SARA AND HOPPITY
ROBERTA LEIGH'S
Small Time
Independent Television’s 15-minue slot for the under fives was broadcast from 1955 to 1966.
It was produced and presented for the Network by Associated-Rediffusion Television.
Milestones and Notable Dates
Small Time began the day after Independent Television’s opening night in London on Thursday 22nd September 1955.
At 12.15pm on Friday 23rd September 1955 the very first Small Time programme was broadcast. Johnny and Flonny, a glove puppet series, with Paul Hansard. The following week on the Monday saw The Big Black Crayon with Rolf Harris and Jean Ford and on the Wednesday was Toybox with Susan Spear.
There were no Small Time programmes on Tuesdays nor Thursdays until Tuesday 8th November when The Little House That Stood On The Hill joined the 12.15-12.30pm line-up and on Thursday Snoozy The Sea-Lion made the complete original Monday-to-Friday set. Full details of these and all the other Small Time programmes can be found in the next section, below – The Complete Program Index.
From Monday 28th November 1955, the slot was moved back a little to 12.08pm and, according to the TV Times, ran to 12.20pm. But this initial lunchtime transmission was short lived because from Monday 9th January 1956 Small Time was moved to a 4.05-4.15pm slot. But then we were soon to lose our five slots a week, from week commencing 20th February 1956 we were down to a Tuesday and Thursday 4.30-4.45pm slot only. This lasted until May 1956 when Small Time disappeared completely and the only remnants that were left could be seen on Tuesdays when Rolf Harris appeared in the Children’s Hour from 5.00-6.00pm and on Thursdays when Snoozy The Sea Lion had a fortnightly run at 5.27pm in the same programme. Only Snoozy remained from June 1956 though and lasted as the programme became Jolly Good Time with Jimmy Hanley in September 1956 right the way through to September 1957.
On Monday 16th September 1957 at 4.30pm the Small Time 15-minute slot was back. The programmes were hosted by Mr. Happy, the controller of birthdays, with scripts written by John Myers. Mr. Happy would read your birthday greetings before presenting a different Small Time programme each day, Monday to Friday. This format lasted until Christmas.
Wednesday 13th November 1957 saw the very first episode of The Adventures Of Twizzle. No Small Time programmes were broadcast between January and April 1958. But The Adventures Of Twizzle were shown on Tuesdays in the Jolly Good Time show with Jimmy Hanley between 5.00 and 5.30pm.
In April 1958 Oliver Postgate joined the team with Mr Happy, and from Monday 14th April Small Time was running in the 4.45-5.00pm slot with a different programme each day.
On Monday 8th December 1958, Muriel Young made her debut reading the tale of Little Rocky.
Three days later, on Thursday 11th December 1958, saw the very first edition of the long running series The Musical Box. This first edition was compered by Jill Adamson. Rolf Harris hosted the programme from 21st April 1959, with its most well-known presenter Wally Whyton first appearing on 12th August 1959.
Small Time settled into the 4.45-5.00pm slot on Monday 14th September 1959.
It continued to run five days a week from Monday 14th April 1958, until Monday 29th December 1958 when it was moved back to the lunchtime slot of 12.47-1.00pm.
On Monday 5th July 1959 it was moved forward again to a 5.05-5.15pm slot.
For the rest of its transmission it was settled at 4.45-5.00pm – apart from a short period between Monday 28th December 1964 and Monday 1st February 1965 when, for the first month in the life of Crossroads, the new ATV soap serial, Small Time was designated a slot from 4.20-4.35pm.
On Friday 16th October 1959 Patrick Boyle told us the very first Tum story which was followed by Muriel Young talking to Pussy Cat Willum, a glove puppet devised and animated by Janet Nicholls. This started regular birthday chats following the Small Time programme and over the years Pussy Cat Willum appeared with Liz Shingler, Bert Weedon and Wally Whyton as well as Muriel Young. Other 'soon to become famous' puppets started life here before making it big in the Five O’Clock Club were Ollie Beak, voiced by Wally Whyton and Fred Barker, voiced by Ivan Owen.
Monday 28th December 1959 heralded the start of the little engine from the Welsh valleys, Ivor The Engine.
Tuesday 23rd February 1960 saw the launch of Torchy The Battery Boy.
Tuesday 27th February 1962 gave us the first adventure with Sara and Hoppity.
