The Worst Witch is a 1986 British musical fantasy television film based on the first children's book in The Worst Witch series, written in 1974, by the English author Jill Murphy.
The film stars Fairuza Balk as Mildred Hubble, who is the "Worst Witch" at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches. Charlotte Rae plays Miss Cackle, Diana Rigg stars as Miss Hardbroom, and Tim Curry plays the Grand Wizard who appears at Halloween. The opening and closing song, "Growing Up Isn't Easy", is performed by the English West End theatre star Bonnie Langford.
The story revolves around Mildred Hubble, who is invariably the "Worst Witch" at Miss Cackle's Academy for Witches. Mildred causes many mishaps, including being late for school, making all of her classmates fall down, unintentionally turning herself and her friend Maud Warlock invisible, and transforming the class bully Ethel into a pig. The climax surrounds Miss Amelia Cackle's notorious evil twin sister, Agatha, plotting to take over the academy. Ultimately Agatha is foiled by Mildred, and Mildred establishes herself as the hero for the academy.
The film was shot at St Michael's College in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, England.
The film's opening and closing song "Growing Up Isn't Easy" was performed by the West End star Bonnie Langford and was composed by Charles Strouse with lyrics by Don Black. The pair also wrote "Anything Can Happen on Halloween". Denis King composed the film's score and wrote the song "My Little School".