Tickling scenes in "The Legend of DIck & Tom"

The Legend of Dick & Dom is a British fantasy sitcom for children, produced by the BBC and broadcast on CBBC between 2009 and 2011. The show mixes adventure and absurd comedy, working as a parody of fantasy tropes. The narrator, adding ironic commentary throughout, is Terry Jones of Monty Python fame.

The kingdom of Fyredor has been struck by a terrible plague, and two princes, Dick and Dom, must collect bizarre magical ingredients to recreate a potion that was destroyed. They are joined by Mannitol, a not-so-brilliant wizard, and Lutin, a sharp-tongued servant and thief. Each episode revolves around a quest for a new ingredient, which usually proves harder to get than expected and leads to ridiculous situations. As the series develops, the scale of the story expands, with recurring villains such as the Beastmaster and ever more outlandish obstacles. Despite being “heroes,” Dick and Dom are clumsy, naïve, and more likely to cause chaos than save the day, which is where much of the comedy lies.

The show ran for 3 seasons, with a total of 33 episodes. The first season introduces the quest for the cure, while the later ones push the narrative towards the struggle to return home and the final confrontation with greater evil. The formula is consistent: each episode sets up a mission, introduces a quirky problem, and ends in a chaotic or unexpected resolution.

“Tickle Tournament” is the very first episode of season 1, originally aired in early 2009. It sets the template for the whole series. It was written by Carl Carter and Tony Cooke, produced by Jeremy Wooding, and directed by Steve Ryde.
Dick and Dom enter a bizarre contest known as the Tickle Tournament in order to win the Magnofish, one of the rare ingredients needed for their potion. They must face off against the reigning champions, the intimidating duo known as the “Two Shadows.” Alongside them appear Mannitol, Lutin, the shady character Moonfinger, and the referee overseeing the matches.

As the series opener, this episode is essential in laying down the rules of the game: every week, the team will have to secure a strange object through an equally strange challenge. It also showcases the main dynamic between the characters—the clumsiness of Dick and Dom, Mannitol’s incompetence, Lutin’s wit—and sets the tone for the comedy, where epic fantasy is constantly undercut by absurd humor.

The idea of an epic tournament being centered not on combat but on tickling is a perfect example of the show’s mix of ridiculousness and parody, giving audiences a clear taste of what kind of adventure they’re in for.

The two protagonists try unsuccessfully to apply their tickling techniques on two opponents, who prove to be extremely resistant. Tom and Dick are then tickled themselves, realizing that they are unable to win the challenge.

Their ally then teaches them the secret of telepathic tickling, which they successfully apply to their friend, making her laugh hysterically and roll on the floor with laughter: they are now able to win the challenge!