I loved this fascinating look at an iconic animation! I only remember actually watching a few episodes as a very young child, possibly repeats in the late seventies, but as you say, it has still remained a part of British culture for decades. I didn't remember the rabbit though and how funny that he was part of the sixties/seventies counterculture! I love that. I also didn't realise that Emma Thompson's dad was involved. Thank you for an interesting read : )
While American kids got Saturday morning stuff in the '60s, British kids got this thing. The way things worked for all of them says a lot about the differences between American and British TV.
I didn’t realise Emma Thompson’s dad created the British version of the show! This cartoon is iconic - I’ve never watched it, but I’ve heard countless mentions to the show in popular culture. Great post :)
This is absolutely my childhood. I spent an enormous amount of time trying to make a Dougal, as demonstrated on Blue Peter, with a washing up bottle, yellow wool and sellotape. It was about as successful as all my other Blue Peter makes. In my defence, I was hampered by my supremely unenthusiastic mother who wouldn't buy me the necessary sticky backed plastic or Copydex, which you really needed for everything. And then when I hit college, we used to lie around drunk listening to Jasper Carrot's version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCaeCPpsXV8
I have to say it hasn't aged well...certainly not as well as the original!
Ah, thank you for this. All the programmes you mentioned are wonderful, but the Magic Roundabout was my equal favourite, along with the Clangers.
As you may know, Eric Thompson and his family lived for a while in the tiny Argyll village of Ardentinny. When the local primary school was threatened with closure, as many in the area have been, Thompson's widow, the actress Phyllida Law, gave permission for a local group to use the Magic Roundabout characters in their campaign to save it. I think Thompson would have liked that.
Have you seen the film spin-off, Dougal and the Blue Cat? It's astonishingly creepy and unsettling.
That is such a great story, what a wonderful thing to do. I haven’t seen that no but have put it on my one to watch, thank you. Thanks also for reading and commenting, I appreciate it.
I loved this fascinating look at an iconic animation! I only remember actually watching a few episodes as a very young child, possibly repeats in the late seventies, but as you say, it has still remained a part of British culture for decades. I didn't remember the rabbit though and how funny that he was part of the sixties/seventies counterculture! I love that. I also didn't realise that Emma Thompson's dad was involved. Thank you for an interesting read : )
While American kids got Saturday morning stuff in the '60s, British kids got this thing. The way things worked for all of them says a lot about the differences between American and British TV.
Thanks, Jon. I loved the Magic Roundabout! Didn’t it become infamous as students (and others) enjoyed watching it while chemically influenced?
I didn’t realise Emma Thompson’s dad created the British version of the show! This cartoon is iconic - I’ve never watched it, but I’ve heard countless mentions to the show in popular culture. Great post :)
This is absolutely my childhood. I spent an enormous amount of time trying to make a Dougal, as demonstrated on Blue Peter, with a washing up bottle, yellow wool and sellotape. It was about as successful as all my other Blue Peter makes. In my defence, I was hampered by my supremely unenthusiastic mother who wouldn't buy me the necessary sticky backed plastic or Copydex, which you really needed for everything. And then when I hit college, we used to lie around drunk listening to Jasper Carrot's version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCaeCPpsXV8
I have to say it hasn't aged well...certainly not as well as the original!
Jasper Carrott, quality. Nothing is better than a vinyl record of a comedian. I once had a Grumbleweeds album :)
Whenever I tried to make anything from Blue Peter it ended without success here.
This was my favourite programme as a child. I was obsessed. I even had a pet dog called Dougal. Lovely to see it showcased Jon, thank you!
It's an absolute classic and had an enormous ripple through animation. Thank you so much for reading.
Ah, thank you for this. All the programmes you mentioned are wonderful, but the Magic Roundabout was my equal favourite, along with the Clangers.
As you may know, Eric Thompson and his family lived for a while in the tiny Argyll village of Ardentinny. When the local primary school was threatened with closure, as many in the area have been, Thompson's widow, the actress Phyllida Law, gave permission for a local group to use the Magic Roundabout characters in their campaign to save it. I think Thompson would have liked that.
Have you seen the film spin-off, Dougal and the Blue Cat? It's astonishingly creepy and unsettling.
That is such a great story, what a wonderful thing to do. I haven’t seen that no but have put it on my one to watch, thank you. Thanks also for reading and commenting, I appreciate it.
Loved reading this! I grew up on The Magic Roundabout. I’ll need to check out the movie.
Great to see reminders of Bagpuss et al too. Captain Pugwash didn’t make the cut? I guess he was a little later.
Thanks, Jon!
Thanks for this. Captain Pugwash is so good. I wrote about it a while ago too :) https://open.substack.com/pub/animated/p/captain-pugwash?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web