Noddy's Toyland Adventures

Noddy's Toyland Adventures is a children's television programme that was broadcast from September 1992 until December 1994 and again from 1999 until 2001 on the BBC. It was produced by Cosgrove Hall Films in stop-motion animation.

The show featured the memorable voice-acting talents of voice-actors and television writers Jimmy Hibbert and the late Susan Sheridan^[1] (both of whom also worked on the UK version of The Little Polar Bear, as well as the later 'also Cosgrove Hall Produced' TV series Animal Shelf), with every episode being written by Julia and Chris Allen respectively during its broadcast run.^[2]

It follows the adventures of Noddy, a little wooden doll who lives in Toyland with his red and yellow taxi often trying to make sixpence or getting himself in trouble. His best friends Big Ears, Mr Plod and Tessie Bear are always ready to lend a hand, especially when he gets tricked by Gobbo and Sly the wicked Goblins. Whatever the situation the episode mostly ends with Noddy laughing and nodding his head which makes the bell on his hat ring.

Segments of this series aired in Canada and the United States as "The Noddy Shop" which featured the original segments redubbed with Canadian and American voices with live action segments that aired in between. The show aired in the UK in 1998, this time as "Noddy in Toyland" (not to be confused with the 2009 show);^[3] the original British voice tracks were reused, but the live action segments had the North American voices unaltered.

The composer Paul K. Joyce sings the theme song to this series.

Characters

Main characters

• Noddy, the protagonist of the series. Voiced by Susan Sheridan in the UK dub and Catherine Disher in the US/Canadian dub.
• Tessie Bear, A clever and kind female teddy bear who is Noddy's best friend. She was voiced by Susan Sheridan in the UK dub and Karen Bernstein in the US/Canadian dub.
• Big-Ears, a wise, bearded Brownie who lives in a toadstool house in Toadstool Woods. He is Noddy's helper and father-figure and if Noddy has problems, Big Ears is always happy to help. His catchphrase is "You funny little Noddy!" He was voiced by Jimmy Hibbert in the UK dub and Benedict Campbell in the US/Canadian dub.
• Dinah Doll, a china doll who sells all kinds of everything in the market. She is a good friend to Noddy, and the two are always ready to help each other out. She was voiced by Susan Sheridan in the UK dub and Sharon Lee Williams in the US/Canadian dub.
• Mr. Plod, The Toytown policeman. He is a good friend of Noddy and thinks Toytown can't live without him. He has a British accent in both the UK and US dubbed versions but in the UK version he speaks with a West Country accent. His catchphrase is "Halt, in the name of Plod!" He was voiced by Jimmy Hibbert in the UK dub and Benedict Campbell in the US/Canadian dub.
• Bumpy Dog, Noddy's constant companion who is Tessie's pet dog. He is highly excitable and will rush at friends, but has sensitive feelings if scolded by Noddy or anyone else.
• Sly and Gobbo, the antagonists of the series. They are goblins who are very mischievous and greedy, and always play horrible tricks on Noddy. They were voiced by Susan Sheridan and Jimmy Hibbert in the UK dub and Catherine Disher and James Rankin in the US/Canadian dub.

Recurring characters

• Mr. Wobblyman, a funny little man who cannot lie down. He was voiced by Jimmy Hibbert in the UK dub and Michael Stark in the US dub.
• Master Tubby Bear, Mr. and Mrs. Tubby Bear's son whose sometimes naughty and mischievous. He was voiced by Jimmy Hibbert in the UK dub and Catherine Disher in the US/Canadian dub.
• Clockwork Mouse, a toy mouse who often requires winding up. He also often gets into scrapes as a result of Noddy's misadventures, although the two are generally good friends. He was voiced by Susan Sheridan in the UK dub and Michael Stark in the US/Canadian dub.
• Mr. Sparks, Toyland's handyman with a Scottish accent, who can mend anything. His catchphrase is "A challenge? I like it!" He was voiced by Jimmy Hibbert in the UK dub and Michael Stark in the US/Canadian dub.
• Miss Pink Cat, a French cat who is fussy and neat cat and has no patience for foolishness, even her own. She was voiced by Susan Sheridan in the UK dub and Lynne Griffin in the US/Canadian dub.
• Mr. Jumbo, an elephant who is friendly with Clockwork Mouse. He was voiced by Jimmy Hibbert in the UK dub and Michael Stark in the US/Canadian dub.
• The Skittles, a family of bowling pins consisting of Mrs. Sally Skittle and her many children of various sizes. They love to be knocked down.
• Martha Monkey, a mischievous tomboy who is very silly and bossy and is always making rude remarks. She was voiced by Susan Sheridan in the UK dub and Lynne Griffin in the US/Canadian dub.
• Clockwork Clown, a toy clown who makes funny tricks. He was voiced by Jimmy Hibbert in the UK dub and Benedict Campbell in the US/Canadian dub.
• Mr. Train Driver, a train driver who drives the Toyland Express train. He was voiced by Jimmy Hibbert in the UK dub and Michael Stark in the US/Canadian dub.
• Noddy's Car, the yellow car with red decals which Noddy drives.

