If you were a kid in the Fifties and Sixties, the chances are you would have watched TV shows such as Bagpuss, The Clangers, Ivor The Engine and Noggin the Nog.
All these were the creations of British animator, writer and puppeteer Oliver Postgate, who died on Monday aged 83.
There was none of that expensive, hi-tech Hollywood nonsense (especially since Britain was broke in the years following the War). Oliver created his TV studio in a disused cowshed near Canterbury, Kent, and many of the characters were just cardboard pieces he moved himself.
His first masterpiece was Ivor the Engine, which started in 1959, about a Welsh steam locomotive who wanted to sing in a choir.
Legend ... Bagpuss creator Oliver has died
Rest in puss
By ANTONELLA LAZZERI
Published: Today
The Sun
THE creator of classic children’s telly show Bagpuss has died, it was announced yesterday.
Oliver Postgate, 83, was also the voice of the big pink cloth cat who charmed generations of kids.
Bagpuss was recently voted best loved children’s character in an online poll — even though only 13 episodes were made.
Oliver also created cult favourites The Clangers — whistling knitted aliens — simple prince Noggin the Nog, and Welsh loco Ivor the Engine, with artist and puppeteer Peter Firmin.
Cool creations ... The Clangers, Ivor the Engine and Noggin the Nog
They set up Smallfilms in an old cowshed with Postgate narrating all their productions.
His partner Naomi Linnell confirmed he had died at a nursing home in Broadstairs, Kent.
Fantasy
Oliver had three sons with wife Prudence, who died in 1982. He created the regularly repeated Bagpuss in 1974 and is pictured with the kids’ hero.
Fun ... Professor Yaffle
Viewers are told of a girl called Emily who owns a shop which does not sell anything but is full of lost treasures.
Dozing Bagpuss and his pals wake up to have adventures, then fall asleep when he yawns, signalling the end of the show with the following lines:
"And when Bagpuss was asleep, all his friends were asleep. The mice were ornaments on the mouse organ. Gabriel and Madeleine were just dolls. Professor Yaffle was just an old wooden bookend in the shape of a woodpecker. Even Bagpuss himself, once he was asleep, was just an old, saggy cloth cat. Baggy, and a bit loose at the seams, but Emily loved him."
Michael Carrington, boss of the BBC’s CBeebies, said: “Oliver was a kids’ TV pioneer and an incredible storyteller. His were fantasy worlds to take children far from the routine of daily life, and to make them smile.”
Yawning moggy's magical
By KONNIE HUQ
Ex-Blue Peter Presenter
BAGPUSS wasn’t your normal character. He was saggy, fat and pink — in some ways unconventional.
But he was much loved, and is still cult viewing.
Everyone remembers that magical cat sitting in the little old curiosity shop with the mice at their organ and that strange, lamenting music.
And there was a wooden woodpecker bookend called Professor Yaffle.
Bagpuss would wake up when his owner Emily left the room and other toys would come to life.
Cute
When he began to yawn at the end of the programme, they all went back to sleep again.
Bagpuss was such a cute programme. Kids love thinking their toys could come to life.
I think lots of children today would still appreciate Bagpuss.
It’s nice to have something of a slower pace. Everything these days is much faster — with high production animation.
I read recently that Bagpuss could be coming back to our screens soon. It would be nice to think that kids will carry on enjoying him for years to come.
dailymail.co.uk
All these were the creations of British animator, writer and puppeteer Oliver Postgate, who died on Monday aged 83.
There was none of that expensive, hi-tech Hollywood nonsense (especially since Britain was broke in the years following the War). Oliver created his TV studio in a disused cowshed near Canterbury, Kent, and many of the characters were just cardboard pieces he moved himself.
His first masterpiece was Ivor the Engine, which started in 1959, about a Welsh steam locomotive who wanted to sing in a choir.
Legend ... Bagpuss creator Oliver has died
Rest in puss
By ANTONELLA LAZZERI
Published: Today
The Sun
THE creator of classic children’s telly show Bagpuss has died, it was announced yesterday.
Oliver Postgate, 83, was also the voice of the big pink cloth cat who charmed generations of kids.
Bagpuss was recently voted best loved children’s character in an online poll — even though only 13 episodes were made.
Oliver also created cult favourites The Clangers — whistling knitted aliens — simple prince Noggin the Nog, and Welsh loco Ivor the Engine, with artist and puppeteer Peter Firmin.
Cool creations ... The Clangers, Ivor the Engine and Noggin the Nog
They set up Smallfilms in an old cowshed with Postgate narrating all their productions.
His partner Naomi Linnell confirmed he had died at a nursing home in Broadstairs, Kent.
Fantasy
Oliver had three sons with wife Prudence, who died in 1982. He created the regularly repeated Bagpuss in 1974 and is pictured with the kids’ hero.
Fun ... Professor Yaffle
Viewers are told of a girl called Emily who owns a shop which does not sell anything but is full of lost treasures.
Dozing Bagpuss and his pals wake up to have adventures, then fall asleep when he yawns, signalling the end of the show with the following lines:
"And when Bagpuss was asleep, all his friends were asleep. The mice were ornaments on the mouse organ. Gabriel and Madeleine were just dolls. Professor Yaffle was just an old wooden bookend in the shape of a woodpecker. Even Bagpuss himself, once he was asleep, was just an old, saggy cloth cat. Baggy, and a bit loose at the seams, but Emily loved him."
Michael Carrington, boss of the BBC’s CBeebies, said: “Oliver was a kids’ TV pioneer and an incredible storyteller. His were fantasy worlds to take children far from the routine of daily life, and to make them smile.”
Yawning moggy's magical
By KONNIE HUQ
Ex-Blue Peter Presenter
BAGPUSS wasn’t your normal character. He was saggy, fat and pink — in some ways unconventional.
But he was much loved, and is still cult viewing.
Everyone remembers that magical cat sitting in the little old curiosity shop with the mice at their organ and that strange, lamenting music.
And there was a wooden woodpecker bookend called Professor Yaffle.
Bagpuss would wake up when his owner Emily left the room and other toys would come to life.
Cute
When he began to yawn at the end of the programme, they all went back to sleep again.
Bagpuss was such a cute programme. Kids love thinking their toys could come to life.
I think lots of children today would still appreciate Bagpuss.
It’s nice to have something of a slower pace. Everything these days is much faster — with high production animation.
I read recently that Bagpuss could be coming back to our screens soon. It would be nice to think that kids will carry on enjoying him for years to come.
dailymail.co.uk
