Nuzzle and Scratch explained

Creator:Barry Quinn and Alan Robinson
Director:Jack Jameson
Anna Perowne
Starring:Neil Sterenberg
Dave Chapman
Eve De Leon Allen
Theme Music Composer:Chris Banks
Opentheme:"Nuzzle and Scratch"
Endtheme:"Nuzzle and Scratch"
Country:United Kingdom
Language:English
Num Series:3
Num Episodes:53
List Episodes:
  1. Episode List
Producer:Tony Reed
Editor:Eve Blackwood
David Horwell
Cinematography:Tom Hayward
Camera:Unknown
Runtime:20 mins (approx)
Company:BBC
Network:CBeebies

Nuzzle and Scratch is a British children's television programme, shown on CBeebies from 1 Sep 2008 and ran for three series with two spin offs up to 4 Mar 2011. The show also aired on the international CBeebies channels in Poland and Australia. They showed two spin offs Hoof And Safety and Frock And Roll. The show aired on CBeebies in the UK.[1]

It stars two eponymous puppet alpacas created and developed by Barry Quinn and Alan Robinson and written by various writers.[2]

Information

The show starts with a beautiful scene of the Andes which is where Nuzzle and Scratch are originally from: (We're alpacas from the Andes, we've got hooves instead of handies) Each episode follows the same format, Nuzzle and Scratch work for '2 by 2, The Any Animal Agency'. run by The Boss, a tough-talking girl. She receives a phone call from someone who is in desperate need of some assistance. Unfortunately all her hard working animals are out already and the only free hands (or hooves) available are the two alpacas Nuzzle and Scratch. The Boss knows they aren't any good so is reluctant to send them, but there is usually some misunderstanding over the phone and they end up getting the job. Nuzzle and Scratch mess up and the person rings the Boss to complain. She convinces them to 'give them another chance' and Nuzzle and Scratch normally turn things around and really impress the person who hired them. They often win a rosette or get offered a permanent job but refuse leading them to go on their next assignment.[3]

Nuzzle and Scratch like to climb mountains and will go up anything that looks like a mountain e.g. piles of clothes. However, Nuzzle is scared of heights and when he climbs to the top he gets scared and Scratch has to save him.

Alpacas like to herd. When Nuzzle and Scratch see a lot of things, or if they get scared, they say 'herd up' and begin herding.

At some point in the episode, someone will say that they need to 'start from Scratch'. Nuzzle gets upset about this and asks why can't they start from Nuzzle. Usually the person is very confused but agrees to 'start from Nuzzle' instead. In the painting and decorating episode, Scratch complains that they always 'start from Nuzzle', and they actually do 'start from Scratch'.

Nuzzle and Scratch have some catchphrases:- 'Is it snack time yet?', 'No job's too easy', 'Working can be fun'.

Both Nuzzle and Scratch are completely distinct in thoughts and are actually opposites of each other:

Nuzzle is neat, quiet, shy, nervous, and easily scared, as well as cautious.

Scratch is silly, loud, friendly, free-spirited, energetic, and optimistic.

Characters

Main characters

Other characters

The other characters appear in very few episodes.This is a list of other characters:

Character nameOccupation/RoleEpisodeNo. of episodesNotes
Bob SheenWindow cleaner"Window Cleaner"1Played by Angus Kennedy
Terry TowlingLifeguard"Swimming Pool"1Played by Ortis Deley
Clarissa SnipsHairdresser"Hairdresser"1Played by Annemarie Gaillard
Mr. Sandy BottomBeach attendant"Beach Attendant"1Played by Ian Kirkby
NoraDinner Lady"Dinner Ladies"1Played by Sally Bankes
Mr HaddockSchool Caretaker"School Caretaker"1Played by Julian Dutton
David PotterfieldMagician"Magician"1Played by Josh Elwell
Mr MerryweatherScout Leader"Camping"1Played by Andrew Barclay
Ms WinnerGym Teacher"Sports Day"1Played by Lucy Jane Bowen
Mr CampbellSupermarket worker"Supermarket"1Played by Richard Sutton
Whippety Whips LadyIce Cream Seller"Ice Cream Van"1Played by Chizzy Akudolu
Mr SqueakyLaunderette Man"Laundry"1Played by Nick Wilton
Pearl Cinema Manager"Cinema"1
Trevor LodgeHotel Manager"Hotel"1Played by Tony Jayawardena
Trevor PerksSpecial Celebrity"Hotel"1
TBCMayor"Beach Attendant"
"Hotel"
2The mayor appears in the two episodes but is played by different actors; played by George Claves in "Hotel".
BillPainter and decorator"Painting and Decorating"1Played by Rod Arthur
Mr ParkkeeperPark Keeper"Park Keeper"1Played by Michael Grinter
Mr SummersTheme Park Manager"Theme Park"1Played by Aidan Cook
Ruby HardbackLibrarian"Library"1Played by Charlene James
Mr ParkkeeperCar wash"Car wash"1Played by Ryan Lewendon

Episodes

Series One.No. of Series Episodes
120
213
320

Episode List

Nuzzle (performed by Neil Sterenberg), Scratch (performed by Dave Chapman) and The Boss (Eve De Leon Allen) appear in all of the episodes. These do not appear in the 'Other Credits' column.

