SARA AND HOPPITY
ROBERTA LEIGH'S
Episodes
The original televised order of Sara and Hoppity differs slightly from the official order. This was due to seasonal dictates - e.g. episode 12 (Sara And Father Christmas) was held back until December. All official documentation refers to the episodes by the numbers on the promotional brochure. This number is stated before each episode's title.
Notes with some subsequent purchases of the series indicate that episodes 34 (Sara Is Naughty), 25 (A Birthday Cake For Daddy) and 30 (The Snowman, naturally) feature snow, while episode 52 (Washing Day) is for pre-Easter, hence it being brought forward to be the eighth story to be televised, in April.
Complete synopses for each episode of Sara And Hoppity are listed below, from the Associated-Rediffusion children's television archives.
Alternative titles have been included, with variations noted in the Look Westward listings (LW) and Associated-Rediffusion documentation (AR).
Episode 1 / Pilot
"Sara and Hoppity"
February 27, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated February 23, 1965
Sara Brown lives with her mummy, daddy and Aunt Julie in a toy hospital. One day, an old man brings in a broken toy. Sara buys him and Mummy and Daddy mend him. The old man tells her that the doll's name is Hoppity and that he was found in a goblin ring. (This means that he is very naughty.)
Sara is given spinach for lunch but does not want to eat it. Hoppity has an idea to avoid eating it. Poor Sara listens to him and subsequently gets into trouble.
(Note: This episode is loosely based on the first Sara and Hoppity book). A pilot version of the episode is one of only two complete episodes of Sara and Hoppity known to still exist. It was released as an extra on the DVD set of Space Patrol in the early 2000s. (Note the Blu-Ray version does not contain this extra.)
​
You can watch the episode here.
Episode 2
Hoppity is Stolen
March 6, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated March 2, 1965
When the children from the school next door start throwing their rubbish over the garden wall, Hoppity tells Sara to make them stop. Sara goes to the school where one of the boys steals Hoppity.
Jimmy finds him and brings him back to Sara, who then tells Jimmy that he can be her best friend.
(Note: This episode is loosely based on part of the book Sara and Hoppity Make New Friends)
Episode 3
Sara and Hoppity Bake a Cake
aka The Strange Cake (LW)
March 13, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated March 9, 1965
Aunt Mathilda is coming to tea and Mummy decides to bake her a currant cake. Sara and Hoppity help her, and a very peculiar cake it turns out to be!
(Note: This episode seems to be loosely based on a story in the book Meet Sara and Hoppity, and bears similarities to a picture story in The Big Book of Sara and Hoppity)
Episode 4
Sara and Hoppity and Shaggy Dog
March 20, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated March 16, 1965
A big dog called Shaggy comes into the garden and runs away with Hoppity. Sara follows him, and she and Shaggy soon make friends. The dog won't leave Sara and Daddy agrees that if nobody claims him she can keep him for her very own.
(Note: The idea of a dog running off with Hoppity forms the start of the book Sara and Hoppity Get Lost)
Episode 5
Sara's Friend Has an Accident
March 27, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated March 23, 1965
Jimmy comes to play in the garden, but in climbing a tree to rescue a kitten, he falls and breaks his leg. Sara and Mummy go to visit him in hospital, and when he unwraps the present Sara has brought, Jimmy finds he has an unexpected visitor!.
(Note: This episode is loosely based on part of Sara and Hoppity Make New Friends)
Episode 6
Shaggy is Taught Some Tricks
April 3, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated March 30, 1965
Sara teaches Shaggy to bring the ball back in his mouth when she throws it to him. The dog is so pleased with his new trick that when he sees Aunt Mathida in the street, he runs home with the meat from her shopping basket. All is later forgiven when Shaggy finds Aunt Mathilda's lost gloves.
Episode 7
Sara And Hoppity Go Skating
April 10, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated April 6, 1965
One day, when the pond is frozen over, Daddy takes Sara along to teach her to skate. Hoppity wants to join in, but when he tries to skate, he falls into a hole in the ice! Daddy runs home for his fishing net and the naughty toy is brought safely to land.
