Young Dracula is a British children's horror drama comedy television series which aired on CBBC, loosely based on Young Dracula, a 2002 children's book by Michael Lawrence.Young Dracula at Fantastic Fiction: The cover has a still from the show and the legend "The inspiration for the CBBC TV series" It is also based on the epistolary novel Dracula, written by Bram Stoker and published in 1897.
The first two series follow the Dracula family, a family of vampires: Vladimir (Vlad), his father Count Dracula, and sister Ingrid. Having lived in Transylvania, they move to Stokely, a small town in Wales after various incidents involving angry peasant mobs. It was filmed in various locations around Wales, including Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Glantaf, Caerphilly Castle, Tretower Court and parts of Llantrisant. Directed by Joss Agnew, the first series was broadcast in 2006 and the second series, which started in late 2007, concluded in early 2008.
The third series, commissioned three years after the second, sees Vlad and the Count flee both vampires and slayers, while the Count is determined that Vlad should fulfil his destiny to become "The Chosen One". This series was filmed in Liverpool during 2011, in various locations including the disused Margaret Bevan School, Croxteth Hall and Stanley Docks. It began airing on 31 October 2011. The fourth series follows on from season three's predicament and had a new director, airing on 29 October 2012. Young Dracula was renewed for a fifth and final series in 2013, with filming beginning in April. The hour long finale, "The Darkest Hour", aired on 31 March 2014.
Young Dracula was nominated for Best Children's Drama in the 2008 BAFTA Awards and has been nominated for several other awards. An additional series, the Young Dracula Files, began broadcasting on 24 October 2012, in which the main characters tell their stories of the past. It was primarily hosted by the character Bertrand Du Fortunesa, played by Cesare Taurasi.
Characters
Character Portrayed by Series 1 2 3 4 5 Vladimir Dracula Gerran Howell colspan="5" Count Dracula Keith-Lee Castle colspan="5" Ingrid Dracula Clare Thomas colspan="5" Renfield Simon Ludders colspan="5" Zoltan Andy Bradshaw colspan="3" colspan="2" Robin Branagh Craig Roberts colspan="2" colspan="3" Chloe Branagh Lucy Borja-Edwards colspan="2" colspan="3" Eric Van Helsing Terence Maynard colspan="2" colspan="3" Jonathan "Jonno" Van Helsing Terry Haywood colspan="4" colspan="1" Mina Van Helsing Jo-Anne Knowles colspan="1" colspan="3" colspan="1" Wolfie Westernra Lorenzo Rodriguez colspan="2" colspan="2" colspan="1" Alex McCauley Letty Butler colspan="2" colspan="2" colspan="1" Bertrand du Fortunesa Cesare Taurasi colspan="2" colspan="2" colspan="1" Erin Noble Sydney Rae White colspan="2" colspan="2" colspan="1" Malik Vaccaria Richard Southgate 4 colspan="3" colspan="2" Sally Giles Laura Howard 5 colspan="4" colspan="1" George Giles Bella Band 5 colspan="4" colspan="1" Asan Ramanga Quinton Nyirenda 5 colspan="4" colspan="1" Talitha Eleanor Gecks 5 colspan="4" colspan="1" Piers Mark Rowley 5 colspan="4" colspan="1"
Main Gerran Howell as Vlad Dracula, a reluctant vampire and the son and heir of Count Dracula, who later discovers he is the Chosen One and is a half-human dimidius. He initially resists his destiny, fighting to find any way to become fully human, but ultimately embraces his full power in order to protect his family and friends and bring peace between humans and vampires. Keith-Lee Castle as Count Dracula, the infamous 600-year-old vampire known as the 'Prince of Darkness', who often behaves maliciously and has no qualms about drinking blood, killing his enemies, and abusing Ingrid and Renfield. He has a softer side, which grows due to Vlad's influence and his fondness for certain humans, particularly Alex McCauley. Despite his reputation, Dracula displays frequent incompetence and weakened abilities due to his old age, but can prove formidable in battle on occasion. Clare Thomas as Ingrid Dracula, Dracula's malicious daughter and Vlad's elder sister, who is neglected by her father and underestimated by the vampire community, making her determined to prove herself. She later seizes control of Stokely Castle and tries to kill her family, but is forced to seek refuge with them after being attacked by slayers years later. Ingrid eventually becomes a member of the Vampire High Council and the owner of Garside Grange. Her name may be inspired by Ingrid Pitt. Craig Roberts as Robin Branaugh (series 1-2), Vlad's human best friend and confidante, who is obsessed with vampires and wants to become one himself. When Vlad discovers he is the Chosen One, he mind-wipes Robin, leaving him with no memory of vampires. Terence Maynard as Eric Van Helsing (series 1-2), a woodwork teacher and inept slayer whose relentless pursuit of vampires estranged him from his wife Mina, and frequently embarrasses his son Jonno. Van Helsing has never actually slain a vampire prior to meeting Dracula, against whom he wages a feud. He later slays two vampires in a final conflict with the Dracula family, before Vlad mind-wipes him, leaving him with no memory of vampires. This renders Van Helsing defenceless against a later vampire attack, and he is killed. Terry Haywood as Jonno Van Helsing (series 1-2 and 4; guest series 3), Van Helsing's son who initially does not believe in vampires, but later helps his father fight the Draculas. Jonno and his mother Mina take over the Slayers' Guild after Van Helsing is apparently killed by vampires, but Vlad brokers a truce and works with Jonno to try to bring peace. Simon Ludders as Percival Renfield, Dracula's long-suffering servant. He is slow-witted and repulsively unhygienic, but is also a genius scientist and is deeply loyal to the Dracula family, mostly