Noddy (TV series) explained

Genre:Comedy
Fantasy
Creator:Rick Siggelkow
Based On:Classic Noddy in Toyland series by Enid Blyton
Director:Wayne Moss
Steve Wright
Starring:Sean McCann
Katie Boland
Max Morrow
Kyle Kassardjian
Jayne Eastwood
Jim Calder
Nikki Pascetta
Gil Filar
Theme Music Composer:Dennis Scott
Opentheme:"The Noddy Shop" performed by the cast
Endtheme:"The Noddy Shop" (instrumental)
Composer:Stacey Hersh (score)
Dennis Scott (songs)
Paul K. Joyce (original score)
Country:Canada
United States
United Kingdom
Language:English
Num Seasons:2
Num Episodes:66
Executive Producer:Rick Siggelkow
Producer:Jim Corston
Runtime:30 minutes
Company:BBC Worldwide Americas
Catalyst Entertainment Inc.
Enid Blyton Ltd.
Network:TVOntario (TVOKids)
CBC Television (CBC Playground) (Canada)
PBS (PBS Kids) (United States)
Related:Shining Time Station
Sing Me a Story with Belle

Noddy (known as Noddy in Toyland and The Noddy Shop) is a live-action/animated children's television series based on Enid Blyton's children's book series of the same name featuring the animated episodes from Noddy's Toyland Adventures. The show was broadcast from 7 September 1998 to 11 December 1999 and broadcast on TVOntario and CBC Television in Canada.

Plot

The show starred Sean McCann as Noah Tomten, a former old salt, who now runs an antique shop in Littleton Falls, the NODDY Shop (this stood for "Notions, Oddities, Doodads & Delights of Yesterday"). His catchphrases included "What in tarnation?!" and "Great Neptune's Ghost!", usually whenever he was excited about something. It also starred Jayne Eastwood as his scatterbrained sister, Agatha Flugelschmidt, who runs a hat shop next door to the Noddy Shop. Her catchphrases include "Oh, pish posh!", usually after she disagrees with something that someone else said.

The stories in The Noddy Shop mainly centered on three children, Noah's grandchildren, Kate and Truman, and a friend of Kate's named Daniel Johnson, shortened to D.J., who came to play at the shop, and were collected by their (unseen) parents at the end of the day, implying the episodes were set after school, during school holidays or weekends.

In the second season, Truman gained the ability to talk to the toys in the shop, and Noddy gained a more prominent role in the live action segments, often interacting with the toys and Truman. Most of the stories were repeated from the first season with some minor additions, as well as also introducing new stories coming from the fourth and final season of Noddy's Toyland Adventures.

Most episodes had a moral message, which was conveyed with a Noddy story, usually told by Kate using the Noddy dolls in the shop, which the viewer saw as re-dubbed and re-scored Noddy animations. The moral message was also a theme in a song sung by the shop's population of anthropomorphic toys. There was sometimes a second song, usually a re enactment of a popular folk tale. These songs were written by Nashville-based composer Dennis Scott.

Characters

Humans

Toys and Antiques

Minor Human Characters

Minor Toy Characters

Cast

Live-action cast

Guest Stars

Puppet Voices

Voice cast

Original (UK)

Puppeteers

Episodes

Season 1 (1998)

