampires estranged him from his wife Mina, and frequently embarrasses his son Jonno. Van Helsing has never actually slain a vampire prior to meeting Dracula, against whom he wages a feud. He later slays two vampires in a final conflict with the Dracula family, before Vlad mind-wipes him, leaving him with no memory of vampires. This renders Van Helsing defenceless against a later vampire attack, and he is killed.
* Terry Haywood as Jonno Van Helsing (series 1-2 and 4; guest series 3), Van Helsing's son who initially does not believe in vampires, but later helps his father fight the Draculas. Jonno and his mother Mina take over the Slayers' Guild after Van Helsing is apparently killed by vampires, but Vlad brokers a truce and works with Jonno to try to bring peace.
*
Simon Ludders
Simon Ludders is an English film and television actor, writer and director. He is best known for starring as Renfield in ''Young Dracula'', a CBBC television series that initially aired in 2006 and finalised in 2014.
He also played Trevor Smith ...
as Percival Renfield, Dracula's long-suffering servant. He is slow-witted and repulsively unhygienic, but is also a genius scientist and is deeply loyal to the Dracula family, mostly due to his misguided belief that Dracula will one day bite him. He eventually gains the bite through coercion, becoming a particularly incompetent vampire.
* Beth Robert as Elizabeth Branaugh (series 1-2), Robin's perpetually cheerful mother, whom Dracula covets.
*
Aneirin Hughes
Aneirin Hughes (born Aneurin Hughes, 8 May 1958) is a Welsh actor and singer known for playing Chief Superintendent Brian Prosser in the BBC4 Welsh police drama ''Hinterland''. He won a Best Actor BAFTA Cymru (or BAFTA Wales) for his appearance ...
as Graham Branaugh (series 1-2), Robin's father, a plumber who dislikes Dracula.
* Lucy Borja as Chloe Branaugh (series 1-2), Robin's younger sister, who possesses prodigious intelligence and soon learns that the Draculas are vampires. She is Vlad's friend until her family are almost killed by vampires at Dracula's hunt ball, after which she refuses to go to the castle.
* Ben McGregor as Ian Branaugh (series 1-2), Robin's brother, who bullies him and is besotted with Ingrid, much like his twin Paul.
* Luke Bridgeman as Paul Branaugh (series 1-2), Robin's brother, who bullies him and is besotted with Ingrid, much like his twin Ian.
* Andy Bradshaw as Zoltan (series 1-3), a Hellhound who was stuffed and reanimated by Dracula, and serves as Vlad's pet and confidante during his childhood.
*
Sydney Rae White as Erin Noble (series 3-4), a slayer who disguises herself as a vampire and infiltrates Garside Grange to try to cure her brother Ryan's vampirism. She develops a relationship with Vlad and works with him to bring peace, but after being fatally wounded by Adze, Erin is turned into a vampire by Vlad to save her, for which she hates him. She allies with Elizabeta and Malik to destroy the Draculas, and is later killed by Ramanga's Shadow Warriors in Paris.
* Cesare Taurasi as Bertrand De Fortunessa (series 3-4), a vampire who travels to Garside to tutor Vlad in the use of his powers. Initially dubious of Vlad's plan for peace, Bertrand betrays him to Sethius, but realises Vlad's plan is the only hope for vampires and humans, and becomes devoted to helping him fulfil his goals. However Elizabeta Vaccaria frames Bertrand for further betrayal, for which Vlad kills him.
* Letty Butler as Alex McCauley (series 3-4), Garside Grange's headmistress, with whom Dracula falls in love. She eventually discovers that the Draculas are vampires, but Vlad erases her memories of this and she leaves as Garside is closed.
* Tom Gibbons as Ryan Noble (series 3-4), Erin's brother, a slayer who is bitten by Ingrid. Previously very protective of his sister, he becomes a selfish vampire who allies with Ingrid and later Malik. Ryan is murdered by Elizabeta Vaccaria as part of a plan to drive Erin and Vlad apart.
* Lorenzo Rodriguez as Wolfie Westenra (series 3-4), Ingrid's half-brother, a vampire-werewolf hybrid. He lives with Dracula for a few months before returning to his mother, Magda Westenra.
* Richard Southgate as Malik Vaccaria (series 4-5), a vampire who believes Dracula is his father, and works with his mother Elizabeta to become Dracula's new heir and then kill him. Thwarted, Malik later learns Dracula is not his father, and is killed by Ramanga.
