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The Trap Door

The Trap Door

★ 7.7/10•1986•5m•U•Animation•Comedy•Family
Similars

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.

Charlie Mills · Creator

Terry Brain · Creator

Terry Brain · Writer

Terry Brain · Director

StatusEnded
Runtime5m
LanguageEN
First Air DateOct 6, 1986

Episodes

Episode 1 - Breakfast TimeE14m

Breakfast Time

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.

Oct 6, 1986

Episode 2 - Slither, Wriggle and WritheE24m

Slither, Wriggle and Writhe

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.

Oct 7, 1986

Episode 3 - Food for ThortE34m

Food for Thort

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.

Oct 8, 1986

Episode 4 - LurkingsE44m

Lurkings

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.

Oct 9, 1986

Episode 5 - Gourmet's DelightE54m

Gourmet's Delight

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.

Oct 10, 1986

Episode 6 - Creepy CrawlyE64m

Creepy Crawly

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.

Oct 13, 1986

Episode 7 - The Big ThingE74m

The Big Thing

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.

Oct 14, 1986

Episode 8 - GhouliesE84m

Ghoulies

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.

Oct 15, 1986

Episode 9 - The DoseE94m

The Dose

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.

Oct 16, 1986

Episode 10 - The ThingyE104m

The Thingy

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.

Oct 17, 1986

Episode 11 - Don't Let the Bed Bugs BiteE114m

Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite

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.

Oct 20, 1986

Episode 12 - Fester RancidE124m

Fester Rancid

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.

Oct 21, 1986

Episode 13 - The PainE134m

The Pain

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.

Oct 21, 1986

Episode 14 - The Little ThingE144m

The Little Thing

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.

Oct 23, 1986

Episode 15 - Don't Open That Trap DoorE154m

Don't Open That Trap Door

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.

Oct 24, 1986

Episode 16 - Junk FoodE164m

Junk Food

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.

Oct 27, 1986

Episode 17 - Yechh!E174m

Yechh!

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.

Oct 28, 1986

Episode 18 - Flyin' Wotsit FingyE184m

Flyin' Wotsit Fingy

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.

Oct 29, 1986

Episode 19 - Strange Goings OnE194m

Strange Goings On

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.

Oct 30, 1986

Episode 20 - Midnight SnackE204m

Midnight Snack

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.

Oct 31, 1986

Episode 21 - Nasty StuffE214m

Nasty Stuff

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

Nov 3, 1986

Episode 22 - Sniff ThatE224m

Sniff That

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.

Nov 4, 1986

Episode 23 - Vile PileE234m

Vile Pile

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

Nov 5, 1986

Episode 24 - Slightly WeirdE244m

Slightly Weird

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

Nov 6, 1986

Episode 25 - Bye Bye BerkE254m

Bye Bye Berk

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

Nov 7, 1986

Actors

William Rushton

William Rushton

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

Nick Shipley

Drutt (voice)

Terry Brain

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