No. Title Noddy Episode Puppet Song Fairytale Song Writer Director Plot
1 The Magic Key Noddy and the Special Key (Series 1) The Day the Goblins Got Away
A What-If World
  Brian McConnachie Wayne Moss Kate, D.J. and Truman enter the Noddy Shop for the first time. They find a magic key that unlocks two boxes. That act releases the Goblins from one box. The other box contains all the toys that make up the Noddy stories.
2 Monkey Business Noddy's New Friend (UK)/Noddy Makes a New Friend (US) (Series 1) Too Much Monkey Business   Sean Kelly Steve Wright The kids learn that not everything is what it seems when a clown visits the shop.
3 Mixed Up Magic Noddy and Martha Monkey (Series 1) A Whole Lot of Helping One Good Turn (The Elephant and the Mouse) Kate Barris Steve Wright When the shop has a sale and the toys worry that they will be sold, they plan to sabotage it.
4 Lost and Found Noddy Tastes Some Cake (Series 3) Lost and Found Kate Barris Wayne Moss Truman gets lost while playing hide and seek.
5 Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Goblins Noddy and the Goblins (Series 1) Camping Song Sean Kelly Steve Wright Aunt Agatha has agreed to let the kids have a camp-out in the shop's back garden, but they are ill-prepared. The toys hold their own camping trip, though Planet Pup must overcome his fear of the dark. Noah has to save the day when the camp-out goes wrong.
6 The Tooth Fairy Noddy and His Money (Series 3) Tooth Fairy   Brian McConnachie Wayne Moss Truman has lost his first tooth, and finds out all about the Tooth Fairy.
7 Stop, Listen and Learn Noddy Lends a Hand
(Series 2)
  Jill Golick Wayne Moss Noah isn't feeling at all well, but is too afraid of Aunt Agatha's Agony Cure for Aches to ask for help.
8 Making Up is Easy to Do Noddy and the Naughty Tail (Series 1) I Like it That Way   Jill Golick Wayne Moss Kate accuses D.J. of stealing her rubber and the toys fight over a tambourine.
9 If at First You Don't Succeed... Noddy Buys a Parasol (Series 3) Opera Medley Ellis Weiner Wayne Moss It's the annual bike-a-thon, but D.J. doesn't have a bike. With Noah's help, he earns money to buy one. Aunt Agatha decides to serenade the punters with her terrible opera renditions.
10 The Birthday Party Noddy Delivers Some Parcels (UK)/Noddy Gives a Birthday Party (US) (Series 1) Party Time   Ellis Weiner Steve Wright The kids and Aunt Agatha have a surprise birthday party planned for Noah. As they work behind Noah's back, Truman and Aunt Agatha learn that the thought behind the birthday wish matters most.
11 Telling Tails Noddy Finds a Furry Tail (UK)/Noddy Gets Blamed (US) (Series 2) Face the Music The Lion and the Jackal Jill Golick Wayne Moss An Indian girl named Amita, the daughter of some old friends of Noah's, has come to the shop for the day, but Kate and D.J. resent her.
12 It's About Time Noddy and His Alarm Clock (Series 3) Tell the Time Sean Kelly Steve Wright Truman, wanting to be grown-up, agrees to tell Noah when it's 4:00. But he can't tell the time!
13 A Promise is a Promise Noddy Borrows an Umbrella (Series 2) A Promise is a Promise   Sean Kelly Wayne Moss Kate, Truman, D.J. and Aunt Agatha are organizing a play in the shop's back garden. But they forget promises they made to Noah.
14 To the Rescue Noddy Has a Bad Day (Series 2) The ABCs of Fire   Brian McConnachie Wayne Moss Planet Pup, Sherman and Rusty pretend to be firefighters.
15 Chills and Spills Noddy Sets a Trap (Series 2)   Lawrence S. Mirkin Steve Wright Truman throws mud around and, in the process, getting Noah's sheets dirty. He tries to hide the sheets, but that invariably gets Truman in deeper trouble. Aunt Agatha finds her plums missing, which starts a rash of missing items.
16 The Big Race Noddy the Champion
(Series 3)
Let's Go Racing Brian McConnachie Steve Wright Aunt Agatha's grandson, Itchy, brings his bully friends to the Noddy Shop. Both Grit and Rox want to show up Kate, D.J. and Truman at Sports Day.
17 A Dog's Best Friend Noddy and the Milkman (Series 1) Planet Pup's Song   Lawrence S. Mirkin Steve Wright The kids find a lost dog. Noah agrees to let them keep it until they find the dog's owner. Truman falls in love with the dog, neglecting Planet Pup - but what will he do if the owner is found?
18 Hooray for the Kids Noddy Cheers Up Big Ears (Series 2) My Kind of Friends   Sean Kelly Steve Wright The Goblins steal a part from Noah's radio.
19 The Mystery Box Noddy Borrows Some Trousers (UK)/Noddy Gets in a Mess (US) (Series 3) What's in the Box?   Brian McConnachie Wayne Moss Aunt Agatha has a package for Truman, and it brings intrigue. The Goblins cause trouble with some pots of molasses thanks to Warlow.
20 We All Say Boo! Noddy and the Magic Night (Series 2) I'm Not Scared   Brian McConnachie Wayne Moss Kate, D.J. and their friends are all dressed up for Halloween, so are the toys. Truman and Aunt Agatha have to find scary costumes at the last minute.