TitlePerson CalledJobOverviewStart FromOther Credits
Series 1: 2008
1Window CleanerBob Sheen (Window Cleaner)Helping a window cleaner get windows cleanNuzzle and Scratch help out window cleaner Bob Sheen and make quite a splash. When they are trying to clean the window off the new shop, Nuzzle falls off the ladder and rubs his fur against the window, which makes it clean.ScratchBob Sheen

Angus Kennedy

2Swimming PoolTerry Towling (Lifeguard)Helping get ready for a swimming galaNuzzle and Scratch make quite a splash when they help lifeguard Terry Towling get ready for a swimming gala. While trying to swim, Nuzzle saves the Mayor when she fell into the water, by Scratch's "herding" and the Mayor awards Nuzzle "the best lifeguard" rosette.Scratch
3HairdresserClarissa Snips (Hairdresser)Getting a hairdresser ready for customersPlaying hair gel hockey and dying her customers' hair blue is not what Clarissa Snips expected when she employed Nuzzle and Scratch to help out at her hairdressing salon. But the boy is so pleased with his great hair-do he tells all his friends and the hairdressing salon soon has a long queue of children.ScratchClarissa Snips

Annemarie Gaillard

4Beach AttendantMr. Sandy Bottom (Beach Attendant)Getting ready for a sandcastle competitionHelping beach attendant Mr. Sandy Bottom is more like a holiday than working as far as Nuzzle and Scratch are concerned, especially as they're able to get Mr. Sandy Bottom to do most of the work. While Nuzzle and Scratch are thinking what sandcastle to make for the competition the mayor loses his gold chain. Nuzzle eventually finds it.ScratchMr Sandy Bottom

Ian Kirkby

5Cinema(Cinema Manager)Getting a cinema ready for a school visitNuzzle and Scratch help out at the local cinema, but when they treat the new film as a frisbee, they decide to make their own film.Scratch
6Dinner LadiesNora (Dinner Lady)Helping a dinner lady make lunchNuzzle and Scratch help a dinner lady make lunch, but then put furballs in the food.ScratchNora

Sally Bankes

7Laundry(Laundrette Man)Helping out at the laundretteNuzzle and Scratch help out at the laundrette. They wash the dry-clean only fancy dress costumes and they shrink. But the Boss is happy as the costumes are just the right size for her.ScratchLaunderette Man

Nick Wilton

8The School CaretakersMr Haddock (School Caretaker)Helping a school caretakerWhile trying to help the school caretaker, Nuzzle and Scratch get in trouble. They buff the school floor too much and make it really slippery.ScratchMr Haddock

Julian Dutton

9Hotel(Hotel Manager)Getting a room ready for a special celebrityNuzzle and Scratch help at the Hotel Majestic. They get a room ready for a celebrity, but "mess" it up. When the celebrity walks in, she loves it.ScratchHotel Manager/Special Celebrity: Tony Jayawardena
Mayor: George Glaves
10MagicianDavid Potterfield (Magician)Helping a magicianWhen the Boss hears that magician, David Potterfield, can make anything disappear she is more than happy to send Nuzzle and Scratch along to help out.ScratchMagician

Josh Elwell

11CampingMr Merryweather (Scout Leader)Helping a camp leaderAdventure camp leader Mr. Merryweather finds himself getting very muddy and covered in fur balls when Nuzzle and Scratch are employed to be his new assistants. However, when the camp leader oversleeps, he wakes to find that Nuzzle and Scratch have done all the activities with the children and he is very pleased.ScratchScout Leader

Andrew Barclay

12Sports DayMs Winner (Gym Teacher)Getting ready for a sports dayNuzzle and Scratch are supposed to be organizing the school sports day, but one of their first hurdles is what type of egg to use for the egg and spoon race. Should it be fried or scrambled? The last race is the pupil/teacher race which so far, the sports teacher has always won, however Nuzzle substitutes for one of the children and wins the prize.ScratchMs Winner

