James the Cat was a children's series created by Kate Canning and produced by Jan Clayton with Grampian Television

Grampian Television

Grampian Television is the ITV franchisee for the North and North East of Scotland. Its coverage area includes the Scottish Highlands , Inverness, Aberdeen, Dundee and parts of north Fife...

. It chronicles the many events which take place at the Cornerhouse (number 104) between James and his new friends. Fellow characters include: Mrs. Lavender, a snail, Frida, a kangaroo, Citroen, a French frog, Rocky, a dimwitted rabbit, and Dennis, a pink fire-breathing Welsh-accented Chinese dragon. There is also a beehive in the garden at the Cornerhouse. Next door are Ma and Pa Rat, and their rat children.

The show changes quite a bit between the two seasons. In the first, James is a newcomer to the garden at the Cornerhouse, and must learn to live with the other animals there. In the first episode of the second season, James becomes a diplomat

Diplomat

A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...

 (though sometimes he is referred to as a VIP). In subsequent episodes, he and the others travel to distant lands or receive important visitors. Despite the fact that he can't spell, James is a perfect choice for a diplomat, as he is a tuxedo cat, and quite pompous.

Each episode runs for about 5 minutes.

It is erroneously believed by many that the show was dubbed into Persian

Persian language

Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...

 and showed on Iranian TV in 1980s as "Khepel" (Fatty in Persian). Some have even praised the dubbers for changing the music. The fact is that they are all actually referring to the British BAFTA winner animated series Flower Stories created by Kate Canning and produced by Terry Harding which aired circa 1975 (since James the Cat was a spinoff of Flower Stories).

This show is also notable as the first show to ever air on the United Kingdom

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...

 version of Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon (TV channel)

Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...

, at 7:01am on September 1, 1993. And it also premiered on PBS Kids Sprout

PBS KIDS Sprout

PBS Kids Sprout is a U.S. digital cable television channel, video-on-demand service, and website providing PBS Kids shows and original programming for preschoolers and their families...

. http://www.rugratonline.com/nickuk93.htm

List of Shows in 1984

• Friends
• The Rock Garden
• The Thunder-Storm
• Neighbours
• The Seaside
• Tea For Toad
• Sums
• Kites
• The Cornerhouse
• Big Top
• The Confused Goose
• The Playground
• James G.P.
• Bee Bop
• Pa Rat's Problem
• Lunch
• Treasure
• Arfur Mark
• The Take-Over
• Art Attack
• Water-Works
• The Dentist
• Slim Chance
• The Inventor
• The Greedy Caterpillar
• The Birthday Party

List of Shows in 1998

• James V.I.P.
• Little Bluey
• Memories
• Orange Aid
• HARVEY The White Rabbit
• It Ain't Fair
• New Zealand Sheep
• Pyragiro Blues
• U.S Capers
• Sweetheart
• Nepali Puzzle
• Safari
• Fennimore's Friend
• Painted Lady
• Le Fireworks
• Indian Summer
• Legal Beagle
• Spring Time
• Dido the Dolphin
• Betsy Purplebottom
• Ups & Downs
• The Wish
• Caramba
• Catwalk
• China Tease
• Higgy Pop

Credits

Executive Producer : Angus Wright
Storyteller : Sean Arnold
Music : Gary Yershon
Animators : Sue Allen, Tony Guy
Camera : Mark Taylor
Editor : Nigel Ashcroft
Sound : Tim Partridge
S.W.P.A. Animation Team : Jane Gotts, Louise Waugh, Brian Anderson, Soft Cel (Cartoon Graphics)
Production Manager : Steve Robin
Script Consultant : Tony Marriott
Creator, Writer and Director : Kate Canning (Pictures Limited)
Producer : Jan Clayton of The Production Studio
Taped at : Kaufaum Astoria Studios
A Britt Allcroft(James) Production
(c)1984 Britt Allcroft Productions Inc.

External links

• James the Cat at Toonhound
• James the Cat at ClassicKidsTV
• The Canning Factory