Funnybones

Funnybones
Created by Janet Ahlberg
Allan Ahlberg
Written by Jocelyn Stevenson
Starring Griff Rhys Jones
Country of origin United Kingdom
No. of episodes 12
Production
Producer(s) Naomi Jones
Running time 5 minutes
Production company(s) William Heinemann Ltd.
BBC Enterprises
Broadcast
Original channel S4C/BBC One
Original run 29 September 1992 – 15 December 1992

Funnybones (Welsh: Y Sgerbydion), was a Welsh children's television comedy series which was first aired in Welsh on S4C and in English on BBC One in 1992. It was based on the eponymous series of books by Janet and Allan Ahlberg which were illustrated by Andre Amstutz, and focused upon the adventures of a gang of skeletons known as the Funnybones. There was Big Funnybone (whose catchphrase was "Good idea."), Little Funnybone, (who was the brains of the outfit), and (White, White) Dog ("These Bones") Funnybone (whose catchphrase was "Woof."). Each episode was 5 minutes in length. The voices were provided by popular comedian Griff Rhys Jones who also played Moon Man, who served as the narrator in the TV series.

Characters

Episode guide

Title of Episode Air Date Summary
1. The Pet Shop 29 September 1992 Big and Little decide to swap Dog for another pet, because all he does is bark and dig holes.
2. Bumps in the Night 6 October 1992 It is a particularly dark, dark night, tonight, and Big and Little keep bumping into each other, making them fall to pieces, and there is only one thing to do: send for Dr. Bones, who does a great job of patching them up.
3. Give the Dog a Bone 13 October 1992 Dog is having his favourite dream - the one about the big, juicy bone.
4. Dinosaurs 20 October 1992 Dog gets left behind when Big and Little decide to visit the dark, dark dinosaur museum.
5. Ghost Train 27 October 1992 Big, Little and Dog are invited to take a trip on the Ghost Train full of monsters.
6. Skeleton Crew 3 November 1992 The Funnybones are on a boat holiday on the dark, dark sea.
7. Mystery Tour 10 November 1992 The Funnybones receive an invitation to the party at the end of the Mystery Tour.
8. Wishbone 17 November 1992 The Funnybones find a huge wishbone, and try to decide which one of them has the best idea for what to wish for.
9. Shake, Rattle and Roll 24 November 1992 The Funnybones decide to put on a show.
10. Cat Chase 1 December 1992 What happens when the white, white Dog disappears in the white, white snow?
11. City Nights 8 December 1992 Little is bored with the quiet life on the dark, dark hill. So he decides to go to the city.
12. Night Fright 15 December 1992 The Funnybones decide to go out and frighten anybody they come across.

A BBC video entitled Funnybones - Bumps in the Night (Cat. No. BBCV 4871) which contained all twelve episodes was released soon after the series ended (but this is now out of print). The VHS tape was also released in Bulgaria by the company Proxima Entertainment.

Credits

Miscellaneous

This was one of several cartoons dubbed by the then-new Irish post-production company Telegael, to demonstrate children's programming possibilities for a proposed Irish-language television station. The resulting series, Smior agus Smiortán (translating to the English language as Marrow & Smiortán), was broadcast on Ireland's two national television stations, RTÉ1 and 2, in 1993.

External links