The C Programmes - Kids TV - Classic programmes from yesteryear. B From Bad Boyes to Button Moon Bad Boyes : A story of a public school where one of the pupils was called Boyes who was bad (pranks, scrapes, the kind of things boys get up to in kids TV). Fansite Bagpuss : Voted as the best BBC Kids programme of all time. Pink cloth cat that scared the hell out of my mate Chris (his e-mail address can be supplied). Starred Gabriel the banjo wielding Toad (sorry Phill), Madeleine the rag-doll, a woodpecker called Professor Yaffle who was a talking book-end and lots of mice who lived in the marvellous, mechanical, mouse-organ. The mice were hell-bent on heaving everything. Strange how the bigger characters never moved anything! Each episode started with Emily, the very young shop owner, bringing a new item for Bagpuss to look at. BAGPUSS, DEAR BAGPUSS, OLD FAT, FURRY, CAT PUSS.

WAKE UP AND LOOK AT THIS THING THAT I BRING, WAKE UP, BE BRIGHT, BE GOLDEN AND LIGHT, OH BAGPUSS, HEAR WHAT I SING. The Banana Splits [DVD] Banana Splits : Bingo, Fleegle, Drooper and Snorky. One of the most memorable theme tunes and a genuinly funny programme. I always enjoyed the car chase at the end with someone always falling for the "My cars broken down" joke. Barnaby The Bear : An orange bear with a white face. Appeared at lunchtime in the early 70's. Quite a lot of marketing for the time as you could get hand puppets and place mats. The Theme Tune BARNABY THE BEAR'S MY NAME NEVER CALL ME JACK OR JANE I WILL SING MY WAY TO FAME BARNABY THE BEAR'S MY NAME BIRDS TAUGHT ME TO SING WHEN THEY TOOK ME TOO THEIR KING FIRST I HAD TO FLY IN THE SKY SO HIGH SO HIGH SO HIGH.... Battle Of The Planets : So early into the alphabet and possibly the greatest show ever, Stirring theme tune, great stories, loathsome enemies.

Ah yesterday! 7 Zark 7 - Looked after the undersea base 1 Rover 1 - Gave 7 Zark 7 a hand. Chief Anderson - Their boss Jason - Drove a racing car. Tiny - Flew the Phoenix and was fat (that's why his name was Tiny!) Princess - Rode a motorbike. Keyop - Drove a egg-shaped car thing and spoke funny. The loathsome enemy was Zoltar (who reported to "The Emperor" which was a bird face on a computer screen) A Bear Called Jeremy : This was an ultra cool show about a bear named Jeremy that was made in some sort of stop motion animation. Jeremy went through all sorts of adventures. Beat The Teacher : Mark Curry, who went on to present Blue Peter, was the longest serving host of this pupils v. teachers game of Noughts and Crosses. You had to get a question right to get on the board though. The original presenter was Paul Jones, once of Manfred Man and later featured Howard Stapleton (before moving onto Tomorrow's World, where he'd fall off a swing).

Belle and Sabastian : This was a Japanese animation about a boy and his huge white dog (who all the villagers are afraid of because of her enormous size) who live and have adventures in the Pyrenean mountains. I think (if I remember correctly) that he and the dog run away from home to find his Mother. Benji, Zax and the Alien Prince : Small boy and robot land on Earth, travel around America, meet dog, have adventures. Not too taxing really is it! There was some evil bad guy after our regal hero who drove around in a black car and would always try to shoot the robot (Zax) but not our regal hero. Opening titles Bertha : A big green machine that could make anything that Spottiswoods factory needed to make. Some of the weirdest hair-dos ever to be seen on puppets in this programme. Voiced by the mighty Roy Kinnear. Character List: Nell and Flo (packing and stacking) Mrs. Tupp (tea lady) T.O.M. (talk operated machine) Panjid (store room) Bizzy Lizzy : Not sure if this was the programme name but it was the name of the show's star.

Bizzy Lizzy was a little girl, Mo was her toy. Lizzy wore a blue dress that had a magic flower attached. She could have 3 wishes by touching the flower. Every episode (I think) the first wish was to have Little Mo become real. I think Mo was an Eskimo doll The Adventures Of Black Beauty [DVD] Black Beauty : Kids drama at it's best and a reason why ITV should continue to make children's programmes because, when they put their mind to it, they can do a really good job. Anna Sewell's classic novel was the base behind the programme obviously but the star of the show stayed with the same family throughout. Well worth revisiting. I have (somewhere) the official soundtrack of the TV show on LP (hi kids!) somewhere. It's where the picture on the right came from. Blue Peter : Adults liked Blue Peter. it was safe, there was no violence, no threat of corrupting young minds and it taught you things. Crap really but always manages to give a new section for "It'll be alright on the night", elephants crapping on the floor, brownies starting fires etc. Made front page news in 1998 with the Cocaine Fiend.

