King of the Castle

King of the Castle is a British children's television serial made by HTV for ITV in 1977. Written by Bob Baker and Dave Martin, the series is a surreal tale centred around a lonely young boy, Roland, who lives unhappily in a council flat with his father and stepmother. Escaping from a gang of local bullies in a malfunctioning lift, Roland finds himself transported to a strange fantasy environment where people and places are twisted variations of those he sees in his real life. Philip Da Costa starred as Roland, while other prominent roles were played by Talfryn Thomas, Fulton Mackay, Milton Johns and Angela Richards.

Directed by —, King of the Castle leans on a strong ensemble — Philip DaCosta, Talfryn Thomas, Edward Dentith — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The series landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 1977.