Mr Benn

**Mr Benn** is a character created by David McKee who appears in several children's books, and an animated television series of the same name originally transmitted by the BBC in 1971 and 1972.

Whether in a book, or on television, Mr Benn's adventures take on a similar pattern. Mr Benn, a man wearing a black suit and bowler hat, leaves his house at 52 Festive Road and visits a fancy-dress costume shop where he is invited by the moustache, fez-wearing shopkeeper to try on a particular outfit. He leaves the shop through a magic door
 at the back of the changing room and enters a world appropriate to his
costume, where he has an adventure (which usually contains a moral)
 before the shopkeeper reappears to lead him back to the changing room,
and the story comes to an end. Mr Benn returns to his normal life, but
is left with a small souvenir of his magical adventure. Additionally,
scenes before and after his adventure usually have some connection to
it, such as the games the children are playing in the street as he
passes.

## The books

Several of Mr Benn's adventures are available to buy in book-form:
four were published originally, and further books in the 1990s were
based on the television series. The original four books were: *Mr Benn - Red Knight*, *Big Game Benn*, *123456789 Benn*, and *Big Top Benn*. There were six original books planned, but the fifth and sixth were never published. The fifth was called *Mr Benn Rides Again*, the story of which was used to make the television episode *The Cowboy*. The sixth, never completed, was *Superbenn*, in which the superhero Mr Benn sets out on an environmental adventure.

There is one book for which no corresponding television episode has (yet) been made. *123456789 Benn* was published in 1970 (ISBN 0-234-77361-8)
 and tells the story of Mr Benn as a convict (hence the number)
inspiring his jail-mates to brighten up their cells. This was due to the
 BBC – who screened the television series – feeling that the story was
too controversial.

A new story was published in 2001, the first Mr Benn story that David McKee had written in thirty years, and is called *Mr Benn - Gladiator* (ISBN 1-84270-024-3). McKee has indicated that he may write more Mr Benn stories in the future.[1]

2001 also saw the publication of *Mr Benn's Little Book of Life* (ISBN 0-09-943649-3) by Tess Read, which explores the lessons of Mr Benn's adventures.

The only character who appears several times, apart from Mr Benn and
the shopkeeper, is Smasher Lagru. Smasher first appears as an inmate in *123456789 Benn*, and then after his release in *Big-Top Benn* and the new *Mr Benn, Gladiator*.

A 'Mr Benn Annual' (ISBN 0-85096-029-0) was published by Polystyle Publications Ltd
 in 1972. It was written by Jan Falconer and illustrated by David McKee.
 This contained a number of illustrated text stories, three
strip-cartoon style adventures and a few puzzle pages. Mr Benn visits:
China for a kite festival, a fairytale Arabia, Venice and Holland. He
also becomes a barrow boy in a pearly suit and meets Mr Grubbly and his
animal friends in the African jungle.

Tate Publishing republished all of the original books in 2010.

## The television series

McKee wrote and animated (with Ian Lawless) thirteen *Mr Benn*
 episodes for the BBC in the early 1970s. These episodes were repeated
many times over the years, and many people retain fond memories of him.
The episodes were narrated by Ray Brooks, and the music composed by Don Warren.

Although Smasher Lagru features in *The Gladiator*, he does not appear in *The Clown* as the book in which he made his debut, *123456789Benn*, was not adapted for television – thus it would have been strange that he and Mr Benn already knew each other. *The Hunter* was also slightly altered; the book *Big Game Benn* features several hunters, but only one appears in the television episode.

McKee has not benefited financially to the extent he might have: "I
signed a contract where I only got a one-off payment and no repeat fees,
 but I've done quite well from a number of other things and I'm still
exhibiting paintings."[2] Unfortunately, according to *Mr Benn's Little Book of Life*,
 very little of McKee's original artwork created for the television
episodes exists today, as a majority of it was thrown into a rubbish
skip in the 1970s.

After over thirty years, a brand new Mr Benn episode was screened for
 the first time on 1 January 2005, on the United Kingdom channel Noggin. The episode was based on McKee's 2001 book *Mr Benn - Gladiator*.