Quite a news worthy programme in the past with the death of Petra, the vandalising of the Blue Peter Garden and Janet Ellis announcing live on air that she'd be needing maternity leave. Here comes... Bod : The excellent Bod stuck rigidly to the "repeat and learn" ethic of the time. Keep going over stuff and the kids will learn whilst having fun. Despite what many think, there were only ever 13 episodes of Bod made, they were just repeated over and over by the BBC. John Le Mesurier would describe the arrivial of all the characters one after the other. First would be Bod, usually followed by Aunt Flo, PC Copper, Frank the postman and Farmer Barlymow. One of the more memorable moments of the programme was the animal orchestra (voiced by Maggie Henderson). The frog conductor, Alberto would always have a milkshake after the performance. Each animal in the band would have a guess before the decision was made. "I think I'll have...chocolate." There'd also be the Bod "Snap" game, two cards shown on screen and you'd, obviously, have to shout snap when they were the same.

The voiceover didn't think speed was of the essence however and would often ponder over each pair for an age: "Bod and PC Copper (long pause) No (pause) that's not snap. "Bod and Bod (pause) that's two Bods (long pause) Snap!". Oh well done! Box of Delights [DVD] Box Of Delights : The Sunday afternoons leading up to Christmas used to be rather special. The BBC would show a multi-part drama series finishing the weekend before Christmas and millions would watch. "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" is probably the best remembered but this comes a close second. A wonderful story and (for the time) state of the art special effects came to life and you couldn't help feel disappointed when it finished for another week. I cannot recommend the DVD highly enough. Brendan Chase : a drama set in the 1920's about a couple of kids who run away and try to survive in a large forest, hunting for all their food. Bric-a-Brac : Brian Cant method acting as an old geezer in a junk shop. Every week the stuff in the shop would begin with the same letter? Old man Steptoe was never like this!

Bagpuss - The Characters The Characters Emily Although Emily doesn't appear in the stories, except for the introduction, she is a major character. After all, it is Emily that runs the shop, finds things to be repaired, and wakes Bagpuss up so that he can identify and repair the latest thing with his friends. Emily was played by Peter Firmin's daughter, Emily. Bagpuss Bagpuss is a magical cat. When he wakes up, all his friends come to life. He can also make his thoughts visible in bubbles above his head. Despite this, he doesn't play a major part in most of the stories, instead being content to lie on his rug and listen to the songs the others sing as they identify and repair the thing. All in all, he's just an old, saggy cloth cat. Baggy, and a bit loose at the seams. But Emily loved him. Professor Yaffle Professor Yaffle, full name "Augustus Barclay Yaffle", the carved wooden book-end, is the brains of the outfit, or so he'd like to think. He is very knowledgeable, but a bit proud, and the mice love to play tricks on him to bring him down a peg or two.

Despite being a bit aloof, Yaffle can be touched by beauty, as he shows in "The Ballet Shoe", when he dances with the Marvellous Mechanical Prima Ballerina. Yaffle is the most complex of the characters, and moves around more than most, being nailed to the floor with tacks to prevent him falling over. Madeleine Remnant is a rag doll, who sits in a wicker chair. She never moves anywhere, and is happy to be a mother to the mice, tell stories and sing songs with Gabriel. Madeleine only really exists to give a home to the voice of Sandra Kerr. Gabriel Gabriel Croaker (of the "Tea-Time toads") is a banjo-playing toad, who lives on top of the round tin on the shelf. Like Madeleine, Gabriel exists to provide a home for the voice of John Faulkner, who, with Sandra Kerr, produced the music. The Mice The mice are really the major characters, and tend to get involved in everything that goes on. They like to play tricks on Yaffle, and always like to sing together while they are working. Indeed, they go on strike when they are told to stop singing in "The Ballet Shoe".

The pride and joy of the mice is the Marvellous Mechanical Mouse Organ, which plays rolls of music, and projects a picture onto the screen, like a television. There are six mice in the TV series: Charliemouse, who wears a grey checked suit, and appears to be their leader. Eddiemouse, who wears a blue suit with a green jacket. Janiemouse, who wears a pink dress with a red waistcoat. Jenniemouse, who wears a blue dress. Lizziemouse, who wears a blue flowery dress with a blue waistcoat. Williemouse, who wears a flowery top and red trousers. In the books, there are another two mice (they must have been breeding) - Millymouse and Tillymouse, which might help to explain some of the photos where more than six mice are visible (like the Annual and the Cards ). Bagpuss - Childrens TV | Jedi's Paradise Bagpuss Bagpuss is a 70’s children’s TV animated show created by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, who conjured up another piece of Childrens TV Magic.

