Mooncat
Encyclopedia
Mooncat was a puppet character who, as his name suggests, was a cat from the moon. He appeared on Children's ITV from 1981 to 1985 in the series Get Up and Go! and the follow-up Mooncat and Co produced by Yorkshire Television
.
Mooncat was puppeteered and voiced by David Claridge, whom went on to create, voice and puppeteer Roland Rat
.
and Stephen Boxer
The series revolved around Mooncat learning about life on earth. Subjects covered included shapes, movement, being careful and taking turns.
The format regularly included Reid and Boxer explaining an everyday subject to Mooncat and looking at a film about it on his Moon Machine through either the round, square or triangle screen, this bore a striking resemblance to the 'through the windows' feature on BBC TV's Play School. Then there would be a story about Billie, a little girl who like Christopher Robin
had toys that came to life - these were Woodley a dog (presumably real), Monkey, Mrs Pinkerton-Trunks an elephant and Mr Milford Haven, a lion. This was usually narrated by Reid but occasionally by Boxer who accompanied the story with dramatic piano riffs in the style of an old black-and-white movie.
A song would then follow with music composed and played by Stephen Boxer on guitar before the episode was wrapped. It was unclear how the Beryl and Stephen characters had come to be living under the same roof but they lived there happily with Mooncat until the storyline had Stephen move out of the house to live and work in a playgroup. Despite this, Boxer continued as a co-presenter often talking about his work at the playgroup with an accompanying short film of this.
drama. The series title was changed to Mooncat and Co and a new format was devised.
The storyline now had Stephen and Mooncat living in a junk shop which Stephen ran. The Moon Machine was abolished and now Mooncat had regular contact with the outside world, for example trips out to purchase the subject of the episode such as a telephone or a new carpet. The Beryl role was filled by a different guest in every episode, these included Pam Ayres
, Patsy Rowlands
, Wilf Lunn
and Kenny Lynch
. But probably the most memorable was Pat Coombs
whose eponymous character was a WPC
.
Mooncat would call her Policewoman, Pat, another apparent sly BBC reference this time to their smash hit series Postman Pat
. The stories continued to be written by Shirley Isherwood who had written the Billy stories but now featured other characters which changed from week to week though there were some regulars such as Robert and his pet alien Grimond.
Stephen Boxer eventually left and was replaced by Opportunity Knocks finalist Berni Flint
, although Boxer's face remained on the opening credits as the storyline gave a reason for his prolonged absence. The series ended on September 26, 1985 and a week later Mooncat and Co was replaced by Puddle Lane
. Both Mooncat series were written by Rick Vanes.
Mooncat is also the name given to popular children's entertainer, Joe 'Moons Kids' Newman
Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television, now officially known as ITV Yorkshire and sometimes unofficially abbreviated to YTV, is a British television broadcaster and the contractor for the Yorkshire franchise area on the ITV network...
.
Mooncat was puppeteered and voiced by David Claridge, whom went on to create, voice and puppeteer Roland Rat
Roland Rat
Roland Rat is a British television puppet character. He was created, operated and voiced by David Claridge, who had previously been behind the Mooncat puppet in the Children's ITV television programme Get Up and Go! David worked for Jim Henson, then the second series of The Young Ones...
.
Get Up and Go!
Get Up And Go! was presented by Beryl ReidBeryl Reid
Beryl Elizabeth Reid, OBE was a British actress of stage and screen.-Early life:Born in Hereford, England in 1919, Reid was the daughter of Scottish parents and grew up in Manchester where she attended Withington and Levenshulme High Schools.-Career:Reid applied for and was accepted in a revue in...
and Stephen Boxer
Stephen Boxer
Stephen Boxer is an English actor who has appeared in films, on television and on stage and is best known for appearing in the BBC One daytime soap opera Doctors...
The series revolved around Mooncat learning about life on earth. Subjects covered included shapes, movement, being careful and taking turns.
The format regularly included Reid and Boxer explaining an everyday subject to Mooncat and looking at a film about it on his Moon Machine through either the round, square or triangle screen, this bore a striking resemblance to the 'through the windows' feature on BBC TV's Play School. Then there would be a story about Billie, a little girl who like Christopher Robin
Christopher Robin
Christopher Robin is a character created by A. A. Milne, appearing in his popular books of poetry and stories about Winnie-the-Pooh. He has subsequently appeared in Disney cartoons....
had toys that came to life - these were Woodley a dog (presumably real), Monkey, Mrs Pinkerton-Trunks an elephant and Mr Milford Haven, a lion. This was usually narrated by Reid but occasionally by Boxer who accompanied the story with dramatic piano riffs in the style of an old black-and-white movie.
