Andy Pandy Explained

Andy Pandy should not be confused with Andy Panda.

Runtime:15–16 minutes (Watch with Mother); 5 minutes (2002 revival)
Opentheme:Andy Pandy Theme (2002)
Endtheme:Andy Pandy Theme
Country:United Kingdom
Creator:Freda Lingstrom & Maria Bird
Voices:2002 version:
Narrated:
Company:Original series
BBC
2002 revival
Cosgrove Hall Films
BBC Worldwide
Ben Productions LLC
Network:BBC Television Service/BBC1
Network2:CBeebies
Num Series:4
Num Episodes:92
Producer:David Boisseau
Peter Thompson

Andy Pandy is a British children's television series that aired on BBC Television in 1950. Originally live, a series of 26 filmed programmes was shown until 1970, when a new series of 13 episodes was made. This series was based upon a comic strip of the same name (made in the style of children's magazines Robin and Pippin).

The series was followed by a revival with 26 episodes (52 segments) in 2002. In total, 92 episodes were produced.

Original 1950 and 1970 versions

The original version of Andy Pandy premiered on BBC TV in 1950, on either 11 July[3] or 20 June, as part of the For the Children strand (later Watch with Mother) narrated by Maria Bird who also narrated the black & white 1950s original broadcasts of Flower Pot Men, The Woodentops and Bizzy Lizzie. Initially it was broadcast live, but it was realised that if the programmes were filmed, they could be repeated. 26 fifteen-minute episodes were filmed on 16 mm[4] around 1952 and repeated continuously until 1969.[5] In 1970, 13 new episodes were made in colour with Vera McKechnie as narrator.[6]

A marionette who lived in a picnic basket, Andy was later joined by Teddy, a teddy bear, and Looby Loo, a rag doll, who came to life when Andy and Teddy were not around. Looby Loo sang "Here we go Looby Loo".[7] All three lived in the same picnic basket. Each episode ended with a variation on the song: "Time to go home / Time to go home / Andy is waving goodbye."[8]

It is said that the character's design was based on Paul Atterbury, the then young son of puppeteer Audrey Atterbury.[9] A comic-strip version was published in Robin.

The production staff for the original series were:

Episode list

The 26 episodes were:

  1. "Tea Party" (20 June 1950)
  2. "Presents" (27 June 1950)
  3. "Music" (4 July 1950)
  4. "Hand Bells" (11 July 1950)
  5. "ABC" (18 July 1950)
  6. "Bricks" (25 July 1950)
  7. "Playing School" (1 August 1950)
  8. "Play Shops" (8 August 1950)
  9. "Leaning House" (15 August 1950)
  10. "Pram" (22 August 1950)
  11. "Farm" (29 August 1950)
  12. "Garden" (5 September 1950)
  13. "Wall and Tortoise" (12 September 1950)
  14. "Turtles" (19 September 1950)
  15. "Boats" (26 September 1950)
  16. "Paddling Pool" (3 October 1950)
  17. "Horse and Fish" (10 October 1950)
  18. "Bird and Butterfly" (17 October 1950)
  19. "Rabbits" (24 October 1950)
  20. "Kittens" (31 October 1950)
  21. "Kings and Queens" (7 November 1950)
  22. "Jack in the Box" (14 November 1950)
  23. "The Cart" (21 November 1950)
  24. "Swing" (28 November 1950)
  25. "Train Station" (5 December 1950)
  26. "Airport" (12 December 1950)

1970 series

By 1970, as BBC1 was by then transmitted in colour, 13 new episodes were produced and shown from 5  January 1970.[11] [12]

The 13 episodes are:

  1. "Andy Pandy's House" (5 January 1970)
  2. "Hobby Horses" (12 January 1970)
  3. "Scooters" (19 January 1970)
  4. "Trampoline" (26 January 1970)
  5. "Jack-in-the-Box" (2 February 1970)
  6. "A Wall and a Hedgehog" (9 February 1970)
  7. "Cleaning the House" (16 February 1970)
  8. "Tricycle" (23 February 1970)
  9. "Looby Loo Has a Cold" (2 March 1970)
  10. "The Jeep" (9 March 1970)
  11. "Tea Party" (16 March 1970)
  12. "Red Engine" (23 March 1970)
  13. "Sailing Boats" (30 March 1970)

The series was parodied by Des O'Connor in his Dandy Sandy sketches with Harry Secombe and Britt Ekland.

