The Trap Door

1986 - 1990

Breakfast Time

6th October 1986

Episode 1

A long-necked monster emerges from the Trap Door and eats the breakfast that Berk has prepared for the Thing Upstairs. Afterwards, a big, angry red monster chases Berk and Berk has a hard time getting rid of it again.

Slither, Wriggle and Writhe

7th October 1986

Episode 2

Berk is trying to put up some shelves for his master and is using Boni as a prop to hold up the shelf. Looking for more wood, Berk opens the Trap Door and a huge octopus-like creature emerges, creating havoc in the kitchen.

Food for Thort

8th October 1986

Episode 3

Berk is instructed to take care of the garden. He goes out to feed the plants, especially Thort, his master's favourite vegetable, an animal-like plant with a beak that tries to bite Berk. Some wasp-looking things also attack him.

Lurkings

9th October 1986

Episode 4

Berk, Boni and Drutt go down to the swamp outside the castle to do some fishing. Berk has left the Trap Door open and is soon surprised by an enormous pink monster who creeps up behind them.

Gourmet's Delight

10th October 1986

Episode 5

Berk is cooking again, when something invisible comes out of the Trap Door and starts throwing things about. Berk scores a direct hit in retaliation with some yellow goo and the little creature, Bubo, becomes visible for him to fight.

Creepy Crawly

13th October 1986

Episode 6

A many-legged creature comes out of the Trap Door and scuttles off down the corridor. Berk goes in search of it and finds an enormous black spider dropping down in front of him.

The Big Thing

14th October 1986

Episode 7

Boni is bored, but Berk doesn't have time to talk to him. Then Rogg appears from the trap door and throws Boni from the top of the castle. Berk is then left talking to himself.

Ghoulies

15th October 1986

Episode 8

Berk and Boni are going through things in a room that's been left untouched for a long time. Berk finds an old book of spells and reads one out, summoning up the Ghostly Ghoulies.

The Dose

16th October 1986

Episode 9

The Thing Upstairs has a cold, so Berk makes him some of his special medicine. Meanwhile, a green lump comes out of the Trap Door and drinks all the medicine - with rather strange results.

The Thingy

17th October 1986

Episode 10

Berk is trying to nail the Trap Door down, but it's no good - a large peculiar looking creepy thing comes popping up and changes Berk, Boni and Drutt into all sorts of different shapes.

Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite

20th October 1986

Episode 11

Berk goes to sleep, but a giant monstrous hand opens the trapdoor, grabs Boni and takes him down below. Now Berk must venture into the spooky strange area beneath the Trap Door to find his friend.

Fester Rancid

21st October 1986

Episode 12

Boni is pestered by Bubo, who has returned again to cause havoc. Berk goes to the rescue, but ends up in the swamp, menaced by swamp creatures. This time, Berk plans to teach Bubo a lesson.

The Pain

21st October 1986

Episode 13

The Thing Upstairs has tooth ache and Berk is summoned to administer to him. Once he finds which head the bad tooth is in, Berk pulls out what he believes to be the rotten one. Meanwhile, a giant muddy thing goes after Drutt.

The Little Thing

23rd October 1986

Episode 14

While the Thing Upstairs is asleep, a little thing comes out of the Trap Door and zooms about so that Berk cannot catch it. Each time it stops it emits a loud fog horn. To Berk's horror, it goes upstairs and into his master's bedroom.

Don't Open That Trap Door

24th October 1986

Episode 15

Berk is tidying up and finds an old radio which starts to a familiar tune. As it plays, Rogg and other assorted creatures come out of the Trap Door to dance about. The Thing Upstairs, however, is not amused.

Junk Food

27th October 1986

Episode 16

Berk is told to throw out the rubbish and decides to throw it down the Trap Door. But Rogg appears and eats it all up with relish. He then climbs into the dumb waiter and wonders into Him Upstair's boudoir, which lands Berk in trouble.

Yechh!

28th October 1986

Episode 17

A creature comes out of the Trap Door and lays some eggs which hatch into green exploding creatures. Berk concerned with the mess decides to push it all down the Trap Door.

Flyin' Wotsit Fingy

29th October 1986

Episode 18

Berk is trying to take some photographs of his friends, when a flying creature comes out of the Trap Door. Berk has seen it before and knows that it gives the Thing Upstairs pimples if it gets near him.

Strange Goings On

30th October 1986

Episode 19

Boni has been complaining of boredom again, but Berk has planned a picnic at the swamp. First though he has to see the Thing Upstairs. Meanwhile, a tentacle pulls Boni down the Trap Door.

Midnight Snack

31st October 1986

Episode 20

Berk is asleep. Three monsters, called the Big Mouths, appear out of the Trap Door. They eat everything in sight and make a complete mess of the place.

Nasty Stuff

3rd November 1986

Episode 21

Berk makes some medicine for his headache, but after drinking it, he becomes a monster.

Sniff That

4th November 1986

Episode 22

Something with a lot of eyes sneaks up on Berk while he is trying to unclog a drain. An Elephant Bug that sucks things into its trunk climbs out too, and in the end solves both his problems.

Vile Pile

5th November 1986

Episode 23

All the rubbish Berk keeps throwing down the Trap Door comes to life and starts spitting slime at him.

Slightly Weird

6th November 1986

Episode 24

Berk tries to pick mushrooms to feed the Thing Upstairs for breakfast, until one of them runs off.

Bye Bye Berk

7th November 1986

Episode 25

Fed up with running around after the Thing Upstairs, and fending off the trap door monsters, Berk leaves.

Top Cast

William Rushton•Nick Shipley•Terry Brain

Director

Terry Brain

Writer

Terry Brain

Animation Comedy Family Kids

The Trap Door is a claymation-style animated television series, originally shown in the United Kingdom in 1984. The plot revolves around both the daily lives and the misadventures of a group of monsters living in a castle. Although the emphasis was on humour and the show was marketed as a children's programme but also for family entertainment, the show drew much from the genres of horror and dark fantasy. The show has since become a cult favourite and remains one of the most widely recognised kids' shows of the 1980s. Digital children's channel Pop started rerunning the show in 2010.

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Production Companies

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Full Cast

William Rushton Image

William Rushton

Berk / Boni / The Thing Upstairs / Rogg (voice)

Nick Shipley

Drutt (voice)

Terry Brain

Full Crew

Charlie Mills

Creator

Terry Brain

Creator

Terry Brain

Writer

Steve Box Image

Steve Box

Animation

John-Michael Howson

Producer

William Rushton Image

William Rushton

Additional Writing

Terry Brain

Director

Steve Box Image

Steve Box

Writer

Zygott

Theme Song Performance

Charlie Mills

Writer

Nigel Davies

Animation

Charlie Mills

Director

Bob Heatlie

Music

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