Jackanory

Jackanory was a BBC children's television series which was originally broadcast on BBC 1 between 1965 and 1996, with around 3,500 episodes in its 30-year run. It was designed to stimulate an interest in reading. The programme's format, which varied little over the decades, featured an actor reading from children's novels or folk tales, usually while seated in an armchair. From time to time the scene being read would be illustrated by a specially commissioned still drawing. Usually a single book would occupy five daily fifteen-minute episodes, from Monday to Friday.

A spin-off series was Jackanory Playhouse (1972–85), which was a series of thirty-minute dramatisations.

1972

Executive producer Anna Home

Mouse Stories

This week's stories - all by different writers - tell of the pains and pleasures of being a mouse.

Storyteller(s) Lesley Nunnerley
Director Marilyn Fox

Episodes

The Tale Of Mrs Tittle-mouse and The Tale Of Two Bad Mice (December 4, 1972)
- 'I'm tired of being a mouse,' said the mouse. 'Nobody likes mice. They set traps for us and set cats on us and yell shoo at us and chase us with brooms. It's not a very pleasant life.'
- Writer(s) Beatrix Potter
The Pocket Mouse (December 5, 1972)
- Writer(s) Barbara Willard
- Illustrations Paul Wright
The Church Mouse (December 5, 1972)
- Written / Drawn by Graham Oakley
The Magnificent Four and The Wizard Of Wallaby Wallow (December 6, 1972)
- Writer(s) Brian Anson (The Magnificent Four), Jack Kent (The Wizard Of Wallaby Wallow)

The Church Mouse would be re-read in 1975 by Cyril Luckham, and in 1985, by Griff Rhys Jones

1973

1974

1974-75

Producer(s) Angela Beeching, Daphne Jones Executive producer Anna Home

A Game Of Catch

Are the voices that Kate hears just echoes, or is there some connection between them and the portrait in the castle museum?

Writer(s) Helen Cresswell
Storyteller(s) Ian Ogilvy
Pictures Gareth Floyd
Adapted / Directed by Angela Beeching

Episodes

Echoes (January 2, 1975)
The Real Game Of Catch (January 3, 1975)

The Rose And The Ring

Two Princes and two Princesses - not to mention the Countess Gruffanuff - fall in and out of love with each other, all because of the Fairy Blackstick's magical present: a Rose and a Ring.

Writer(s) W M Thackeray
Storyteller(s) Kenneth Williams
Illustrations Peter Rush
Adapted / Directed by Roger Singleton-Turner

Episodes

The Fairy Blackstick (January 6, 1975)
Prince Bulbo Comes To Court (January 7, 1975)
Queen Rosalba And The Bold Count Hogginarmo (January 8, 1975)
Most Important News (January 9, 1975)
Gruffy's Husband, Won And Lost (January 10, 1975)

Had previously been dramatized in 1953 by the BBC, starring Jacqueline Hill and Kenneth Connor

Poor Cecco

Of all the toys in the nursery, Poor Cecco was the most adventuresome. He was a wooden dog who had bright ideas which always led to the most unexpected adventures.

Writer(s) Margery Williams Bianco
Storyteller(s) Ted Ray
Puppets Sheena Lane
llustrations by Antony Maitlano
Adapted / Directed by Jeremy Swan

Episodes

How Poor Cecco Lost His Tail (January 13, 1975)
Bulka And Poor Cecco Decide To See The World (January 14, 1975)
The Pursuit (January 15, 1975)
Murrum's Revenge (January 16, 1975)
The Rescue (January 17, 1975)

A Cow Called Boy

It is the first day of a new school term in Kendal, Jamaica, and Josh Mahon is determined not to be late. But he reckons without his pet bull calf, Boy...

Writer(s) C Everard Palmer
Storyteller(s) Kenneth Gardnier
Illustrations by Barry Wilkinson
Adapted / Directed by Gordon House

Episodes

Josh's School Project (January 20, 1975)
A Cow In The School (January 21, 1975)
Cow For Sale (January 22, 1975)
Unfair To Josh (January 23, 1975)
Reunited (January 24, 1975)

Stories From Scotland

A prince who married a giant's daughter, a boy who tricked a farmer, and a girl who was saved by a ghost - these are some of the tales and legends in this week's stories from Scotland.

