The Genie From Down Under: episode guide

Series 1 | Series 2

Series 2

Those irrepressible Genies, Bruce and Baz are back in a new series of that rollicking farce, The Genie from Down Under. The 13-part comedy drama series for children stars Sandy Winton as Bruce the Genie and Alexandra Milman as Penelope, the haughty upper-class English girl who controls the Genies, or thinks she does. Her every wish is the Genies' command.

Returning for this second series of magic and mirth are Anna Galvin as Penelope's mother, Lady Diana Townes, Glenn Meldrum as Baz, Mark Mitchell as Otto von Meister, Monica Maughan as Mossop, Ian McFadyen as Bubbles and Fletcher Humphrys as Otto's nephew Conrad. Joining the cast is Bobbie Henry who plays Darlene, Otto's new assistant.

Bruce longs for freedom for himself and his son, Baz. But to be free from the confines of the opal and the wishes of whoever has it Bruce must win the heart and hand of Lady Diana Townes, Penelope's mother. The course of true love never runs smooth, especially when a teenage girl is trying to thwart your every move, even if you are a Genie.

It's madness when Bruce and Baz answer the wishes of the humans, whisking Penelope, Lady Diana, Bubbles and Mossop from England to outback Australia and back again. Otto von Meister, the tour guide to be avoided at all costs, believes the opal is rightfully his and isn't prepared to let Penelope have it without a fight. His forefather stole the opal from the Australian aborigines and then lost it in a card game to Penelope's great, great, great-grandfather. The battle for ownership sees Otto become King of England and Bubbles lead a band of merry-men, trying to restore law and order.

I Do. You Do! Who Do?

Episode 2.1 (14)
Written by Esben Storm, Philip Dalkin, Louise Fox
Directed by Aleksi Vellis

Bruce is trying to get the courage to ask Diana to marry him, but first he must tell her he is a genie. Diana has been wearing the opal and believes it is her good luck charm, especially when Bruce gets around to popping the question. But, when she wishes the moment would last forever she is put into a trance. Eventually freed from the trance, Diana can't remember a thing — including Bruce's proposal.

Starring: Alexandra Milman as Penelope, Glenn Meldrum as Baz, Sandy Winton as Bruce, Anna Galvin as Lady Diana Townes, Monica Maughan as Miss Mossop, Mark Mitchell as Otto von Meister, Fletcher Humphrys as Conrad von Meister

With: Ian McFadyn as Bubbles, Bobbi Henry as Darlene; Alan Brough as Big Mac, Sam Okun as Big Mac 2, David Adamson as Skinny Mac

Note: the flashback scenes used to recap the previous series were refilmed with Sandy Winton replacing Rhys Muldoon as Bruce

The Photo Opportunity

Episode 2.2 (15)
Written by Esben Storm, Philip Dalkin, Louise Fox
Directed by Ray Boseley

Despite forgetting Bruce's proposal, love blooms between Lady Diana and the genie. Penelope doesn't believe the attraction is genuine and is sure Bruce is using his magic on Diana. She wishes he was human for a day — with amazing consequences. While Bruce battles with life as a human, Penelope uses Baz as her genie and wishes for dinner with Prince Umberto.

With: Ian McFadyn as Bubbles, Bobbi Henry as Darlene; Petra Jared as Marcia, Jacinta Stapleton as Sophie, Bernard Curry as Prince Umberto, Alex Menglet as Grigor, Ben Thomas as Thomas, Richard Young as Sebastian, Doug Tremlett as Birdwatcher, Milo Bell as Policeman

The Cold Shoulder

Episode 2.3 (16)
Written by Esben Storm, Philip Dalkin, Louise Fox
Directed by Aleksi Vellis

Mossop advises Diana to 'seize the day'. She must learn to talk about her feelings, particularly how she feels about Bruce. Conrad decides it is time to show Otto that he isn't stupid and he trains a parrot to grab the opal. Successful, he suddenly finds himself as the one with the opal's powers. Conrad wants brains as well as good looks so he turns to Bubbles for advice. Penelope, desperate to get her power back, agrees to allow Bruce half an hour alone with Diana if he helps her get back the opal.

With: Ian McFadyn as Bubbles, Bobbi Henry as Darlene; Cameron Nuggent as Surfer #1, Sullivan Stapleton as Surfer #2, Robert Lyon as Golfer

With: guest actor Sullivan Stapleton is the brother of Jacinta Stapleton who plays Sophie

Chase the Sun

Episode 2.4 (17)
Written by Esben Storm, Philip Dalkin, Louise Fox
Directed by Stephen Johnson

When Penelope gets a bad examination result, she wishes for the school to be destroyed that night, without realising Diana has a meeting there. Before she has a chance to change her wish the genies disappear and arrive back with Murray, the 'Master from the Past'. Bruce meets Diana and likes what he sees, but she is confused when he doesn't recognise her. She doesn't realise they haven't actually met yet. Trying to change her wish and save the school, Penelope and the 'Master from the Past' must chase the sun to make sure they don't change the past and affect the future!

