Photograph: Oliver Postgate being advised by Bagpuss in the studio, 1974.
Bagpuss was first seen on 12 February 1974. The charming children's stop motion animation was made by Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin, starring the "saggy old cloth cat" Bagpuss. He lived in a strange shop - owned by a little girl called Emily - which didn't actually sell anything, but was a home for lost property. Only 13 episodes were ever made, but the programme has remained popular down the generations and was voted the all-time favourite children's programme in 1999.
The opening of Bagpuss was shot in sepia with Emily – Firmin's actual daughter – in clothes that suggested an Edwardian setting. After Emily left Bagpuss came to life, with Postgate providing his voice, and the film changed to colour. When Bagpuss awoke so did his friends: Professor Yaffle the woodpecker bookend, Gabriel the toad and Madeleine the rag doll, as well as the musical mice on their magical mouse organ. Together they inspected whatever item Emily had left them. Gabriel and Madeleine – voiced by John Faulkner and Sandra Kerr – provided songs and stories, although the mice often sang too.
With their production company Smallfilms, Postgate and Firmin created some of the most loved children's programmes seen on the BBC, working from an outbuilding in Firmin's home. Apart from Bagpuss they made Pogle's Wood, The Clangers, Ivor the Engine, and Noggin the Nog.
February anniversaries
-
Blue Peter 5000th edition
1 February 2018 -
Face to Face
4 February 1959 -
First TV Sports commentary
4 February 1937 -
The Wombles
5 February 1973 -
A Night of Comic Relief
5 February 1988 -
Greenwich Time Signal - the 'pips'
5 February 1924 -
Grange Hill
8 February 1978 -
BBC Three is launched
9 February 2003 -
Doomwatch
9 February 1970 -
Bagpuss
12 February 1974 -
The EBU - European Broadcasting Union formed
12 February 1950 -
Potter's Wheel Interlude
16 February 1953 -
Start of Six-Five Special
16 February 1957 -
The Apprentice
16 February 2005 -
Hospital Watch
17 February 1986 -
Elizabeth R
17 February 1971 -
One Man and His Dog
17 February 1976 -
Antiques Roadshow
18 February 1979 -
Tonight launched
18 February 1957 -
Wogan
18 February 1985 -
EastEnders first episode
19 February 1985 -
Open All Hours
20 February 1976 -
First national broadcast of prices for farmers
20 February 1925 -
General Election results televised for the first time
23 February 1950 -
Civilisation
23 February 1969 -
Yes Minister
25 February 1980 -
Mr Benn
25 February 1971