Writer(s) Traditional
Storyteller(s) Wendy Wood
Illustrations by Peter Rush
Adapted by Jenny Nimmo
Directed by Michael Bartlett

Episodes

The Boy Who Could Talk To The Birds (January 27, 1975)
The Mean Farmer (January 28, 1975)
Prince Meilochon And The Giant's Daughter (January 29, 1975)
Silver And Storm (January 30, 1975)
Muriella Of Cawdor (January 31, 1975)

Wendy Wood had previously read other Scottish stories in June 1973.

The Treasure Seekers (1973) was repeated February 3-7

The Hawkstone

"Things that people have used and had by them for hundreds of years-they take on a power, a kind of life of their own." So said Miss Hillhouse. When Colin found the Hawkstone, he began to understand what she had meant.

Writer(s) Jay Williams
Storyteller(s) Ed Bishop
Illustrations Bric Critchlet
Adapted / Directed by Roger Singleton-Turner

Episodes

On Thunderhead (February 10, 1975)
Becoming Other People (February 11, 1975)
The Archery Range (February 12, 1975)
Voices In The Head (February 13, 1975)
Colin's Swap (February 14, 1975)

Winnie-The-Pooh And The House At Pooh Corner

Writer(s) A A Milne
Storyteller(s) William Rushton
Illustrations E H Shepard
Adapted / Directed by Roger Singleton-Turner

Episodes

Christopher Robin leads an Expotition to the North Pole (February 17, 1975)
Eeyore has a birthday, and gets two presents (February 18, 1975)
Piglet is entirely surrounded by water (February 19, 1975)
Tigger comes to the Forest and has Breakfast (February 20, 1975)
Piglet does a Very Grand Thing and Eeyore finds a Wolery (February 21, 1975)

In 1968, Alan Bennett read The House At Pooh Corner in seven weekly parts for Summer Jackanory.

The Light Princess

The wicked Princess Makenoit is not invited to her niece's christening. But she comes anyway and casts a spell, causing the baby to lose- her gravity!

Writer(s) George MacDonald
Storyteller(s) John Laurie
llustrations Paul Birkbeck
Adapted by Susan Ball
Directed by Marilyn Fox

Episodes

She Can't Be Ours (February 24, 1975)
Try A Drop Of Water (February 25, 1975)
Look At The Rain (February 26, 1975)

The Golden Key

Writer(s) George MacDonald
Storyteller(s) John Laurie
llustrations Paul Birkbeck
Adapted by Susan Ball
Directed by Marilyn Fox

Episodes

Mossy And Tangle (February 27, 1975)
The Old Man Of The Sea (February 28, 1975)

Red Fox

The true-to-life story of a fox outwitting his enemies in the challenge of day to day survival.

Writer(s) Charles G D Roberts
Storyteller(s) Robert Lang
Illustrations Julek Heller
Adapted / Directed by Paul Stone

Episodes

The Lessons Of The Wild (March 3, 1975)
The Foiling Of The Traps (March 4, 1975)
The Fooling Of The Mongrels (March 5, 1975)
The Red Scourge Of The Forest (March 6, 1975)
In The Hands Of The Enemy (March 7, 1975)

Stories From Russia

Russian folklore is full of adventure and daring, Tsars and Princes, of magic and mystery and of witches and enchantment.

Writer(s) Traditional
Storyteller(s) Tatyana Feifer
Illustrations Colin Shearing, Julia Borner, Mina Martinez, Stephen Forster, Carol Jonas
Directed by Angela Beeching

Episodes

The Frog Princess (March 10, 1975)
Go Somewhere, I Don't Know Where (March 11, 1975)
The Samosek Sword (March 12, 1975)
The Magic Roan (March 13, 1975)
The Firebird (March 14, 1975)

Snatched

Simon and his sister, Ruti, are on their way home from school with Simon's friend, Neil. But unknown to any of them they are being watched, as they have been on other, similar occasions...

Writer(s) Richard Parker
Storyteller(s) Dinsdale Landen
Illustrations Gavin Rowe
Adapted / Directed by Gordon House

Episodes

Kidnapped (March 17, 1975)
Trapped (March 18, 1975)
Plan Of Escape (March 19, 1975)
The Man In Black (March 20, 1975)
Joseph Elias (March 21, 1975)

Priscilla Pentecost

Priscilla was a foundling. She had to work hard for her keep, but Farmer Balcomb treated her well enough. Then she was taken away to be a companion to a spoilt little rich girl. But how could she ever explain how much she preferred her humble old home to the grandeur of the mansion?