It followed on from the previous classics that 'Smallfilms' had made - Noggin the Nog, The Clangers and Ivor the Engine You might be surprised to know that only 13 episodes were made (it really does feel like they made more!). Emily was played by Peter Firmin's Daughter, strangely called Emily (must have been hard to think that name!). Also look very close at Professor Yaffle's feet. You can see the drawing pins they used to keep him upright! Bagpuss has had a bit of a revival recently and the amount of merchandise you can buy has gone from zero to lots (slippers, cuddly toys, posters etc.). On September 30th 2001 the creators of Bagpuss - Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate talked about another of their creations - 'The Pogles'. I was there to record this event - see what happened there. If you would like to see Bagpuss in the flesh then make a trip to The Canterbury Museum (UK) to see him. Story Bapuss began with the words : "Once upon a time, not so long ago, there was a little girl and her name was Emily and she had a shop, there it is.

It was rather an unusual shop, because it didn't sell anything. You see, everything in that shop window was a thing that somebody had once lost and Emily had found and brought home to Bagpuss. Emily's cat Bagpuss, the most important, the most beautiful, the most magical, saggy old cloth cat in the whole wide world Well now, one day Emily found a thing and she brought it back to the shop and put it down in front of Bagpuss, who was in the shop window fast asleep as usual But then Emily said some magic words: Bagpuss, dear Bagpuss, Old fat furry cat-puss, Wake up, and look at this thing that I bring, Wake up, be bright, be golden and light, Bagpuss, oh hear what I sing." And Bagpuss was wide awake, and when Bagpuss wakes up all his friends wake up too. The mice on the mouse-organ woke up and stretched. Madeleine the rag doll. Gabriel the toad, and last of all Professor Yaffle, who was a very distinguished old woodpecker.

He climbed down off his bookend and went to see what it was that Emily had brought" Bagpuss Characters Emily Emily was a little girl that owned and loved Bagpuss. They lived in a little shop which didn't really sell anything, it was a shop that displayed items that were lost, and initially were in need of repair.....waiting for their owners to reclaim them. These items were repaired by Bagpuss and his friends, and by a little bit of Magic! Bagpuss Bagpuss was a big fat furry cat puss (as the introduction stated) - a cuddly toy that was covered in pink and white stripes. He only came alive when Emily wasn't around and when she had left something - it was a something, as they didn't always know what it really was. After a big yawn Bagpuss was awake, and after Bagpuss woke up all his other friends woke up one by one. Bagpuss was a cat that definitely possessed Magic. Professor Yaffle Professor Yaffle was a carved wooden book-end in the shape of a woodpecker. He lived high up, looking down on Bagpuss (maybe he had a superiority complex?).

Once Emily had been and Bagpuss had woken up, he would descend from his home down a flight of books - arranged like a staircase, to see what she a brought. He never approved of the others, they seemed to enjoy themselves too much, but was a curious bird and loved trying to work out what Emily had left. The Mice The Mice, who lived on a Mouse Organ, did most of the work repairing the item that Emily had brought. They sang a song as they were working 'We will fix it we will fix...' which has stayed will all of us big kids for years. They had a real talent and fooled Bagpuss and friends a few times, like making Chocolate Biscuits out of Butter Beans! They also powered the Marvellous Mechanical Mouse Organ, which showed a story on its screen which was related to the item that Emily had brought. Sometimes, after the story had ended, the item had been magically restored. Oh and lets not forget the Famous Charlie Mouse, who seemed to turn up everywhere. Madeleine Madeleine was a Rag Doll and she lived next to Gabriel. She was the mother figure over the rest of them.

She was an excellent story teller and would help Bagpuss tell some of marvellous stories that even kept the mice quiet. Gabriel Gabriel was a Toad. He wasn't an ordinary Toad, he was a musical Toad. He carried a Banjo with him everywhere. As the stories were being told, he would provide some of the music and would sing songs to accompany them. Bagpuss Images (click to enlarge) Bagpuss DVDs Region 2 (Europe) - Bagpuss DVDs Region 1 (USA) - NONE Bagpuss Episodes Series 1 (1974) 1. Ship in a Bottle 2. The Owls of Athens 3. The Frog Princess 4. The Ballet Shoe 5. The Hamish 6. The Wise Man 7. The Elephant 8. The Mouse Mill 9. The Giant 10. The Old Man's Beard 11. The Fiddle 12. Flying 13. Uncle Feedle Bagpuss Video Intro Classic Children's Television - new stamps - 7 January 2014 - Norvic Philatelics.

