Mr Benn
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mr Benn is a character created by David McKee who appears in several children's books, and an animated television series of the same name transmitted by the BBC in 1971 and 1972. Whether in a book, or on television, Mr Benn's adventures take on a similar pattern. Mr Benn, a businessman wearing a black suit and bowler hat, visits a fancy-dress shop where he is invited by the moustachioed, fez-wearing shopkeeper to try on a particular outfit. He leaves the shop through a magic door at the back of the changing room and enters a world appropriate to his costume, where he has an adventure (which usually contains a moral) before the shopkeeper re-appears, and the story comes to an end. Mr Benn returns to his normal life as a businessman, but is left with a small souvenir of his magical adventure.
Additionally, scenes before and after his adventure usually have some connection to it, such as the games the children are playing in the street as he passes.
Contents |
[edit] The books
Several of Mr Benn's adventures are available to buy in book-form, four were published originally and further books in the 1990s were based on the television series. The original four books were Mr Benn Red-Knight, Big Game Benn, 123456789 Benn and Big Top Benn. There were six original books planned, but the fifth and sixth were never published. The fifth was called Mr Benn Rides Again, the story of which was used to make the television episode The Cowboy. The sixth, never completed, was Superbenn, in which the superhero Benn sets out on an environmental adventure.
There is one book for which no corresponding television episode has (yet) been made. 123456789 Benn was published in 1970 (ISBN 0-234-77361-8) and tells the story of Benn as a convict (hence the number) inspiring his jail-mates to brighten up their cells.
A new story was published in 2001, the first Mr Benn story that David McKee had written in thirty years, and is called Mr Benn, Gladiator (ISBN 1-84270-024-3). McKee has indicated [1] that he may write more Mr Benn stories in the future.
2001 also saw the publication of Mr Benn's Little Book of Life (ISBN 0-09-943649-3) by Tess Read and David McKee, which explores the lessons of Mr Benn's adventures.
[edit] The television series
McKee wrote and (with Ian Lawless) animated thirteen Mr Benn episodes for the BBC in the early 1970s. These episodes were repeated many times over the years, and many people retain fond memories of him. The episodes were narrated by Ray Brooks, and the music composed by Don Warren.
McKee has not benefited financially to the extent he might have: "I signed a contract where I only got a one-off payment and no repeat fees but I've done quite well from a number of other things and I'm still exhibiting paintings." [2]
The titles of the thirteen episodes (in alphabetical order) are: The Balloonist, The Caveman, The Clown, The Cook, The Cowboy, The Diver, The Hunter, The Magic Carpet, The Pirate, The Red Knight, The Spaceman, The Wizard, and The Zookeeper.
After over thirty years, a brand new Mr Benn episode was screened for the first time on 1 January 2005, on the UK channel Noggin. The episode was based on McKee's 2001 book Mr Benn, Gladiator.
[edit] Trivia
Mr Benn lives in London at 52 Festive Road, which was inspired by Festing Road in Putney where David McKee used to live. Many posters and t-shirts have been made with the image of the shopkeeper or Mr Benn, or bearing the famous phrase: "As if by magic, the Shopkeeper appeared...". Recent toys made include beanies of the shopkeeper and Mr Benn in his suit, and dressed as a spaceman and wizard.
McKee cites one of his influences as Dartmoor, Devon, home to a famous British prison in the somewhat bleak surrounding moorland.
The only long-term friend of Mr Benn who appears several times, apart of course from the shopkeeper, is Smasher Lagru. Smasher first appears as an inmate in 123456789 Benn, and then after his release in Big-Top Benn and the new Mr Benn, Gladiator.
Mr Benn never buys anything in the fancy-dress shop.
Mr Benn was voted the sixth most popular children's television programme in the 2001 Channel 4 poll 100 Greatest Kids' TV shows.
Bell X1 wrote a song called "Just Like Mr Benn", which appears on their album Flock. It tells of the singer's love for a girl he met on the Internet, and contains the line "I don't bring you the worlds you crave / 'Cos everyday you need a new one / Just like Mr Benn". Lyrics
The Divine Comedy also wrote and recorded a song about Mr. Benn, called "Festive Road", which is on their "Liberation" album.
The Oasis song "Shakermaker" includes the lyrics "Mr Clean and Mr Benn are living in my loft" as well as other references to 1970s childhood culture.
[edit] Credits
- Created, Written & Produced by: David McKee
- Drawn by: David McKee, Ian Lawless
- Narrated by: Ray Brooks
- Music by: Don Warren
- Musicians: Ken Baldock, Harry Stoneham, Art Morgan, Peter Hughes, Kenny Wheeler, Terry Emery, Ray Swinfield
- Sound: United Motion Pictures (London)
- Filmed by: Zephyr Film Productions
- Directed by: Pat Kirby
- © King Rollo Films Ltd / Zephyr Film Productions MCMLXXX
[edit] Sources
[1] Mr Benn News - Official site
[2] "Mr Benn's Back In Town" - Wandsworth Guardian
