Watch with Mother
Encyclopedia
Watch With Mother was a cycle of children's programmes broadcast from 1952 by BBC Television
which was created by Freda Lingstrom
.
It was the first BBC television programme specifically aimed at pre-school children, like its radio equivalent Listen with Mother that also started in 1950. (Muffin the Mule
was broadcast on TV from 1946 but it was aimed at children of all ages).
Andy Pandy
was first broadcast in July 1950. At first it was shown between 3:45pm and 4:00pm but was later moved to lunchtime. Later attempts to move it to the morning were met with fierce opposition. Eventually on each weekday a different programme was broadcast. The initial cycle of shows was:
The original programmes had a loyal following and there was concern when it was learned that they would be replaced by new programmes, as in 1965 when it was thought that Camberwick Green
would replace Andy Pandy
and The Flower Pot Men
. Eventually the new programmes were added including: Tales of the Riverbank
, Pogles' Wood
, The Herbs
, Chigley
, Trumpton
and Bizzy Lizzy
.
By 1973, the Watch With Mother name had been dropped; by 1980 the strand had been named See-Saw. A Watch With Mother video
became a best-seller in 1987, and was followed by a second in 1989. Since the shows were a great success and fondly remembered by many, modern incarnations of the shows Andy Pandy
and The Flower Pot Men
have been produced.
Under British law, copyrights for TV series last 50 years from the date of publication. As such, the episodes aired from 1952 to 1961 are slowly appearing on the Internet Archive
.
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
which was created by Freda Lingstrom
Freda Lingstrom
Freda Violet Lingstrom OBE was a BBC Television producer and executive who was responsible for pioneering children's programmes in the early 1950s....
.
It was the first BBC television programme specifically aimed at pre-school children, like its radio equivalent Listen with Mother that also started in 1950. (Muffin the Mule
Muffin the Mule
Muffin the Mule is a puppet character in British television programmes for children. The original programmes featuring the character were presented by Annette Mills, sister of John Mills, & aunt to Hayley Mills, and broadcast live by the BBC from their studios at Alexandra Palace from 1946 to 1952...
was broadcast on TV from 1946 but it was aimed at children of all ages).
Andy Pandy
Andy Pandy
Andy Pandy is a British children's television series that premiered on BBC TV in June or July 1950. The original series of programmes was shown until 1970, when a new series was made. A third series was made in 2002...
was first broadcast in July 1950. At first it was shown between 3:45pm and 4:00pm but was later moved to lunchtime. Later attempts to move it to the morning were met with fierce opposition. Eventually on each weekday a different programme was broadcast. The initial cycle of shows was:
- Picture Book - Mondays (from 1955), presented by Patricia DriscollPatricia DriscollPatricia Driscoll is an Irish actress, who has appeared on both television and in films. She was born in Cork, Ireland....
, and by Vera McKechnieVera McKechnieVera McKechnie was one of the first presenters at the start of BBC Children's Television in the early 1950s.-Television career:She started her career when the BBC restarted TV broadcasts after the Second World War. On BBC Children’s Television she presented the programme Andy Pandy where she told...
in the 1963 series. - Andy PandyAndy PandyAndy Pandy is a British children's television series that premiered on BBC TV in June or July 1950. The original series of programmes was shown until 1970, when a new series was made. A third series was made in 2002...
- Tuesdays (from 1950) - The Flower Pot MenFlower Pot MenThe Flower Pot Men were a British pop group created in 1967 as a result of the single "Let's Go to San Francisco", recorded by session musicians, becoming a major UK Top 20 and Continental Europe hit) in the autumn of 1967...
- Wednesdays (from 1952) - Rag, Tag and BobtailRag, Tag and BobtailRag, Tag and Bobtail was a BBC children's television programme that ran from 1953 to 1965 as the Thursday programme in the weekly cycle of Watch with Mother.* Produced by: Freda Lingstrom and David Boisseau* Stories: Louise Cochrane...
- Thursdays (from 1953) - The WoodentopsThe Woodentops (TV series)The Woodentops was a children's television series first shown on BBC Television in 1955. It was created by Freda Lingstrom and Maria Bird and featured on the Friday edition of Watch with Mother...