21 Try Something New Noddy Gets a New Job (Series 1)   Lawrence S. Mirkin Steve Wright Noah asks Kate to run the shop. Truman takes his own new paces as he learns to ride a bike.
22 The Fish Story Noddy and the Fishing Rod (Series 3) I Can Do Better Than You   Jill Golick Wayne Moss Kate loses the ruby ring her mother gave her while playing a fishing game with her friends, and Johnny Crawfish has a new fish named George move into his tank.
23 The Big Fight Noddy and His Bell (Series 1) That's What Friends Do Best   Ellis Weiner Steve Wright Noah and Aunt Agatha get into a huge argument when one misunderstanding leads to another. Sherman and Rusty fall out, and so do the Goblins. Can Kate and Truman save the day?
24 Following Directions Noddy Goes Shopping (Series 2) Bubble Trouble   Ellis Weiner Steve Wright While Noah is down with the flu, Aunt Agatha wants to make changes in the Noddy Shop. How successful those changes are, will be a matter of doing what she says.
25 Mixed Up Masks Noddy and the Missing Hats (UK)/Noddy Listens and Learns (US) (Series 2)   Sean Kelly Steve Wright A mischievous boy named Dewey who is the son of some friends of Aunt Agatha's is staying at the shop for the day. He bullies Truman and gets D.J. into trouble.
26 Truman Come Home Noddy to the Rescue
(Series 2)
  Kate Barris Wayne Moss Truman needs someone to play with on a boring day. With no one to help his cause, idle Truman finds himself doing something wrong.
27 Something's Lost, Something's Found Noddy Loses Sixpence (UK)/Noddy Loses Some Money (US) (Series 1) Step by Step   Jill Golick Wayne Moss One of the things near and dear to Noah, besides his toys, is the lucky compass he had used as a sailor. Kate and D.J. borrow the compass and subsequently lose it.
28 The Magic Show Noddy the Magician
(Series 3)
Everyday Magic   Brian McConnachie Steve Wright D.J. learns magic tricks for the talent show from a man named Jack Fable.
29 The Big Mess Noddy Meets Some Silly Hens (Series 2) Another Nice Mess   Ellis Weiner Steve Wright Aunt Agatha's remote-operated vacuum cleaner goes berserk when the Goblins steal the remote control. To make matters worse, Warlow lets a parrot loose.
30 Recipe for Learning Noddy Loses His Bell
(Series 2)
The Burrito Song Ellis Weiner Steve Wright When Kate, D.J. and Truman find an old cookbook, they decide to open a Mexican restaurant called the Shipwrecked Inn in the shop's back garden. With Aunt Agatha's help, they attempt to make Mexican burritos - but they don't know anything about Mexican food.
31 Recycle and Reuse It Noddy and the Useful Rope (Series 2) Do Something New Sean Kelly Wayne Moss It's not so much an overflow of rubbish at the Noddy Shop. Rather, the kids find a lot of things with which they use to make marionettes for a marionette show.
32 Telling the Whole Truth Noddy and the Broken Bicycle (Series 1)   Lawrence S. Mirkin Steve Wright Noah leaves the children in charge of the Noddy Shop. In trying to satisfy Charlene von Pickings, they break her gift - a cuckoo clock.
33 Secret Valentines Noddy the Dancer (Series 3)   Kate Barris Wayne Moss It's Valentine's Day at the shop. Warlow spitefully steals the toys' Valentine's Day cards - but ends up looking silly when one of them is for him!
34 Sing Yourself to Sleep Song: Believe in Yourself
Song: The Friend You'll Find in Me
Party Time
Tell the Time
I'm Not Scared
My Kind of Friends
Sleepytime Lullaby
Rick Siggelkow Steve Wright Truman can't get to sleep one night at the Noddy Shop. He believes in all the toys, all of which are ready to perform their usual songs.
35 Treasure Hunt Noddy and the Golden Tree (Series 3) Follow the Map   Brian McConnachie Wayne Moss A treasure map falls into Truman's hands. This sends all the kids in search of what they think is a great surprise.
36 Jack Frost is Coming to Town Noddy and the Warm Scarf (Series 3)   Jack Frost is Back in Town Sean Kelly Wayne Moss The Noddy Shop becomes cold inside when Jack Frost escapes from a snow globe and freezes several toys. On this bitter cold day, Aunt Agatha has a scarf ready for Truman, but he doesn't want to wear it.
37 The Trouble with Truman Noddy and His Unhappy Car (Series 3) Ready to Rock 'n' Roll   Jill Golick Steve Wright Thinking that he's too little, Kate and D.J. won't let Truman look after a rabbit named Snowball. Then Snowball escapes, and it's Truman who is just the right size to rescue her.
38 Let's Go Fly a Kite Noddy and the Kite (Series 1) A Crazy Mixed Up Day   Sean Kelly Steve Wright Lurk and Snipe use magic to fly a kite, and get whisked away. In his attempts to get them down, Boobull casts a lot of ill-advised spells that turn the Noddy Shop inside-out.
39 Think Big Noddy and the Pouring Rain (Series 1) Small Ellis Weiner Wayne Moss Kate wants to go on a fantastic adventure. Who knows what will grant her wish?
40 Noah's Leaving Noddy Has an Afternoon Off (Series 3) Thank You for Being You   Brian McConnachie Wayne Moss Noah considers returning to his old role as a sea captain when Wally the Wanderer arrives at the Noddy Shop.

