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Bodger & Badger
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| Bodger & Badger | |
|---|---|
| Created by | Andy Cunningham |
| Starring | Andy Cunningham |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 9 |
| No. of episodes | 124 |
| Production | |
| Production locations | Studio portions: BBC Television Centre (all series, mostly studio TC7), Location portions: Chessington World of Adventures (series 4), Hanwell, Acton and Ealing (series 5-7), Brighton and Hove (series 8 & 9). |
| Running time | 15 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC One |
| Release | 13 September 1989 – 29 March 1999 |
Bodger & Badger is a BBC children's comedy programme written by Andy Cunningham, first broadcast in 1989. It starred Cunningham as handyman Simon Bodger and his talking badger companion. The programme originated from some appearances the duo first made together in 1988 as part of the Saturday morning BBC One children's programme On the Waterfront.[1]
Plot
[edit]The programme followed the exploits of Simon Bodger and his puppet companion, Badger, a badly behaved but friendly and cheerful badger with a proclivity for mashed potato and huge mess. The first four series focused on Bodger's jobs as a handyman and his attempts to hide Badger from his superiors. Series 1 was set at Troff's Nosherama, a café where Bodger worked as a cook. Series 2 and 3 were set at Letsby Avenue Junior School. Series 4 was set at Chessington World of Adventures, a real theme park in Surrey.
From series 5, the character Mousey was introduced, a puppet mouse with a fondness for cheese. The show was now set at Bodger's rented home and later his B&B hotel. Series 5-7 rarely mentioned Bodger's employment, suggesting he was now unemployed. The later series still focused on Bodger's attempts to hide Badger from figures of authority, his landlady from Series 6-7 and the tourist information officer in series 9. These later episodes increased the slapstick humour with prominent comic sound effects and incidental music.
According to Andy Cunningham, the programme ended when the Head of BBC Children's Programmes, Christopher Pilkington (who had initially commissioned the show in 1989) left his post. Cunningham did not mind, as he said he was struggling for inspiration for things to do with mashed potato towards the end of the show's run.[2]
Theme song
[edit]The programme's theme song is sung by children. The music was composed by Peter Gosling and the lyrics written by Andy Cunningham. Various edits of the song were used over the years, with the full version used on the end credits of some episodes from 1989 to 1991.[3]
Characters and cast
[edit]This section may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may only interest a particular audience. (September 2024) |
Main characters
[edit]- Simon Bodger (Andy Cunningham) - Simon Bodger is a handyman who has had various jobs throughout the series. He is of a nervous disposition, which causes him to be clumsy. Badger's antics repeatedly cost Bodger his job. He has worked as a cook, a school caretaker, a zookeeper, and the temporary owner of a Bed and Breakfast. In the fifth, sixth and seventh series he was seemingly unemployed and renting a flat, occasionally working as a casual handyman to his landlady, Mrs Dribelle. Badger is his pet and best friend, although all the trouble that Bodger ends up in is usually down to Badger. Regular gags usually involve Badger covering Bodger in mashed potato or some other messy substance.
- Badger (voiced by Andy Cunningham, operated by Andy Cunningham + others) - An anthropomorphic badger who talks with a South London accent. He wears a red beret and red and white patterned neckerchief. Badger is obsessed with mashed potato, which he likes to play with as well as eat. As Simon tries to keep Badger's existence a secret, Simon often gets the blame for Badger's mishaps. Nevertheless, Badger is still a very good friend to Simon and tries to help him out in every way he can, although Badger usually misunderstands a situation or can take things literally.
- Mousey (voiced and operated by Jane Bassett) - Mousey is an anthropomorphic talking mouse who lives under the floorboards of the flat that Bodger rents from Series 5–7. She and Badger are great friends, both constantly getting up to mischief. Mousey's presence is only known by Bodger. When Bodger and Badger move to Puddleford to run their hotel in Series 8, Mousey moves with them and takes up residence in the airing cupboard rather than under the floorboards.
Series 1
[edit]- Mr Hector Troff (Roger Walker) - The arrogant and tight-fisted owner of the restaurant in Series 1. He has no knowledge of Badger's presence (although he keeps glimpsing him but putting it down to his over-active imagination) until the final episode of the series. His character is based on that of Arkwright from Open All Hours - there are several similarities between the two characters, mainly a desire to improve their respective businesses while wanting to spend as little money as possible in doing so.
- Mavis (Joanne Campbell) - An out-of-work singer who worked as a waitress at the restaurant with Bodger and was friendly with both Bodger and Badger. She returned, having made her fame and fortune in the singing profession, for one episode during Series 2 when she visited Bodger and Badger at Letsby Avenue Junior School.