- Fridays (from 1955)
The original programmes had a loyal following and there was concern when it was learned that they would be replaced by new programmes, as in 1965 when it was thought that Camberwick Green
Camberwick Green
Camberwick Green is a British children's television series, originally seen on BBC One, featuring stop-motion puppets. It was one of the first British television series to be filmed in colour.-Background:...
would replace Andy Pandy
Andy Pandy
Andy Pandy is a British children's television series that premiered on BBC TV in June or July 1950. The original series of programmes was shown until 1970, when a new series was made. A third series was made in 2002...
and The Flower Pot Men
Flower Pot Men
The Flower Pot Men were a British pop group created in 1967 as a result of the single "Let's Go to San Francisco", recorded by session musicians, becoming a major UK Top 20 and Continental Europe hit) in the autumn of 1967...
. Eventually the new programmes were added including: Tales of the Riverbank
Tales of the Riverbank
Tales of the Riverbank, sometimes called Hammy Hamster, is a Canadian children's television show starring Hammy Hamster and other animals....
, Pogles' Wood
Pogles' Wood
Pogles' Wood was an animated British Children's television series produced by Smallfilms between 1966 and 1967 and screened by the BBC between 1966 and 1968 as part of the Watch with Mother series. The Pogles were tiny country folk who lived in a tree...
, The Herbs
The Herbs
The Herbs is a television series for young children made for the BBC by Graham Clutterbuck's FilmFair company. It was written by Michael Bond , directed by Ivor Wood using 3D stop motion model animation and first transmitted from 12 February 1968 in the BBC1 Watch with Mother timeslot...
, Chigley
Chigley
Chigley is the third and final stop-motion children's television series in Gordon Murray's Trumptonshire sequence. Production details are identical to Camberwick Green....
, Trumpton
Trumpton
Trumpton is a stop-motion children's television show from the producers of Camberwick Green first shown on the BBC in the 1960s. The third and final series in the sequence was Chigley....
and Bizzy Lizzy
Bizzy Lizzy
Bizzy Lizzy was a British children's TV series from the 1960s. Bizzy Lizzy was a little girl whose dress had a magic flower. When she touched it her wishes came true - but if she made more than four wishes in a day, all her previous wishes were undone...
.
By 1973, the Watch With Mother name had been dropped; by 1980 the strand had been named See-Saw. A Watch With Mother video
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
became a best-seller in 1987, and was followed by a second in 1989. Since the shows were a great success and fondly remembered by many, modern incarnations of the shows Andy Pandy
Andy Pandy
Andy Pandy is a British children's television series that premiered on BBC TV in June or July 1950. The original series of programmes was shown until 1970, when a new series was made. A third series was made in 2002...
and The Flower Pot Men
Flower Pot Men
The Flower Pot Men were a British pop group created in 1967 as a result of the single "Let's Go to San Francisco", recorded by session musicians, becoming a major UK Top 20 and Continental Europe hit) in the autumn of 1967...
have been produced.
Under British law, copyrights for TV series last 50 years from the date of publication. As such, the episodes aired from 1952 to 1961 are slowly appearing on the Internet Archive
Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
.
UK VHS Releases
| VHS Title | Release Date | Episodes |
|---|---|---|
| Watch with Mother (BBCV 4091) | 1987 | Picture Book, Andy Pandy, Flower Pot Men, Rag, Tag and Bobtail, The Woodentops |
| Watch with Mother 2 (BBCV 4286) | 1989 | Picture Book: Bush Baby, Andy Pandy: The Cart, Flower Pot Men: The Potato Man, Rag, Tag and Bobtail: Snowballs, The Woodentops: Horseshoe |
| Watch with Mother The Next Generation (BBCV 4280) | 1989 | Tales of The Riverbank: A Ride in Guineas Jeep, Pogles Wood: Honey Bees, The Herbs: Strawberry Picking, Mary Mungo and Midge: The Crane, Barnaby: The Circus |
| The Very Best of Watch with Mother (BBCV 4966) | 1993 | Andy Pandy: Tricycle, Flower Pot Men: Icicles, Camberwick Green: Mickey Murphy The Baker, Muffin The Mule: Muffin and the Squeaking Shoes, The Woodentops: The Party |