Andy Pandy, Ivor The Engine, Dougal from The Magic Roundabout Windy Miller from Camberwick Green, Mr Benn, Great Uncle Bulgaria from The Wombles Bagpuss, Paddington Bear, Postman Pat Bob The Builder, Peppa Pig, Shaun The Sheep The stamps - all 1st Class Andy Pandy - Devised by Freda Lingstrom and Maria Bird, Andy Pandy was first screened live in summer 1950 during the BBC’s For the Very Young slot. Subsequent episodes were filmed to enable repeat broadcasts and became central to the Watch with Mother segment from 1953. Narrator Vera McKechnie addressed string puppets Andy Pandy, Teddy and Looby Loo directly, and encouraged young viewers to sing and dance along with the music and songs. After the original, filmed episodes had become too damaged to be broadcast, and in 1970, 13 brand-new colour programmes were recorded. Ivor The Engine Developed for ITV by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, Ivor the Engine told the story of small steam train working on a remote line in the “top left-hand corner of Wales”.

Narrated by Postgate, in his best Under Milk Wood voice, the show used charmingly rudimentary techniques to animate illustrations of Ivor and driver Jones the Steam. While Ivor would perambulate along the rails making a pleasing “pssh-te-cuff” sound, Vernon Elliott, a classical bassoonist, provided the accompanying music. A total of 32 episodes were made between 1959 and 1964, and a further 40 were commissioned by the BBC in 1975. The Magic Roundabout In the early 1960s, French animator Serge Danot created an innovative stop-motion series, Le Manège Enchanté. Ivor Wood joined Danot to work on the original episodes. Set in a magical park, it featured a dog named Pollux and his friends. First broadcast in 1964, the unique programme soon caught the attention of TV executives in the UK. BBC Head of Children’s Programming Doreen Stephens was charmed by the feel of the series, but felt the script needed changes. Eric Thompson, who was brought in to redub it, wrote and narrated new stories around the visual elements.

Retitled The Magic Roundabout, and featuring Dougal the dog, it was a hit upon its UK debut in 1965. Camberwick Green Created by Gordon Murray, Camberwick Green featured stories about the folk of a picturesque rural village in the county of Trumptonshire. Thirteen 15-minute episodes were filmed in colour and narrated by the Play School presenter Brian Cant. First broadcast in 1966, each episode began with a rhyme: “Here is a box, a musical box, wound up and ready to play. But this box can hide a secret inside. Can you guess what is in it today?” The featured character – perhaps Windy Miller, Dr Mopp or Mrs Honeyman – would then be revealed. Accompanying songs were composed by classical guitarist Freddie Phillips. Mr Benn It all began in Festing Road, Putney, where author and illustrator David McKee lived. He used the street as the inspiration for Festive Road, the home of Mr Benn. First published in book form in the late 1960s, Mr Benn the TV series followed in 1971.

Each episode saw our hero visit a fancy-dress shop where, “as if by magic”, the shopkeeper would appear. Dressed in his chosen costume, Mr Benn would leave the changing room and end up in an unusual location – a knight’s armour, for example, led to an encounter with a dragon, while a caveman outfit took him to the Stone Age and a spaceman costume took him to outer space. The Wombles Created by Elisabeth Beresford for a series of novels in 1968, the Wombles are conical-faced creatures that live in a burrow under Wimbledon Common and spend their days collecting and recycling rubbish. They arrived on our screens in a series of 60 short instalments first airing in 1973. Using stop-motion models directed by Ivor Wood and the perky narration of Bernard Cribbins, the show introduced us to, among others, the exotic Madame Cholet and wise old Great Uncle Bulgaria. ‘The Wombling Song’, the show’s catchy theme tune, gave rise to The Wombles pop group, which, with a little vocal help from songwriter Mike Batt, had many hits.

Bagpuss Another unique creation from Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, Bagpuss was a pink, striped, “saggy old cloth cat” who first appeared in 1974. The series was set in a lost-and-found shop where Bagpuss would come to life on delivery of a discarded, broken item from young girl Emily. He and his friends – including six mice, banjo-playing toad Gabriel, rag doll Madeleine and woodpecker bookend Professor Yaffle – would then weave songs and stories around the object while it was repaired. With the restored item placed in the shop window for its owner to collect, Bagpuss would give a contented yawn and settle back down to sleep. Paddington Bear A Bear Called Paddington, written by Michael Bond, was first published in 1958. In 1975, the TV series directed by Ivor Wood and narrated by Michael Hordern was a mix of Paddington as stop-motion puppet animation and 2D illustration for all the other characters and backgrounds.

In the first episode, Mr and Mrs Brown meet the marmalade-loving bear from Darkest Peru and take him home, naming him after the London railway station where he was found. Paddington is the classic innocent abroad, a kind bear, well-meaning and polite, who is unaware of the obstacles and imminent catastrophes so evident to everyone else – but things always turn out fine for Paddington in the end. Postman Pat Ivor Wood collaborated with writer John Cunliffe to bring Postman Pat to our screens in 1981. As he worked his route in bucolic Greendale, each stopmotion episode would see the Postman become distracted by the plight of one of the locals, who included farmer Alf Thompson, handyman Ted Glen and postmistress Mrs Goggins. Originally narrated by Ken Barrie, Lewis MacLeod more recently took over as the voice of Pat, whose route now includes the bustling town of Pencaster. Bob The Builder Can he fix it? Yes, he can! Making his debut in 1998, Bob the Builder was the brainchild of former Muppets designer Keith Chapman.

