The Family Ness

***The Family-Ness*** is a British cartoon series produced in 1983. It was first broadcast on BBC One from 5 October 1984 to 5 April 1985, with repeats showings on CBeebies for a very short time in 2002. It was created by Peter Maddocks of Maddocks Cartoon Productions. Maddocks later went on to produce *Penny Crayon* and *Jimbo and the Jet Set* in a similar style. Family-Ness was about the adventures of a family of Loch Ness Monsters
 and the MacTout family, particularly siblings Elspeth and Angus. The
'Nessies' could be called from the loch by the two children by means of
their "thistle whistles". The series was followed with a large
collection of merchandising including annuals, story books, character
models and even a record. The single "You'll Never Find a Nessie in the
Zoo" was written by Roger and Gavin Greenaway, but never made it into the Top 40.

## Humans

Mr. MacTout
Apparently the single parent to Angus and Elspeth (their mother is never seen or mentioned). A stereotypical Scotsman, he has ginger hair with a bushy beard, a Tam o' Shanter on his head, a tartan kilt with the accompanying stockings and he plays the bagpipes.
 He is the keeper of the loch, but never sees a Loch Ness Monster, and
when anyone mentions seeing one, he says it is "stuff and nonsense". He
also happily believes it's "the wind in the trees" whenever he hears a
thistle-whistle and even in one episode tells another character that he
hears this sound every day.

Angus MacTout
Seemingly older than his sister, Angus is adventurous, clever and
quick and is usually successful in getting his father or one or several
of the Nessies out of trouble when he needs to, though he sometimes
underestimates the initiative of his sister, who often helps him.

Elspeth MacTout
A friendly young girl who assists her brother in most of his adventures.
Sergeant MacFuzz
The person most frequently approached when a Loch Ness Monster is
seen. However, he seldom believes it - in the first episode because it
was April Fool's Day, on another occasion because a monster was reported to be water skiing
 (which was in fact the truth) and other occasions simply because he
arrives too late to see anything himself. He has a bully-like son,
Willie MacFuzz, who also once saw a Loch Ness Monster, but he didn't
believe him either.

Mrs McToffee
The keeper of the local sweet shop who is nevertheless careful not
to sell too many sweets to young buyers in case they ruin their teeth.

Mayor and Mayoress
Possibly the least intelligent of all the characters here, human or
non-human. Obsessed with their own importance and their love for one
another, they are oblivious to the Nessies, even when one of them is
actually in front of them, standing in for a Loch Ness Monster's
lookalike competition. A piece of ignorance by the scriptwriters since
there are no Mayors in Scotland.

Professor Dumkopf
A slightly mad scientist and hot air balloon pilot with a German-sounding
 accent who is set on proving the Loch Ness Monster's existence. He
often does see one, but is always thwarted in proving it to anyone else
either by the MacTout children or by the Nessies themselves (or both).
He has tried every bizarre method imaginable to succeed in his aim from
lowering a telescopic camera into the loch to catch the monster on film (but ended up having the telescope twisted by the Nessies so that all he shot was a seagull in the air) to pumping sherbet
 into the loch to try to bring out a monster in a bubble (but ended up
falling into his machine and being carried away in one himself). The
name Dumkopf means "stupid head" in German.The name was later used in an episode of Inspector Gadget for an unrelated character who was also, coincidentally, a mad scientist.

## Nessies

Most of the Nessies are named after their main trait, like the Mr. Men, the Smurfs and the dwarfs from Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
 With one exception, the Nessies bear little likeness to the
stereotypical plesiosaurus/serpent appearance; most of them appear as
very fat, yellow dinosaurs with bulbous noses.

Ferocious Ness
The first Loch Ness Monster to interact with the MacTout children,
and subsequently the most frequent to appear in the series. A large,
khaki crocodile/dragon-like creature who likes frightening tourists
 and passers-by, he is otherwise generally friendly. He is able to
change colour to blend in with his background when on land (only seen in
 one episode) and can, when this happens, get stuck in whatever colour
he chooses, but can be made to change back if confronted with something
more frightening than himself, creepy-crawlies being his greatest fear.
He once - courtesy of the **Mayor and Mayoress** - came third in a Loch Ness Monster look-alike competition, much to his annoyance.

Her High Ness
The Queen of the Nessies, she originally made the rule that humans
must not have dealings with Loch Ness Monsters, but when she saw how
polite and helpful the children were, she made them the exception to the
 rule, and presented them with secret thistle whistles, to call them
when necessary. She was seen to breathe fire in just one episode, which
she learned to do from "a cousin in China"
 (presumably a dragon), and on another occasion she stowed away in a
ship to visit that cousin. She bears little physical similarities with
the other Nessies, having the appearance of a stereotypical Loch Ness
monster.

