224:
Each of the five classic shows actually consisted of only a very small number of episodes, all made on film – and all in black-and-white. Typically, not more than 26 programmes were filmed for each show, this being sufficient for a run of six months as there was only one broadcast per week. The aim
33:
225:
was to provide children's programming on the cheap: the BBC Children's department had an extremely tiny budget, and needed a collection of films which could be endlessly repeated, typically in six-monthly cycles, for its undemanding pre-school age audience.
475:
A 45rpm promotional single was available to radio disc jockeys, for promo only, entitled "Flob-A-Dob-A-Ben", in 1987. The single was not released on general release and was played often as a novelty record by
825:
1160:
1155:
1150:
1170:
131:
from 1952 until 1975, it was the first BBC television series aimed specifically at pre-school children, a development of BBC radio's equivalent
1165:
148:
for the title of the series was intended "to deflect fears that television might become a nursemaid to children and encourage bad mothering".
1175:
993:
843:
137:, which had begun two years earlier. In accordance with its intended target audience of pre-school children viewing with their mothers,
141:
was initially broadcast between 3:45 pm and 4:00 pm, post-afternoon nap and before the older children came home from school.
234:
joined the Watch with Mother Monday slot in
December 1963, and caused worries that the original five shows would be replaced.
172:
was not adopted until April 1953, shortly before the programming was expanded to three afternoons a week with the addition of
940:
861:
880:
986:
807:
956:
902:"Of Finger Mice and Mr. Men - The Story of Watch with Mother Part Three: Now Where Shall we Find the Pogles?"
228:
From April 1963, Watch with Mother was moved to 10.45am (with a further slot at 1.30pm from
September 1963).
901:
513:
Between 1987 and 1993, four compilation videos with Watch with Mother shows have been released by the BBC.
966:
472:
became a best-seller in 1987, and was followed by a second and a third in 1989 and a 'best of' in 1993.
1128:
979:
180:
178:
that
September. The "classic" cycle of shows was in place by September 1955, with the first showing of
1093:
497:
192:
162:
had been regularly broadcast every week since mid-1950 (normally on
Tuesdays), and was joined by
1114:
230:
1079:
306:
961:
1107:
174:
8:
784:
364:
133:
936:
438:
37:
The opening titles from 1952. The film was reversed so the title appeared to flower.
1037:
737:
258:
1100:
461:
title was dropped, as it was considered to be dated, and the strand was known as
330:
250:
242:
120:
1065:
164:
128:
1144:
886:
424:
237:
Subsequent shows that occupied the Watch with Mother slot were as follows:
1030:
477:
290:
1058:
1016:
282:
274:
158:
124:
1072:
266:
971:
741:, a television programme for school-age children that ran from 1937.
32:
1121:
1051:
502:
356:
298:
452:
1086:
1044:
1023:
398:
390:
322:
314:
80:
933:
British
Broadcasting; Radio and Television in the United Kingdom
962:
Link to complete listing & details about all the programmes
778:
776:
774:
772:
769:
469:
882:
Complete Watch With Mother / See-Saw Guide 1953 – 1988
495:
were remade as stop motion animations (the latter as
757:
168:
in
December 1952 (normally on Wednesdays), the name
187:Broadcast at 1:30 pm each day, it comprised:
1142:
453:After 1978 – Name change and later developments
119:was a cycle of children's programmes created by
16:British children's television series (1952–1978)
872:
957:More information and clips from the programmes
508:
987:
254:- Mondays in 1966, Tuesdays from 1971 to 1972
899:
1161:1970s British children's television series
1156:1960s British children's television series
1151:1950s British children's television series
994:
980:
31:
1171:1975 British television series endings
1143:
930:
878:
763:
629:Watch with Mother: The Next Generation
1166:1952 British television series debuts
1001:
975:
885:, Television Heaven, archived from
13:
782:
679:The Very Best of Watch with Mother
14:
1187:
950:
935:, University of Minnesota Press,
900:Worthington, TJ (November 2006).