2002 revival

In 2002, BBC produced a revival of 52 episodes with the use of stop-motion animation instead of string puppets: the original nursery and garden were expanded to an entire village, with Andy (now voiced by Maria Darling), Teddy (now voiced by Jimmy Hibbert) and Looby Loo (now voiced by Joanna Ruiz) now owning individual houses, as well as four new characters that were introduced in the series: Missy Hissy (voiced by Maria Darling; who has an unseen brother, also a snake); Tiffo, a teal-and-purple dog (vocals performed by David Holt); Bilbo (also voiced by David Holt), a sailor; and Orbie (vocals performed by Joanna Ruiz), a yellow-and-blue ball. Tom Conti narrated the new series.

Though the emphasis of the original series was on music and movement, the emphasis of the 2002 series was on making and doing. The series was animated and produced by Cosgrove Hall Films and Ben Productions (the latter also producing the 2001 remake of Bill and Ben aka Flower Pot Men).

This is a list of episodes in each series with songs every two episodes (if any):

Series 1

Episode title Writer Summary Original airdate Song
1Hide and SeekChris AllenTeddy gets lost during a game of hide and seek.25 March 2002Hopscotch
2The BalloonJimmy HibbertAndy Pandy's balloon gets blown away.26 March 2002Hopscotch
3The PuddleChris AllenAndy Pandy and Looby Loo make a boat and sail it on a puddle of rain water.27 March 2002Honey
4The PicnicJimmy HibbertThere is great excitement in the garden when Looby Loo plans a picnic. When Teddy manages to break her plates, Andy Pandy has a solution.28 March 2002Honey
5The Man from the MoonChris AllenTeddy gets stuck in a cardboard box and Andy Pandy mistakes him for a visitor from the Moon.29 March 2002Musical Chairs
6Andy Pandy's BandJimmy HibbertAndy Pandy makes musical instruments out of odds and ends, so that Looby Loo can dance the day away.30 March 2002Musical Chairs
7Tiffo and His StickChris AllenAndy Pandy and his friends decide to spring-clean their houses.31 March 2002Painting
8A Lick of PaintJimmy HibbertTeddy tramples on Looby Loo's favourite blue flowers, so he makes decoy flowers with tissue paper, twigs and blue paint.1 April 2002Painting
9A Flying FeatherChris AllenAndy Pandy has a pretty present for Looby Loo, but it keeps blowing away.2 April 2002Boxes
10Puppeteer PandyJimmy HibbertAndy Pandy makes a puppet from an old sock, and tries to convince Missy Hissy that she has a new friend.3 April 2002Boxes
11The Birthday CakeChris AllenAndy Pandy thinks it is Looby Loo's birthday, so he tries to make an ice-cream cake.4 April 2002Gardening
12A String in the TailJimmy HibbertWhile Andy Pandy is wrapping a parcel, he loses his grip on a ball of string.5 April 2002Gardening
13Andy Pandy's Musical BoxChris AllenAndy Pandy finds a musical box and Looby Loo teaches him how to dance.6 April 2002Looby Loo
14The Big Spring CleanJimmy HibbertAndy Pandy and Teddy help Looby Loo with the spring cleaning, but Teddy ruins a portrait of Looby Loo. Luckily, Andy Pandy is at hand to show him how to make a collage.7 April 2002Looby Loo
15The BubbleChris AllenAndy Pandy blows a bubble that follows him everywhere.8 April 2002Playground
16Teddy Gets the Wind UpJimmy HibbertTeddy is helping Looby Loo put out the washing when a sheet blows away.9 April 2002Playground
17A Noisy SupperChris AllenAndy Pandy, Looby Loo, and Teddy invite their friends to a very odd meal.10 April 2002Tickle
18Potato PrintsJimmy HibbertAndy Pandy brightens up Missy Hissy's pipes.11 April 2002Tickle
19Teddy's SunglassesChris AllenTeddy tries to make a pair of sunglasses.12 April 2002Camping
20Growing PainsJimmy HibbertAndy shows Teddy how to make cress shapes and teaches his friend a lesson in patience.13 April 2002Camping
21The NestChris AllenThe gang tries to hatch some strange eggs they find in a nest.14 April 2002Coming to Play (remake of the original opening theme)
22The Box That ChimedChris AllenAndy Pandy hears the sound of chiming but can't work out how the noise is made.15 April 2002Coming to Play (remake of the original opening theme)
23A Model BearJimmy HibbertAfter Tiffo destroys Teddy's plasticine mouse model, Andy Pandy makes modeling clay so that Teddy can create a model of his mentor.16 April 2002Picnic
24Hubble BubbleJimmy HibbertWhile helping Looby Loo with the washing-up, Teddy discovers the joys of blowing bubbles.17 April 2002Picnic
25Bell RingersChris AllenTeddy makes a racket when Andy Pandy finds a bell.18 April 2002Tiffo
26Rub-a-DubJimmy HibbertTeddy is having a hard time of it painting a picture of his house. He is just about to give up when Andy suggests a novel way of getting his house drawn – with some paper and wax crayons.19 April 2002Tiffo