Season 2 (1999)

No. No. in Season Title Noddy Episode Puppet Song Fairytale Song Writer Director Prod. Code Plot
42 1 Little Swap of Horrors Noddy and the Naughty Tail (Series 1) (repeat) Give Away
To the Rescue
  Ellis Weiner Wayne Moss
  1. 201
Truman trades Planet Pup for a toy aeroplane.
43 2 Dance to Your Own Music Noddy the Dancer (Series 3) (repeat) Dance, Dance, Dance   Lawrence S. Mirkin Wayne Moss
  1. 202
Noah has been taking dance lessons for an upcoming dance contest. Aunt Agatha, organizing the dance, has not practiced.
44 3 Ask Permission Noddy Sets a Trap (Series 2) (repeat) Friendship Is Kate Barris Steve Wright
  1. 203
Truman's new friend Sam takes a small mermaid belonging to Noah.
45 4 Take a Stand Noddy Tastes Some Cake (Series 3) (repeat) Warlow's Cake
Putting it Together
  Brian McConnachie Wayne Moss
  1. 204
Truman and Itchy want to see the antique horns that have just arrived at the Noddy Shop. Both need money if they want to use the horns on their bikes. Maybe they can help Kate and D.J., who set up a baked good stand outside the shop.
46 5 The Sandman Cometh Noddy and the Magic Watch (Series 4) Where Do You Go in Your Dreams?   Brian McConnachie Steve Wright
  1. 205
Kate and D.J., in preparation for a sleepover, take a package to the Noddy Shop. That package belongs to the Sandman, and it spells trouble for Truman and, by extension, everyone else.
47 6 Noah's Treasure Noddy and the Golden Tree (Series 3) (repeat) The Great Pig Chase
Money Isn't Everything
  Jill Golick Wayne Moss
  1. 206
A call from an old seamate alerts Noah to two gold coins. Noah is told the gold coins are part of an old pirate treasure. Before Noah knows it, a bunch of other interests want in on the gold. Lost in the confusion is the fact that April May had just rescued a stray cat.
48 7 Be True to Who You Are Noddy's New Friend (UK)/Noddy Makes a New Friend (US)
(Series 1)
(repeat)
Our Club is Your Club
Be True to Who You Are
  Jill Golick Wayne Moss
  1. 207
When Kate is welcomed into a cool girls' club, she tries to act mature by shunning her old ways.
49 8 All Play and No Work Noddy to the Rescue
(Series 2)
(repeat)
Unfinished Business Lawrence S. Mirkin Steve Wright
  1. 208
Truman has held off finishing his homework. Worse, he hasn't studied for an impending test.
50 9 April Fools Noddy and His Money
(Series 3)
(repeat)
The Laugh's On Me   Ellis Weiner Steve Wright
  1. 209
It's April Fools Day at the Noddy Shop....
51 10 Lights, Camera, Chaos Noddy and the Goblins(Series 4)That's Showbiz   Sean Kelly Steve Wright
  1. 210
Kate, D.J. and Truman want to make a mystery movie. In preparation for The Case of the Missing Necklace, Kate doesn't know that her necklace, intended as a prop for the movie, has really been stolen by the Goblins.
52 11 How Rude Noddy the Magician (Series 3) (repeat) Rude and Crude The Girl with the Curl Ellis Weiner Wayne Moss
  1. 211
Noah says that rudeness is like a spell of bad magic. Given the chance, Warlow reads a spell from the Goblins' book. It sends all the toys in the Noddy Shop on a tear of bad moods.
53 12 Part of the Family Noddy Cheers Up Big Ears (Series 2) (repeat) Someone to Be My Friend
Part of the Family
  Kate Barris Steve Wright
  1. 212
Mother's Day is approaching, and the kids prepare Mother's Day cards. They encounter Julie, a foster child who is bitter with all the talk of mothers. But her presence brings to life Angelina, a doll that had been lost in the depths of the stockroom.
54 13 Big Bullies Noddy and the Goblins
(Series 1)
(repeat)
Gimme, Gimme, Gimme
What Goes Around
  Brian McConnachie Steve Wright