Who can remember that song? This was the theme song to the show: -
"Sara Brown has a toy as naughty as can be, he’ll start to sing if you wind up his key.
He’ll sing and he’ll dance all over the floor and when he stands still you wind him some more.
Dear old Hoppity, naughty Hoppity, there is no toy more naughty than he.
Dear old Hoppity, clever Hoppity, he sings diddle-lee-dum and he sings diddle-lee-dee!"
In September 1962 one of Children TV’s greatest glove puppets Basil Brush was born on ITV in Small Time. He appeared with his friends Bert Scampi and Spikey in The Three Scampis (see below). His voice was created by Ivan Owen.
From Monday 27th September 1965, Pippy The Telephant made regular appearances.
Small Time's final week began on Monday 19th September, 1966, with programmes as follows:
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Kuff
Twizzle
Musical Box
Pippy’s Party
All At Sea
From Monday 26th September 1966 the Small Time header was shelved, along with all the regular programmes.
Into the 4.45-5.00pm slot came Playtime, with presenters Gwyneth Surdivall and Jennifer Naden, who invited younger viewers to join in the singing, dancing and painting in their magic park. The programme ran from Monday to Thursday leaving Friday free for The Adventures Of Twizzle into 1967. By 1968 Playtime had been discarded, being replacedby Hullaballoo (also with Gwyneth Surdivall and Jennifer Naden, joined by Freddie Earlle and David Ashton). Ivor The Engine and various other programmes were to fill this slot, until Rediffusion lost its franchise to Thames Television in July 1968.
The directors of Small Time were:
Jim Pople
Tig Roe
Marjory Ruse
William Freshman
Roger Jenkins
Prudence Nesbitt
Bill Perry
Bimbi Harris
Peter Moffatt (notable TV drama director)
Sheila Gregg
John Rhodes (later Head of A-R Children's TV)
David Boisseau (notable TV drama director)
Eric Croall
David Gardner
Don Gale
Richard Sidwell
Ronald Marriott
Richard Gilbert
Raymond Menmuir (notable TV drama director)
Michael Currer-Briggs
Peter Yolland (later children's TV director)
Harry Sloan
J. Murray Ashford
Marc Miller
Glenn Lord
Adrian Brown
Richard West
Angela Holder
Bob Gray
Tania Lieven
David Conyers
Bill Turner
Adrian Cooper
Grahame Turner
Mary Beales
Hugh Munro
Fred Sadoff (children's TV director)
Peter Croft.
The Complete Programme Index
A
The Adventures of Booty Mole
Written and created by Joan Reed and Jane Johnson.
Animated by Elizabeth Shingler, Anne Newell and Hal Danby.
First transmitted December 1960.
Adventures of Plonk
The adventures of the little grey goose.
Written and told by Jean Ford. Drawn by Neville Wortman.
Music by Andrew Fenner.
First transmitted 15th September, 1958.
Adventures of Tum
Illustrated and told by Patrick Boyle. Written by Dorothy Kate Ramsden.
Music by Andrew Fenner.
First transmitted 16th October, 1959.
Adventures of Twizzle
Written and produced by Roberta Leigh.
Music by Leslie Clare.
Directed by Gerry Anderson.
First transmitted 13th November 1957.
Note: 52 x b/w 15min episodes. Twizzle is a boy doll who lives in Straytown with all the other lost or unwanted toys including his friends Footso the black cat, Candy Floss, Jack-in-the-box and Jiffy the broomstick man. They are looked after by the Toy Inspector. Twizzle has the strange ability to be able to stretch his arms and legs to incredible lengths.
There's also a good deal of Twizzle information here: http://www.toonhound.com/twizzle.htm
Alexander the Mouse
Written and told by Oliver Postgate.
Illustrated by Peter Firmin.
First transmitted 14th April, 1958.
Note: The first professional collaboration of Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin. The 'animation' was done live by using magnets to move illustrated cut-out figures.
All At Sea
The nautical adventures of Captain Ruff and his ready crew.
Written and performed by Howard Williams and Ivan Owen.
Editor Virginia Tabb.
First transmitted November 1965.
Amanda and the Magic Glade
The story of a Christmas fairy doll.
Read by Lisel Beaumont. Written by Mary Plumbly.
Drawn by Neville Wortman.
Music played by Andrew Fenner.
First transmitted 12th December, 1958.
Angela
The stories of a little girl called Angela who has many exciting adventures.
