© Michael Cole Estate, by kind permission.

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Little Gems - Fingerbobs

A strange but true little gem of a children television show. Fingerbobs was the wonderful creation of two quiet giants of childrens television - Joanne and Michael Cole. Together they also brought us the immortal Bod, Gran and the legendary Fingermouse (see below). Fingerbobs played a key part of my children's television diet as I moved from primary to secondary school in the mid 1970s. I believe the show first got a showing in 1971 (please fell free to correct me here) and was repeated many times on the BBC. It found a regular home at lunchtimes on BBC2 at around 13:30 on a week day, very similar slot to another classic show "The Herbs." There were only 13 episodes ever made, although it seems a lot more (a bit like Mr. Benn here). The episodes were a combination of live action, stop motion animation and other animation. Although aimed at preschool, it attracted groups of viewers from all ages. Rick Jones had been previously seen on Playschool (hence the name Yoffy).

The shows revolved around the stories & adventures of Fingermouse, Scampi, Gulliver, Flash and a whole host of other puppet creatures (most if a not all can be seen below).

In 1985 a new series was brought into production starring Fingermouse. It was actually named after him but was a different type of show compared to the original classic Fingerbobs.

Characters



Yoffy

Fingermouse

Gulliver the Seagull

Scampi

Scampi and fingermouse

Flash the tortoise

The Cat

Scampi and all his girl friends

Enoch the Woodpecker

George, Herbert & Alistair - The worms

The Peacock

Prickly friend - The Hedgehog

The Birds in the tree

Louise the Squirrel

Mole

Scaredy The Crow

Curly the Sheep

Mrs. Mouse - Gloria (fingermouse's wife perhaps)?

Mr. Mouse - Henry or is it a flirty Fingermouse

Twit the Owl

Scarecrow

Songs of the Fingerbob characters Fingermouse Lyrics Fingermouse, Fingermouse

The never stop to think a mouse

The always on the brink a mouse

Fingernouse, that's me

I am the mouse called Fingermouse

The mouse with guts and verve

I get past cats so easily with my favourite body swerve

Fingermouse, Fingermouse

I'm a sort of wonder mouse

A hit, a miss, a blunder mouse

Fingermouse, that's me

Gulliver Lyrics I like to rise and spread my wings

Right upon the breeze

I like to soar and spread my wings

Above the roofs and trees

And then to swoop down, down into the town

Fold my wings behind my back

And see what's going on...

Flash lyrics Slowly, steadily, I move at my own pace

They call me Flash though I won't dash

Who wants to run a race ?

As long as I get there, why worry ?

What's the hurry, yawn......

Yoffy Lyrics Yoffy lifts a finger

And a mouse is there

Puts his hands together

And a seagull takes the air

Yoffy lifts a finger

And a Scampi darts about

Yoffy bends another

And a tortoise head peeps out

These hands were made for making

And making they must do

Scampi lyrics A flick of a tail

I swim in the sea

With haddock and plaice and dabs

I wriggle on rocks

With my little legs

Plus lobsters and limpets and crabs

My name is Scampi

Scampi, that's me

I live on a hand in the sand

By the sea



Episode Titles were as follows:

Gulliver's Stories Bumpy

Stones

Feathers Scampi's Stories Sounds

Wood

Shiny Fingermouse's Stories String

Shadow

Shapes

Bricks Flash's Stories Paint

Seeds

House

Story Design by Joanne Cole & Michael Cole Yoffy played by Rick Jones Music by Michael Jessett Animation and Design Maureen Lonergan Dubbing Mixer Derek McColm Photography John Abbott Director Michael Grafton-Robinson Q3 London Production

Credits

The later series of Fingermouse shown in 1985 was a very different arrangement. The original architects of Fingerbobs were still present but it is interesting that the team was very much bigger. This seems to have happened with all childrens programs e.g. Smallfilms material.

Fingermouse (spin off series 1985) With Iain Lauchan & Jane Hardy Music Richard Brown, Clem Alford & Tony McVey Puppets created by Joanne Cole Graphics Clare Beaton Lighting Ken McGregor Sound Derek Miller-Timmins Technical Co-Ordinator Clive Leighton Production Team Ann Carter, Lydia Frankenberg & Moira Kean Designer Richard Brackenbury Producer Michael Cole © BBC 1985

© Michael Cole Estate, by kind permission.