Writer(s) Barbara Willard
Storyteller(s) Gwen Watford
Illustrations Gareth Floyd
Adapted by Marilyn Fox
Director Roger Singleton-Turner

Episodes

Mr Gale (March 24, 1975)
The Manor House People (March 25, 1975)
Hannah (March 26, 1975)
The Hunt (March 27, 1975)

Gerald Durrell

From his Zoo on the island of Jersey, Gerald Durrell tells his own story and the stories of his animals.

Presenter Gerald Durrell
Script Michael Bartlett
Director Jeremy Swan

Episodes

A Collector Of Animals (April 1, 1975)
Journeys To Africa (April 2, 1975)
Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia (April 3, 1975)
Menagerie Manor (April 4, 1975)

The Impecunious Hero

Writer(s) Charles Phillips
Storyteller(s) Hugh Lloyd
llustrations Peter Rush
Directed by Gordon House

Episodes

The Troll Maiden (April 7, 1975)
The Princess With The Long Hair (April 8, 1975)
The Black Jackanapes (April 9, 1975)
The Wolf And The Witch (April 10, 1975)
The Wicked Wizard Of Wubbledu (April 11, 1975)

Come Down The Mountain

The house on the moors has been empty for weeks, ever since the old man died. There is no one left to care for the big bay horse, who has been left out on the moors to die. No one, that is, except Brenda.

Writer(s) Vian Smith
Storyteller(s) Judi Dench
Illustrations Barry Wilkinson
Adapted / Directed by Gordon House

Episodes

The House On the Moors (April 14, 1975)
"Nothing We Can Do" (April 15, 1975)
The Fifth Form's Party (April 16, 1975)
Brian Lends A Hand (April 17, 1975)
Mr Stephen Bassett (April 18, 1975)

Fairy Tales And Stories Of Hans Anderson

Princes who turn into swans, a very ambitious shadow, a pair of magic galoshes and a well-known ugly duckling. These are some of the things you can hear about in this week's stories.

Writer(s) Traditional
Translated by Erik Hangaard
Storyteller(s) Andrew Ray
Illustrations Paul Birkbeck, Peter Rush, Mina Martinez, Terry Calcutt
Adapted by Jenny Nimmo
Directed by Angela Beeching

Episodes

The Wild Swans (April 21, 1975)
The Magic Galoshes (April 22, 1975)
The Ice Maiden (April 23, 1975)
The Shadow (April 24, 1975)
The Ugly Duckling (April 25, 1975)

In A Blue Velvet Dress

Jane Reid goes on holiday and every night a girl appears in her room. Who is she? Jane begins to suspect that she's a ghost - but there aren'such things in real life, or are there?

Writer(s) Catherine Sefton
Storyteller(s) Kate Binchy
Illustrations Gareth Floyd
Adapted by Kathleen Carragher
Directed by Daphne Jones

Episodes

A bookworm - with no books (April 28, 1975)
The mystery of the Victorian books (April 29, 1975)
The lavender garden (April 30, 1975)
Mary... (May 1, 1975)
The dark, stormy sea (May 2, 1975)

Cockleburr Quarters

When Dolph discovered eight helpless puppies and their half-starved mother, he was determined to look after them. But just how could he, when there was little food to spare at home, and all pets were banned?

Writer(s) Charlotte Baker
Storyteller(s) Earl Cameron
Illustrations Gavin Rowe
Adapted / Directed by Paul Ston

Episodes

The Puppies (May 5, 1975)
Night Flight (May 6, 1975)
Gone (May 7, 1975)
War On Worms (May 8, 1975)
Ghost Town (May 9, 1975)

The Bronze Trumpeter

Paolo had a secret, and he was determined his governess should not find out about it. But when the strangers appeared, things became complicated...

Writer(s) Jenny Nimmo
Storyteller(s) Jan Francis
Illustrations Mina Martinez
Adapted by Janie Grace
Director John Prowse

Episodes

The Fountain (May 12, 1975)
The Theatre (May 13, 1975)
The Comedians (May 14, 1975)
The Mountain (May 15, 1975)
The Play (May 16, 1975)

Charlie And The Great Glass Elevator

Charlie Bucket, his parents, his grandparents, and the incredible Mr Willy Wonka find themselves orbiting in Space in a Glass Elevator. That is how they all become involved in the biggest Space Operation of all time.

