Bob the Builder

***Bob the Builder*** is a 1998-2011 children's animated television show created in Britain by Keith Chapman. In the original series, Bob appears in a stop motion animated programme as a building contractor, specialising in masonry, along with his colleague Wendy, various neighbours and friends, and their gang of anthropomorphised work-vehicles and equipment. The show is broadcast in many countries, but originated from the United Kingdom where Bob was voiced by English actor Neil Morrissey. The show later used CGI animation starting with the spin-off series *Ready, Steady, Build!*. British proprietors of *Bob the Builder* and Thomas the Tank Engine sold the enterprise in 2011 to US toy-maker Mattel for $680 million.

In each episode, Bob and his group help with renovations, construction, and repairs and with other projects as needed. The show emphasises conflict resolution, co-operation, socialisation and various learning skills. Bob's catchphrase is "Can we fix it?", to which the other characters respond with "Yes we can!" This phrase is also the title of the show's theme song, which was a million-selling number one hit in the UK.

In October 2014, Bob the Builder was revamped by Mattel for a new series to be aired on Channel 5's *Milkshake!* in 2015. Amongst the changes were a complete overhaul of the cast, with *Harry Potter* actor Lee Ingleby replacing Neil Morrissey as the voice of Bob, and Joanne Froggatt and Blake Harrison were also confirmed as the voices of Wendy and Scoop respectively. The setting and appearance of the characters also changed, with Bob and his team moving to the bustling metropolis of Spring City. An American localisation of the new series debuted on PBS Kids in November 2015. The changes have been criticized by fans of the original version.

## Characters

 File:Bob the builder.jpg
*Main article: List of Bob the Builder characters*
## Merchandise

Template:More citations needed section
Various companies manufacture licensed Bob the Builder merchandise (e.g.: Brio, Lego Duplo, Hasbro, Learning Curve, etc.) since about 1999 to present. Sometimes some fans make fan-made merchandise for the television show, such as racing games that are not related to the show.

### Lego Duplo/Explorer

Lego began manufacturing licensed Duplo Bob the Builder sets in 2001. Lego Explorer also made the sets using the same bricks that Duplo used (e.g. Naughty Spud, Wallpaper Wendy, etc.). The sets were aimed at younger children, two and up. Duplo manufactured the sets (e.g. Scoop at Bobland Bay, Muck Can Do It, etc.) until 2009 when Lego's contract expired.

### Hasbro

Hasbro created licensed Bob the Builder characters. They included talking characters and others to go with the Bob the Builder line. The Hasbro line was discontinued in 2005 when Learning Curve took over.

### Learning Curve

Learning Curve among countless others held a license to make the toys, but discontinued them. They first merchandised their Bob the Builder products in 2005 after the Hasbro range was discontinued. Learning Curve also created the Thomas & Friends characters, while the company still makes the sets (e.g. Scoop, Muck, Lofty, Dizzy, andys trailer etc.) and then sold them to stores. They discontinued them in 2010 and it is unknown if they could ever return to making them. The toys are currently available in the United Kingdom by Character Options.

### Character World

In 2012, Character World announced that they had signed a license to manufacture official Bob the Builder bedding and bedroom textiles. A duvet cover is said to be available in the UK in late 2012.

### Video games

Various companies released Bob the Builder games.

* Fix it Fun! (Game Boy Color, NTSC/PAL) - 2000
* Can We Fix It? (PC, PS1, NTSC/PAL) - 2001
* Bob Builds a Park (PC, NTSC/PAL) - 2002
* Bob's Castle Adventure (PC, NTSC/PAL) - 2003
* Project: Build It (PS2, PAL only) - 2005
* Bob the Builder: Can-Do-Zoo (PC, NTSC/PAL) - 2008
* Festival of Fun! (PS2, Wii, Nintendo DS, PAL only) - 2009

In the United States, *Bob the Builder: Can We Fix It?*Template:'s computer version sold 350,000 copies and earned $6.1 million by August 2006, after its release in August 2001. It was the country's 50th best-selling computer game between January 2000 and August 2006. Combined sales of all *Bob the Builder* computer games released between January 2000 and August 2006 had reached 520,000 units in the United States by the latter date.

### Kiddie rides

 File:Bob the Builder ride, Sainsbury's north London.jpg
Jolly Roger (Amusement Rides) Ltd. released two kiddie rides based on the series, a Scoop in January 2000, and a Roley in March 2003. In March 2003, Scoop was re-released with a new dashboard and a Stamar soundboard. Then, in 2004, versions of both rides were released with video screens.

## Impact

*Bob the Builder* was nominated in the BAFTA "Pre-school animation" category from 1999 to 2009, and won the "Children's Animation" category in 2003 for the special episode "A Christmas to Remember". Of the show's success, Sarah Ball said:

> I think diggers and dumpers fascinate kids in the same way that they are drawn to dinosaurs. They both have a timeless appeal. The technique of stop motion is very tangible - the characters look like you can just pick them up and play with them. It’s a safe, lovely, bright, colourful world, which is very appealing. Curtis Jobling did a fantastic job designing the show - it’s very simple and stylized but has such charm.
> —Interview with Sarah Ball, Gurgle.com

Bob the Builder has been parodied by *Robot Chicken* in the episode "More Blood, More Chocolate", and by *Comedy Inc.* as Bodgy Builder.

Bob has also been parodied on Cartoon Network's *MAD* on several occasions. In the episode "S'UP / Mouse M.D.", Bob is seen with a smashed thumb and asks "Can we fix it?" In another episode, Bob encounters the title character of *Handy Manny*, whom he tells to "Stop copying my show!"