due to his misguided belief that Dracula will one day bite him. He eventually gains the bite through coercion, becoming a particularly incompetent vampire. Beth Robert as Elizabeth Branaugh (series 1-2), Robin's perpetually cheerful mother, whom Dracula covets. Aneirin Hughes as Graham Branaugh (series 1-2), Robin's father, a plumber who dislikes Dracula. Lucy Borja as Chloe Branaugh (series 1-2), Robin's younger sister, who possesses prodigious intelligence and soon learns that the Draculas are vampires. She is Vlad's friend until her family are almost killed by vampires at Dracula's hunt ball, after which she refuses to go to the castle. Ben McGregor as Ian Branaugh (series 1-2), Robin's brother, who bullies him and is besotted with Ingrid, much like his twin Paul. Luke Bridgeman as Paul Branaugh (series 1-2), Robin's brother, who bullies him and is besotted with Ingrid, much like his twin Ian. Andy Bradshaw as Zoltan (series 1-3), a Hellhound who was stuffed and reanimated by Dracula, and serves as Vlad's pet and confidante during his childhood. Jo-Anne Knowles as Mina Van-Helsing (series 2 and 4; guest series 3), introduced as the kind and attractive mother of Jonno but is fed up with her husband, Eric Van Helsing and his obsession with vampires. She later believes in vampires and takes over the Slayers' Guild with her son, Jonno, after Van Helsing is killed by vampires. Sydney Rae White as Erin Noble (series 3-4), a slayer who disguises herself as a vampire and infiltrates Garside Grange to try to cure her brother Ryan's vampirism. She develops a relationship with Vlad and works with him to bring peace, but after being fatally wounded by Adze, Erin is turned into a vampire by Vlad to save her, for which she hates him. She allies with Elizabeta and Malik to destroy the Draculas, and is later killed by Ramanga's Shadow Warriors in Paris. Cesare Taurasi as Bertrand De Fortunessa (series 3-4), a vampire who travels to Garside to tutor Vlad in the use of his powers. Initially dubious of Vlad's plan for peace, Bertrand betrays him to Sethius, but realises Vlad's plan is the only hope for vampires and humans, and becomes devoted to helping him fulfil his goals. However Elizabeta Vaccaria frames Bertrand for further betrayal, for which Vlad kills him. Letty Butler as Alex McCauley (series 3-4), Garside Grange's headmistress, with whom Dracula falls in love. She eventually discovers that the Draculas are vampires, but Vlad erases her memories of this and she leaves as Garside is closed. Tom Gibbons as Ryan Noble (series 3-4), Erin's brother, a slayer who is bitten by Ingrid. Previously protective of his sister, he becomes a selfish vampire who allies with Ingrid and later Malik. Ryan is murdered by Elizabeta Vaccaria as part of a plan to drive Erin and Vlad apart. Lorenzo Rodriguez as Wolfie Westenra (series 3-4), Vlad and Ingrid's half-brother, a vampire-werewolf hybrid. He lives with Dracula for a few months before returning to his mother, Magda Westenra. Richard Southgate as Malik Vaccaria (series 4-5), a vampire who believes Dracula is his father, and works with his mother Elizabeta to become Dracula's new heir and then kill him. Thwarted, Malik later learns Dracula is not his father, and is killed by Ramanga. Robbie Gee as Ramanga (series 4; guest series 3 and 5), a Vampire High Council member who allies with Dracula to undermine the peaceful coexistence. He has Vlad betrothed to his daughter Adze, as part of a scheme to have her gain immense power from Vlad's first bite before assassinating the Chosen One, but the plan is foiled and Dracula rips out Ramanga's fangs to humiliate him. Ramanga later travels to the Shadow Realm and is driven insane, attempting to steal Vlad's power in a dark magic ritual, but he is killed by Dracula. Nathasha Stokes as Adze Ramanga (series 4), Ramanga's daughter, who is betrothed to Vlad. She covets Vlad's first bite, believing it will bestow her with immense power, but the plot is thwarted. Replacing her father on the high council, Adze is later slain by Mina Van Helsing. Laura Howard as Sally Giles (series 5), Vlad's human mother, an artist. Vlad tracks her down, revealing himself as a vampire, but is eventually forced to erase her memories of his existence to protect her after he achieves his full power. Eleanor Gecks as Talitha Roquelaire (series 5), a peace-loving spiritualist vampire and the daughter of high council security chief Roquelaire. She travels with Vlad as his undercover bodyguard, and they later fall in love and begin a relationship. Amron Adams as Shango Ramanga (series 5), Ramanga's older son, who seeks revenge on the Draculas for his father's humiliation and death. After making several attempts to destroy them, Shango forms a truce with the Draculas during the battle against the Blood Seed. Quinton Nyirenda as Asan Ramanga (series 5), Ramanga's younger son, who infiltrates the Draculas' home to exact revenge for his father's death. He grows reluctant to betray the Draculas after befriending them. Bella Band as George Giles (series 5), Vlad's human half-sister, an aspiring archaeologist. Vlad is later forced to erase her memories of his existence to protect her after he achieves his full power.
Series 1
After their father bit too many residents in their own Transylvania, Vladimir and Ingrid Dracula were compelled to move to Britain. For Vlad, it is a realisation of a dream and a step closer to the normal world that he so desperately wants. Keeping his family's secret will be a full-time job though, what with a bloodsucking father, a talking wolf, a servant who smells like mouse droppings, and a vampire sister. Fortunately for Vlad, Robin Branaugh proves to be a reliable friend and ally. Robin wishes he did, but he doesn't reside in a castle. He is not required to wear a cloak, yet he does.
Series 2