Writer(s) Roald Dahl
Storyteller(s) Elaine Stritch
llustrations Jan Brychta
Adapted / Directed by Jeremy Swan

Episodes

Mr Wonka goes too far (May 19, 1975)
Men from Mars (May 20, 1975)
The Vermicious Knids (May 21, 1975)
Back to the Chocolate Factory (May 22, 1975)
How to Get Someone Out of Bed (May 23, 1975)

Babar The Elephant

Written / Illustrated by Jean & Laurent De Brunhoff
Storyteller(s) Maurice Roeves
Music by Paul Reade
Director Roger Singleton-Turner

Episodes

The Story Of Babar / Babar's Travels (May 27, 1975)
Babar The King / Babar At Home (May 28, 1975)
Babar's Birthday Surprise / Babar's Fair (May 29, 1975)
Babar And That Rascal Arthur / Babar's Castle (May 30, 1975)

The BBC broadcast an adaptation in December 1966, performed by children.

Falter Tom And The Water Boy

Falter Tom thought he knew all the secrets of the sea, until he met the mysterious water boy. Then began an adventure that was to lead the old man underwater to the kings of the sea.

Writer(s) Maurice Duggan
Storyteller(s) Michael Gough
Illustrations Pete Rush
Adapted by Jane Scott
Directed by N/A

Episodes

From Out Of The Sea (June 2, 1975)
The Cave Of Voices (June 3, 1975)

The Kingdom Under The Sea And Other Stories

Writer(s) Joan Aiken
Storyteller(s) Michael Gough
Illustrations Jan Pienkowski
Adapted by
Directed by Paul Stone

Episodes

The Kingdom Under The Sea (June 4, 1975)
The Sun-God's Castle (June 5, 1975)
The King Who Declared War On The Animals (June 6, 1975)

The Boy From Sula (1974) was repeated June 9-13

Pippi Goes Aboard (1973) was repeated June 16-20

1975-76

Producer(s) Angela Beeching, Daphne Jones Executive producer Anna Home

Littlenose To The Rescue

More stories about Littlenose, the Neanderthal boy, and Two-Eyes, his pet mammoth. This time Littlenose tries his hand at hunting, magic and bee-keeping, and attempts to find out about the 'disgusting snowman.'

Writer(s) John Grant
Storyteller(s) John Grant
Director Christopher Rowlands

Episodes

Littlenose's Rhinoceros (September 8, 1975)
Bigfoot (September 9, 1975)
[Unknown] (September 10, 1975)
Littlenose the Magician (September 11, 1975)
Littlenose the Bee Keeper (September 12, 1975)

The Ormering Tide

Andrew is on holiday in Jersey. One night he sees five sailing ships wrecked on the beach. The strange thing is, no one else seems to have seen anything at all.

Writer(s) Roger Pilkington
Storyteller(s) Jack Hedley
llustrations Paul Wright
Adapted by Michael Bartlett
Director Marilyn Fox

Episodes

Maria (September 15, 1975)
The Missing Ships (September 16, 1975)
Antoine (September 17, 1975)
The Storm (September 18, 1975)
The Great Tide (September 19, 1975)

Ludo And The Star Horse

Ludo lives high in the Bavarian Alps. One night Renti. the old work-horse, escapes into the snow, and Ludo follows. Then there is an avalanche and a shooting star. Somehow Ludo and Renti find themselves at the start of an amazing journey through the Star Country.

Writer(s) Mary Stewart
Storyteller(s) Edward Petheridge
Adapted by Michael Bartlett
Director Roger Singleton-Turner

Episodes

The Lost Horse (September 22, 1975)
The Archer, The Goat And Gula (September 23, 1975)
The Fish, The Ram And The Bull (September 24, 1975)
The Twins, The Crab, The Lady And The Lion (September 25, 1975)
The Scales And The Scorpion (September 26, 1975)

Snatched (1975) was repeated September 29 - October 3

The Adventures Of Lester

Lester and his friends, Flap-Eared Lorna and Otto, live in an unusual place where unusual things happen. Quentin Blake illustrates and tells the story at the same time.

Written / Told / Illustrated by Quentin Blake
Music by Paul Reade
Director Jeremy Swan

Episodes

Lester And The assorted Seeds (October 6, 1975)
Lester And The Underground Treasure (October 7, 1975)
Lester And The Beautiful Fairy (October 8, 1975)

Quentin Blake's character, Lester, made his Jackanory debut in 1974.

