Love Is in the Air

"Love Is in the Air" is the ninth episode of the first series of the British children's television programme Julia Jekyll and Harriet Hyde. The episode was directed by Jim Eldridge and written by show producer Jeremy Swan. It was first broadcast in the UK on BBC One on 24 November 1995.

In the episode, new relationships abound across the town of Twigley. While Julia's cousin Daffodil (Natasha Grey) falls in love with Julia's science teacher Lester Blister (Robert Portal), conflict arises for Memphis Rocket (Simon Green) as he must choose between his mother (Ann Emery) and his new girlfriend Amber Python (Natalie Forbes).

Plot
At the Jekyll household, Julia Jekyll goes to answer the ringing phone, only to transform into Harriet Hyde as she picks up. Calling is her cousin Daffodil wanting to speak to her aunt - Julia's mother Moira. Harriet stalls long enough for her to turn back into Julia, as Moira descends the stairs having been experimenting with her hair colour. Julia leaves to work on the experiment of her own - an antidote for her transformation.

Later, Jerry sits at the dining table gaping at Moira's hair colour - bright green. Moira calls it an experiment that went wrong, as the kitchen door is blown off its hinges by an explosion from Julia's own experiment that went wrong - Julia notes that it must run in the family after seeing the state of her mother's hair. Moira tells Julia that Daffodil has fallen in love with a local man and wants to bring him to meet them, with her own side of the family's house in disarray. Jerry dreads their arrival.

At the Rocket Academy, the Blister Sisters collect money from the other pupils so that they won't beat them up, but plan to use the money to buy a present for their uncle Lester Blister's new girlfriend. The Blister Sisters leave while the other pupils wonder who would want to be in a relationship with Mr Blister. Roger reveals that headteacher Memphis Rocket also has a girlfriend, having seen him with a woman at the local café. Julia notes how his mother Mrs Rocket would not be pleased about the new woman in his life. In the headteacher's office, Mrs Rocket scolds her son for having a new woman in his life. Memphis reveals her to be Amber Python - a pet shop owner. Mrs Rocket forbids her son from seeing Amber again.

At a local restaurant - The Happy Crab - Memphis meets with Amber, who believes his mother to simply be shy about meeting her. Memphis plays along, wanting to keep the pair's romance a secret. Amber is infatuated with Memphis, saying that no shy mother will come between them and their love for one another. Memphis agrees and orders a cappuccino for his girlfriend.

Back at the Jekylls', Jerry and Moira prepare for the arrival of Daffodil and her boyfriend with romantic music and dimmed lighting. Moira wonders what her niece's boyfriend will be like as the doorbell rings. Moira leads them into the living room only for Daffodil's new boyfriend to be Lester Blister, who awkwardly greets his student Julia. Julia retreats into the kitchen to continue working on her antidote, leaving everyone else in uncomfortable silence. After being signalled by a head nod from Daffodil, Moira and Jerry leave to allow Daffodil and Lester to discuss 'one or two things'. Unnerved by peculiar noises coming from the kitchen and the dimness of the lighting, Lester heads into the hall to book a restaurant. As Daffodil applies some makeup, the kitchen door is blown off its hinges by an explosion and she is terrified by Harriet Hyde emerging from the now-empty doorframe. She flees the house and runs down the road as Harriet turns back into Julia. Lester, Moira and Jerry return asking why Daffodil left, with Julia explaining about her experiment. Lester runs after his girlfriend to ensure they keep their booking at The Happy Crab. Julia offers to fix the damage caused by the explosion, but Jerry suggests they too go to The Happy Crab for a meal.

Memphis and Amber are still at The Happy Crab, with the former wooing the latter by singing 'Secret Love' by Doris Day. Lester greets the pair, with Amber pointing out Daffodil's funny name. When Memphis introduces Amber, Lester and Daffodil both laugh before promptly taking their seats to avoid a confrontation. The Jekylls arrive and Julia apologises for frightening her cousin, who claims to have seen a monster - Lester dismisses this as an optical illusion. Seeing Memphis in the next booth, the Jekylls greet him and Memphis introduces them to Amber. Jerry jokes about meeting another Python - at London Zoo - before they find themselves a table. Memphis has Amber remove her glasses to gaze into her green eyes. Amber mentions that having met so many people that evening that only Memphis' mother would need to appear.

