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Hank Zipzer (TV series) facts for kids

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Hank Zipzer
Hank Zipzer title card.jpg
Genre Comedy
Created by Henry Winkler
Based on Hank Zipzer: The World's Greatest Underachiever by Henry Winkler and Lin Oliver
Starring
  • Nick James
  • Jayden Jean Paul-Denis
  • Chloe Wong
  • Felicity Montagu
  • Nick Mohammed
  • Jude Foley
  • Juliet Cowan
  • Neil Fitzmaurice
  • Vincenzo Nicoli
  • Madeline Holliday
  • Henry Winkler
  • Alicia Lai
  • Javone Prince
Composer(s) Oli Julian
Nick Foster
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of series 3
No. of episodes 39 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Anne Brogan
  • Hugo Heppell
  • Helen McAleer
  • Sue Nott
  • Melanie Stokes
  • Steven DeNure
  • Shayna Fine
  • Brigdet Goodman
Producer(s) Jim Poyser
Richard Grocock
Ali Brayer Carron
Siobhan Bachman
Cinematography
  • Craig Feather
  • Len Gowing
  • Douglas Hartington
  • Andy Hibbert
Production company(s) Kindle Entertainment
Walker Productions
DHX Media
Release
Original network CBBC
Picture format 1080p
Audio format Stereo
First shown in United Kingdom
Original release 28 January 2014 (2014-01-28) – 12 December 2016 (2016-12-12)

Hank Zipzer is a British children's television series which stars Nick James in the titular role as a 12-year-old dyslexic schoolboy. The show is based on the series of books by Henry Winkler, who plays the character of Mr. Rock, Hank's music teacher. The first series premiered in January 2014 on the CBBC channel. Unlike the books that took place in Winkler's native United States, the series takes place in London, in the United Kingdom. The second series began airing on 13 August 2015. Javone Prince made his first appearance as Mr. Joy in season 2, episode 5, "Hank's Hero". The third series began airing on 26 May 2016, which was followed by an 84-minute Christmas movie later in 2016. In April 2017, Neil Fitzmaurice, who plays Stan, Hank’s father, confirmed that there will not be a new series of the show.

Plot

The series focuses on the misadventures of Hank Zipzer, a 12-year-old schoolboy in London who suffers from dyslexia. Hank's friends are named Frankie and Ashley, and Nick McKelty is his nemesis. The show is based on Henry Winkler's Hank Zipzer children's books, which are based on his own experiences as a dyslexic child. In the show, he plays Hank's favourite teacher, Mr. Rock, who is based on Winkler's own music teacher. Javone Prince joined the cast in season 2 as Mr. Joy.

Cast

Cast list of Hank Zipzer
Actor Character Series Episodes
1 2 3 Special Series 1 Series 2 Series 3 Special
Nick James Henry "Hank" Pete Zipzer Main 13 / 13 1 / 1
Chloe Wong Ashley Main N/A 13 / 13 N/A
Alicia Lai Ashley N/A Main N/A 12 / 12 13 / 13 1 / 1
Felicity Montagu Miss Adolf / Fanny Adolf Main 13 / 13 12 / 12 13 / 13 1 / 1
Nick Mohammed Mr. Love / Leland Love Recurring Main Guest N/A 9 / 13 11 / 13 1 / 13 N/A
Javone Prince Mr. Joy / Adam Joy N/A Main N/A 11 / 13 N/A
Juliet Cowan Rosa Main
Neil Fitzmaurice Stanlay "Stan" Zipzer Main
Jude Foley Nicolas "Nick" McKelty Main
Henry Winkler Mr. Rock Main
Jayden Jean-Paul-Denis Frankie Main
Madeline Holliday Emily Gabriela Zipzer Main
Vincenzo Nicoli Peter Zipzer "Papa Pete" Main
Dominic Coleman Micky "Mick" McKelty Guest Recurring Guest N/A

Episodes

List of Hank Zipzer episodes

Production

CBBC commissioned the series in 2013 to be produced by Kindle Entertainment, and filming commenced in October 2013. The show was filmed at St Catherine's Catholic High School in Halifax, Yorkshire for Series 1-2. For Series 3, it was filmed at Birkdale High School in Dewsbury, Yorkshire. The first season premiered on 28 January 2014 and concluded on 22 April 2014.

On 9 June 2014, Cheryl Taylor, the CBBC Controller, announced that the show had been renewed for a second season of thirteen episodes. Nick James, Henry Winkler, Felicity Montagu, and Nick Mohammed were all confirmed to return, as Hank, Mr. Rock, Miss Adolf, and Mr. Love respectively. Additionally, Javone Prince joined the main cast as Mr. Joy.

Jon Macqueen replaced script editors Lucy Guy and Danny Springs, while Jim Poyser joined as a producer. Returning writers include Mark Oswin and Madeleine Brettingham, who each wrote one episode and former script editor Lucy Guy, who wrote two. Several new writers worked on the second series, including Jon Macqueen (two episodes), Mark Evans (one episode), and Adam G. Goodwin & Jonathan Parkyn (one episode).

Matt Bloom was the lead director on all three seasons.

Awards

Year Award Category Nominee Result
2016 International Emmy Awards Kids: Series Hank Zipzer Nominated
2016 British Academy Children's Awards Performer Nick James as Hank Zipzer Won
2017 British Academy Children's Awards Comedy Hank Zipzer Nominated

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Hank Zipzer (serie de televisión) para niños

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