The Church Mouse

Written / Illustrated by Graham Oakley
Storyteller(s) Cyril Luckham
Director N/A (Pauline Talbot, possibly)

Episodes

The Church Mouse
- Arthur, the leader of the Church Mice, has an unusual friend - Sampson, the Church Cat (October 9, 1975)
The Church Cat Abroad (October 10, 1975)

The Church Mouse was originally read in 1972, by Lesley Nunnerley, and these stories were re-read in 1985, by Griff Rhys Jones

A Stranger At Green Knowe

This story tells of Hanno, a young gorilla from a dark, dense, tropical forest, and Ping, a young Chinese orphan who lived in a refugee hostel...and of how their lives became curiously entangled in the beautiful garden of a house called 'Green Knowe.'

Writer(s) Lucy Boston
Storyteller(s) Ronald Pickup
Adapted / Directed by Janie Griffiths

Episodes

Capture (October 13, 1975)
The Monkey House (October 14, 1975)
Toseland Thicket (October 15, 1975)
Ping - The Little Gorilla (October 16, 1975)
The Hunt (October 17, 1975)

Jane's Adventures In A Balloon

When Jane Charrington and Mrs Deal , the housekeeper, found themselves adrift in a huge airship, it was the beginning of a strange, and sometimes, terrifying, adventure.

Writer(s) Jonathan Gathorne-Hardy
Storyteller(s) Penelope Keith
Illustrations Jan Brychta
Adapted / Directed by Jeremy Swan

Episodes

The Airship (October 20, 1975)
The Avalanche (October 21, 1975)
The Mountains Of The Moon (October 22, 1975)
Call Me Mub (October 23, 1975)
Mrs Deal's Finest Hours (October 24, 1975)

The Twilight Of Magic

'Apples, apples, fine pippins for sale,' is the cry that starts it all-taking Giles and Anne into another world, into 'The Twilight of Magic.'

Writer(s) Hugh Lofting
Storyteller(s) Sian Phillips
Illustrations Peter Rush
Adapted / Directed by Janie Grace

Episodes

Shragga The Witch (October 27, 1975)
The Whispering Shell (October 28, 1975)
The King's Finder (October 29, 1975)
The Great Quest (October 30, 1975)
The King Pays A Debt (October 31, 1975)

Mrs Pepperpot's Year

More stories about Mrs Pepperpot, the little old lady who has the extraordinary habit of shrinking at the most unexpected moments.

Writer(s) Alf Proysen
Storyteller(s) Thora Hird
Adapted by Maralyn Corless from the translation by Marianne Helweg
Illustrations Graham Round
Director Jeremy Swan

Episodes

Mrs Pepperpot's Winter (November 3, 1975)
Mrs Pepperpot's Spring (November 4, 1975)
Mrs Pepperpot's Summer (November 5, 1975)
Mrs Pepperpot's Autumn (November 6, 1975)
Mrs Pepperpot's Christmas (November 7, 1975)

The Hare At Dark Hollow

There had been hares on the land at Dark Hollow for longer than men could remember. It was there that Rik, a young buck, was born. He had to face many dangers, including man, the cruellest enemy of all.

Writer(s) Joyce Stranger
Storyteller(s) Martin Jarvis
Illustrations Julek Heller
Adapted / Directed by Roger Singleton-Turner (assumed)

Episodes

Kee's Family (November 10, 1975)
Changes (November 11, 1975)
Newcomers (November 12, 1975)
A New Spring (November 13, 1975)

The Peregrine

Davie is back home again on the farm after weeks in hospital. He goes for a walk and sees a peregrine falcon flying free...

Writer(s) Joyce Stranger
Storyteller(s) Martin Jarvis
Illustrations Julek Heller
Adapted / Directed by Roger Singleton-Turner

Episodes

The Peregrine (November 14, 1975)

The Boy And the Monkey

'Five pound, seven shillings,' said Tim to his pet monkey, Pistol. 'We'll 'ave to do better than that if we wants to retire an' be law-abiding.' But maybe tomorrow...

Writer(s) Leon Garfield
Storyteller(s) Freddie Jones
Illustrations Trevor Ridley
Adapted (assumed) / Directed by Christopher Rowlands

Episodes

Lady Margaret's Ring (November 17, 1975)
Lord Coke's Painful Duty (November 18, 1975)
The Captain's Watch (November 19, 1975)
Lucifer Wilkins (November 20, 1975)
What Price Freedom? (November 21, 1975)

The Eighteenth Emergency

Mouse Fawley was in trouble. Marv Hammerman, the biggest boy in the school, was after him and that meant death, or a few broken arms and legs at least.