A song would then follow with music composed and played by Stephen Boxer on guitar before the episode was wrapped. It was unclear how the Beryl and Stephen characters had come to be living under the same roof but they lived there happily with Mooncat until the storyline had Stephen move out of the house to live and work in a playgroup. Despite this, Boxer continued as a co-presenter often talking about his work at the playgroup with an accompanying short film of this.
- Series 1: 27 editions - 9 April 1981 - 24 December 1981
- Series 2: 20 editions - 25 February 1982 - 8 July 1982
- Series 3: 9 editions - 6 January 1983 - 3 March 1983
Mooncat and Co
In June 1984 the format changed. Reid was unable to film the next series having been offered a role in a major ITVITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
drama. The series title was changed to Mooncat and Co and a new format was devised.
The storyline now had Stephen and Mooncat living in a junk shop which Stephen ran. The Moon Machine was abolished and now Mooncat had regular contact with the outside world, for example trips out to purchase the subject of the episode such as a telephone or a new carpet. The Beryl role was filled by a different guest in every episode, these included Pam Ayres
Pam Ayres
Pam Ayres MBE is an English poet, songwriter and presenter of radio and television programmes. Her 1975 appearance on the television talent show Opportunity Knocks led to a variety of appearances on TV and radio shows, a one woman touring stage show and performing before the Queen.-Early life:Pam...
, Patsy Rowlands
Patsy Rowlands
Patsy Rowlands was an English actress who is best remembered for her roles in the Carry On films, as Betty in the popular ITV Thames sitcom Bless This House, and as Alice Meredith in the Yorkshire Television sitcom Hallelujah!.-Early years:She was born in Palmers Green, London and attended a...
, Wilf Lunn
Wilf Lunn
Wilf Lunn is probably best known for his regular appearances on the 1960s and 1970s British television show Vision On demonstrating his latest inventions with Tony Hart and Sylvester McCoy....
and Kenny Lynch
Kenny Lynch
Kenny Lynch, OBE is an English singer, songwriter, entertainer and actor from London. Lynch appeared in many variety shows in the 1960s...
. But probably the most memorable was Pat Coombs
Pat Coombs
Pat Coombs was an English actress. Coombs was considered one of Britain's great character actresses, specialising in the portrayal of the eternal downtrodden female — comically under the thumb of stronger personalities. She was known for many roles on radio, film and television sitcoms...
whose eponymous character was a WPC
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
.
Mooncat would call her Policewoman, Pat, another apparent sly BBC reference this time to their smash hit series Postman Pat
Postman Pat
Postman Pat is a British stop-motion animated children's television series first produced by Woodland Animations. It is aimed at pre-school children, and concerns the adventures of Pat Clifton, a postman in the fictional village of Greendale .Postman Pat's first 13-episode season was screened on...
. The stories continued to be written by Shirley Isherwood who had written the Billy stories but now featured other characters which changed from week to week though there were some regulars such as Robert and his pet alien Grimond.
Stephen Boxer eventually left and was replaced by Opportunity Knocks finalist Berni Flint
Berni Flint
Berni Flint is a singer and songwriter who holds the record for the longest continuous run of wins on the ITV talent show, Opportunity Knocks.-Career:...
, although Boxer's face remained on the opening credits as the storyline gave a reason for his prolonged absence. The series ended on September 26, 1985 and a week later Mooncat and Co was replaced by Puddle Lane
Puddle Lane
Puddle Lane was a 1980s British pre-school children's television programme written by Rick Vanes with animated stories written by Sheila K. McCullagh, author of Tim and the Hidden People. A long series of books based on said stories was produced by Ladybird Books, also under the title Puddle Lane...
. Both Mooncat series were written by Rick Vanes.
- Series 1: 25 editions - 5 July 1984 - 20 December 1984
- Series 2: 7 editions - 14 March 1985 - 25 April 1985
Mooncat is also the name given to popular children's entertainer, Joe 'Moons Kids' Newman