Episode 52
Washing Day
April 17, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated February 15, 1965
Hoppity dances into a pillow case and gives Georgie a nasty fright. Mummy makes some chocolate Easter eggs and Daddy makes an enormous wooden one. Georgie is asked to choose an egg for himself, and of course picks the big one, although Mummy gives him a chocolate one too!
Episode 8
Sara and the Broken Toys
April 24, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated April 13, 1965
When Sara and Hoppity go shopping in the big store with Mummy, they find a cellar full of broken toys. The shop's manager allows Sara to have them, and once Daddy and Mummy have mended them, they go with Sara to the hospital to give the toys to Jimmy and the other sick children.
(Note: This episode is loosely based on part of Sara and Hoppity Make New Friends)
Episode 9
Shaggy in Trouble
May 1, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated April 20, 1965
Mummy is paint the kitchen cupboard and asks Sara to help her. Shaggy knocks over a tin of paint with his tail and Mummy has to give him a bath. Again Shaggy gets covered with paint and runs away to hide until Sara tempts him out with a juicy bone.
(Note: A loose strip adaptation of this episode appears in The Big Book of Sara and Hoppity.)
Episode 10
A Present for Miss Julie
aka Sara Buys a Present (AR)
May 8, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated April 27, 1965
Mummy and Sara go along to the pet shop to choose a present for Miss Julie's birthday. While Sara is looking at the pets Hoppity falls into the fish tank and has to be rescued. Sara decides to buy a goldfish for Miss Julie and the old lady is delighted with her present.
Episode 11
Gorgey Georgie Comes to Stay
May 15, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated May 4, 1965
Mrs Guzzler's uncle is ill, and Mummy agrees to look after Georgie while she is away. The fat boy eats too much and is so sick he has to go to bed. He decides to spend the rest of the week there, but Hoppity spoils his plans and Georgie is packed off to school.
(Note: A loose strip adaptation of this episode appears in The Big Book of Sara and Hoppity)
Episode 13
Aunt Mathilda's New Dress
May 22, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated May 18, 1965
Aunt Mathilda comes to tea wearing a new dress that she has knitted herself. She is very proud of it and won't sit in the kitchen in case she makes it dirty. She has a rest in the dining room and while she is asleep, Hoppity gets his little wooden arm tangled up in Aunt Mathilda's skirt. Something terrible happens and poor Sara gets the blame.
Episode 14
Gorgey Georgie is Naughty Again
May 29, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated May 25, 1965
Georgie treats his toys very badly and one day he brings a stuffed dog to the Toy Hospital to be mended. Sara decides to teach him a lesson, and when he comes to collect his toy, Shaggy is waiting there for him instead. Georgie gets a nasty fright when the dog gives him a push!
Episode 15
Sara and Hoppity Get Lost
June 5, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated June 1, 1965
Mummy goes to the big store to buy herself a dress. Hoppity hides among the dresses, and while Sara is looking for him, the store is locked up and everyone goes home. However, clever Hoppity dances over to the telephone and Sara's call for help brings Daddy to the rescue.
(Note: This episode bears no relation to the book of the same name.)
Episode 16
Sara's Birthday
June 12, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated June 8, 1965
It is Sara's birthday, and Mummy takes her to the theatre to see a variety show. Hoppity goes too, but when he sees a clever seal doing tricks he goes up on the stage to show what he can do, and gets into trouble as usual.
Episode 17
Sara Does the Spring Cleaning
June 19, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated June 15, 1965
When Sara tries to help Mummy with the spring cleaning, things go wrong. Sara tries to clean the glass and then she tries to stop Mummy's rubber gloves from being slippery. Of course, Hoppity has lots of ideas too, but he doesn't help Mummy much either.
Episode 18
Gorgey Georgie Comes to Tea
June 26, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated June 22, 1965
Georgie and Mrs. Guzzler are coming to tea, and Mummy has a special treat: strawberries and cream. While Sara is whipping the cream, Daddy comes into the kitchen to shave. Hoppity dances on the tube of shaving cream, which squirts onto the plate of strawberries meant for greedy Georgie.