With: Ian McFadyn as Bubbles, Bobbi Henry as Darlene; Kirkland Fisher as Murray, Ernie Gray as Pierre

Peace In Our Time

Episode 2.5 (18)
Written by Esben Storm, Philip Dalkin, Louise Fox
Directed by Ray Boseley

Diana is heartbroken. She believes Bruce has been kissing her friends, because of something that Penelope said. Penelope wishes that everyone would be honest with each other and gets more than she bargained for. When she tells Diana that Bruce hasn't been kissing her friends, Diana takes the opal and gives it to Bubbles. Bubbles believes he has to spread the message of honesty far and wide and becomes Baba Bubbles — the guru with followers across the world. When he wishes for the world to lose all their possessions, everyone loses their clothes as well. Amid all the chaos, Penelope gets the opal back.

With: Ian McFadyn as Bubbles, Bobbi Henry as Darlene; Petra Jared as Marcia, Jacinta Stapleton as Sophie, Damien Pree as Thug, Justin Parslow as Torquil, Gerlinda Campbell as Newsreader #1, Daniel O'Connell as Weatherman

Lord Of The Nail Files

Episode 2.6 (19)
Written by Esben Storm, Philip Dalkin, Louise Fox
Directed by Ray Boseley

Penelope's school is on excursion to the Australian outback and in an attempt to impress her teacher Miss Chatterley, Penelope wishes to always look her best. This sees Penelope maintaining her composure and her grooming while those around her become more and more dishevelled. Frightened off by Miss Chatterley, Otto flees, leaving the group without food and water. School friend Marcia manages to get the opal so Penelope can't help the starving school girls. Marcia's father, Nigel tries to impress Lady Diana by claiming to be an experienced bushman but he fails to help. Before long, the trappings of civilisation begin to fall away and the normally well groomed, well behaved school girls become a wild mob fighting for survival. Will Penelope and the genies be able to save the them, without the opal?

With: Ian McFadyn as Bubbles, Petra Jared as Marcia; Nicholas Bell as Nigel, Marie-Louise Walker as Miss Chatterly, Malcolm Sim as Bus Driver

Baby Talk

Episode 2.7 (20)
Written by Esben Storm, Philip Dalkin, Louise Fox
Directed by Aleksi Vellis

Safely back home in England, Lady Diana accepts Nigel's marriage proposal. Penelope is unable to help with the wedding plans after a wish backfires and she becomes a baby again. She still has the opal but no-one can understand her wishes. Mossop helps Bruce thwart Nigel's plans to elope, but have they succeeded in calling off the wedding?

With: Ian McFadyn as Bubbles, Bobbi Henry as Darlene, Petra Jared as Marcia, Jacinta Stapleton as Sophie; Nicholas Bell as Nigel, Leisha Chenery as Baby Penelope, Gary Adams as Meteorologist, Henry Symes as Baby Bruce, Eddy McShortall as Nigel Double

My Better Half

Episode 2.8 (21)
Written by Esben Storm, Philip Dalkin, Louise Fox
Directed by Aleksi Vellis

Lady Diana and Nigel go ahead with their marriage plans and Penelope is delighted because her mother isn't marrying the genie. To keep up with her school work and have time to help with the wedding plans, Penelope wishes for a double, causing great confusion for everyone. When Bruce discovers that Nigel is just after Lady Diana's money he has to prove to Penelope that the marriage must be stopped.

With: Alexandra Milman as Pen Pen, Ian McFadyn as Bubbles, Bobbi Henry as Darlene, Petra Jared as Marcia, Jacinta Stapleton as Sophie; Nicholas Bell as Nigel, Marie-Louise Walker as Miss Chatterly, John Bishop as Derek, Denise Scott as Denise, Gary Rens as Sid, Amanda Pettman as Pen Pen/Penelope Double

Stocks and Bondings

Episode 2.9 (22)
Written by Esben Storm, Philip Dalkin, Louise Fox
Directed by Ray Boseley

Penelope wants a boyfriend and she wants Marcia and Sophie to know she has one. She sets her sights on Montgomery St Ives and is determined to win him without the genies help. Mossop leaves to 'find' herself, becoming a leather clad bikie, Mad Moss, the tourists' friend. Penelope has to turn to Bruce for help when she discovers that Montgomery is a cad. Working together for a change, Marcia, Sophie and Penelope learn that revenge can be sweet.