714:: Muffin and the Squeaking Shoes
1176:BBC children's television shows
893:
854:
836:
818:
800:
487:In the early 2000s, the shows
386:- Wednesdays from 1978 to 1982
380:- Wednesdays from 1977 to 1988
374:- Wednesdays from 1973 to 1977
368:- Wednesdays from 1973 to 1980
360:- Wednesdays from 1973 to 1978
352:- Wednesdays from 1970 to 1973
151:
1:
862:"Search Results – BBC Genome"
844:"Search Results – BBC Genome"
826:"Search Results – BBC Genome"
808:"Search Results – BBC Genome"
745:
482:Andy Marriott Television Show
394:- Thursdays from 1969 to 1985
346:- Tuesdays from 1977 to 1980
334:- Tuesdays from 1975 to 1984
326:- Tuesdays from 1974 to 1988
318:- Tuesdays from 1974 to 1986
310:- Tuesdays from 1969 to 1973
302:- Tuesdays from 1967 to 1985
294:- Tuesdays from 1967 to 1971
7:
967:Link to Museum of Broadcast
730:
707:: "Mickey Murphy the Baker"
644:: "A Ride in Guinea's Jeep"
509:UK VHS releases (1987–1993)
434:- Fridays from 1973 to 1977
428:- Fridays from 1973 to 1978
420:- Fridays from 1970 to 1977
414:- Fridays from 1970 to 1975
408:- Fridays from 1970 to 1972
286:- Mondays from 1977 to 1988
278:- Mondays from 1972 to 1984
270:- Mondays from 1968 to 1975
262:- Mondays from 1966 to 1985
246:- Mondays from 1966 to 1973
10:
1192:
220: – Fridays, from 1955
196: – Mondays, from 1955
1011:
879:Marcus, Laurence (2005),
448:- Fridays in 1977 to 1980
86:
76:
71:
63:
58:
50:
42:
30:
23:
1115:Tales of the Riverbank
931:Burton, Paulu (1956),
657:: "Strawberry Picking"
642:Tales of The Riverbank
231:Tales of the Riverbank
1080:Mary, Mungo and Midge
465:from 1980 to 1990. A
402:- Thursdays from 1971
307:Mary, Mungo and Midge
1108:Rag, Tag and Bobtail
662:Mary Mungo and Midge
611:Rag, Tag and Bobtail
562:Rag, Tag and Bobtail
212:Rag, Tag and Bobtail
175:Rag, Tag and Bobtail
889:on 10 February 2009
866:genome.ch.bbc.co.uk
848:genome.ch.bbc.co.uk
830:genome.ch.bbc.co.uk
812:genome.ch.bbc.co.uk
580:Watch with Mother 2
789:, BFI Screenonline
783:McGown, Alistair,
607:: "The Potato Man"
564:: "The Hazel Twig"
545:: "Paper Lanterns"
501:), which aired on
412:Along the Seashore
340:- Tuesdays in 1975
208: – Wednesdays
134:Listen with Mother
1138:
1137:
1004:Watch with Mother
942:978-0-8166-0127-1
786:Watch With Mother
728:
727:
531:Watch with Mother
467:Watch with Mother
459:Watch with Mother
442:- Fridays in 1976
214: – Thursdays
170:Watch with Mother
146:Watch with Mother
139:Watch with Mother
116:Watch with Mother
112:
111:
51:Original language
43:Country of origin
25:Watch with Mother
1183:
1038:Camberwick Green
996:
989:
982:
973:
972:
945:
917:
916:
914:
912:
897:
891:
890:
876:
870:
869:
858:
852:
851:
840:
834:
833:
822:
816:
815:
804:
798:
797:
796:
794:
780:
767:
761:
738:For the Children
705:Camberwick Green
571:: "Introduction"
516:
515:
418:Along the Trail
259:Camberwick Green
202: – Tuesdays
107:
105:
97:
95:
72:Original release
35:
21:
20:
1191:
1190:
1186:
1185:
1184:
1182:
1181:
1180:
1141:
1140:
1139:
1134:
1007:
1000:
953:
948:
943:
921:
920:
910:
908:
898:
894:
877:
873:
860:
859:
855:
842:
841:
837:
824:
823:
819:
806:
805:
801:
792:
790:
781:
770:
762:
758:
748:
733:
724:
717:
712:Muffin the Mule
710:
703:
681:
673:
660:
647:
635:2 October 1989
631:
623:
616:
603:
585:2 October 1989
574:
567:
554:
536:5 October 1987
511:
455:
406:Along the River
378:Heads and Tails
154:
127:. Broadcast by
121:Freda Lingstrom
103:
101:
99:
93:
91:
38:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1189:
1179:
1178:
1173:
1168:
1163:
1158:
1153:
1136:
1135:
1133:
1132:
1129:The Woodentops
1125:
1118:
1111:
1104:
1097:
1090:
1083:
1076:
1069:
1066:Flower Pot Men
1062:
1055:
1048:
1041:
1034:
1027:
1020:
1012:
1009:
1008:
999:
998:
991:
984:
976:
970:
969:
964:
959:
952:
951:External links
949:
947:
946:
941:
927:
919:
918:
892:
871:
853:
835:
817:
799:
768:
766:, p. 307.