Script by Shelagh Prior.
A Hodson-Lee Production.
First transmitted 7th August, 1958.
Animal Land
Muriel Young (right) takes you into the land of the little animal and tells some stories about it.
Written by Grahame Dangerfield.
First transmitted February 1962.
Annie's Garden
Anne Melville talks about the birds and animals and flowers in her garden.
Written by Mary Plumbly. Pictures by Grahame Dangerfield.
First transmitted May 1963.
Around the World
Jackie and Gillian Moran take younger viewers to an exciting country each week.
Illustrated by Peter Firmin.
First transmitted 18th September, 1958.
Barbara Brown (right) has never seen an unkelope, but still expects one for tea and wonders what he’ll be like!
Music by Sam Fonteyn.
First transmitted June 1963.
Barbara and the Unkelope
B
The Beechwood Tales
Introducing Dozy the doormouse and Bright Eyes the baby squirrel.
Narrated by Janet Nicholls.
Drawn and animated by Neville Wortman.
Written by E. Paine.
First transmitted 23rd April, 1959.
Best of Tum
llustrated and told by Patrick Boyle.
Written by Dorothy Kate Ramsden.
Music by Andrew Fenner.
First Transmitted November 1964.
The Big Black Crayon
Rolf Harris and Jean Ford in a programme of stories and pictures.
The young audience are invited to help Rolf Harris in drawing pictures with their Big Black Crayon.
Jean Ford tells her own story.
First Transmitted 26th September, 1955.
Bottle
The dog with the nose for crime.
Narrated by Meg Trace. Story and music by Hubert Pattison.
Editor Jenny Wilkes.
First Transmitted May 1966.
Brock and Bruin
Story written and introduced by Janet Nicholls.
Voices by Peter Hawkins and Ivan Owen.
Puppets animated by Elizabeth Shingler and Jane Tyson.
First Transmitted 19th January 1959
C
Chippy
Written and devised by Peter Hayes.
Voices by Roy Skelton and Jill Raymond.
Music by Bert Weedon.
First Transmitted February 1961.
Notes: Chippy is a 12 year old boy who lives with his Uncle Eustace, retired from the Indian Army. Chippy finds a 'magic hammer' from India, which makes his toy dog Banger come to life...
Christmas Story
In pictures and music.
Told by Jean Ford with special illustrations by Alfred Wurmser.
A One-Off Programme Transmitted on Tuesday, 20th December, 1955.
Christmas Party
All the Small Timers meet. Rolf with Oliver. Susan Spear will bring Doodle, Quizzy and Billy Boots. Snoozy will come with Dorothy Smith. Paul Hansard will bring Johnny & Flonny and a special invitation given to Jean Ford.
A One-Off Programme Transmitted on Friday, 23rd December, 1955.
Clara the Little Red Car
Told by Jean Ford. Animation by Alfred Wurmser.
Produced by Pat Baker.
First Transmitted 27th December, 1955.
D
Colonel Crock
Muriel Young introduces Much Winding’s favourite motor car.
Devised by Edward Andrews.
First Transmitted 7th July, 1959.
Come Out to Play
With Jackie and Gillian Moran.
Illustrated by John Glasham.
First Transmitted 18th September, 1957.
Didgeridoo
Rolf Harris with Sugar and Jerboa at Wambidgee.
Programme editor Guy Rowston. Executive Producer Penny Wooton.
Tyne-Tees TV Production.
First transmitted March 1967
Dog Watch
Children are invited to the Grimbles Lighthouse to meet senior keep Oliver and his mate Fred Barker (right).
Devised and presented by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin.
First Transmitted January 1961.
Notes: Fred Barker was voiced by Ivan Owen.
The Drawing Machine
By David Myers.
John Ridley as Professor Buckle uses his wonderful new invention to help him tell a story.
First Transmitted May 1964.
E
The Enchanted House
Pamela Russell tells the story. (From 10th December, 1957)
Lisel Beaumont tells the story. (From 18th April, 1958)
Nellyphant the elephant and her two friends introduce viewers to more animals.
Written by Mary Plumby. Drawn by Neville Wortman.
First Transmitted 10th December, 1957.
F
Fergus Fish
Created and written by Harold Rottesman.
Created and written by Harold Rottesman.