*
Robbie Gee
Robbie Gee (born 24 March 1970) is a British actor, best known for his ''Desmond's'' character "Lee Stanley", for appearing in Guy Ritchie's crime caper '' Snatch'', and for his comedy roles in TV series like ''The Real McCoy'' and ''The Crouc ...
as Ramanga (series 4; guest series 3 and 5), a Vampire High Council member who allies with Dracula to undermine the peaceful coexistence. He has Vlad betrothed to his daughter Adze, as part of a scheme to have her gain immense power from Vlad's first bite before assassinating the Chosen One, but the plan is foiled and Dracula rips out Ramanga's fangs to humiliate him. Ramanga later travels to the Shadow Realm and is driven insane, attempting to steal Vlad’s power in a dark magic ritual, but he is killed by Dracula.
* Nathasha Stokes as Adze Ramanga (series 4), Ramanga's daughter, who is betrothed to Vlad. She covets Vlad's first bite, believing it will bestow her with immense power, but the plot is thwarted. Replacing her father on the high council, Adze is later slain by Mina Van Helsing.
*
Laura Howard
Laura Howard (born as Laura Simmons in Chiswick, London,
1977) is an English actress. She is probably best known for her role as Cully Barnaby in the long-running British crime- mystery Police procedural ''Midsomer Murders''.
Biography
Howa ...
as Sally Giles (series 5), Vlad's human mother, an artist. Vlad tracks her down, revealing himself as a vampire, but is eventually forced to erase her memories of his existence to protect her after he achieves his full power.
* Eleanor Gecks as Talitha Roquelaire (series 5), a peace-loving spiritualist vampire and the daughter of high council security chief Roquelaire. She travels with Vlad as his undercover bodyguard, and they later fall in love and begin a relationship.
* Amron Adams as Shango Ramanga (series 5), Ramanga's older son, who seeks revenge on the Draculas for his father's humiliation and death. After making several attempts to destroy them, Shango forms a truce with the Draculas during the battle against the Blood Seed.
* Quinton Nyirenda as Asan Ramanga (series 5), Ramanga's younger son, who infiltrates the Draculas' home to exact revenge for his father's death. He grows reluctant to betray the Draculas after befriending them.
* Bella Band as George Giles (series 5), Vlad’s human half-sister, an aspiring archaeologist. Vlad is later forced to erase her memories of his existence to protect her after he achieves his full power.
Series 1
After their father bit too many residents in their own Transylvania, Vladimir and Ingrid Dracula were compelled to move to Britain. For Vlad, it's a realisation of a dream and a step closer to the normal world he so desperately wants. Keeping his family's secret will be a full-time job though, what with a bloodsucking father, a talking wolf, a servant who smells like mouse droppings, and a vampire sister. Fortunately for Vlad, Robin Branaugh proves to be a reliable friend and ally. Robin wishes he did, but he doesn't reside in a castle. He is not required to wear a cloak, yet he does.
Series 2
Count Dracula is aware that slayers exist in Stokely as a result of the events at the Hunt Ball. Vlad must take all necessary measures to thwart his father's search for them. The appearance of Ivan, the Count's American brother, and Boris and Olga, Vlad and Ingrid's relatives, complicates matters further. Boris, your cousin, is set to complete his change. Will he have enough time to find a remedy, or will Vlad and he both be condemned to live out the remainder of their lives as vampires?
Series 3
The second season of the show picks up four years after the conclusion of series 2, when Ingrid gained control of the Dracula castle and vowed retribution on Stokely for killing her boyfriend Will. Since then, the Count and Vlad have escaped, and while Ingrid also makes a comeback, they decide to buy a school to hide from the slayers and vampires that are pursuing them.
As opposed to the first two series, the plot in this one is not entirely focused on Vlad. The Count, Renfield, and Wolfie (the son of Magda and Patrick from an earlier series) are involved in further subplots. The balance of power has also altered; despite the fact that the Count is Vlad's regent and so has authority over him, Vlad is now more inclined to challenge his father.
Ingrid, on the other hand, is depicted as being more inclined to cooperate with the Count, and the two appear to have reached a tense ceasefire.
For the majority of the series, Bertram disagrees with Vlad because he thinks Vlad should concentrate solely on his duty as the chosen one and is critical of his connection with Erin.
Production
The television show has left Wales and will now shoot in and around Liverpool. The week of May 9th, 2011, saw the start of the series' rehearsals, and the following week saw the start of its three-month filming schedule. The shooting was completed in August. On October 31st, the recently edited series was made available.