Series 2

Episode title Writer Summary Original airdate Song
1Quick on the StrawJimmy HibbertTeddy is using a drinking straw to annoy Looby Loo.2 September 2002Say Hello
2The TentChris AllenIt is a hot night, so Andy Pandy and Teddy make a tent so they can sleep outside.3 September 2002Say Hello
3Chocolate EggstravaganzaJimmy HibbertAndy Pandy and Teddy make chocolate eggs, and then go on an egg hunt.4 September 2002Skittles
4The Big SneezeChris AllenAndy Pandy has caught a cold and can't stop sneezing. He helps him feel better.5 September 2002Skittles
5Beetle ManiaJimmy HibbertWhen Teddy is scared by a beetle, Andy Pandy helps him get over his fear by making beetle masks with him.6 September 2002Peek-a-Boo
6The Noisy BallChris AllenAndy Pandy and Teddy find a very unusual ball.7 September 2002Peek-a-Boo
7Easy BeadyJimmy HibbertWhen Teddy breaks Looby Loo's daisy chain, Andy Pandy shows him how to make colourful beads for a replacement necklace.8 September 2002Andy's Cupboard
8Andy Pandy's Odd InkChris AllenAndy Pandy draws a picture with his new ink and is amazed when his work vanishes from the page.9 September 2002Andy's Cupboard
9Teddy's Long LegsJimmy HibbertWhen Tiffo and Teddy lose Tiffo's favourite snack in the branches of a tree, Andy Pandy shows Teddy how to make a pair of stilts to retrieve it.10 September 2002Playing with Tiffo
10The Three BearsChris AllenTeddy is frightened when he thinks he sees another bear trying to scare him away.11 September 2002Playing with Tiffo
11Scaredy BearJimmy HibbertWhen Andy Pandy and Looby Loo make a scarecrow, they don't expect it to scare Teddy – but it does!12 September 2002Racing
12The Missing WhistleChris AllenTeddy has been given a penny whistle as a present, but Tiffo thinks it's a long thin bone.13 September 2002Racing
13A Tale of Two SpoonsJimmy HibbertTeddy is making a nuisance of himself with two wooden spoons, so Andy Pandy shows him how to make them into wooden puppets.14 September 2002Dressing Up
14Tiffo Gets a CarChris AllenWhen Tiffo's paw is stung by a wasp, Andy Pandy and Teddy make a cart for him so that they can still take him for walks on wheels!15 September 2002Dressing Up
15Blowing in the WindJimmy HibbertWhen Bilbo finds a box of bolts, Andy Pandy has the novel idea of using them to make a musical wind chime.16 September 2002Mud Pies
16The Old Sea ChestJimmy HibbertWhen Andy Pandy finds that Bilbo's old sea-chest is full of sand, he has a seaside holiday on his very own beach.17 September 2002Mud Pies
17Cereal NumberJimmy HibbertWhen Teddy spills some of his cereal, Andy Pandy shows him how to make a collage with it.18 September 2002Kites
18BirdsongChris AllenAndy Pandy wants to hear the dawn chorus but finds it hard to wake up on time.19 September 2002Kites
19Get Your Skates OnJimmy HibbertTeddy gets a present of a pair of roller skates, so he challenges Andy Pandy and Looby Loo to a race.20 September 2002Keeping Fit
20Cheer Up AndyJimmy HibbertWhen Andy Pandy peels a large onion, he and his friends cannot stop crying.21 September 2002Keeping Fit
21Orbie's GameJimmy HibbertOrbie is sad because, being a ball, he can't join in with his friends' games, until Andy pandy makes him some ninepins to knock over.22 September 2002Pass the Parcel
22HiccupsChris AllenAndy Pandy has trouble giving Looby Loo a secret present when Teddy has hiccups.23 September 2002Pass the Parcel
23Teddy's Treasure HuntJimmy HibbertAndy Pandy devises a treasure hunt to keep Teddy amused.24 September 2002Let's Have a Party
24A Puzzle for Andy PandyChris AllenAndy Pandy and Looby Loo make a picture from a jigsaw puzzle, but they can't figure out why there is a hole in the middle.25 September 2002Let's Have a Party
25Under the Spreading Newspaper TreeJimmy HibbertWhen Teddy gets impatient waiting for his avocado plant to grow, Andy Pandy helps him to make some paper trees.26 September 2002Making a Noise
26Market DayChris AllenWhen Bilbo tells Andy Pandy and his friends about the outdoor markets he has visited, they decide to set up a market of their own. What will it see
and will they succeed?
27 September 2002Making a Noise

