Coolabi's Bagpuss is voted the third-greatest kids TV program and the highest ranking character-based show of all time by the UK's Channel 5.
Coolabi and Smallfilms announced that Channel 5 has voted Bagpuss the third greatest kids TV programme, and the highest ranking character-based show of all time. Premiering on Friday 8th November at 9pm, ‘Greatest Kids TV Shows’ aired a nostalgic countdown of the 50 best British children’s TV series over the past 60 years.
Coolabi CEO, Jeremy Banks comments, “Bagpuss beat off stiff competition to reach the number three spot and was also voted the greatest character-based TV show in the past 60 years. It is a series that audiences have enjoyed since the 70’s and we are proud that the classic property is still going strong today. Bagpuss is commemorating its 40th anniversary next year with a host of exciting marketing activities and licensing programmes to celebrate this milestone in style.”
Creator, Peter Firmin, and his daughter Emily, who starred in the hit series aged 6 years old, were interviewed for the show. The Bagpuss series was developed in the form of a magazine programme, which included pictures, stories and songs. Each episode began with a series of photographs and the viewer is told of a little girl who owned a shop. Emily found lost and broken things and displayed them in the window so their owners could come and collect them; the shop did not sell anything. She would leave the object in front of her favourite stuffed toy, the old saggy, pink and white striped cloth cat named Bagpuss. Emily then recited a verse (below) before leaving, and Bagpuss would come to life.
Bagpuss, dear Bagpuss
Old Fat Furry Catpuss
Wake up and look at this thing that I bring
Wake up, be bright, be golden and light
Bagpuss, oh hear what I sing.
The Bagpuss series was first aired on the BBC in 1974, and, although just 13 episodes were made, the shows ran for 26 weeks a year for 13 years.
Coolabi represents the rights to the classic brand on behalf of Smallfilms and Peter Firmin, along with other well-known brands the Clangers and Ivor the Engine.
Source: Coolabi
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