Episode 19
Sara and the Junk Man
July 3, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated June 29, 1965
Mummy says she is tired of dusting the pictures and vases, so while she and Daddy are away, Sara sells them all to the junk man for ten shillings. Eventually, Daddy manages to get them all back and everything ends happily.
Episode 20
Sara and Hoppity Help Mummy
July 10, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated July 6, 1965
Mummy has to stay in bed with a cold and Miss Julie has to do the shopping. It is too heavy for her to carry it all but clever Hoppity finds a horse and cart to help her.
Episode 21
Hoppity Does Something Wrong
July 17, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated July 13, 1965
It is washing day and Mummy is starching the clothes. She is called down to the shop and while she is away Hoppity knocks the packet of starch into the water. When Daddy goes to bring in the clothes from the washing line, he simply cannot believe his eyes!
Episode 22
A New Hat For Mummy
aka Mummy's New Hat (AR)
July 24, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated July 20, 1965
The Brown family are invited to a wedding and Mummy buys herself a lovely new hat. Sara has hidden Shaggy's ball and when she reaches up to get it, she falls on the hat and ruins it. Hoppity tells Sara to make Mummy wear a lampshade and the new 'hat' is a great success.
Episode 23
A New Kite
July 31, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated July 27, 1965
Jimmy is coming to play with Sara and Daddy makes a new kite for the children. While they are having their tea, Hoppity climbs inside the kite and is carried up ino the air. Sara is very upset, but Hoppity falls down Aunt Mathilda's chimney and all ends happily.
Episode 24
Fun On The Sands
August 7, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated August 3, 1965
Mummy takes Sara and Jimmy to the seaside for the day. Jimmy buys some balloons and they tie them to Hoppity to stop them from blowing away. The wind lifts Hoppity into the sky and there seems to be no way of saving him until Jimmy thinks of bursting the balloons with his new catapult.
Episode 26
A Present For Jimmy
August 14, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated August 17, 1965
Mummy takes Sara along to the store to buy her a pair of wellingtons. A tramp is busy stealing some toys whe he sees a wellington walking towards him – with Hoppity inside – and he runs off in fright. The store manager is so pleased he gives Sara a beautiful train set for Jimmy.
Episode 27
Shaggy and the Flowers
August 21, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated August 24, 1965
Shaggy ruins Daddy's flowers by trampling on them. Later, Aunt Mathilda comes to tea wearing a lovely flowered hat. When she gets up to go, it is nowhere to be found. The naughty dog has buried it in the flowerbed to make Daddy think his flowers are still there.
(Note: A loose strip adaptation of this episode appears in The Big Book of Sara and Hoppity.)
Episode 28
Sara and Hoppity Clean the Shop
August 28, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated August 31, 1965
Georgie has broken all his toys and Daddy is kept busy mending them. Mummy scrubs out the shop and when she goes upstairs to get lunch, Hoppity dances on the soap and makes the floor very slippery. Naughty Georgie creeps back to take some toys and gets a nasty surprise.
Episode 29
Sara and Hoppity do the Wallpapering
September 4, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated September 7, 1965
Daddy decides to wallpaper the dining room and Sara is allowed to help. Hoppity gets in the way as usual and ends up by falling into a bucket of paste. All his paint washes off but Mummy and Daddy soon put him to rights and everything ends happily.
Episode 31
Pancake Day
September 11, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated September 21, 1965
Mummy is making pancakes when the shop bell rings, but she finds no one there. While Mummy is away, Sara puts some raising powder in the mixture and the pancakes start floating up in the air. One of them sails through the window and lands on Georgie who is hiding behind the door.
Episode 32
Aunt Mathilda's Hat
September 18, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated September 28, 1965
Sara cuts the flowers off Aunt Mathilda's hat to make the table look pretty for tea (Hoppity's idea, of course!). Aunt Mathilda is furious, but she forgives Sara when, at tea next day, she is given a beautiful new hat bought by Sara and Miss Julie.
(Note: This episode is loosely based on part of the first Sara and Hoppity book) but the story also forms part of the Sara and Hoppity pilot.