Series 4
The popular CBBC series Young Dracula is currently in its fourth season. There are 13 episodes total, with each one lasting roughly 30 minutes. Gerran Howell, who announced the news on Twitter, verified the existence of this series. Filming started in mid-April 2012, and the first episode aired on Monday, October 29. Filming took place in Liverpool.
Additional Notes
Sydney Rae White tweeted that Erin's hair has gotten a modest change. She now has hair falling to the side, as opposed to the "Bieber" style hair cut she had in series three.
A street vampire named Malik, played by Richard Southgate, is devoted to bringing the treaty to Vlad's demise.
Series 5
Two months after the conclusion of Series 4, Series 5 begins. Vlad, who is nearly eighteen, has returned from recent trips. He has learned what his father has been keeping a secret from him for the past 18 years. Ingrid has at last been elected to the High Council, but she is having trouble embracing her new position as Minister of Catering. Although her wicked intentions are yet unknown, it seems that she is attempting to depose Morgan. Ingrid has changed how she uses technology to compete with her rivals. With Asan's assistance, Malik is back to protect his family from the Shadow Warriors. But are they reliable?
Main Characters
Vlad "Vladimir Dracula"
Vladimir "Vlad" Dracula is the son of Count Dracula and Sally Giles, the maternal elder half-brother of Georgina Giles, and the ex-sex partner of Erin. He is Ingrid Dracula's paternal younger half-brother. He is the Dracula throne's Chosen One and the next in line. The protagonist of Young Dracula is Vladimir Dracula.
Ingrid Dracula
The oldest child of Count Dracula and Magda Westernra is Ingrid Dracula. She consistently exhibits a desire for her father's and brother's abilities throughout the entire series. She joined the Vampire High Council in season four, earning the enormous power she had always desired.
"You're a heartless, spiteful, self-centred bully...and so am I but you just can't see it!"
―Ingrid to the Count
Count Dracula
A former lover of Magda Westenra, Sally Giles, and Elizabeta Vaccaria, Count Dracula is the father of Vladimir Dracula and Ingrid Dracula, the guardian of Wolfie, the son of Dracos Dracula and Mrs. Dracula, the brother of Ivan Dracula and Arta Dracula, the uncle of Boris Dracula and Olga Dracula, and the son of Dracos He currently holds the throne of Dracula.
Percival Renfield
Renfield, a repulsive individual who enjoys nothing more than eating maggots and nothing less than "breathers," is the Draculas' servant and dogsbody.
"Yes Master"
―Renfield to Count Dracula
Episodes
Ratings
Awards
* In 2007, ''Young Dracula'' won the
Royal Television Society
The Royal Television Society (RTS) is a British-based educational charity for the discussion, and analysis of television in all its forms, past, present, and future. It is the oldest television society in the world. It currently has fourteen r ...
Award for Best Children's Drama, and the Welsh BAFTA for Best Children's Drama.
* In 2008, ''Young Dracula'' was nominated for the BAFTA Children's Drama Award.
* In 2012, "Young Dracula" was nominated for three awards at the Royal Television Society North West awards including Best Programme and for a Kids Vote BAFTA
Release
A DVD of the first series of ''Young Dracula'' was released on 15 October 2012.
A DVD of the second and third series of ''Young Dracula'' was released in 2013.
A DVD of the Series Four was released on 9 October 2014.
A DVD of the Series Five was released on 5 November 2014.
See also
*
Vampire film
Vampire films have been a staple in world cinema since the era of silent films, so much so that the depiction of vampires in popular culture is strongly based upon their depiction in films throughout the years. The most popular cinematic adaptat ...
*
List of vampire television series
List of television series about vampires, creatures from folklore that subsist by feeding on the vital essence (generally in the form of blood) of the living. In European folklore, vampires are undead creatures that often visited loved ones and ...
References
External links
*
*
{{Dracula
2006 British television series debuts
2014 British television series endings
2000s British children's television series
2010s British children's television series
BBC high definition shows
BBC children's television shows
British fantasy television series
British teen drama television series
Dark fantasy television series
Dracula television shows
British horror fiction television series
English-language television shows
Vampires in television
2000s British horror television series
2010s British horror television series
2000s British teen sitcoms
2010s British teen sitcoms
2000s British teen television series
2010s British teen television series
Television series about families
Television series by BBC Studios
Works set in castles
Television shows shot in Liverpool