Minor characters

• Bunkey, a thoroughly mischievous character, who purports to be half bunny and half monkey. He is later exposed as a fraudulent monkey who escaped from a travelling circus.
• Mr. Milko, Toyland's local milkman. He sometimes can be gloomy and sad, but Noddy's bell on his hat always cheers him up. He was voiced by Jimmy Hibbert in the UK dub and Michael Stark in the US/Canadian dub.
• Sammy Sailor, local harbour sailor. He was voiced by Jimmy Hibbert in the UK dub and Michael Stark in the US/Canadian dub.
• Bert Monkey, a monkey with a tail that is very naughty and has a mind of its own, often stealing objects all by itself. He was voiced by Jimmy Hibbert.
• Mr. Noah, lives on the ark with Mrs. Noah and the animals. He was voiced by Jimmy Hibbert in the UK dub and Michael Stark in the US dub.
• Mrs. Noah, lives on the ark with Mr. Noah and the animals. She was voiced by Susan Sheridan in the UK dub and Fiona Reid in the US/Canadian dub.
• Mr. Straw, lives on the farm with Mrs. Straw and the farm animals. He was voiced by Jimmy Hibbert in the UK dub and Jan Rabson in the US dub.
• Mrs. Straw, lives on the farm with Mr. Straw and the farm animals. She was voiced by Susan Sheridan in the UK dub and Mona Marshall in the US dub.
• Mr. Tubby Bear, Noddy's next door neighbour. First name is unknown. He was voiced by Jimmy Hibbert in the UK dub and Benedict Campbell in the US/Canadian dub.
• Mrs. Tubby Bear, Noddy's next door neighbour. It is clear that she, like Mr Tubby Bear are the superiors of Noddy, as he always refers to them as "Mr and Mrs Tubby Bear". First name is unknown. She was voiced by Susan Sheridan and Fiona Reid in the US/Canadian dub.

Episodes

Series One (1992)

1. Noddy Loses Sixpence
2. Noddy and the Goblins
3. Noddy and the Naughty Tail
4. Noddy and the Pouring Rain
5. Noddy and Martha Monkey
6. Noddy and the Kite
7. Noddy's New Friend
8. Noddy and his Bell
9. Noddy and the Milkman
10. Noddy Gets a New Job
11. Noddy and the Broken Bicycle
12. Noddy and the Special Key
13. Noddy Delivers Some Parcels

Series Two (1994)

1. Noddy and the Missing Hats
2. Noddy and the Useful Rope
3. Noddy Loses his Bell
4. Noddy Cheers Up Big Ears
5. Noddy Goes Shopping
6. Noddy Borrows an Umbrella
7. Noddy Meets some Silly Hens
8. Noddy Lends a Hand
9. Noddy Finds a Furry Tail
10. Noddy Sets a Trap
11. Noddy and the Magic Night
12. Noddy to the Rescue
13. Noddy Has a Bad Day

Series Three (1994)

1. Noddy and the Fishing Rod
2. Noddy and the Warm Scarf
3. Noddy the Champion
4. Noddy and the Golden Tree
5. Noddy and his Unhappy Car
6. Noddy has an Afternoon Off
7. Noddy the Magician
8. Noddy and his Money
9. Noddy Borrows Some Trousers/Noddy Gets in a Mess
10. Noddy and his Alarm Clock
11. Noddy Buys a Parasol
12. Noddy Tastes Some Cakes
13. Noddy the Dancer
14. Noddy and Father Christmas (special)

Series Four (1999)

1. Noddy and the Magic Watch
2. Noddy and the Goblins
3. Noddy and the Treasure Map
4. Noddy and the Singing Bush
5. Noddy Gets Caught in a Storm
6. Noddy and the Noisy Drum
7. Noddy Tidies Toyland
8. Noddy and the Bouncing Ball
9. Noddy is Far Too Busy
10. Noddy Tells a Story
11. Noddy and the Artists
12. Noddy and the Nurse
13. Noddy and the Driving Lesson

International broadcast

• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• France (France 3)^[4]
• United States (Redubbed and aired as part of The Noddy Shop)
• Canada (Also redubbed and aired as part of The Noddy Shop)
• Australia (26 May 1993 – 29 January 2004)
• New Zealand
• India [Bharat]

UK VHS releases

UK DVD release

As of 2017, there is no official DVD release of the series.

References

External links

• The Unofficial Noddy site