The series was voted the sixth most popular children's television programme in the 2001 Channel 4 poll *100 Greatest Kids' TV shows*. It was also rated number 13 in the *50 Greatest Kids TV Shows* which aired on Channel 5 on November 8, 2013.

### Episode listing

\* Billed as **The Hunter** in *Radio Times*.
\*\* Billed as **Mr Benn Goes Ballooning** in *Radio Times*.
\*\*\* Billed as **The Frogman** in *Radio Times*.
\*\*\*\* Billed as **Mr Benn and the Magic Carpet** in *Radio Times*.

## Film

In 1999, it was reported that a feature film was in development. The
film was to star John Hannah as Mr. Benn and Ben Kingsley as the
Shopkeeper. However, the film was cancelled in 2001, and, as of 2015,
the project remains dormant.[3]

## Character origin

Mr Benn lives in London at 52 Festive Road, which was inspired by Festing Road in Putney
 where David McKee used to live. McKee had the house "next door" at 54
Festing Road, where residents installed an engraved paving slab in his
honour on 26 November 2009. ("I think it was because in the first book I
 drew myself looking out of the window, and I thought it would be quite
nice to have him next door," said McKee.)[4]

McKee says he has always thought of Mr Benn as having the first name William.[5][6]

## Merchandise

Many posters and T-shirts have been made with the image of the
shopkeeper or Mr Benn, or bearing the phrase: "As if by magic, the
Shopkeeper appeared." Toys made have included beanies of the shopkeeper and Mr Benn in his suit, and dressed as a spaceman and wizard.

## DVD release

**Title:** *Mr Benn: The Complete Series*
**Label:** Contender Home Entertainment
**Release Date:** 2005
**Catalogue N°:** CTD10390
**Availability:** Out now
## Mr Benn in popular culture

* Bell X1 have a song on their *Flock* album entitled "Just Like Mr Benn".
* *Festive Road*, the first track on The Divine Comedy's 1993 album Liberation, is about Mr Benn.
* A song entitled *The Costume Shop* appears on the Dublin Duck Dispensary EP 'He do the Police in Different Voices'. The cover of the EP features a picture of Mr. Benn.
* The song "PragVEC at the Melkweg" by Half Man Half Biscuit contains the line 'Just as I expected, the shopkeeper appeared.'
* The Oasis song "Shakermaker" has the lyric 'Mr Clean and Mr Benn are living in my loft'.

## Credits

* **Created, Written & Produced by:** David McKee
* **Drawn by:** David McKee, Ian Lawless
* **Narrated by:** Ray Brooks
* **Music by:** Don Warren
* **Musicians:** Ken Baldock, Harry Stoneham, Art Morgan, Peter Hughes, Kenny Wheeler, Terry Emery, Ray Swinfield
* **Sound:** United Motion Pictures (London)
* **Filmed by:** Zephyr Film Productions
* **Directed by:** Pat Kirby
* **© King Rollo Films Ltd / Zephyr Film Productions**

## Repeats

Mr Benn has been shown and repeated on BBC1 & 2 from 1971 - 2000, CBBC on Choice has also screened Mr Benn, premiering on New Year's Weekend 2000 from 7.00am - 7.45am showing the first 6 episodes as a triple bill to welcome the new millennium alongside Bob the Builder, Postman Pat, Pigeon Street and Pingu It had a weekend run beginning on Saturday 27th May 2000 at 9.00am, 12.15pm, 3.30pm and 6.45pm until Saturday 8th July 2000, 8 weeks later on Monday 4th September 2000, Gremlyn TV was launched on weekday mornings and teatimes at 6.00am - 6.30am and 6.30pm - 7.00pm, Mr Benn was part of it alongside fellow favourites Brum, Charlie Chalk, Pigeon Street and Postman Pat being broadcast twice on a 4-month loop which brings the total to 8 months overall. It was broadcast until Friday 30th March 2001. It continued to be broadcast the day after on Saturday 31st March 2001 at 8.10am, 11.10am, 2.10pm and 5.10pm until Saturday May 12th 2001. It's third weekend airing was on Saturday 6th October 2001 at the same times as its last screening until Saturday 17th November 2001. It was also broadcast on Choosy Bits under viewer's request from 2001/02. Mr Benn was also broadcast on Nick Jr from 1st September 1999 - 1st February 2002.