Notes: The last notable Rediffusion production for young children in the Small Time slot. Creator Harold Rottesman had previously written stories for children about fish that had appeared in a nightly magazine programme - but when that ended, the producer disappeared with the puppets! So Rottesman enlisted the help of a 72 year old Dane called Ostergaard Hoeg, a retired mechanic with a hobby for wood-carving, to create puppets that blew bubbles when they spoke!
Fireside Story
June Thorburn tells a story she has written especially for you.
First Transmitted February 1963.
Firmin
Script by Robert Bolt.
First Transmitted 22nd January, 1959.
Folli the Foal
By Mary Plumbly.
A baby horse goes in search of some wings. His legs are so long he falls over them, so he thinks it would be better to fly.
Read by Lisel Beaumont. Drawn by Neville Wortman.
First Transmitted 19th September, 1958.
Friskimo
By Margaret Cornell.
Illustrated and narrated by Muriel Young.
Music by Andrew Fenner.
First Transmitted 31st December, 1959.
Funnyways Farm
Told by Gwynne Price who also wrote the stories and drew the pictures.
Music by Andrew Fenner.
First Transmitted February 1963.
G
George the Dragon
Adventures of the nicest dragon in the world.
Written and told by Meg Trace. Illustrated by Tony Hart.
Music by Andrew Fenner.
First Transmitted October 1965.
H
Hands and Feet
Including Musical Alphabet by Eric Spear
and Billy Boots Introduced by Susan Spear.
Produced by Pat Baker.
First Transmitted 24th February, 1956.
Hank
With Francis Coudrill, in a cartoon adventure from the wild and woolly west.
First Transmitted 16th June, 1959.
Hattytown
Created by Keith Chatfield.
Storyteller Peter Hawkins. Drawings by John McLusky.
Editor Meg Trace.
Huff Puff Junction
Or how not to run a railway!
Written and performed by Howard Williams and Ivan Owen.
First Transmitted November 1964.
Notes: William Potts is the Station Master of Huff Puff Junction, joined by Charlie the Porter, Mr Horace Grimm the Signalman and Smithy the engine driver.
I
Ivor the Engine
Told by Olwen Griffiths, David Edwards and Oliver Postgate.
Pictures by Peter Firmin. Music by Vernon Elliott.
Written and produced by Oliver Postgate.
First Transmitted 28th December 1959.
Notes: 32 x b/w 10 min episodes. Created by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, this is the story of Ivor, the little Welsh railway engine from the Merioneth and Llantisilly Rail Traction Company Limited. Ivor was fired by Idris the dragon who lived in Ivor's boiler. The engine driver was Jones the Steam and the stationmaster was Dai Station. The first 6-part story, concerning Ivor's great ambition was to sing in the choir like Evans the Song, was the only one Postgate intended, but ITV liked it so much more stories were commissioned!
J
Janie's Toys
Told by Jean Ford.
Janie is a little girl who has lots of toys and every night before she goes to bed she puts them away in her toy cupboard. But as soon as Janie is asleep the toys wake up and have all sorts of adventures.
Animation Alfred Wurmser.
Produced by Pat Baker.
First Transmitted 17th January, 1956.
Jemima
Jean Ford and Jemima have some fun with magic words.
Devised and written by Jean Ford.
Animated by Barbara Alexander.
First Transmitted October 1960.
Johnny and Flonny
With Paul Hansard (right).
A weekly serial telling the adventures of Johnny, a little glove puppet created by Paul Hansard and Johnny’s little rabbit pal Flonny. Johnny gets up to all the pranks and mischief indulged in by most human little boys.
Written by Geoffrey Hubbard.
Music by Ernest Kaye. Produced by Pat Baker.
First Transmitted 23rd September, 1955.
Notes: The first ever Small Time programme.
The Journey of Master Ho (The Willow Pattern Boy)
By Oliver Postgate.
Drawn by Peter Thompson.
Produced by Penny Wootton.
First Transmitted 16th September, 1958.
Notes: Oliver Postgate's first venture into stop-frame animation, which he did himself to meet the budget of £175 per episode. There is reputedly no narration as these were originally intended for deaf children.
K
Kandy
A puppet series for young children introducing Kandy and his friends Happity, the Bunny Babes, Flying Phil and many others.
Introduced by Jane Elliot Hayes.
Script by David White. Puppets by Peter Elliot Hayes.
First Transmitted 2nd November, 1959.
