Not Yeti

"Not Yeti" is the seventh episode of the first series of the British children's television programme Julia Jekyll and Harriet Hyde. The episode was directed by Albert Barber and written by series creator Jim Eldridge. It was first broadcast in the UK on BBC One on 10 November 1995.

In the episode, photographer Sid Snap (Scott Harvey) attempts to photograph a 'yeti' on the premises, but with the Rocket Academy hosting a fancy dress ball that evening, he encounters far worse than a yeti - Harriet Hyde (John Asquith).

Plot
One evening, Jerry reads an article in the newspaper about a yeti sighting at the Rocket Academy, with Moira mentioning that it sounds like Harriet Hyde. All the while, Harriet works on an antidote in the kitchen, causing the door to be blown off its hinges by an explosion. Having changed back into Julia Jekyll, Moira and Jerry wonder how an unbelievable story like a yeti sighting can get into the newspapers. At this point, Julia changes back into Harriet and sneaks back into the kitchen, while Jerry and Moira berate the people who sell stories like the yeti sighting to the press.

At the Rocket Academy the following day, Lester Blister and his nieces Sharon and Nicola receive a payment from photographer Sid Snap in exchange for a guaranteed exclusive photograph of the yeti. The Blister Sisters tell Sid to hang around Julia as a surefire way of seeing the yeti, while Mr Blister plans to tell headteacher Memphis Rocket that Sid is there to photograph a fancy dress ball taking place that evening to avoid suspicion.

Mr Blister calls the register in his science class later that day, with Julia missing to rewire the school kitchens. Memphis Rocket, Mrs Rocket and Sid enter the room, with Mr Blister continually talking to interrupt the announcement. Eventually, Mrs Rocket explains that Sid will be photographing around the school and at the fancy dress ball to give the Rocket Academy good publicity. Roger suggests that Sid is only there to take photos of the 'yeti', which Memphis dispels - only for Harriet Hyde to enter the science lab and cause a panic. In the corridor outside, Sid asks Julia - now back to normal - where the yeti has gone, only for her to shrug her shoulders. Mr Blister identifies Julia to Sid, who plans to keep a close eye on her throughout the day.

In Memphis' office, Mrs Rocket praises Sid's arrival to take attention away from the report on the yeti sighting. Mrs Rocket knows the reports have misconstrued Harriet Hyde as the yeti, and fears that the bad publicity could affect the fees. However, she heralds the good publicity that will come from the fancy dress ball, and has contacted a costumier to provide herself and her son with a sophisticated outfit. Sid follows Julia around the school's corridors, while Memphis and Mrs Rocket test their costume - a pantomime horse. Seeing Sid in the foyer, Mrs Rocket pesters him for a photograph as Memphis stumbles around as the back legs of the horse.

With classes over, Sid berates the Blisters for the yeti not appearing. Insisting that 'she' will be at the fancy dress ball that evening, Sid gives the Blisters one more chance. Desperate to avoid the repercussions of Sid not getting his photo, the Blisters plan for Lester to dress up as the yeti.

At the ball that evening, Julia - dressed as a fairy - transforms into Harriet onstage. An elderly man compliments Harriet's 'costume' and remarks on how ugly it is, resulting in him being thrown into the wings of the stage. Moira and Jerry arrive dressed as comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, but Sid refuses to take their photo, claiming to only photograph people in fancy dress.

Mr Blister, dressed in a costume resembling Harriet Hyde, runs along the corridors as his nieces fetch Sid for the photo. Sid, however, is not fooled and wants his money back unless he gets his photo within 10 minutes. At this point Harriet appears in the corridor, leading the Blister Sisters to fetch Sid again while Lester attempts to wrestle her - only to be thrown down the corridor. When Sharon and Nicola find Sid, he isn't interested and instead plans to photograph Moira and Jerry sitting on Memphis and Mrs Rocket in their horse costume. The Blister Sisters find their uncle battered in the corridor, as Julia quietly leaves the scene.

In the foyer, Sid confronts Julia and demands to see the yeti, blaming her for his lack of photographic evidence of the creature and wanting compensation for his wasted day. Furious, Julia criticises Sid's rude behaviour and leaves for the science lab. Sid, unwilling to be spoken to in such a manner, follows her into the lab, only to be thrown out by Harriet Hyde - his camera ruined in the scuffle. He attempts to take a photo, but faints 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
 * Sid Snap - Scott Harvey
 * Man at Party - Oliver Bradshaw
 * Nicola Blister - Tiffany Griffiths
 * Sharon Blister - Karen Salt
 * Roger - Anthony Tobias
 * Sarah - Emma Barnett
 * Mrs Smith - Christine Lohr
 * Mr Slime - Philip Philmar
 * Harriet Hyde - John Asquith

Crew
Executives:


 * Director - Albert Barber
 * Writer - Jim Eldridge
 * 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 - Jane Jenkins
 * Assistant Floor Manager - Gabrielle Lindemann
 * Production Manager - Oliver Cookson
 * Studio Resource Manager - Andrew Garnett

General post-production staff:


 * Videotape Editor - Damian Raistrick
 * Vision Mixer - Hilary West

Script department:


 * Script Editor - Marilyn Fox

Camera and lighting department:


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

Art department:


 * Production Buyer - Pauline Seager
 * 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 - Alan Machin

Trivia

 * This episode is the first to feature Sid Snap, who would go on to appear in a number of future episodes in the series.