UK VHS and DVD releases

VHS or DVD TitleRelease DateEpisodes
Andy Pandy (BBCV 4205)5 December 1988Red Engine, Sailing Boats, Trampoline, Hobby Horses
Andy Pandy 2: Tales from the Toybox (BBCV 4361)4 June 1990Jack in a Box, Looby Loo Has a Cold, Tea Party, Tricycle
The Very Best of Andy Pandy (BBCV 5107)6 September 1993Trampoline, Jack in a Box, Red Engine, Tea Party, Hobby Horses
Andy Pandy: Meet Andy Pandy and His Friends (BBCV 7341)30 September 2002The Balloon, The Man from the Moon, Andy Pandy's Band, A Flying Feather, The Birthday Cake, A String in the Tail, The Bubble, Teddy Gets the Wind Up, A Noisy Supper, The Box That Chimed
Andy Pandy: Charming Stories (BBCV 7399)21 April 2003Hide and Seek, Tiffo and His Stick, A Lick of Paint, Puppeteer Pandy, Andy Pandy's Musical Box, The Big Spring Clean, Teddy's Sunglasses, The Nest, Hubble Bubble, Bell Ringers
Andy Pandy: Teddy's Sunglasses and Other Stories2006Bell Ringers, The Bubble, The Nest, Teddy's Sunglasses, The Big Spring Clean, A Lick of Paint
Andy Pandy: Hide and Seek8 September 2008Hide and Seek, Song: Hopscotch, The Balloon, The Puddle, Song: Honey, The Picnic, The Man from the Moon, Song: Musical Chairs, Andy Pandy's Band, Tiffo and His Stick, Song: Painting, A Lick of Paint, A Flying Feather, Song: Boxes, Puppeteer Pandy
Andy Pandy: The Birthday Cake8 September 2008The Birthday Cake, Song: Gardening, A String in the Tale, Andy Pandy's Musical Box, Song: Looby Loo, The Big Spring Clean, The Bubble, Song: Playground, Teddy Gets the Wind Up, A Noisy Supper, Song: Tickle, Potato Prints, Teddy's Sunglasses, Song: Camping, Growing Pains

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Andy Pandy, 11 July 1950. History of the BBC. 9 December 2021.
  2. Web site: McGown. Alistair. Andy Pandy (1950–1959). BFI Screenonline. 2003–2014. 9 December 2021.
  3. http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/tv/children/watchwm/watchwm.htm Watch with Mother
  4. http://www.tvstudiohistory.co.uk/old%20bbc%20studios.htm#lime TV studio history Lime Grove
  5. https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1f0b07d266144133aee7525ede5afe8a
  6. Book: Sheridan . Simon . The A–Z of Classic Children's Television: From Alberto Frog to Zebedee . 2004 . Reynolds & Hearn Ltd . 1903111277 . 41–43.
  7. Web site: WATCH WITH MOTHER at televisionheaven.co.uk . 12 April 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110604105931/http://www.televisionheaven.co.uk/wwm.htm . 4 June 2011 . dead .
  8. http://www.wwwk.co.uk/television/shows/kids/andy-pandy.htm Andy Pandy : Classic Children's TV of the 20th Century at wwwk.co.uk
  9. http://www.telegoons.org/rubovia/Bios/Bio_AA.htm Audrey Atterbury on Telegoons.org
  10. Book: Evans, Jeff . The Guinness Television Encyclopedia . 1995 . 0-85112-744-4 . 23–24 . Guinness Publishing.
  11. http://www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/tv/children/watchwm/watchwm.htm Watch with Mother site reference
  12. Web site: Watch with Mother episode guide . 1 November 2009 . 4 December 2003 . https://web.archive.org/web/20031204092314/http://memorabletv.com/episodeguides/watchwithmother.htm . dead .