Kuff
The adventures of a koala bear.
Storyteller Meg Trace. Written by Marc Karlin.
Drawn by Patricia Jones and Anselm Devoold.
Programme Editor Jenny Wilkes.
First Transmitted August 1966.
L
Let's Make a Story
Let's Make a Party
Created by Jean Ford.
Presented by Jane Enshawe (right), with Jimmy Scott and Pippy The Telephant.
Programme Editor Virginia Tabb.
A One-Off Programme Transmitted on Thursday, 23rd December, 1965.
Created by Jean Ford and presented by Jane Enshawe.
Programme Editor Virginia Tabb.
First Transmitted July 1965.
The Little House That Stood on the Hill
Told by Jean Ford.
Produced by Pat Baker.
First Transmitted 8th November, 1955.
Little Rocky
The rocket who was afraid of heights.
Read by Muriel Young.
Written by Steve Roseberry. Drawn by Neville Wortman.
Music played by Andrew Fenner.
First Transmitted 8th December, 1958.
Notes: This was Muriel Young’s Small Time debut.
The Lost Invitation
Small Time visits the wood where Brock & Bruin and their friends live to see how they are going to spend Christmas.
Written and introduced by Janet Nicholls.
Voices by Peter Hawkins (right) and Ivan Owen.
Puppets by Elizabeth Shingler and Anne Newell.
A One-Off Programme Transmitted on Monday, 21st December, 1959.
M
The Miller's Tale
The adventures of Sammy the sea trout and his friends the millpond animals.
Read by David Edwards and Olwen Griffiths (right).
Animated drawings by Peter
Mr Happy and Toby and Tina
A Story with illustrations read by Alan Freeman.
Drawn by Gordon Langmaid.
Written by Mary Plumbly.
First Transmitted 30th September, 1957.
Mr Happy and Trixie
Mr. Happy and Monday’s Child Trixie who is up to all tricks with her friends, Eric Spear and Chenerai.
First Transmitted 16th September, 1957.
The Musical Box
Open The Musical Box to hear songs and stories where traditional nursery rhymes are brought to life.
Drawings by Peter Firmin.
Programme editor Jenny Wilkes.
First Transmitted Thursday, 11th December 1958.
Notes: From 11th December 1958, stories told by Jill Adamson.
In later weeks told by Jackie Moran, Joan Manning, Isla Cameron, Michael Garson.
From 21st April 1959, told by Rolf Harris.
From 12th August, 1959, songs and stories with Wally Whyton and Peter Firmin.
From 30th March 1960, Joe Crow and Simon Scarecrow (right) joined Wally Whyton.
Wally Whyton would talk to Pussy Cat Willum, later joined by Ollie Beak and Fred Barker.
The end title song went:
"A-B-C-D-E Goodbye from Willum and me, F-G-H-I-J We'll see you another day.
K-L-M-N-O It's time for us to go, P-Q-R-S-T And the Cat went fiddle-I-dee, fiddle-I-dee, fiddle-I-dee....."
Music Fairy
Sheila Mossman tells some stories and sings some songs while Music Fairy dances. Murky tries to help.
Puppeteer Anne Newell and Fiona Chapman.
First Transmitted November 1961.
Muskit and Dido
The story of two friends written and performed by Ivan Owen and Peter Firmin.
First Transmitted September 1963.
O
Oaktree Kitchen
Hetty Houseproud is in the Oaktree Kitchen.
Written by Edwina Coven. Adapted by Janet Nicholls.
First Transmitted March 1960.
Oliver Polip the Octopus
With Rolf Harris close at hand.
Devised and written by John Myers.
First Transmitted 19th September, 1957.
P
Ollie's Follies
A junior variety show.
Ollie Beak with Muriel Young (right) and Redvers Kyle.
First Transmitted May 1961.
Peter Rabbit Stories
By Beatrix Potter. Told by Oliver Postgate.
First Transmitted March 1962.
Peter's Playmates
Muriel Young introduces the story of some of Peter’s rather unusual animal friends.
Illustrated by Graheme Dangerfield.
First Transmitted 23rd July, 1959.
Pets' Corner
Illustrated and told by Muriel Young who shows some of her pets.
First Transmitted June 1960.
Picture the Word
Tikki the toucan tells you about things.
Created and devised by Roberta Leigh.
First Transmitted September 1965.
The Pingwings
Written and directed by Oliver Postgate.
