Children's TV favourite 'Bagpuss' headed to BBC iPlayer

Julia Hunt
Winner of the Special Award Peter Firmin in the press room at the British Academy Children's Awards, at the Roundhouse, Camden, north London.
Peter Firmin was one of the creators of 'Bagpuss'. (PA) (PA)

Iconic children’s show Bagpuss is set to charm a new generation of children as it lands on the BBC iPlayer.

The much-loved 70s series about the pink and white striped cat and his friends will arrive on the platform on Sunday (30 May).

Bagpuss originally aired in 1974. There were only 13 episodes of the stop motion animation, but it became a big favourite with viewers. In 1999, it was voted the most popular BBC children's programme ever made.

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The series was made by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin and was set in a home for lost property, known as Emily’s Shop.

When Emily leaves the shop Bagpuss comes to life, as do his friends - Professor Yaffle, a woodpecker shaped bookend, a toad called Gabriel, Madeleine the rag doll and mice ornaments from a magical mouse organ.

Each instalment sees the cuddly cat and his friends exploring a broken object left in the shop.

They then mend it and leave it in the window so that it can be reunited with its owner.

At the end of the episode, Bagpuss would start to yawn before settling down to sleep.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 17: A general view of the original Bagpuss during a photocall for the Bagpuss And The Clangers Retrospective Of Smallfilms at the V&A Museum Of Childhood on March 17, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
All the episodes of 'Bagpuss' will be on the iPlayer. (Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) (Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images)

Patricia Hidalgo, Director of BBC Children’s & Education, said: “It doesn’t matter whether you grew up with Bagpuss, or it’s your first time visiting Emily’s Shop – Bagpuss is one for all the family to enjoy.

“It’s great to be bringing this timeless series to iPlayer and it joins a fantastic selection of classic and new shows for all ages.”

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The first episode of Bagpuss will be shown on BBC Four at 7.25pm on Sunday as part of an evening of classic children’s shows. The full box set will be available to stream on iPlayer until 29 June.

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