With: Ian McFadyn as Bubbles, Bobbi Henry as Darlene, Petra Jared as Marcia, Jacinta Stapleton as Sophie; Simon Grey as Montgomery St Ives, Richard Young as Hamish, Ben Thomas as Simon, Lisle Jones as Bert Douglas, Robin Bissett as Dottie Dougal, Heath Calkenburg as Big Baz, Brett Anderson as Miss Mossop Double, Reg Roordink as Bert Driving Double

Note: although they were in episode 2.02, Round the Twist alumni Richard Young and Ben Thomas (pictured) appear somewhat more prominently in this episode

The Opal is a Boomerang

Episode 2.10 (23)
Written by Esben Storm, Philip Dalkin, Louise Fox
Directed by Stephen Johnson

Mr Repo turns up at an exhibition of the Towne's private collection of artifacts, which has been collected over the centuries. He has a warrant to seize the opal, claiming it belongs to the indigenous Yapinchdit people and not Penelope Townes. Mr Repo claims Sir Claude stole the opal and everything else on display. Otto wants the opal in the name of his ancestor, and his Aboriginal tour leader Darlene says it originally belonged to her people. A wish to sort the whole mess out sees the case of the opal's ownership before Judge Smythe, Bubbles' father. It is the nations of the world versus Penelope Townes. The outcome is not what anyone wants.

With: Ian McFadyn as Bubbles, Bobbi Henry as Darlene; Tony Briggs as Mr Repo, Ian McFadyn as Judge Smythe, George Harlem as Greek Man, Marco Chiappi as Frenchman, Timothy Cousens as Librarian, Yumiko Campbell as Japanese Woman, Kevin Maxwell as Security Guard, Steven Adasko as Bubbles/Smythe Double, Szumai Anderson as Penelope Stunt Double, Jools Weigh as Diana Stunt Double

The Heart of Country & Western

Episode 2.11 (24)
Written by Esben Storm, Philip Dalkin, Louise Fox
Directed by Aleksi Vellis

Penelope is overcome with stage fright when Diana enters the family in the Townesville Country and Western Music Festival. Penelope fears she will faint on the spot. Otto and Conrad see this as a great opportunity to finally get the opal. Mossop finds the opal and makes wishes without realising its power. To avoid embarrassment on stage at the festival, Penelope must get the opal back and make a wish.

With: Bobbi Henry as Darlene, Petra Jared as Marcia, Jacinta Stapleton as Sophie; Marie-Louise Walker as Miss Chatterly, Chris Wallace as Hank, Constance Lansberg as Marg, Mark Domoney as Musician #1, Nigel MacLean as Musician #2, Trevor Courtnay as Musician #3, Roger McLachlan as Musician #4

Note: although uncredited, Sullivan Stapleton appears as the guitar player and Cameron Nugent is the drummer (they both appeared as surfers in 2.03)

Otto Rules OK

Episode 2.12 (25)
Written by Esben Storm, Philip Dalkin, Louise Fox
Directed by Ray Boseley

Diana becomes an environmentalist and accepts an invitation to join Otto, who claims he is now a greenie. But it is just a plot to get the opal, and it works. Overwhelmed with his new power Otto makes himself King of England and throws Mossop, Diana and Darlene into the dungeons. Bubbles forms the 'Merry Chaps in Green' in the Forest to end King Otto's reign and Penelope goes undercover to try and save the situation.

With: Ian McFadyn as Bubbles, Bobbi Henry as Darlene; Mark Mitchell as Mrs Simpson, John Britton as UK Newsreader, Ross Simmons as Youth Worker, Jon Savage as Otto/Mrs Simpson Double

The Last Wish

Episode 2.13 (26)
Written by Esben Storm, Philip Dalkin, Louise Fox
Directed by Aleksi Vellis

Bruce and Diana are pining for each other. Penelope realises that she can't stop true love, even if it does mean losing her genies. To ensure her mother's happiness, she hands the opal to her mother, allowing Bruce to reveal his true identity to Diana. He proposes and Diana and Bruce can finally plan to be married. But how can Diana have a husband who is a slave? Diana must free the genies. Penelope must work out a way to have the best of both worlds — Diana and Bruce as husband and wife and Bruce as her genie.

With: Ian McFadyn as Bubbles, Bobbi Henry as Darlene, Petra Jared as Marcia, Jacinta Stapleton as Sophie; Hisa Akinagao as Japanese Groom, Yumi Umiumare as Japanese Bride, Sharlene Sault as Helga