Told by Olwen Griffiths and Oliver Postgate. Music by Vernon Elliott.
First Transmitted February 1961.
Notes: This was Oliver Postgate's first stop-frame puppet film series, and was filmed at Peter Firmin's own farm in Kent.
Pippa's Party
With Larry Parker, Jimmy Scott and Pippy The Telephant.
Editor Jenny Wilkes. Music by Andrew Fenner.
First Transmitted April 1966.
Plans for a Party
Muriel Young gets ready for Christmas with Pussy Cat Willum (right) and Ollie Beak.
Animations by Elizabeth Shingler, Anne Newell and Hal Danby.
Voices by Peter Hawkins, Ivan Owen and Edwina Coven.
First Transmitted December 1960.
Playtime
Presented by Gwyneth Surdivell and Jennifer Naden.
Gwyneth and Jenny invite you to join in the dancing, singing, games and painting in their magic park.
Music by Glyn Hale.
Designer Jim Nicholson.
First Transmitted 26th September, 1966.
Plonk
The adventures of the little grey goose.
Written and told by Jean Ford.
Drawn by Neville Wortman.
Music by Andrew Fenner.
First Transmitted 15th September, 1958.
R
Rabbits' Row
By Janet Nicholls. Josephine played by Janet Nicholls.
Voices by Peter Hawkins and Ivan Owen.
First Transmitted March 1961.
Rolf Harris with Oliver Polip the Octopus
Rolf draws some more pictures about Oliver’s adventures interrupted by Oliver himself.
Produced by Pat Baker.
First Transmitted 21st November, 1955.
S
Sara and Hoppity
By Roberta Leigh.
Directed by Frank Goulding. Produced by Roberta Leigh and Arthur Provis.
First Transmitted 27th February, 1962.
The Showboat Children
Sally and Benedict live aboard a Showboat called the River Queen. Follow their adventures as the boat sails down America’s mighty Mississippi river.
Read by Rita Stevens. Animated Drawings by Peter Firmin.
Written by Penny Wootton.
First Transmitted 28th October, 1958.
The Silly Billies
Talk to Jane Hayes about things in the country.
Written by Peter Hayes. Voices by Roy Skelton (right).
First Transmitted August 1962.
Sing a Song
Jean Ramsay sings some songs and Peter Firmin shows how to make some models.
First Transmitted March 1962.
Sketch Book
Muriel Young invites young viewers to meet Joan, Angelica and Jeremy the cat.
Sketches and script by Muriel Young.
First Transmitted 13th March, 1959.
Snoozy the Sealion
With Dorothy Smith (right).
Devised by Woolf Goldberg and Dorothy Smith.
Drawings by Woolf Goldberg.
Produced by Pat Baker.
First Transmitted 10th November, 1955.
Notes: Dorothy Smith was best known as the storyteller for BBC's Listen With Mother - a post she held since 1951, and well into the 1960s.
Squiffy and Vic
Two small red squirrels and their adventures in Oak Apple Valley.
Illustrated and told by Patrick Boyle.
Written by Dorothy Kate Ramsden.
Programme Editor Jenny Wilkes.
First Transmitted July 1966.
Stories from Other Lands
Told by Inn De La Haye.
First Transmitted April 1960.
Stories with Hands
Told by Chin Yu assisted by David Williams (right).
First Transmitted January 1961.
Stories with Pictures
An amusing time with Rolf Harris and Jean Ford, who tell stories and illustrate them as they go along.
First Transmitted 24th October, 1955.
Story Book
Oliver Postgate… reads a favourite fairy story and shows you the pictures.
First Transmitted October 1960.
Notes: Oliver Postgate first presented the show during 1960, and was followed by Muriel Young (1961-1963) and Barbara Brown (1964)
Susie and Hug
Written and presented by Jean Ford. Helped by Pan Wade.
First Transmitted June 1961.
Notes: The adventures of Susie the dog and her friend Hug the elephant.
Susie and Hug's Story Book
Written and presented by Jean Ford. Helped by Pan Wade.
Pictures by Kathleen Corbett.
First Transmitted July 1962.
T
Tabitha (and Family)
Muriel Young tells some stories about Tabitha, Pretty Paws and Big Feet.
Puppeteer Christopher Griffin.
First Transmitted April 1960.
Tales of Higgly-Piggly Farm
Told by Pamela Russell. Drawn by Neville Wortman.
