Bimble's Bucket

***Bimble's Bucket*** was an animated progamme shown on CITV created by Michael Jupp, a Spin-off of *The Dreamstone* and the creator of *Brummington the Chipmunk* and produced by Martin Gates Productions for HTV. The show ran for 3 series between 1996 and 1998. The rights to this show are currently owned by Monster Entertainment as of 2014.

## Plot

The main character of the series was Bimble, a young male anthropomorphic creature (a fox rabbit hybrid creature of whom some fans dub his species as 'foxbits' unofficially, though Mike Jupp had given them an official name called 'Squonks', it was never mentioned on the show) who, after rescuing a man from sinking in a swamp by pulling a bucket from his head, was given the very bucket he pulled off as a reward for rescuing the man. Soon Bimble is introduced to Teeny Weeny, a small green female character (who has leaves and an acorn on her head) and the guardian of the bucket. He also found out the bucket would grant wishes if he needed any particular item, but the effects would only last for 24 hours). The bucket is damaged in the first episode of the series when it is attacked by slingshots.

A witch called Dolly Clackhanger would try to steal the bucket from Bimble, many times, for her queen, Kak. She usually sent her gang to steal it. They consist of two Sleazians from Sleaze City who look like punk rockers called Bilge and Oiler, who usually go around on motorised pogo sticks. They were the ones who dented the bucket to begin with. Dolly also has an odd-looking blue creature with green hair called Sploot, who is usually Dolly's guinea pig for her magical experiments.

Queen Kak is also assisted by her tax collector Mudge, another Sleazian wearing a pork pie hat. He would rather perform scientific experiments instead of collecting taxes for the queen, and he dislikes Dolly and her magic.

## TV airings

The series aired in the United Kingdom on CITV from 1996–1998 and again in Autumn-Winter 2006 and was later repeated on Pop in 2004. It has also aired on Nine Network in Australia.

## Voice team

### Series 1

Julia McKenzie (Dolly Clackhanger/Narrator), Ellie Beaven (Teeny Weeny), Jonathan Kydd (Mudge / Mr. Gallypot), Gary Martin (Sploot), Lewis MacLeod (Bimble), Kate Robbins (Oiler)

### Series 2/3

Julia McKenzie (Narrator/Dolly Clackhanger), Ellie Beaven (Teeny Weeny), Maria Darling, Sally Kinghorn, Gary Martin (Sploot), Tom Wilson (Bimble), Paul Panting (Bilge), Richard Tate (Mudge / Mayor of Stiltsville)

## Episode list

**Series One:** (25 minute episodes)

1. **The Beginning** - First broadcast: 5/1/1996
2. **The Really Bad Idea** - First broadcast: 15/1/1996
3. **Mistaken Identity** - First broadcast: 22/1/1996
4. **The Catastrophe** - First broadcast: 29/1/1996
5. **The Journey** - First broadcast: 3/5/1996
6. **Pogo Time** - First broadcast: 10/5/1996
7. **The Birds**
8. **Marooned**
9. **The Moon Bridge**
10. **Nearly**
11. **The Carpet**
12. **Catnap**
13. **The Return**

**Series Two:** (10-minute episodes)

1. **The Cauldron** – First broadcast: 4/2/1997
2. **The Homing Bubble**
3. **The Fair**
4. **Sploot’s Monster**
5. **The Hypnopipe**
6. **Dolly Rules**
7. **A Question of Colours**
8. **Keep Fit**
9. **The Plant**
10. **Queen Kak’s Birthday**
11. **Invisible**
12. **Sheep**
13. **Pirates**

**Series Three:** (10-minute episodes)

1. **Small** - First broadcast: 27/4/1998
2. **The Pogo Tournament**
3. **The Bird** (different episode from Series 1 "The Birds")
4. **The Robot**
5. **Vandals**
6. **Dad's Tomatoes**
7. **Fairy Tale Day**
8. **The Sludge Monster**
9. **The Freeze**
10. **Celebration**
11. **The Crab**
12. **Sweetie**
13. **Weather Witch**

## Home video releases

English home video company **First Independent** released one VHS title in the UK which contained the first 3 episodes.

The company Monster Entertainment is planning to release Bimble's Bucket onto DVD and Blu-ray in the UK in the near future, along with other shows in Martin Gates' catalogue; such as Mike Jupp's other show; The Dreamstone.

## Credits

### Series 1

Written by
Sue Radley and Martin Gates
Original Concept and Design by
Mike Jupp
Music Written and Composed by
Chris Caswell
Animation Directors
Simon Ward-Horner, Chris Randall, David Elvin, Greg Ingram
Directed by
Martin Gates
Dialogue Recording Engineer
Ben Leeves
Dubbing Editors
Kevin Brazier, Alan Sallabank
Dubbing Mixer
David Humphries
Sound Re-recorded at
DB Post Production
Negative Cutting
Mike Fraser
Telecine Grader
Alan Bishop
Video Editor
Neville Donoghue
Film Editor
David Hillier
Production Facilities
Moving Images International
Managing Director
Jimmy Costello
Head of Production
Louie Jhocson
Production Facilities
Sae Rom Animation
President
Kil Whan Kim
Production Assistants
Emma MacGregor, Samantha Warden, Charlotte Simpson-Orlebar
Production Secretary
Sarah Absalom
Production Co-ordinator
Robert Dunbar
Production Manager
Kaye Robinson, Trevor Phillips
Storyboard
Mike Jupp, Gordon Harrison, David Elvin, Keith Scoble, Greg Ingram, Bruce McNally, Marty Murphy
Timing
Paul Stibal, Dick Horn, Duncan Varley
Art Direction and Timing
Barry Macey
Edit and Story Supervisor
Sue Radley
Executive Producers
Dan Maddicot, Tom Parkhouse
Line Producer
Marion Edwards
Produced by
Martin Gates
### Series 2–3

Written by
Sue Radley and Martin Gates
Original Concept and Design by
Mike Jupp
Music Written and Composed by
Chris Caswell
Animation Directors
Chris Randall, Vincent Woodcock
Directed by
Martin Gates
Dialogue Recording Engineer
Ben Leeves
Dubbing Editor
Kevin Brazier
Dubbing Mixers
David Humphries, Alan Sallabank
Sound Re-recorded at
DB Post Production
Negative Cutting
Mike Fraser
Telecine Grader
Ray King
Video Editor
Andrew Mitchell
Film Editor
David Hillier
Production Facilities
Hong Ying Animation
Tokyo Movie Shinsa (London, England)
General Manager (Hong Ying)
Bobby Hsieu
Production Manager (Hong Ying)
Tom Pong
General Manager (TMS London)
Lesley Hughes
Production Manager (TMS London)
Gerry Miller
Paul Simpson
Production Assistants
Charlotte Simpson-Orlebar, Ellen Moreno, Samantha Warden
Production Secretary
Sarah Absalom
Assistant Producer
Emma MacGregor
Production Co-ordinator
Robert Dunbar
Production Manager
Stuart Lock
Songs and Music Published by
Telestar Management Ltd.
Character Development
Alan Case, Leila Marr
Storyboards
Gordon Harrison, Mike Jupp, Barry Macey, Clive Pallant, Vince James & Jez Hall, Michael Zarb, Marty Murphy
Timing
Chris Cuddington, Barry Macey
Edit and Story Supervisor
Sue Radley
Executive Producers
Dan Maddicott, Tom Parkhouse
Producer
Martin Gates
## External links

* Mike Jupp's official homepage
* Mike Jupp's official forum

## References

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