Just as Memphis says that his mother is too shy to turn up, Mrs Rocket enters. She greets the Jekylls and says she often stops by the restaurant for a snack after meeting with her mountain bike club. Moira tells Mrs Rocket that Lester and her niece are in the next booth, as well as another romantic couple in the next booth along - Memphis and Amber. Distraught that her son went against her wishes, Jerry and Moira leave the table to get Amber and introduce them to each other. Mrs Rocket heads back outside to put a lock on her bike, leaving Julia alone at the table just as she turns into Harriet Hyde. Jerry and Moira ask if they can introduce Memphis and Amber to Mrs Rocket, but Amber goes to introduce herself - still without her glasses. She sits down beside Harriet, mistaking her for Mrs Rocket and noting her height. When she returns to her table and mentions her resemblance to 'Queen Kong', Memphis is outraged and calls off their relationship - earning him a cake to the face from Amber. She sits down with Lester and Daffodil and asks if they have ever met Mrs Rocket, to which Daffodil says she hasn't and wants to meet her. Looking in the next booth, Daffodil screams at the sight of Harriet Hyde and runs into the road again, prompting Lester to chase her.

Jerry and Moira console Memphis, wiping away cream and chocolate from his face. Mrs Rocket re-enters having seen Lester chasing a woman down the street, only to be met by Harriet Hyde. She screams, not seeing Harriet change back into Julia. Seeing Memphis covered in cake, Amber announces it was her doing and wanders what business it is of a 'nosey old bag' like her. Revealing herself to be Memphis' mother, Amber awkwardly leaves. Memphis, Mrs Rocket, Jerry and Moira all sit back down at the tables and call for the waiter.

Back at the Rocket Academy, Julia orders the Blister Sisters to return the present money. She quickly runs away, before coming back as Harriet Hyde and throttling the bullies. They return the money and flee as Harriet quickly changes back into Julia. Julia remarks on the handiness of the transformation's timing as the credits roll.

Cast

 * Julia Jekyll - Olivia Hallinan
 * Moira Jekyll (credited as 'Mum') - Victoria Williams
 * Jerry Jekyll (credited as 'Dad') - Bill Fellows
 * Memphis Rocket - Simon Green
 * Mrs Rocket - Ann Emery
 * Lester Blister - Robert Portal
 * Daffodil Jekyll - Natasha Grey
 * Amber Python - Natalie Forbes
 * Waiter - Tim Andrew Clarke
 * Nicola Blister - Tiffany Griffiths
 * Sharon Blister - Karen Salt
 * Roger - Anthony Tobias
 * Sarah Slocombe - Emma Barnett
 * Harriet Hyde - John Asquith

Crew
Executives:


 * Director - Jim Eldridge
 * Writer - Jeremy Swan
 * Producer - Jeremy Swan
 * Executive Producer - Anna Home
 * Musical Director - Jonathan Cohen
 * Casting Directors:
 * Jane Deitch
 * Angela Grosvenor
 * Makeup Designer - Elaine Smith
 * Costume Designer - Rosemary Cheshire
 * Production Designer - George Kyriakides

General production staff:


 * Production Assistant - Lesley Taylor
 * Assistant Floor Manager - Michael Towner
 * Production Manager - Claire Gerschwiler
 * Studio Resource Manager - David Massen

General post-production staff:


 * Videotape Editor - Andy Quested
 * Vision Mixer - Carol Abbott

Script department:


 * Script Editor - Marilyn Fox

Camera and lighting department:


 * Camera Supervisor - Nigel Saunders
 * Lighting Director - Alan Jeffery

Art department:


 * Production Buyer - Sue Templar
 * Graphic Designer - Pete Wane
 * Art Director - Nick Harding

Special and visual effects:


 * Visual Effects Designer - Roger Turner
 * Video Effects - Dave Chapman

Sound:


 * Sound Effects - Keith Eldridge
 * Sound Supervisor - Richard Partridge

Trivia

 * This episode features the first appearance of The Happy Crab restaurant as a location in the series.