Written by Olive Dehn.
First Transmitted 17th September, 1957.
Tales of Oaktree Kitchen
Hetty Houseproud is in the Oaktree Kitchen.
Written by Edwina Coven. Adapted by Janet Nicholls.
First Transmitted March 1960.
Theodore
The bashful rabbit, with Larry Parker.
First Transmitted 1st November, 1957.
The Three Scampis
The story of Bert Scampi and his animals Spikey and Basil.
Written and performed by Howard Williams, Wally Whyton and Ivan Owen.
First Transmitted September 1962.
Notes: Bert Scampi was played by Howard Williams, Spikey (Spike McPike) was voiced by Wally Whyton and Basil (Basil Brush) was voiced by Ivan Owen.
Toby and Tina
A Story with illustrations read by Alan Freeman.
Drawn by Gordon Langmaid. Written by Mary Plumbly.
First Transmitted 30th September, 1957.
Torchy the Battery Boy
Written and produced by Roberta Leigh.
Directed by Gerry Anderson (first 26 episodes).
Directed by Vivian Milroy (final 26 episodes).
First Transmitted 23rd February, 1960.
Notes: 52 x b/w 15 min episodes. Torchy, a clockwork toy with a battery-powered light on his hat, travels in his space rocket to and from Topsy-Turvy Land, where all the neglected and mistreated toys live and come alive to join in his adventures. Other characters included Mr Bumble-Drop, King Dithers, Bossy Boots, Pom Pom, Flopsy, Pilliwig Sparky, Squish and Pongo.
Click link to playlist of all Torchy enhanced colorised episodes.
There's also a good deal of Torchy info here: http://www.toonhound.com/torchy.htm
Toybox
Doodle Bird. The gay adventures of a novel toy duck made from seven pieces of yellow wood which can be assembled in 57 different ways.
Billy Boots. A play in which all the charactors are portrayed by pairs of boots and shoes (carved from wood). The principal character Billy Boots is a pair of boy’s shoes.
Both Doodle Bird and Billy Boots are introduced by Susan Spear and devised by Eric Spear.
First Transmitted 28th September, 1955.
The Travels of Gorki the Straw Goat
Written and introduced by Janet Nicholls.
First Transmitted 12th March, 1959.
Trixie
Mr. Happy and Monday’s Child Trixie who is up to all tricks with her friends, Eric Spear and Chenerai.
First Transmitted 16th September, 1957.
Tufty
Muriel Young tells a story about Tufty the squirrel.
Written by Peter Hayes from a story by Elsie Mills.
First Transmitted January 1962.
Tum
llustrated and told by Patrick Boyle. Written by Dorothy Kate Ramsden.
Music by Andrew Fenner.
First Transmitted 16th October, 1959.
Tum at Higgy's Cove
Illustrated and told by Patrick Boyle. Written by Dorothy Kate Ramsden.
Music by Andrew Fenner.
First Transmitted July 1962.
Tum at Home
Illustrated and told by Patrick Boyle. Written by Dorothy Kate Ramsden.
Music by Andrew Fenner.
First Transmitted February 1962.
Tum at Trotton Gallop
Illustrated and told by Patrick Boyle. Written by Dorothy Kate Ramsden.
Music by Andrew Fenner.
First Transmitted February 1963.
Two at Sea
Albert and Ricky go to the seaside for a holiday.
Written and performed by Howard Williams and Ivan Owen.
First Transmitted July 1964.
Notes: The Two series (see further entries below) featured Ricky the Raccoon and Albert the Ostrich.
Two in a Tent
More fun for Albert and Ricky when they decide to camp out (see below).
Written and performed by Howard Williams and Ivan Owen.
First Transmitted October 1964.
Two in Trouble
Albert and Ricky do their best at school but generally land in trouble.
Written and performed by Howard Williams and Ivan Owen.
First Transmitted August 1964.
Two in Tune
Barbara Brown has some fun with Ricky and Albert.
Puppets by Howard Williams and Ivan Owen.
Music by Roger Webb.
First Transmitted June 1964.
W
Willum's Picture Book
Illustrated and introduced by Neville Wortman.
First Transmitted June 1960.
Willum's Tea Party
By Janet Nicholls.
Muriel Young and Wally Whyton have a special tea party for Pussy Cat Willum (right).
First Transmitted September 1961.
