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Series · 1986 – 1990 · Animation

The Trap Door

★7.7 1986 – 1990 2 Seasons Charlie Mills TV-MA

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.

Seasons & episodes

2 seasons · 40 episodes

Breakfast Time

Episode 01

Breakfast Time

Oct 6, 1986 · 4 min

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

Episode 02

Slither, Wriggle and Writhe

Oct 7, 1986 · 4 min

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

Episode 03

Food for Thort

Oct 8, 1986 · 4 min

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

Episode 04

Lurkings

Oct 9, 1986 · 4 min

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

Episode 05

Gourmet's Delight

Oct 10, 1986 · 4 min

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

Episode 06

Creepy Crawly

Oct 13, 1986 · 4 min

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

Episode 07

The Big Thing

Oct 14, 1986 · 4 min

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

Episode 08

Ghoulies

Oct 15, 1986 · 4 min

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

Episode 09

The Dose

Oct 16, 1986 · 4 min

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

Episode 10

The Thingy

Oct 17, 1986 · 4 min

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

Episode 11

Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite

Oct 20, 1986 · 4 min

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

Episode 12

Fester Rancid

Oct 21, 1986 · 4 min

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

Episode 13

The Pain

Oct 21, 1986 · 4 min

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

Episode 14

The Little Thing

Oct 23, 1986 · 4 min

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

Episode 15

Don't Open That Trap Door

Oct 24, 1986 · 4 min

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

Episode 16

Junk Food

Oct 27, 1986 · 4 min

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!

Episode 17

Yechh!

Oct 28, 1986 · 4 min

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

Episode 18

Flyin' Wotsit Fingy

Oct 29, 1986 · 4 min

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

Episode 19

Strange Goings On

Oct 30, 1986 · 4 min

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

Episode 20

Midnight Snack

Oct 31, 1986 · 4 min

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

Episode 21

Nasty Stuff

Nov 3, 1986 · 4 min

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

Sniff That

Episode 22

Sniff That

Nov 4, 1986 · 4 min

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

Episode 23

Vile Pile

Nov 5, 1986 · 4 min

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

Slightly Weird

Episode 24

Slightly Weird

Nov 6, 1986 · 4 min

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

Bye Bye Berk

Episode 25

Bye Bye Berk

Nov 7, 1986 · 4 min

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

About the series

The Trap Door poster
Audience score
★ 7.7 /10

based on 22 votes

Synopsis

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.

AnimationComedyFamilyKids

Cast

3 principal cast

William Rushton

William Rushton

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

Nick Shipley

Drutt (voice)

Terry Brain

Where to watch The Trap Door

The Trap Door is available to stream on Flicksy via 6 verified sources, aggregated from publicly available embed providers. The animation from Charlie Mills, Terry Brain has 2 seasons and 40 total episodes, rated 7.7/10 by 22 viewers.

Frequently asked

How many seasons does The Trap Door have?

The Trap Door has 2 seasons with 40 episodes in total.

Is The Trap Door still on the air?

The Trap Door has ended and is no longer in production.

What network airs The Trap Door?

The Trap Door airs on ITV1.

When did The Trap Door first air?

The Trap Door first aired on October 6, 1986.

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