A minute of silent footage from this episode was found to be held by the National Film Archive in 2002, by fan Jeremy Clark.
Episode 33
Jimmy Comes to Tea
September 25, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated October 5, 1965
Jimmy and Georgie are invited to tea, and Jimmy shows Sara how to pillow fight. Sara's bedroom gets covered in feathers and Georgie runs to tell Mummy. Shaggy helps to sweep up the mess with his tail and when Mummy comes the room is perfectly tidy.
Episode 35
The Goldfish Pond
October 2, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated October 19, 1965
Mummy takes Sara along to the pet shop to buy some goldfish for the pond. They only buy two fish and later Sara tells Shaggy she wants more. When Mummy goes to cook the cod for lunch she finds the silly dog has dropped all the pieces into the pond!
Episode 36
The Coalman Comes to Call
October 9, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated October 26, 1965
The cellar is empty and Daddy asks the coalman to call. Hoppity falls down the coal chute and gets buried under the coal. Sara canot find him anywhere, but when Daddy takes a bucket of coal up to Miss Julie, Hoppity is sitting in the middle of it.
Episode 37
Mummy Loses Her Ring
October 16, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated November 2, 1965
Mummy is making the Christmas puddings and Hoppity falls into the pudding mixture. Later, Mummy drops her ring on the floor and it is sucked up by the vaccum cleaner. Hoppity knocks over the bag of dust and saves Mummy's ring from being thrown away.
(Note: This episode would appear to be very loosely based on a story in Meet Sara and Hoppity)
Episode 38
A Visit to the Seaside
October 23, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated November 9, 1965
Mummy, Daddy and Sara go to the seaside for a holiday. Hoppity dances on to a li-lo and gets carried out to sea. Sara thinks her toy has gone for ever, but an old fisherman brings him safely to land – in his lobster pot!
(Note: This episode would appear to be very loosely based on part of Sara and Hoppity Get Lost)
Episode 39
Sara Goes to School
October 30, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated November 16, 1965
Sara goes down to the school to meet Jimmy, and naughty Hoppity dances right into the classroom. Sara is allowed to stay and she sees Georgie Guzzler teasing little Mary. Hoppity sees him too, and he pays Georgie back by dancing on his exercise book with inky feet.
Episode 40
A Day at the Beach
November 6, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated November 23, 1965
The Browns' stay at the seaside is nearly over and Daddy and Sara have a last game of clock golf with Hoppity joining in. They picnic on the sands and then run catch the train which will take them back to the Toy Hospital, Miss Julie and Shaggy.
Episode 41
The Lonely Junk Man
November 13, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated November 30, 1965
The Junk Man takes a fancy to Hoppity and carries him off to the shack. He keeps the toy in a cage to dance and sing for him, but Daddy gets him back again and Sara gives the Junk Man a goldfish so that he won't be lonely any more.
(Note: A loose adaptation of this episode appears in The Big Book of Sara and Hoppity)
Episode 42
The Brass Band
November 20, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated December 7, 1965
Daddy decides to form a brass band, and invites his friends over to play. Hoppity enjoys himself among the instruments, and when Dr. Makewell starts to blow his tuba it makes a terrible noise, for the naughty toy has fallen inside.
Episode 43
The Painting Competition
November 27, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated December 14, 1965
The Mayor is holding a painting competition, and Mummy, Daddy and Miss Julie all decide to go in for it. But it is Hoppity who wins the prize with a very unusual sort of picture!
Episode 44
A Day in Bed
December 4, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated December 21, 1965
Sara is not feeling well and has to spend the day in bed. This time she is a good girl, but Hoppity is even naughtier than usual and upsets everybody in the Toy Hospital until Shaggy puts an end to his tricks.
Episode 12
Sara and Father Christmas
December 11, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated May 11, 1965
Mummy takes Sara along to the big store to see Father Christmas. While no one is looking, Hoppity falls into the sackful of presents and is given away to another little girl. All turns out well when Mary calls at the Toy Hospital that afternoon with the missing toy.
