Round the Twist

Season Two of Round the Twist was the best of the four series, and is not only the best children's TV series I've ever seen, but one of the best fantasy drama series for any age group at all. It is in turns funny, moving, and profoundly weird, and episodes tend to push the boundaries of children's television in a refreshing way. As with most Australian children's TV series the location shooting is really beautiful.

Underpinning the stories of Season two is the tragic history of the lighthouse's ghosts - who are they, and why are they full of sadness and regret? - a mystery which is resolved in the final episode.

The programme makers show great attention to detail, for instance during the end credits of each show we get to see not only out-takes but alternative workings of scenes from the week's episode. (Sadly in the UK, the BBC bizarrely refuse to show the endings of children's dramas, so UK viewers miss out on this intriguing footage which rounds off each week's episode).

RTT went downhill after season two with the loss of the original script-writer Paul Jennings, whose short stories the TV show is based on.