  1. 213
The kids and toys learn how to deal with a bully when they meet Butch and Disrupto the Robot.
55 14 Paying Attention to Kate Noddy and the Noisy Drum (Series 4) Buddy, Can You Spare Some Time? Kate Barris Wayne Moss
  1. 214
Kate becomes upset to no end because everyone else is devoted to something or someone else.
56 15 Skunked Noddy and the Singing Bush (Series 4) Stinky Boy Blues
It's You
  Ellis Weiner Steve Wright
  1. 215
Lurk and Snipe have fallen prey to the smell of a visiting skunk. Boobull casts a spell to clean up the Goblins, but the smell mysteriously moved on to Truman.
57 16 Thunder and Lightning Noddy Gets Caught in a Storm (Series 4) Just Around the Corner Jill Golick Steve Wright
  1. 216
Truman is scared when a thunderstorm occurs.
58 17 Going Bananas Noddy Tidies Toyland
(Series 4)
No Litter Island
Cleaning Machine
  Lawrence S. Mirkin Wayne Moss
  1. 217
Sherman believes cleanliness is next to happiness. He cannot fathom the stink that will be raised over the big mess at the Noddy Shop.
59 18 Slugger Noddy and the Bouncing Ball (Series 4) It's How You Play the Game Sean Kelly Steve Wright
  1. 218
Two Little League baseball players refuse to let Truman and Itchy play with them because they're too small. With Kate and D.J. backing them up, they challenge the Little Leaguers to a game. But the circumstances change when a ball possessed with Goblin magic comes into play.
60 19 Find Your Own Song Song: You've Got Talent
Song: Follow the Voice
My Own Song   Sean Kelly Steve Wright
  1. 219
Everyone seems obsessed with doing something for the Robbie MacRhino talent contest. When Lurk and Snipe interfere with Kate's and D.J.'s entries, Boobull feels there is only one way to mend things: grow to human form.
61 20 The Big Showdown Noddy is Far Too Busy
(Series 4)
March of the Toys The Smallest Show on Earth Sean Kelly Steve Wright
  1. 220
Aunt Agatha is determined to get rid of the Goblins in the Noddy Shop, and so she then enlists an exterminator named Rodney Styx for help.
62 21 Growing Lies Noddy Tells a Story (Series 4) One Lie Leads to Another   Brian McConnachie Wayne Moss
  1. 221
Truman had been guilty before of not telling the truth. Now he needs a device for telling that truth. Meanwhile, Aunt Agatha spreads rumors about a common criminal who chews on things called "the Chewer".
63 22 The Human Touch Noddy and the Artists
(Series 4)
Disrupto Returns   Sean Kelly Wayne Moss
  1. 222
There is a place for technology, and a place for what is considered "old" or "antique," as Noah knows. But Aunt Agatha buys a computer for Noah's office. That drives Kate and D.J. to the computer. When they hook up with Disrupto, he sets out to control the toys.
64 23 Be Patient Noddy and the Driving Lesson (Series 4) Have a Little Patience Ellis Weiner Wayne Moss
  1. 223
Aunt Agatha is ready to stage a hat show at the Noddy Shop, but she hasn't tested any of her dance-music-playing hats yet. Kate and D.J. have no luck trying to sell apples that they picked while still green.
65 24 Kate Loves a Parade Noddy the Nurse (Series 4) On the Day of the Parade   Kate Barris Wayne Moss
  1. 224
Kate has been chosen to lead the Littleton Falls parade. In the moments before the parade, though, Kate is afraid of making mistakes.
66 25 Closing Up Shop Noddy and the Treasure Map (Series 4) One Goodbye at a Time
One Hello at a Time
  Brian McConnachie Wayne Moss
  1. 225
A lack of consumer traffic prompts Noah to accept a deal to sell the Noddy Shop and clear out all the toys. Seymour Polutski wants to turn the Noddy Shop into a cigar shop.