As the world’s favourite builder, Bob’s ability to take on any project promotes a can-do attitude of positivity and the benefits of working together, as sung in his chart-topping theme tune. Voiced by Neil Morrissey, Bob is ably assisted by his ‘Can-Do Crew’ of Scoop, Muck, Dizzy, Roley and Lofty, as well as his business partner Wendy. Peppa Pig Peppa is a lovable, cheeky little piggy who lives with her little brother George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig. Peppa’s favourite things include playing games, dressing up, days out and, most of all, jumping in muddy puddles. After Lily Snowden-Fine and Cecily Bloom, Harley Bird was the third person to provide Peppa’s vocals, and in 2011 she won Best Performer at the BAFTA Children’s Awards. The show sees its 10-year anniversary in 2014 and Peppa will be wearing her golden boots to celebrate. Shaun The Sheep First appearing in the Oscar-winning 1995 Wallace and Gromit film A Close Shave, Shaun the Sheep graduated to his own TV series in 2007.

Shaun is a sheep who doesn’t follow the flock – in fact, he leads them into all sorts of scrapes and scraps, turning peace at Mossybottom Farm into mayhem in the meadow. Shaun and his pals run rings around their poor sheepdog Bitzer, as he does his best to stop the Farmer from finding out what’s going on behind his back. Technical details and details of background images: The stamps were designed by Interabang and are printed by International Security Printers in Gravure. The 25mm square stamps will be issued in two sheets of 30/60 with five se-tenant designs per sheet, enabling customers to buy a vertical strip of five of any individual.

Acknowledgements: Andy Pandy © Ben Productions LLC; Ivor the Engine and Bagpuss © 2014 Smallfilms Ltd and Peter Firmin; Dougal, The Magic Roundabout © Serge Danot; Windy Miller, Camberwick Green © Gordon Murray (Trumptonshire) Ltd; Mr Benn © 2013 David McKee/Licensed by Clive Juster & Associates; Great Uncle Bulgaria, The Wombles © WCH Ltd; Paddington Bear™ © P & Co Ltd 2013; Postman Pat © 2014 Woodland Animations Ltd, a division of Classic Media UK Limited. Licensed by Classic Media Distribution Limited. Original writer John Cunliffe; all rights reserved; Bob the Builder ™ © 2014 HIT Entertainment Limited and Keith Chapman; Peppa Pig © ABD Ltd/Ent.

One UK Ltd 2003; Shaun the Sheep © Aardman Animations Ltd 2014 Products issued, available from Royal Mail: Set of 12 stamps (2 strips of 6) -- Strip of 6 from sheet 1 or sheet 2, or vertical strip of 5 of any single stamp First day cover -- Presentation pack -- Stamp cards (set of 12) -- Medal Cover -- Framed sets -- Pin-badges Special Postmarks Postmarks available for the day of issue are shown here. These postmarks cannot be obtained after the date of issue. The images shown here may not be to scale.

Ref FD1401TH Philatelic Bureau Official Postmark Ref FD1401PL Wimbledon Official Postmark Ref FD1401NP Much-loved characters from children’s televison celebrated by Royal Mail in stamp issue Much-loved characters from children’s televison celebrated by Royal Mail in stamp issue 3 January 2014 Much-loved characters from children’s televison celebrated by Royal Mail in stamp issue Some of the most popular shows from over 60 years of children’s television are celebrated with 12 much-loved characters featured on a new set of Special Stamps Characters in the issue are Andy Pandy, Ivor the Engine, Dougal - from The Magic Roundabout, Windy Miller - from Camberwick Green, Mr Benn, Great Uncle Bulgaria - from The Wombles, Bagpuss, Paddington Bear, Postman Pat, Bob the Builder, Peppa Pig and Shaun the Sheep Each decade since the 1950s is represented in this stamp issue 2014 marks the 40th anniversary of Bagpuss appearing on television Stamps are designed so each character ‘breaks out’ of the border The stamps are available from 7th January online at , by

 phone on 08457 641 641 and in 10,000 Post Offices throughout the UK Royal Mail’s Special Stamp programme kicks-off 2014 with an issue that celebrates over 60 years of Classic Children’s TV.

