The Wombles - Between Books and TV

One of FilmFair Production's most iconic programmes, brought to life by Ivor Wood and his team, are the Wombles. Small, furry-like creatures who make the use of "things that the everyday folks leave behind" on their home at Wimbledon Common, London - without even trying, they helped to spread the importance of Recycling with fun characters and creative stories.

The original series aired in 1975 with voices provided by the versatile and enthusiastic Bernard Cribbens (Edward & Friends, Moschops) and have since spanned several memorable Albums - by composer / singer Mike Batt - a live-action film and a new series in 1997. As of 2010, the original books have been reprinted by Bloomsbury Publishing for new generations to enjoy. Not bad, eh? =)

How the Wombles originally looked in 1968!

Before television, however, The Wombles originally started out in a 1968 novel, written by Paris-born Elisabeth Beresford. She moved to London to start a family and, while working near Wandsworth Common, got the idea which would become her most famous creations. In fact, Orinoco was based off her own son Marcus…!

Elizabeth went on to write six novels in all, and having read the first out of sheer curiosity, I was very surprised to find major differences between the 13 stories in print and the 30-odd episodes of the original BBC series:

• The novels are clearly aimed at a slightly older series, 10 to 12 years, with more depth in storytelling and humour than the TV episodes.

• The first story begins with Bungo, the "star" of the novel, as he picks himself a name (like every good Womble, from Great-Uncle Bulgaria's map of the world) and then explores the Common with new friends Orinoco, Wellington and Tomsk while tidying up litter. It's through his curious nature that he has a run-in with a Dalmatian, helps mend the burrow with some ready-made concrete (discreetly paid for as Wombles never steal) and then bravely goes after Orinoco when he runs away from home.

• The characters themselves are a fair bit cheekier to one another - and at times rather blunt, especially towards Tomsk for his stupidity (before he eventually gains their respect in an emergency), while Great-Uncle Bulgaria dished out a clout on the head or an aside remark here and there ("Bungo indeed - silly sort of name!").

• There are also characters who weren't brought into the television series - such as Cousin Yellowstone, who helps Bungo find Orinoco in London - while Alderney and Shansi wouldn't appear until the 1997 series (although they were still present for the tie-in annuals and original books).

• Like many novels there is a on-going storyline throughout - as the Wombles first have their burrow flooded and then caught in a heavy snowfall with a food shortage to boot. But all comes right in the end after the thaw when they head out for their annual Midsummer Night Party at Battersea Park.

• And unlike the TV Series, the Wombles encounter with humans a fair bit more in the books. In fact, Great-Uncle Bulgaria shows his kinder side when he invites a lonely old gentleman, Mr. D. Smith, to their Womble Christmas Party…

And all this from one novel so far! The Wombles of Wimbledon Common have a great many more adventures in the remaining books as they travel the world, encounter Water-Wombles and eventually return home to their old burrow...

One wonders why they opted to revise the stories for a slightly younger audience when brought to television - not that anyone's complaining, heavens above! For me, when reading the books for the first time, it was more compelling to compare / recognise the differences and changes that were made. Even you would be amazed at how different the original story of "Orinoco and the Black Umbrella" differs to the version that was televised...

All in all, it is safe to say that I now find the Wombles delightful with either format. They're still fondly remember 40+ years later, whether for their music, the TV episodes or the original books, and show no signs of being forgotten about. The books are indeed worth your money if you're curious to view the original TV stories in a "new" (or should that be "old"?) light.

A slight update for 2010 - illustrated by Nick Price

 

LINKS OF INTEREST:

The Wombles' Official Page

The Wombles on Toonhound

The Womble Burrow Fansite - featuring merchandise old and new!

Tidy Bag - The Online Wombles Museum

Womble Stories - download a selection of audio stories from AudioGo.com

Obituary for Elisabeth Beresford (1926 - 2010)

He's Charlie Chalk - make no mistake about that!

He may have a "funny way of walking and a wacky way of talking", but these are a few reasons why folks like myself adore shows like Charlie Chalk:

Simply put, it provides what I like to call "intelligent nonsense". Basically when odd things happen with a somewhat logical reason rather than being LOLrandom with no punchline at all. The Goon Show made a wonderful living with this theory from nonsensical storylines packed to overflowing with bizarre but clever "theories". Just listen to their "What Time is it, Eccles?" sketch for a perfect example of "intelligent nonsense".

Charlie Chalk follows the same wonderfully. Created by Ivor Wood of Woodland Animations (Postman Pat, Bertha and Gran) in 1987, it tells of a clown lost at sea, who washes up on a strange island known as Merrytwit - its inhabitants include Captain Mildred of the Good Ship Buttercup, Edward the lazy Gorilla, know-it-all Lewis T. Duck, Arnold the clumsy Elephant, Trader Jones the odd job man and the aberrant-looking Litterbug.

It may not sound much to some, but with a small cast like this (adding Mary the Hover Fairy and Bert the Mountain Monster), it offers bucketloads of crazy storytelling as demonstrated by Jocelyn Stevenson when she was in her creative prime (Funnybones, Captain Zed, Fraggle Rock, the Magic School Bus). Again, no moral lessons were required quite as often for today's generation - it's the fun of telling a story with solid characters and a lot of imagination that's the best reward =)

Although like many things in this life, Charlie's TV Career was short but sweet - with 13 episodes still on DVD and earning himself a LP Record in 1994 with songs from the episodes themselves. Not bad, eh?

So if you want to find out more about how to write "intelligent nonsense", feel free to watch a few episodes from the Playlist below and learn something... ;D

Charlie Chalk on Toonhound!