Episode 47
Father Christmas and the Presents
December 18, 1962 - 4.45 pm
Repeated January 11, 1966
(Originally scheduled for December 21, 1965)
Sara asks Mummy to write her a letter to Father Christmas. In the letter, she asks for a doll's pram, and Daddy posts it in the fireplace. When the pram does not arrive, Hoppity goes looking for the letter and gets stuck up the chimney. He is rescued by the Junk Man and in the end, Sara gets her pram.
Episode 25
A Birthday Cake for Daddy
January 1, 1963 - 4.45 pm
Repeated August 10, 1965
Mummy makes a special cake for Daddy's birthday, but Hoppity spills the icing sugar and she has to go out for some more. Sara 'ices' the cake with snow from the garden and soon it is swimming in a pool of water. Luckily, Doctor Makewell arrives with another cake for Daddy.
Episode 30
The Snowman
January 8, 1963 - 4.45 pm
Repeated September 14, 1965
Somebody is stealing Daddy's bulbs from the garden and he doesn't know what to do. Daddy and Sara build a snowman and Hoppity gets shut up inside it. That night a tramp creeps in to steal the bulbs, but he runs away in fright when the snowman comes to life.
Episode 45
Sara and Hoppity Quarrel
January 15, 1963 - 4.45 pm
Repeated September 28, 1965
Sara is cross with Hoppity, so she leaves him behind in the kitchen. He dances into a box of rubbish and is carried away by the Junk Man. Daddy has to fetch him back once more and the quarrel is soon forgotten when Sara and her toy are together again.
Episode 46
Gorgey Georgie Goes Visiting
aka Mummy's New Hat (AR)
January 22, 1963 - 4.45 pm
Repeated January 4, 1966
When she hears that Georgie is coming to tea, Sara hides Hoppity in the cupboard, but Shaggy lets him out again. Georgie wants to have Hoppity for himself. Georgie makes Hoppity into a parcel and posts him to himself. Luckily, the toy manages to wriggle free and dances back to Sara's house.
​
Other than the pilot episode, this is the only episode currently available to view. See Videos page.
​
Note: The promotional brochure and synopsis sheet give the title Georgie Goes Visiting, while the on-screen title is actually Gorgey Georgie Goes Visiting. Read a full review of this recently rediscovered episode)
Episode 51
The Fancy Dress Party
January 29, 1963 - 4.45 pm
Repeated February 8, 1966
The Brown family receive an invitation to the Mayor's fancy dress party and are soon busy making costumes. Sara wants to take Hoppity along but Mummy doesn't allow her to. Miss Julie makes Hoppity a little jockey's outfit, and he surprises everyone by turning up at the party riding on Shaggy's back.
Episode 34
Sara is Naughty
February 5, 1963 - 4.45 pm
Repeated October 12, 1965
Sara does not feel well and Mummy sends for Dr Makewell. Sara hates taking medicine so she hides her pills in the cuckoo clock, which Daddy has made for her. Mummy finds out how naughty she has been when the clock strikes and all the pills fly out again.
Episode 48
Hoppity and the Jelly
February 12, 1963 - 4.45 pm
Repeated January 18, 1966
Georgie and his mother are coming to tea, so Mummy makes an enormous jelly. Hoppity falls into the jelly bowl and Miss Julie, who has lost her glasses, puts him in the refrigerator. Everybody gets a big surprise when the jelly is served up.
Episode 49
The Grandfather Clock
February 19, 1963 - 4.45 pm
Repeated January 25, 1966
Mummy's alarm clock is broken, so she takes it to the store to be mended. The store doesn't mend clocks and they send her to see the Junk Man instead. Hoppity has an exciting afternoon inside a grandfather clock.
Episode 50
The Windy Day
February 26, 1963 - 4.45 pm
Repeated February 1, 1966
Miss Julie's bonnet gets blown away while she is out shopping, and she is very upset. Mrs. Grim finds it and takes it home to try it on, but Shaggy sniffs his way to the house and Miss Julie gets her bonnet back again.
(Note: The character Mrs Grim also appears in Sara and Hoppity Get Lost, although this would appear to be a name for how Sara views a rather grim lady!)