Writer(s) Betsy Byars
Storyteller(s) Bob Sherman
Illustrations Michael Foreman, Freire Wright
Adapted / Directed by Janie Grace

Episodes

Neanderthal Man (November 24, 1975)
Alive And Well By A Miracle (November 25, 1975)
The Waiting Game (November 26, 1975)
Garbage Dog (November 27, 1975)
A Matter Of Honour (November 28, 1975)

Little Gertie At Granny's

Whenever Gertie went to visit her grandmother, she could be sure something unusual was going to happen. After all it's not every grandmother can build monster bonfires, see ghosts or start her own fire brigade.

Writer(s) Elsie Starks
Storyteller(s) Vivian Pickles
Illustrations Gavin Rowe
Adapted (assumed) / Directed by Paul Stone

Episodes

Granny's Bonfire (December 1, 1975)
Hokey Pokey Street (December 2, 1975)
When Granny Papered The Walls (December 3, 1975)
Oh, What A Windy Day! (December 4, 1975)
Granny's Fire Brigade (December 5, 1975)

Jackanory's 10th Birthday

To celebrate its tenth birthday each programme this week will be devoted to the winning entries of the Jackanory Poetry and Story Writing Competition.

Writer(s) N/A
Storyteller(s) Kate Binchy, John Cairney, Kenneth Williams
Illustrations Graham Round, John Norton, Julia Wakefield, Colin Shearing, Peter Andrews, Jan Brychta
Piano Carol Jonas, Martin Goldstein
Director Christopher Rowlands

The Legend Of King Arthur

Morgan looked with hatred at the new-born baby in her arms; it only lived because her father was dead. ' His name is Arthur,' Merlin told her, 'and one day he will be a great king.'

Writer(s) N/A
Storyteller(s) Michael Bryant
Illustrations Paul Birkbeck
Adapted / Directed by Marilyn Fox

Episodes

Morgan (December 15, 1975)
Merlin (December 16, 1975)
Guinevere (December 17, 1975)
Mordred (December 18, 1975)
Avalon (December 19, 1975)

"The Fiery Horse" and "Brave Nazar from Tales Of The Russian Mountains (1974) were repeated December 22-23

The Geranium Of Flüt

Fliit is an island. Its ruler is the Geranium. Its television is run by the Archbishop - and the British Ambassador to Flüt is William Rushton.

Written & Told by William Rushton
The Archbishop Christopher Biggins
Illustrations William Rushton
Director Jeremy Swan

Episodes

The Royal Visit To Flüt (December 29, 1975)
Long Live Our Noble Flüt (December 31, 1975)
Flüt v England (January 1, 1976)
The Geranium Talks To The Animals (January 2, 1976)

1976

1976-77

1977-78

Producer(s) Angela Beeching Executive producer Anna Home

The Church Mouse

Samson, the church cat, has heard so many of the vicar's sermons on the theme of brotherly love that he has become the best of friends with the church mice. But some of their escapades would try the patience of the most saintly of cats.

Written / Illustrated by Graham Oakley
Storyteller(s) Cyril Luckham
Director Pauline Talbot

Episodes

The Church Mouse (September 26, 1977)
The Church Cat Abroad (September 27, 1977)
The Church Mice And The Moon (September 28, 1977)
The Church Mice Spread Their Wings (September 29, 1977)
The Church Mice Adrift (September 30, 1977)

The first two episodes may be re-recordings of stories read by Luckham in 1975. These stories were re-read in 1985, by Griff Rhys Jones

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983-84

Producer(s) Angela Beeching

Peter Pan

'All children, except one, grow up.' And that one is Peter Pan, who comes to the Darling nursery and teaches Wendy, John and Michael how to fly. So the fantastic adventure begins...

Writer(s) J M Barrie
Storyteller(s) Jan Francis
Illustrations Paul Birkbeck
Designer Kathy Atty
Adapted / Directed by Sheila Fraser

Episodes

Come Away, Come Away! (December 19, 1983)
The Neverland (December 20, 1983)
The Lagoon December 21, 1983)
Do You Believe? (December 22, 1983)
The Return Home (December 23, 1983)

1983-84

1984-85

Producer(s) Angela Beeching, Christine Secombe Executive producer Angela Beeching

William At Christmas

Home-made presents, parties, snowballing, amateur theatricals - all traditional Christmas entertainment which William devises and develops in his own special way.