Reception

In its first season on PBS, the show was seen by an average of 2.5 million viewers per episode, higher than Sesame Streets average during the same year.[1]

International success

Due to almost instantaneous success in the US and Canada, BBC Worldwide decided to distribute the series overseas. "Anything Can Happen at Christmas" was shown on CBBC in the UK in 1998. The first season of the show later aired there from 1999 to 2000 and was also shown in Australia, Malaysia and several countries in English. This version utilized the original sound-track for the Noddy animations. The live action segments were unaltered. The second season was never reversioned for the UK or Australia but was dubbed for other countries. The series was also dubbed for Poland, Spain, France, Israel, Mexico, and Portugal. A music video involving the character Johnny Crawfish, "Special", was made to promote the overseas airings.[2]

Awards

|-| 1999| Jayne Eastwood for playing Agatha Flugelschmidt in the episode "The Trouble With Truman"| Gemini Award For Best Performance in a Pre-School Program or Series| |-| 1999| Sean McCann for playing Noah Tomten in the episode "The Trouble With Truman"| Gemini Award For Best Performance in a Pre-School Program or Series| |-| 2000| Juul Haalmeyer for designing Noah Tomten and Agatha Flugelschmidt's costumes| Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Achievement in Costume Design/Styling| |-| 1999| Jayne Eastwood for playing Agatha Flugelschmidt in the episode "Be Patient"| Gemini Award For Best Performance in a Pre-School Program or Series| |-| 1999| Sean McCann for playing Noah Tomten in the episode "Slugger"| Gemini Award For Best Performance in a Pre-School Program or Series|

VHS/DVD releases

TitleRelease DateCountryFormatEpisodes
Noddy and Friends 4 June 1999 [3] United Kingdom / AustraliaVHSThe Magic Key; A Dog's Best Friend; The Big Fight
Noddy's Magic Video 4 October 1999 [4] United KingdomVHSThe Magic Show; Telling the Whole Truth; Making Up is Easy to Do
Noddy in Toyland29 October 1999 [5] United Kingdom, Portugal [6] DVDThe Big Mess; Stop, Listen and Learn; The Trouble with Truman

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Usborne . David . Noddy goes to Hollywood . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220621/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/noddy-goes-to-hollywood-1190588.html . 21 June 2022 . subscription . live . The Independent . 23 October 2011 . 25 January 2020.
  2. Web site: Noddy In Toyland: Johnny Crawfish 'Special' . . 5 May 2016 . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/w4ZYGCsgKrQ . 2021-12-21 . live. 20 October 2019.
  3. Web site: Noddy: Noddy In Toyland. 4 June 1999 . 15 November 2018. Amazon.
  4. Web site: Noddy: Noddy's Magic Video. 4 October 1999 . 15 November 2018. Amazon.
  5. Web site: Noddy: Noddy In Toyland. 29 October 1999. 15 November 2018. Amazon.
  6. Web site: A LOJA DO NODDY - PARA, ESCUTA E APRENDE . DVDPT . 26 April 2020.