755:
754:
747:
744:
743:
742:
732:
729:
726:
725:
723:
722:
719:The Woodentops
715:
708:
701:
695:
688:
686:
683:
675:
674:
672:
671:
670:: "The Circus"
665:
658:
652:
651:: "Honey Bees"
645:
638:
636:
633:
625:
624:
622:
621:
618:The Woodentops
614:
608:
601:
595:
588:
586:
583:
576:
575:
573:
572:
569:The Woodentops
565:
559:
552:
546:
539:
537:
534:
527:
526:
523:
520:
510:
507:
493:Flower Pot Men
454:
451:
450:
449:
443:
435:
429:
421:
415:
409:
403:
395:
387:
381:
375:
369:
361:
353:
347:
344:How do You Do!
341:
335:
327:
319:
311:
303:
295:
287:
279:
271:
263:
255:
247:
222:
221:
218:The Woodentops
215:
209:
206:Flower Pot Men
203:
197:
181:The Woodentops
165:Flower Pot Men
153:
150:
144:The choice of
129:BBC Television
110:
109:
88:
84:
83:
78:
74:
73:
69:
68:
65:
61:
60:
56:
55:
52:
48:
47:
46:United Kingdom
44:
40:
39:
36:
28:
27:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1188:
1177:
1174:
1172:
1169:
1167:
1164:
1162:
1159:
1157:
1154:
1152:
1149:
1148:
1146:
1131:
1130:
1126:
1124:
1123:
1119:
1117:
1116:
1112:
1110:
1109:
1105:
1103:
1102:
1098:
1096:
1095:
1091:
1089:
1088:
1084:
1082:
1081:
1077:
1075:
1074:
1070:
1068:
1067:
1063:
1061:
1060:
1056:
1054:
1053:
1049:
1047:
1046:
1042:
1040:
1039:
1035:
1033:
1032:
1028:
1026:
1025:
1021:
1019:
1018:
1014:
1013:
1010:
1006:
1005:
997:
992:
990:
985:
983:
978:
977:
974:
968:
965:
963:
960:
958:
955:
954:
944:
938:
934:
929:
928:
926:
925:
907:
906:Off the Telly
903:
896:
888:
884:
883:
875:
867:
863:
857:
849:
845:
839:
831:
827:
821:
813:
809:
803:
788:
787:
779:
777:
775:
773:
765:
760:
756:
753:
752:
740:
739:
735:
734:
721:: "The Party"
720:
716:
713:
709:
706:
702:
699:
698:Flowerpot Men
696:
693:
690:
689:
687:
685:5 April 1993
684:
680:
677:
676:
669:
666:
664:: "The Crane"
663:
659:
656:
653:
650:
646:
643:
640:
639:
637:
634:
630:
627:
626:
620:: "Horseshoe"
619:
615:
613:: "Snowballs"
612:
609:
606:
605:Flowerpot Men
602:
599:
596:
594:: "Bush Baby"
593:
590:
589:
587:
584:
581:
578:
577:
570:
566:
563:
560:
557:
556:Flowerpot Men
553:
550:
547:
544:
541:
540:
538:
535:
532:
529:
528:
524:
522:Release Year
521:
518:
517:
514:
506:
504:
500:
499:
494:
490:
485:
483:
479:
473:
471:
468:
464:
460:
457:In 1978, the
447:
444:
441:
440:
436:
433:
430:
427:
426:
422:
419:
416:
413:
410:
407:
404:
401:
400:
396:
393:
392:
388:
385:
384:Over the Moon
382:
379:
376:
373:
370:
367:
366:
362:
359:
358:
354:
351:
348:
345:
342:
339:
336:
333:
332:
328:
325:
324:
320:
317:
316:
312:
309:
308:
304:
