Bagpuss is a UK children's television series, made by Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate from 12 February 1974 to 7 May 1974 through their company Smallfilms. The title character was, "An old, saggy, cloth cat, baggy, and a bit loose at the seams." Although only 13 episodes of the show were made, it remains fondly remembered, and was regularly repeated in the UK for thirteen years. In 1999 Bagpuss topped a BBC poll for the UK's favourite children's TV programme.
Cast: Oliver Postgate, Sandra Kerr, John Faulkner
Series 1
13 episodes
- 1. Ship in a BottleEmily Brings home a bottle with some bits of wood in it. Professor Yaffle tells them it is a ship-in-a-bottle. Bagpuss finds this puzzling, wondering where it would sail to. With the help of a nursery rhyme and a poem about Mermaids, the ship is magically reassembled.UCC15minFeb 12, 1974
- 2. The Owls of AthensEmily brings in a very old, dirty bit of rag, which as ever, Yaffle can see no value in. The mice start to vigorously clean the cloth, before being stopped by Madeleine. She implores the mice to be more gentle with it, and they clean it lovingly, to reveal an old cushion cover depicting an owl. The mice run away, scared by the owl, but come back when they realise it isn't real...UCC15minFeb 19, 1974
- 3. The Frog PrincessEmily brings a collection of ornamental enamel pieces. For a while these are a cat and a bird, but later they decide that it is a necklace of jewels for a frog princess who doesn't fancy any of the young princes, so she kisses a frog...UCC15minFeb 26, 1974
- 4. The Ballet ShoeOne dirty old shoe is left for Bagpuss and his friends to repair, and the mice suggest that it might be suitable for living in, which leads Madeleine to sing along with the mouse organ. Yaffle doesn't believe anyone could live in a shoe, so the mice trick him by going around and around, and appearing out of the shoe!UCC15minMar 5, 1974
- 5. The HamishNobody really knows what the floppy tartan cloth object that Emily has brought is, except Bagpuss. He says it is a small soft Hamish, a Highland beast that keeps its distance because it makes a terrible noise, like bagpipes played backwards. He tells a heart-rending story of Tavish McTavish, who also made a terrible noise, playing his bagpipes forwards, and his friendship with the Hamish.UCC15minMar 12, 1974
- 6. The Wise ManBagpuss and his friends learn of a Chinese wise man, his turtle friends and his love of solitude.UCC15minMar 19, 1974
- 7. The ElephantEmily brings a tatty straw elephant without any ears. Bagpuss and his friends try to solve the mystery of how it lost its ears by singing songs...UCC15minMar 26, 1974
- 8. The Mouse MillEmily leaves a box in front of Bagpuss, which has windows and a front door. The mice open it up, revealing the Marvellous Mechanical Mouse Mill, and Gabriel and Madeleine sing a song about milling with help from the Mouse Organ.UCC15minApr 2, 1974
- 9. The GiantEmily brings in a model of a giant, and Bagpuss tells the story of how a kindly witch makes an sad giant happy.UCC15minApr 9, 1974
- 10. Old Man's BeardEmily brings in a plant called Old Man's Beard. The friends try to figure out why it is has this name, and Bagpuss tells the story of a king who used his silvery beard to make carpets. Madeline sings a song about a master weaver.UCC15minApr 16, 1974
- 11. The FiddleEmily brings in an old bucket with a hole in it, which turns out to be the home of a leprechaun, an old friend of Bagpuss, and his magic fiddle plays some tunes for everyone.UCC15minApr 23, 1974
- 12. FlyingYaffle comes down from his bookend to find a basket, containing items. The mice search it and find a twig broom, which leads Madeleine and Gabriel to sing a song about a woman who brushes the cobwebs out of the sky.UCC15minApr 30, 1974
- 13. Uncle FeedleEmily brings in a piece of cloth, which Charlie Mouse identifies as a house for a rag doll, leading to a several rag jokes from the mice! They fold up the cloth so that Bagpuss can use it as a thinking cap, and create the story of Uncle Feedle, which Gabriel and Madeleine sing along to.UCC15minMay 7, 1974
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Bagpuss
Bagpuss is a UK children's television series, made by Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate from 12 February 1974 to 7 May 1974 through their company Smallfilms. The title character was, "An old, saggy, cloth cat, baggy, and a bit loose at the seams." Although only 13 episodes of the show were made, it remains fondly remembered, and was regularly repeated in the UK for thirteen years. In 1999 Bagpuss topped a BBC poll for the UK's favourite children's TV programme.
Creators and cast
- Directors
- Peter Firmin, Oliver Postgate
- Created by
- Oliver Postgate, Peter Firmin
- Studio
- Smallfilms