Writer(s) Richmal Crompton
Adapted / Told by Martin Jarvis

Episodes

William Starts The Holidays (December 27, 1984)
The Outlaws And Cousin Percy (December 28, 1984)
William And The Snowman (January 2, 1985)
William Plays Santa Claus (January 3, 1985)
The Christmas Truce (January 4, 1985)

Peter Pan was repeated December 31, 1984 - January 4, 1985

Farmer Giles Of Ham

When Farmer Giles scared off a clumsy giant with his blunderbuss, people treated him as a hero. The King even sent him a letter and a special sword. Everything seemed set fair-until the dragon came...

Writer(s) J R R Tolkein
Storyteller(s) Freddie Jones
Illustrations Malcolm Carrick
Designer Paul Bannister
Adapted / Directed by David Bell

Episodes

Part 1 (January 7, 1985)
Part 2 (January 8, 1985)
Part 3 (January 9, 1985)
Part 4 (January 10, 1985)

Theseus The Hero

Theseus was a hero from the word go. Well he had to be, didn't he, with enemies like Pinebender and the Great Tosser to contend with. But most villainous of all was his treacherous Uncle Leos - and he was unspeakably nasty.

Writer(s)N/A
Storyteller(s) Tony Robinson
Illustrations
Designer
Adapted / Directed by

Episodes

The Beginning (January 11, 1985)
The Minotaur (January 14, 1985)
- Theseus is more of a hero than ever - and he falls in love too!
The Escape (January 21, 1985)
- Theseus has killed the Minotaur and sailed away from the clutches of evil
- King Minos. But what about poor old Daedalus? He's been left behind - and he can't swim!
The Underworld (January 28, 1985)
- Theseus triumphs over a few more villains before meeting Pyrathuse the Pirate - and together they have the most exciting adventure of all!

The Church Mouse

In the cat and mouse war you don't expect enemies to become friends, but when they do anything can happen.

Written / Illustrated by Graham Oakley
Storyteller(s) Griff Rhys Jones
Designer Mary Penley-Edwards
Director Richard Kelly

Episodes

The Church Mouse (January 15, 1985)
- Sampson the cat makes some rather special friends.
The Church Cat Abroad (January 16, 1985)
- In which Sampson finds fame but not necessarily fortune.
The Church Mice And The Moon (January 17, 1985)
- History is made when mice become astronauts, but do they get off the ground?
The Church Mice Spread Their Wings (January 17, 1985)
- Two of the mice build their own special plane and take off.

The Church Mouse was originally read by Lesley Nunnerley in 1972, and the first two episodes were originally read in 1975, by Cyril Luckham

Simon And The Witch

Simon is very pleased to have a witch as his friend - but she can be very troublesome at times!

Writer(s) Margaret Stuart Barry
Storyteller(s) Nerys Hughes
Illustrations Linda Birch
Designer Mary Penley-Edwards
Director David Bell

Episodes

The Backwards Spell (January 22, 1985)
The Lost Magic Wand (January 23, 1985)
Angelica (January 24, 1985)
The Cure For George (January 25, 1985)

Harry's Mad

Harry had never heard of his Great-Uncle George until the old man died, and left Harry an unusual inheritance...

Writer(s) Dick King Smith
Storyteller(s) Tony Aitken
Illustrations Jane Bottomley
Designer Donal Woods
Director Nel Romano

Episodes

Part 1 (January 29, 1985)
Part 2 (January 30, 1985)
Part 3 (January 31, 1985)
Part 4 (February 1, 1985)

The BFG

Sophie couldn't sleep. Perhaps this is what they call the witching hour, when all the dark things come out of hiding...

Writer(s) Roald Dahl
BFG Bernard Bresslaw
Storyteller(s) Bill Oddie
Illustrations Jan Brychta
Designer Nick Somerville
Adapted / Directed by David Bell

Episodes

The Snatch (February 4, 1985)
Snozzcumbers And The Bloodbottler (February 5, 1985)
Dream-catching (February 6, 1985)
The Queen (February 7, 1985)
- Queen of England Miriam Margolyes
- Man-eating giants and military men Clifford Norgate, Edward Kelsey
Capture (February 8, 1985)

Cycle Star Of Peeling Tower

Kim had always dreamed of becoming a cycle champion, but her mother wouldn't let her have a bike. Then one day she and Andy found one dumped on a rubbish tip...