301:
300:
296:
293:
292:
288:
285:
284:
280:
277:
276:
272:
269:
268:
264:
261:
260:
256:
253:
252:
248:
245:
244:
240:
239:
238:
235:
233:
232:
226:
219:
216:
213:
210:
207:
204:
201:
198:
195:
194:
190:
189:
188:
185:
183:
182:
177:
176:
171:
167:
166:
161:
160:
149:
147:
142:
140:
136:
135:
130:
126:
122:
118:
117:
89:
85:
82:
79:
75:
70:
66:
62:
57:
53:
49:
45:
41:
34:
29:
26:
22:
19:
1127:
1120:
1113:
1106:
1101:Pogles' Wood
1099:
1094:Picture Book
1092:
1085:
1078:
1071:
1064:
1057:
1050:
1043:
1036:
1029:
1022:
1015:
1003:
1002:
932:
924:Bibliography
923:
922:
909:. Retrieved
905:
895:
887:the original
881:
874:
865:
856:
847:
838:
829:
820:
811:
802:
791:, retrieved
785:
759:
750:
749:
736:
718:
711:
704:
697:
694:: "Tricycle"
691:
682:(BBCV 4966)
678:
667:
661:
654:
648:
641:
632:(BBCV 4280)
628:
617:
610:
604:
600:: "The Cart"
597:
592:Picture Book
591:
582:(BBCV 4286)
579:
568:
561:
555:
548:
543:Picture Book
542:
533:(BBCV 4091)
530:
512:
498:Bill and Ben
496:
492:
488:
486:
481:
474:
466:
462:
458:
456:
445:
437:
431:
425:Teddy Edward
423:
417:
411:
405:
397:
389:
383:
377:
371:
363:
355:
349:
343:
337:
329:
321:
313:
305:
297:
289:
281:
273:
265:
257:
249:
243:Pogles' Wood
241:
236:
229:
227:
223:
217:
211:
205:
199:
193:Picture Book
191:
186:
179:
173:
169:
163:
157:
155:
145:
143:
138:
132:
115:
114:
113:
64:Running time
24:
18:
1031:Bizzy Lizzy
911:3 September
764:Burton 1956
700:: "Icicles"
649:Pogles Wood
478:Radio Trent
432:Ring-a-Ding
372:In the Town
350:On the Farm
291:Bizzy Lizzy
152:Show cycles
1145:Categories
1059:Fingerbobs
1017:Andy Pandy
746:References
692:Andy Pandy
598:Andy Pandy
549:Andy Pandy
489:Andy Pandy
446:Play Board
283:The Flumps
275:Fingerbobs
200:Andy Pandy
159:Andy Pandy
125:Maria Bird
108:, 26 years
67:15 minutes
59:Production
1073:The Herbs
655:The Herbs
558:: "Seeds"
525:Episodes
519:VHS Name
267:The Herbs
156:Although
1122:Trumpton
1052:Clangers
731:See also
551:: "Pram"
503:CBeebies
299:Trumpton
1087:Mr Benn
1045:Chigley
1024:Bagpuss
793:22 June
668:Barnaby
480:on the
463:See-Saw
439:Rubovia
399:Mr Benn
391:Chigley
365:Ragtime
357:Barnaby
323:Mr. Men
315:Bagpuss
102: (
98: –
92: (
87:Release
77:Network
54:English
939:
338:Thomas
751:Notes
470:video
937:ISBN
913:2023
795:2012
491:and
123:and
104:1978
100:1978
94:1952
90:1952
81:BBC1
331:Bod
251:Joe
1147::
904:.
864:.
846:.
828:.
810:.
771:^
505:.
484:.
184:.
995:e
988:t
981:v
915:.
868:.
850:.
832:.
814:.
106:)
96:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.