12 of the most popular characters from children’s television are included in the set. The full line-up features Andy Pandy, Ivor the Engine, Dougal - from The Magic Roundabout, Windy Miller - from Camberwick Green, Mr Benn, Great Uncle Bulgaria - from The Wombles, Bagpuss, Paddington Bear, Postman Pat, Bob the Builder, Peppa Pig and Shaun the Sheep. 2014 will mark the 40th anniversary of Bagpuss first appearing on TV. The saggy cloth cat is continually cited as one of the most favourite British children’s TV character of all time. The year will also mark the 50th anniversary of The Magic Roundabout. The prolific British animator Ivor Wood created Dougal, one of the show’s memorable characters, who also ranks highly in people’s affections. Wood also went on to animate Paddington Bear and Postman Pat for TV. Each decade since the 1950s is represented in this issue. Even the older programmes have been frequently repeated and new series created of them.

Such is the popularity of these characters, that 2014 will see the films ‘Postman Pat: The Movie’ and ‘Paddington’ hit the big-screen at cinemas nationwide. 2015 will see a return to television for The Wombles and a new CGI series giving them a high-tech makeover. Many of these shows have acquired cult status, and while intended for a young audience, they also attract devoted adult fans. Such was the attraction of The Magic Roundabout that, when, in 1967 it was moved to an earlier timeslot, the BBC received complaints from the programme’s adult fans who could not get home in time from work to watch the show. Andrew Hammond, Royal Mail Stamps, said: “For over 60 years, Britain’s children’s TV characters have brought cheer to generations of viewers. More importantly it has presented us with a cast of characters that, like the memories of the programmes themselves, remain with us throughout our lives.

”It feels appropriate to celebrate all of these unforgettable characters on a set of very special stamps.” Natasha Ayivor NOTES TO EDITORS For almost 50 years, Royal Mail’s Special Stamp programme has commemorated and celebrated events and anniversaries pertinent to UK heritage and life. Today, there are an estimated 2.5 million stamp collectors and gifters in the UK and millions worldwide. Her Majesty the Queen approves all UK stamp designs before they are printed. Stamps and stamp products are available at Post Office Branches, online at and from Royal Mail Tallents House (tel. 08457 641 641), 21 South Gyle Crescent, Edinburgh, EH12 9PB. Stamp Characters: ANDY PANDY “Andy Pandy’s coming to play, la-la-la-la-la-la!” Devised by Freda Lingstrom and Maria Bird, Andy Pandy was first screened live in summer 1950 during the BBC’s For the Very Young slot. Subsequent episodes were filmed to enable repeat broadcasts and became central to the Watch with Mother segment from 1953.

Narrator Vera McKechnie addressed string puppets Andy Pandy, Teddy and Looby Loo directly, and encouraged young viewers to sing and dance along with the music and songs. After the original filmed episodes had become too damaged to be broadcast, in 1970 13 brand-new colour programmes were recorded. IVOR THE ENGINE Developed for ITV by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, Ivor the Engine told the story of small steam train working on a remote line in the “top left-hand corner of Wales”. Narrated by Postgate, in his best Under Milk Wood voice, the show used charmingly rudimentary techniques to animate illustrations of Ivor and driver Jones the Steam. While Ivor would perambulate along the rails making a pleasing “pssh-te-cuff” sound, Vernon Elliott, a classical bassoonist, provided the accompanying music. A total of 32 episodes were made between 1959 and 1964, and a further 40 were commissioned in colour by the BBC in 1975. THE MAGIC ROUNDABOUT In the early 1960s, French animator Serge Danot created an innovative stop-motion series, Le Manège Enchanté.

British animator Ivor Wood joined Danot to work on the original episodes. Set in a magical park, it featured a dog named Pollux and his friends. Pollus was Wood’s invention, First broadcast in 1964, the unique programme soon caught the attention of TV executives in the UK. BBC Head of Children’s Programming Doreen Stephens was charmed by the feel of the series, but felt the script needed changes. Eric Thompson, who was brought in to redub it, wrote and narrated entirely new stories around the visual elements. The Magic Roundabout debuted on British TV in 1965, with Pollux renamed Dougal, and was an immediate hit. CAMBERWICK GREEN Created by Gordon Murray, Camberwick Green featured stories about the folk of a picturesque rural village in the county of Trumptonshire. Thirteen 15-minute episodes were filmed in colour and narrated by the Play School presenter Brian Cant. First broadcast in 1966, each episode began with a rhyme: “Here is a box, a musical box, wound up and ready to play. But this box can hide a secret inside.

Can you guess what is in it today?” The featured character – perhaps Windy Miller, Dr Mopp or Mrs Honeyman – would then be revealed. Accompanying songs were composed by classical guitarist Freddie Phillips. MR BENN It all began in Festing Road, Putney, where author and illustrator David McKee lived. He used the street as the inspiration for Festive Road, the home of Mr Benn. First published in book form in the late 1960s, Mr Benn the TV series followed in 1971. Each episode saw our hero visit a fancy-dress shop where, “as if by magic”, the shopkeeper would appear. Dressed in his chosen costume, Mr Benn would leave the changing room and end up in an unusual location – a knight’s armour, for example, led to an encounter with a dragon, while a caveman outfit took him to the Stone Age and a spaceman costume took him to outer space. THE WOMBLES Created by Elisabeth Beresford in a series of books starting in 1968, the Wombles are conical-faced creatures that live in a burrow under Wimbledon Common and spend their days collecting and recycling rubbish.