Baby Ness
The youngest Nessie with a dummy and nappy. He has a surprisingly "sweet tooth" for one who has not yet started teething, as demonstrated once when **Forgetful Ness** lost him, resulting in his crawling into the back door of **Mrs McToffee'**s sweet shop to steal sweeties, and on another occasion when he had the measles and **Angus** and **Elspeth** bought him a whole jar of sticky sweets to cheer him up.
Careful Ness
An excessively cautious Nessie.
Clever Ness
The most intelligent of the Nessies, who sports a fine pair of spectacles. Slightly old and doddering, but if called upon to assist the MacTout children in any way is usually successful in doing so.
Eager Ness
A slightly hyperactive Nessie who can get carried away, but is useful if the children want something done swiftly.
Forgetful Ness
A tie-wearing
 Nessie who, when he does call the children, sometimes even forgets that
 it was he who called. Having lost and then retrieved **Baby Ness** with the help of **Angus** and **Elspeth**, he remembered to express his gratitude but forgot what the baby's name was.

Eyewit Ness
Monster with a patch over one eye, who looks like a pirate. He has a tendency to place his telescope over the wrong eye.
Grumpy Ness
An old grumbling Nessie who is the least grateful to hear and react to **Angus** and **Elspeth'**s thistle-whistles, and perhaps for that reason is one of the least often seen.
Sad Ness
Extremely depressed monster; plays board games against himself.
Heavy Ness
Strong monster, who wears circus "strong man" outfits. Teams up with **Mighty Ness** to pull **Silly Ness** free when he gets stuck.
Lovely Ness
The only female Nessie apart from her High Ness. She has long,
blonde hair. A friendly Nessie, but often too dainty to help physically
in a great deal of the adventures, and is therefore not often seen,
though she does appear during the title credits.

Mighty Ness
Another strong monster dressed in Circus Strongman clothes. Often seen with Heavy Ness. They may be identical twin brothers.
Naughty Ness
A trouble causing monster.
Lil Ness
Bright orange Nessie, very loud and obnoxious. Is often ridiculed by other Nessies for his inappropriate comments.
Silly Ness
Dim monster that's always getting into trouble. Often gets stuck in
small holes and caves and was the first Nessie the children saw- albeit
with his backside up in the air.

Speedy Ness
After **Eager Ness**, generally the quickest to action, he is distinguished by his red crash helmet.
Sporty Ness
Appears in the opening credits, but seldom reacts to the MacTout
children's thistle-whistles. When he does appear he tends to show off,
he is shown wearing a red and white striped t-shirt.

Hungry Ness
A Nessie who will eat anything, even diving bells!
## Credits

Written and Created by
Peter Maddocks
Voices by
Peter Hawkins, Sue Sheridan
Music by
Roger and Gavin Greenaway
Theme Tune Performed By
Gavin Greenaway
Animation by
The Animation People
Head of Backgrounds
Kevin Smith
Layout
Ted Pettengel and David Elvin
Production by
Peter Maddocks, Nick Roberts, Gus Angus
Series Director
Jack Stokes
Dubbing by
MagMasters

## Video and DVD releases

In the middle of 1985 after the final episode of The Family Ness was broadcast. BBC Video released one video with 14 episodes of the entire show.

Professor Dumkopf and his Underwater Telescope, Clumsy-Ness upsets
Captain Standfast, Silly-Ness and the Bubble Machine, Professor Dumkopf
and his Amazing Cannonball, Ferocious-Ness changes colour, Captain
Standfast and the Stowaway, Baby-Ness gets the Measles, Ferocious-Ness
and the Sound Machine, Hungry-Ness and the Diving Bell, Thirsty-Ness and
 the Part-Time Witch, Professor Dumkopf makes a Monster Film, The Maze
of Urquhart Castle, You'll never find a Nessie in the Zoo.

In the mid-1990s Hallmark and Carlton Home Entertainment released one video with the first 9 episodes of 1984.

Professor Dumpkopf's Underwater Telescope, Elspeth and Angus Buy a
Puppy, Ferocious-Ness Changes His Colour, Ferocious-Ness and the
Look-a-Like Contest, Clever-Ness Helps with the Homework, Speedy-Ness
Saves the Day, Ferocious-Ness Loses His Roar and Baby-Ness Gets the
Measles

In 2002 and 2003 Rights Entertainment (Distributed by Universal
Pictures [UK] Ltd) released two videos with eight episodes on each one
and then in Summer 2004 they were both Re-Released on 2 DVD releases.

 and Angus Buy a Puppy, Speedy-Ness Saves the Day, Professor Dumpkopf's
Underwater Telescope, Ferocious-Ness Loses His Roar, Clumsy-Ness Upsets
Captain Standfast, Clever-Ness helps with the Homework, Silly-Ness and
 *The Family Ness 2: The Look-A-Like Contest and other stories* | 2003
Amazing Cannonball, Baby-Ness and the Mayor's Statue, Ferocious-Ness
Changes Colour, Captain and the Stowaway, Baby-Ness Gets the Measles,
Ferocious-Ness and the Sound Machine, Clever-Ness and the Curling
Championship

## Repeats

The Family Ness has been broadcast several times on BBC1 and BBC2 in the 1980's. 1990's and 2000's. CBBC on Choice premiered The Family Ness on Day 1 on Monday 29th November 1999 at 6.25am and it was the second programme to appear on the new channel after the Teletubbies. It was repeated again in summer 2000 in a weekday afternoon double bill slot beginning on Monday 31rd July - Friday 25th August 2000 thrice, at 2.20pm, 4.45pm and 6.05pm.