A New Yorker cartoon shows a parent in a toy store asking for toys depicting *Alex the Architect*, supposedly a white-collar equivalent to *Bob the Builder*.

Some have complained about technical errors and lack of proper safety practices in the programme, especially the absence of protective eyewear. However, in later episodes, Bob is seen using safety glasses.

## *Project Build It*

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In May 2005, a sort of spin-off series was released titled *Bob the Builder: Project Build It*. Bob hears of a contest to build a new community in a remote area called Sunflower Valley, outside of Bobsville. He moves from Bobsville (supposedly temporarily) with Wendy and the machines and builds a new Yard there. Bob convinces his father, Robert, to come out of retirement and take over the Bobsville building business. It is unknown whether Bob returned to Bobsville in the stop-motion series or not after this spin-off series was finished.

For the US version of the *Project Build It* series, different actors were found to do the voices for many of the human characters, including casting Greg Proops as the new voice of Bob, and Rob Rackstraw, who played the original Scoop, to be the voices of Spud the Scarecrow and Mr. Bentley for both the UK and the US. The show also added recycling and being environmentally friendly to its lessons, emphasising the phrase "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle."

This series premiered on September 3, 2005 in the United States.

## *Ready, Steady, Build!*

The third spin-off was titled *Bob the Builder: Ready, Steady, Build!* It was created by Keith Chapman and Mallory Lewis. The group, now joined by newcomer Scratch are now residing in the town of Fixham Harbour (which is very similar to Bobsville, and is even implied to be Bobsville in several episodes), deal with construction and other building tasks around the area. Unlike previous series, *Ready, Steady, Build!* is animated in full CGI animation, which allows for larger and more elaborate construction projects that would be too large or expensive for the model sets of the stop-motion series, though it still retains the theme song.

## Voice actors

Voice actors who have contributed to the original British version include Neil Morrissey, Rob Rackstraw, Kate Harbour, Rupert Degas, Colin McFarlane, Maria Darling, Emma Tate, Richard Briers, June Whitfield and Wayne Forester.

Celebrities who have provided voices for the series (usually for one-off specials) include John Motson, Sue Barker, Kerry Fox, Ulrika Jonsson, Alison Steadman, Stephen Tompkinson, Elton John, Noddy Holder, and Chris Evans (Bobsville's resident rock star Lennie Lazenby).

## International broadcasts

*Bob the Builder* is shown in more than thirty countries, and versions are available in English, French, Spanish, Slovenian, German, Italian, Dutch, Hebrew, Hindi and Croatian, among other languages. It was shown on CBeebies on BBC television in the UK.

The North American version of the show uses the original British footage and script, but dubs the voices in American accents and slang; for example, the word "soccer" is used instead of "football" to avoid confusion with the gridiron forms of the game. The original North American voice of Bob (and Farmer Pickles/Mr. Beasley/Mr. Sabatini) was William Dufris, however, he was replaced with comedian Greg Proops. More recently, Bob's US voice has been provided by Marc Silk, an English voice actor from Birmingham.

When being exported to Japan, it was reported that characters of *Bob the Builder* would be doctored to have five fingers instead of the original four. This was because of a practice among the Yakuza, the famed Japanese mafia, where members would "cut off their little fingers as a sign they can be trusted and have strength of character, and will stay through." In fact, Bob the Builder aired in Japan without such edits, as did other series including *Postman Pat* and *The Simpsons*.

## Videos

*Main article: List of Bob the Builder home video releases*
## Discography

### Studio albums

* Label: BBC Records
* Formats: CD
 *Never Mind the Breeze Blocks* | * Release date: 8 December 2008
* Label: Universal Music Group
* Formats: CD, music download

### Singles

* UK: Gold
 2008

## References

1. ↑ BBC Radio Four commentary by Gerald Scarfe 8 March 2013; https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b01r12ln .
2. ↑ Why some people are very angry about the new Bob the Builder (en) (13 October 2014).
3. ↑ Bob The Builder's Makeover Angers Fans.
4. ↑ *Edge* Staff (August 25, 2006). The Top 100 PC Games of the 21st Century.
5. ↑ Awards Database.
6. ↑ Interview with Sarah Ball, Bob the builder & Chuggington writer and director.
7. ↑ FLUID POWER SAFETY INSTITUTE - Toy Safety - ATTENTION PARENTS! - Bob the Builder Alert!.
Archived from the original on 11 October 2009.
8. ↑ Bob the Builder: Ready, Steady, Build!. British Broadcasting Corporation.
9. ↑ Silk TV.
10. ↑ Marc Silk.
11. ↑ **Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration' not found.**
12. ↑ **Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration' not found.**
13. ↑ australian-charts.com: Australian charts portal. australian-charts.com.
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 irishcharts - Discography Bob the Builder. Hung Medien.
15. ↑ charts.nz - New Zealand charts portal. charts.nz.
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Chart Log UK: Darren B - David Byrne. Official Charts Company.
17. ↑ ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2001 Albums. ARIA Charts.
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 BPI search results. British Phonographic Industry.
19. ↑ australian-charts.com - Australian charts portal. Hung Medien.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2001 Singles. ARIA Charts.

## External links

* {{#property:P827|}} ***Script error: No such module "String".*** ] at BBC Programmes**Script error: No such module "EditAtWikidata".**

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**Channels**

* Bob The Builder on ABC 4 Kids
* Bob The Builder on CBeebies
* Bob The Builder On Česká Televize
* Bob The Builder on Nick Jr. UK
* Bob The Builder on Sprout
* Bob The Builder on Télé-Québec
* Bob The Builder on TOGOLINGO
* Bob The Builder on Treehouse TV
* Official website on pbskids.org