They arrived on our screens in a series of 60 short instalments first airing in 1973. Using stop-motion models directed by Ivor Wood and the perky narration of Bernard Cribbins, the show introduced us to, among others, the exotic Madame Cholet and wise old Great Uncle Bulgaria. ‘The Wombling Song’, the show’s catchy theme tune, gave rise to The Wombles pop group, which, with a little vocal help from songwriter Mike Batt, had many hits. BAGPUSS Another unique creation from Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, Bagpuss was a pink, striped, “saggy old cloth cat” who first appeared in 1974. The series was set in a lost-and-found shop where Bagpuss would come to life on delivery of a discarded, broken item from young girl Emily. He and his friends – including six mice, banjo-playing toad Gabriel, rag doll Madeleine and woodpecker bookend Professor Yaffle – would then weave songs and stories around the object while it was repaired. With the restored item placed in the shop window for its owner to collect, Bagpuss would give a contented yawn and settle back down to sleep.

PADDINGTON BEAR A Bear Called Paddington, written by Michael Bond, was first published in 1958. In 1975, the TV series directed by Ivor Wood and narrated by Michael Hordern was a mix of Paddington as stop-motion puppet animation and 2D illustration for all the other characters and backgrounds. In the first episode, Mr and Mrs Brown meet the marmalade-loving bear from Darkest Peru and take him home, naming him after the London railway station where he was found. Paddington is the classic innocent abroad, a kind bear, well-meaning and polite, who is unaware of the obstacles and imminent catastrophes so evident to everyone else – but things always turn out fine for Paddington in the end. POSTMAN PAT Postman Pat is the longest running animated series on the BBC and everyone knows the words to the theme tune. In each stop-frame episode, Pat makes his deliveries in the idyllic village of Greendale. Whilst he often gets distracted by the locals including farmer Alf Thompson, handyman Ted Glen, postmistress Mrs Goggins and various sheep, with his trusty sidekick Jess the Black and White Cat, Pat always makes his delivery.

Pat encourages sense of community spirit, bringing out the good neighbour in all of us. You can always count on Postman Pat! Ivor Wood collaborated with writer John Cunliffe to bring his Postman Pat stories to our screens in 1981. Originally narrated by Ken Barrie, Lewis MacLeod more recently took over as the voice of Pat. Pat’s famous red postal van was joined by a fleet of new vehicles in 2008 when his route was extended to include the bustling town of Pencaster. BOB THE BUILDER Can he fix it? Yes, he can! Making his debut in 1998, Bob the Builder was the brainchild of former Muppets designer Keith Chapman. As the world’s favourite builder, Bob’s ability to take on any project promotes a can-do attitude of positivity and the benefits of working together, as sung in his chart-topping theme tune. Bob is ably assisted by his ‘Can-Do Crew’ of Scoop, Muck, Dizzy, Roley and Lofty, as well as his business partner Wendy.

PEPPA PIG Peppa is a lovable, cheeky little piggy who lives with her little brother George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig. Peppa’s favourite things include playing games, dressing up, days out and, most of all, jumping in muddy puddles. After Lily Snowden-Fine and Cecily Bloom, Harley Bird was the third person to provide Peppa’s vocals, and in 2011 she won Best Performer at the BAFTA Children’s Awards. The show sees its 10-year anniversary in 2014 and Peppa will be wearing her golden boots to celebrate. SHAUN THE SHEEP First appearing in Nick Park’s Oscar-winning 1995 Wallace and Gromit film A Close Shave, Shaun the Sheep graduated to his own TV series in 2007. Shaun is a sheep who doesn’t follow the flock – in fact, he leads them into all sorts of scrapes and scraps, turning peace at Mossybottom Farm into mayhem in the meadow. Shaun and his pals run rings around their poor sheepdog Bitzer, as he does his best to stop the Farmer from finding out what’s going on behind his back.

A Shaun the Sheep movie is currently in production. Classic Children's TV (2014) : Collect GB Stamps Classic Children's TV Size 25mm (h) x 25mm (v) Printed by International Security Printers Print Process Gravure Andy Pandy 1st ï¿½Andy Pandyï¿½s coming to play, la-la-la-la-la-la!ï¿½ Devised by Freda Lingstrom and Maria Bird, Andy Pandy was first screened live in summer 1950 during the BBCï¿½s For the Very Young slot. Subsequent episodes were filmed to enable repeat broadcasts and became central to the Watch with Mother segment from 1953. Ivor The Engine 1st Developed for ITV by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, Ivor the Engine told the story of small steam train working on a remote line in the ï¿½top left-hand corner of Walesï¿½. Narrated by Postgate, in his best Under Milk Wood voice, the show used charmingly rudimentary techniques to animate illustrations of Ivor and driver Jones the Steam.