Writer(s) Joan Eadington
Storyteller(s) Tina Heath
Illustrations Chris Ryley
Director Marilyn Fox

Episodes

The Find (February 11, 1985)
The Missing Money (February 12, 1985)
The Giveaway (February 13, 1985)
Strange Goings On (February 14, 1985)
Excitement All The Way (February 15, 1985)

The Ring In The Rough Stuff

There were rats in the rough stuff -the stinking piles of refuse that were brought down river from London. But sometimes there was treasure too. When Daniel found the ring, it seemed that his dreams would at last come true!

Writer(s) Antonio Barker
Storyteller(s) Jonathon Morris
Illustrations Charles Front
Designer Donal Woods
Director Marilyn Fox

Episodes

Part 1 (February 18, 1985)
Part 2 (February 19, 1985)
Part 3 (February 20, 1985)
Part 4 (February 21, 1985)
Part 5 (February 22, 1985)

The Hollow Land

London lease a house from the Teesdales in Cumbria, there are misunderstandings. It is the two boys, Harry Bateman and Bell Teesdale, who sort things out.

Writer(s) Jane Gardem
Storyteller(s) Bernard Hill, Calum Land, Rachel Nelson
Illustrations Elizabeth Haines
Designer Donal Woods
Director Roger Singleton-Turner

Episodes

Bell And Harry (February 25, 1985)
The Hollow Land (February 26, 1985)
The Household Word (February 27, 1985)
Table Talk (February 28, 1985)
Tomorrow's Arrangements (February 29, 1985)

Wilkes the Wizard

Mr Wilkes was an unemployed sub-atomic particle physicist from Watford. When the Gram Tarn of Diddlesdorf advertised for a wizard.... who better for the job!!

Writer(s) Jackie Webb
Storyteller(s) Christopher Biggins
Illustrations Jan Brychta
Designer Donal Woods
Director Jeremy Swan

Episodes

How it All Started (March 4, 1985)
How Mr Wilkes Was Nearly Supplanted (March 5, 1985)
Of Car-parks And Lawnmowers (March 6, 1985)
The Plot Goes Haywire (March 7, 1985)
How Things Went (March 8, 1985)

Tatty Apple

Owen 's rabbit was green and brown like a tatty old apple. But at the beginning none of them realised what an unusual rabbit he was.

Writer(s) Jenny Nimmo
Storyteller(s) Hayley Mills
Illustrations Annabel Spenceley
Designer Donal Woods
Director Marilyn Fox

Episodes

Part 1 (March 11, 1985)
Part 2 (March 12, 1985)
Part 3 (March 13, 1985)
Part 4 (March 14, 1985)
Part 5 (March 15, 1985)

Uninvited Ghosts

Ghosts can visit in all shapes and sizes and are not usually welcomed! Each day this week, a different story tells how children living in ordinary households are invaded by extraordinary guests.

Writer(s) Penelope Lively
Storyteller(s) Rosemary Leach
Illustrations See below
Designer Donal Woods
Director Julia Godley

Episodes

[Unknown] (March 18, 1985)
- Illustrations Jo Worth
The Dragon Tunnel (BBC 2, March 19, 1985)
- What was the moaning and scratching Joe and Pete heard under the scullery floor?
- Illustrations Sue Broadley
A Martian Comes To Stay (March 20, 1985)
- 'There's a Martian at the door who'd like to borrow a spanner', said Peter.
- Illustrations Jim Russell
The Great Mushroom Mistake (March 21, 1985)
- Sue and Alan's mother had 'green fingers' which was, in this instance, fatal!
- Illustrations Peter Rush
Disastrous Dog (March 22, 1985)
- Paul wanted to own a dog, not have a dog own him!
- Illustrations Jake Tebbit

The Magic Pudding

0, who would be a puddin' A puddin' in a pot - especially when the puddin' in question is so special that its owners spend all their time (between eating and singing) fending off villainous, professional puddin' thieves.

Written / Illustrated by Norman Lindsay
Storyteller(s) William Rushton
Designer Donal Woods
Music by Paul Reade
Adapted / Directed by Christine Secombe

Episodes

The First Slice (March 25, 1985)
The Second Slice (March 26, 1985)
The Third Slice (March 27, 1985)
The Fourth Slice (March 28, 1985)
The Fifth Slice (March 29, 1985)

1985-86

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

Ten In A Bed was repeated January 2-11

The Baron Rides Out was repeated on January 12

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