The
Magic Roundabout
The five minute slot just before the early evening BBC1 news on
Monday (at 5:50 pm) guaranteed Magic Roundabout a viewing
audience of over eight million. While parents waited for the news, kids
got to see the antics of Florence, Ermintrude, Zebedee and friends -
including the dog that inspired a million birthday cakes, Dougal
This seemingly innocent children's animation series included witty
commentary for the adults, allowing two generations to enjoy it.
Flavoured with a laid-back and surreal view of life, the programme
reflected a heavy sixties feel. It soon achieved a cult status.
Filmed using frame-by-frame stop motion photography in a superbly
colourful setting, the programme featured a rather off-the-wall cast:
Dougal, the shaggy dog who lived on a strict diet of sugar; an eccentric
bouncing character called Zebedee, who would announce his arrival with a
boing; a rabbit named Dylan, who could have been accused of growing
something considerably stronger than carrots in his vegetable patch;
Ermintrude the pink cow, Florence, Brian the snail and their friends in
the Garden.
Thus The Magic Roundabout staked its place in television
history.
The most famous sentence of the series was Zebedee's standard
declaration "Time for Bed" sending millions of children to
sleep every evening.
Concept and animation was by Frenchman Serge Danot and the English
version was written and told by Eric Thompson (the late father of
actress Emma Thompson).
A feature film Dougal and the Blue Cat was released in Britain
in 1972. It originally screened in France in 1970 as Pollux et le
Chat Bleu.
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