While Ivor would perambulate along the rails making a pleasing ï¿½pssh-te-cuffï¿½ sound, Vernon Elliott, a classical bassoonist, provided the accompanying music. Dougal - The Magic Roundabout 1st In the early 1960s, French animator Serge Danot created an innovative stop-motion series, Le Manï¿½ge Enchantï¿½. Ivor Wood joined Danot to work on the original episodes. Set in a magical park, it featured a dog named Pollux and his friends. First broadcast in 1964, the unique programme soon caught the attention of TV executives in the UK. Windy Miller - Camberwick GReen 1st Created by Gordon Murray, Camberwick Green featured stories about the folk of a picturesque rural village in the county of Trumptonshire. Thirteen 15-minute episodes were filmed in colour and narrated by the Play School presenter Brian Cant. Mr Benn 1st It all began in Festing Road, Putney, where author and illustrator David McKee lived. He used the street as the inspiration for Festive Road, the home of Mr Benn.

First published in book form in the late 1960s, Mr Benn the TV series followed in 1971. Great Uncle Bulgaria - The Wombles 1st Created by Elisabeth Beresford for a series of novels in 1968, the Wombles are conical-faced creatures that live in a burrow under Wimbledon Common and spend their days collecting and recycling rubbish. They arrived on our screens in a series of 60 short instalments first airing in 1973. Using stop-motion models directed by Ivor Wood and the perky narration of Bernard Cribbins, the show introduced us to, among others, the exotic Madame Cholet and wise old Great Uncle Bulgaria. Bagpuss 1st Another unique creation from Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, Bagpuss was a pink, striped, ï¿½saggy old cloth catï¿½ who first appeared in 1974. The series was set in a lost-and-found shop where Bagpuss would come to life on delivery of a discarded, broken item from young girl Emily.

He and his friends ï¿½ including six mice, banjo-playing toad Gabriel, rag doll Madeleine and woodpecker bookend Professor Yaffle ï¿½ would then weave songs and stories around the object while it was repaired. With the restored item placed in the shop window for its owner to collect, Bagpuss would give a contented yawn and settle back down to sleep. Paddington Bear 1st A Bear Called Paddington, written by Michael Bond, was first published in 1958. In 1975, the TV series directed by Ivor Wood and narrated by Michael Hordern was a mix of Paddington as stop-motion puppet animation and 2D illustration for all the other characters and backgrounds. Postman Pat 1st Ivor Wood collaborated with writer John Cunliffe to bring Postman Pat to our screens in 1981. As he worked his route in bucolic Greendale, each stopmotion episode would see the Postman become distracted by the plight of one of the locals, who included farmer Alf Thompson, handyman Ted Glen and postmistress Mrs Goggins.

Originally narrated by Ken Barrie, Lewis MacLeod more recently took over as the voice of Pat, whose route now includes the bustling town of Pencaster. Bob The Builder 1st Can he fix it? Yes, he can! Making his debut in 1998, Bob the Builder was the brainchild of former Muppets designer Keith Chapman. As the worldï¿½s favourite builder, Bobï¿½s ability to take on any project promotes a can-do attitude of positivity and the benefits of working together, as sung in his chart-topping theme tune. Voiced by Neil Morrissey, Bob is ably assisted by his ï¿½Can-Do Crewï¿½ of Scoop, Muck, Dizzy, Roley and Lofty, as well as his business partner Wendy. Peppa Pig 1st Peppa is a lovable, cheeky little piggy who lives with her little brother George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig. Peppaï¿½s favourite things include playing games, dressing up, days out and, most of all, jumping in muddy puddles.

After Lily Snowden-Fine and Cecily Bloom, Harley Bird was the third person to provide Peppaï¿½s vocals, and in 2011 she won Best Performer at the BAFTA Childrenï¿½s Awards. The show sees its 10-year anniversary in 2014 and Peppa will be wearing her golden boots to celebrate. Shaun The Sheep 1st First appearing in the Oscar-winning 1995 Wallace and Gromit film A Close Shave, Shaun the Sheep graduated to his own TV series in 2007. Shaun is a sheep who doesnï¿½t follow the flock ï¿½ in fact, he leads them into all sorts of scrapes and scraps, turning peace at Mossybottom Farm into mayhem in the meadow. Shaun and his pals run rings around their poor sheepdog Bitzer, as he does his best to stop the Farmer from finding out whatï¿½s going on behind his back. Presentation Pack

Question: Which children's TV show featured a rag doll called Madeleine, a toad called Gabriel, a group of mice and a woodpecker called Professor Yaffle?
Answer: Bagpuss