Lucy Jane Bowen

13Painting and Decorating*TBA (Painter and Decorater)Painting the Boss's flatNuzzle and Scratch are employed to help decorate the Boss's flat - they had better not mess up this time! They cause so much trouble the painter cannot get the work done and when the Boss arrives to inspect the work, Nuzzle and Scratch quickly try to paint the whole room but flick paint splatters all over the wall, the Boss however, loves it as it matches her new picture she bought.Nuzzle
  • This is the only episode where they need to 'start from Nuzzle'
Painter and Decorator

Rod Arthur

14Ice Cream VanWhippety Whips Lady (Ice Cream Seller)Working an ice-cream vanWhen Nuzzle and Scratch work the ice cream van, they get a little more ice cream than they'd bargained for. The Whippety Whips lady is pleased with them until she opens the ice cream van door and gets covered in ice cream.Whippety Whips Lady

Chizzy Akudolu

15OrchestraMr. Barton Pete GallagherPlaying in an orchestra.Nuzzle and Scratch are employed to play in an orchestra, but the conductor is unimpressed when they play their instruments. The conductor accidentally gets trapped and misses the performance. Nuzzle and Scratch are trying to swot a fly and unintentionally conduct the orchestra beautifully.The Menuhin Hall
16Park KeeperTBA (Park Keeper)Getting rid of moles in the local parkNuzzle and Scratch are employed to help rid a park of moles, but the park keeper soon realizes he has added to his pest problems. In the end, they realize that the moles don't like noise and they complete the task that was set.Park Keeper

Michael Grinter

17Rugby(Car wash)Helping a Car washNuzzle and Scratch are supposed to be doing the Car wash for all other adults to clean cars.Rugby Coach

Wayne Forester

18SupermarketMr Campbell (TBA)Helping on the checkoutsNuzzle and Scratch dream of working on the checkouts at the supermarket, but they need to earn their happy helper badges first.Mr Campbell

Richard Sutton

19Theme ParkMr Summers (Theme Park Manager)Helping out at a theme parkWhen a special celebrity (Mr Tumble) arrives to open the theme park, Nuzzle and Scratch certainly give him the ride of his life.Mr Summers

Aidan Cook

20LibraryRuby Hardback (Librarian)Helping at the libraryNuzzle and Scratch enjoy working at the library, but the librarian is not quite sure about them when she catches Scratch trying to file the books with a nail file. The children love Nuzzle and Scratch story time and the librarian begs them to stay, but they never do as they have to get back to the Boss to 'help' her out with more jobs.Ruby Hardback

Charlene James

Series 2: 2010
21Hot StuffTBA
22Gnomes and GardensTBA
23Yucky StuffTBA
24Water, Water EverywhereTBA
25On the RoadTBA
26Sharp ObjectsTBA
27Pens, Doors and Soggy PawsTBA
28Here's Looking at ChewTBA
29In the CarTBA
30Highs and LowsTBA
31Slips and TripsTBA
32At the SupermarketTBA
33On the BusesTBA
Series 3: 2011
34Police Officers TBA
35GnomesTBA
36Town CriersTBA
37SheepdogsTBA
38SuperheroesTBA
39ExplorersTBA
40NursesTBA
41KnightsTBA
42RobotsTBA
43PrincessesTBA
44BakersTBA
45CowboysTBA
46AstronautsTBA
47Lollipop LadiesTBA
48DancersTBA
49BuildersTBA
50Train GuardsTBA
51CheerleadersTBA
52CarrotsTBA
53Pantomime HorseTBA

Spin-off

A spin-off called Hoof and Safety With Nuzzle and Scratch premiered airing on CBeebies on 1 March 2010. It ran for 13 episodes every day except Wednesday until 22 March 2010. Nuzzle And Scratch learn how to be safe with the help of Miss Mulberry (Sally Banks). A Second spin-off Nuzzle and Scratch: Frock and Roll premiered on CBeebies on 7 February 2011. It ran for 20 episodes and ended on 4 March 2011. Nuzzle and Scratch have landed a Job at the Frock And Roll Fancy Dress Shop owned by Captain Carrington (Ian Kirkby). With Costumes for every occasion mostly for the Twins (Eva and Ella Diakite), each day brings a new opportunity for adventure. They also Aired On CBeebies.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Nuzzle and Scratch get jobs at fancy dress shop in series 3 of Nuzzle and Scratch: Frock N Roll. 9 March 2015. Media Update. South Africa.
  2. Web site: PB Nuzzle and Scratch. sterenberg-puppets.co.uk.
  3. Web site: Nuzzle and Scratch. BBC.