Playing upon the popularity of Mary Poppins and other magical nannies of literature, this TV series posited another ostensibly magical British nanny taking care of a family in need of guidance. Unlike the candid "magicality" of its forebears, this Nanny's paranormal nature was less overt and only implied. The Nanny's young wards, and the audience, were left intentionally uncertain of the nature of Nanny's "powers", if any.
The series starred Juliet Mills as Nanny Phoebe Figalilly, Richard Long as Professor Harold Everett, and in season 3 Elsa Lanchester in the recurring role of Aunt Henrietta. Figalilly is the housekeeper for Professor Everett and nanny to his three children: Hal, the intellectual tinkerer, played by David Doremus; Butch, the middle child, played by Trent Lehman; and Prudence, the youngest, played by Kim Richards.
Notable guest stars: Ray Bolger, Jim Backus, Jack Albertson, Leif Garrett, Vincent Van Patten, Dabney Coleman, Cesar Romero, Charles Nelson Reilly, Pat Morita, Howard Cosell, Patsy Garrett, Elsa Lanchester, Ida Lupino, Marjorie Bennett, Ruth McDevitt, Frank Campanella, Van Johnson, John Mills, Tommy Tune, Ed Begley Jr., Clint Howard, Brian Tochi, Pat Harrington, Jr., Charles Lane, Jack Burns, Jodie Foster, Joanna Barnes, Sam Jaffe, Art Metrano, J. Pat O’Malley, Ellen Corby, Henry Jones, Lee Meriwether, Kathy Hilton, Eric Shea, Burt Mustin, Bridget Hanley, Paul Winchell, Herbert Anderson, Cindy Williams, Bert Convy.