Series 2 and 3
[edit]- Mrs Daphne Trout (Lila Kaye) - The cruel and overweight Headmistress of Letsby Avenue Junior School. She was referred to as 'Fish-face' by Badger and the school children. She enjoyed insulting Bodger and Miss Moon, being nasty to the children and going down the cake shop.
- Miss Geraldine Moon (Selina Cadell) - The warm-hearted but dim-witted Deputy Head of Letsby Avenue Junior School throughout Series 2 and 3. She repeatedly sees Badger, but always passes it off as overwork or some other stress-related mental health issue.
- Mr Valentino (Rudolph Walker) - Chairman of the School Board of Governors of Letsby Avenue Junior School, who appeared in two episodes in Series 3. He sends Mrs Trout away to retrain as a teacher after he realises she is an incompetent Headmistress.
- Mrs Prunella Bogart (Richenda Carey) - Mrs. Trout's sister, a nasty-tempered Headmistress. Like Mrs Trout, she is lazy and prefers to delegate as much of her work as possible to Miss Moon.
- Eamon Trout (Philip Herbert) - Mrs Trout's spoiled son, and therefore Mrs Bogart's nephew. He wanted Mrs Bogart to fire Bodger so he could be the school handyman, but he was quickly scared away by Badger and the children.
Series 4
[edit]- Mr Lionel Beasley (Jon Glover) - Bodger's superior at Chessington World of Adventures in Series 4. He tries to imply he is an educated professional, and excellent at his job. He knows of Badger's presence at the park and is constantly trying to catch him, although he does not know he is Bodger's pet. He is nicknamed 'Measly Beasley' because of his unfriendly, strict and pompous attitude.
- Holly (Sophie Worters) - A friendly girl who spends a lot of time at Chessington in Series 4. She is good friends with both Bodger and Badger and dislikes Mr Beasley just as much as they do.
Series 5, 6 and 7
[edit]- "Boss" & Courtney (Penelope Nice and Ashley Artus) - Two villainous thieves who attempt to burgle Bodger's flat in Series 5. Posing as two council officers upgrading home security, they try to steal a valuable Ancient Egyptian statue which belongs to Bodger's aunt. They fail, thanks to Badger who tricks the dim-witted Courtney into believing that it is a cursed statue that throws 'Ancient Egyptian mashed potato' if tampered with.
- Mrs Cecilia Dribelle (Carol MacReady) - Bodger's landlady in Series 6 and 7. She has a distinct dislike for animals (apart from cats) and forbids her tenants from keeping pets, resulting in Bodger having to constantly hide Badger whenever she visits. She dislikes Bodger intensely and tries everything she can think of to evict him. She is nicknamed 'Mrs Dribble' and 'Dribbly Bibbly' by Badger. In her early episodes she is made aware of Badger's presence by her sidekick, Elton, but never actually sees him. She later employs Bodger as her handyman in Series 7.
- Elton (Joe Cushley) - Mrs Dribelle's dim-witted sidekick. He is a hardman who always wears a woolly hat with badges and a denim jacket. He knows that Bodger has a badger in the flat after Badger hits him on the head with a frying pan. He is incredibly stupid and is always trying to prove to Mrs Dribelle that there is a badger in the flat by all means possible, but he never succeeds. Elton did not feature after Series 6.
- Alec Smart (Ricky Diamond) - The sly and untrustworthy tenant who moves into the flat above Bodger's in Series 7. He was always thinking up schemes to make money, often tricking Mrs Dribelle and Bodger in the process. He sucks up to Mrs Dribelle while secretly trying to scam her. He is eventually evicted. When Bodger and Badger move to Puddleford at the beginning of Series 8 to run a hotel, they are horrified to discover that Mr Smart is their next door neighbour once again.
- Vicky (Sally Ann Marsh) - Mrs Dribelle's niece. She was supposed to have been an accountant, but Vicky had dreams of being part of a band. She moves into the upstairs flat after Alec Smart is thrown out. She is supposed to work for her auntie, but she is always secretly auditioning for jobs as a drummer. She hides her drum kit in the bath when Mrs Dribelle visits as she disapproves of it. Vicky and Badger got on very well as they both love mashed potato. She ended up going on tour with a travelling band as a drummer. Vicky only appeared in Series 7.
Series 8 and 9
[edit]- Millie (Jane Bassett) - A milkwoman in Puddleford who is a friend of Bodger and Badger in Series 8 and 9. She helps out Bodger and Badger on numerous occasions, mainly allowing use of her milk float to carry customers around, such as picking Mr Wilson up from the station. She shares their dislike of Mr Smart and Mrs Melly. She owns a dog named China, who is friends with Badger.
- China - A dog originally owned by the Hutchins family in Series 8 but later belongs to Millie in Series 9. He worked with Badger and Mousey to cause chaos with mashed potato around Puddleford. He likes annoying Mrs Melly by barking loudly outside her office.
- Miss Prunella Peake (Valerie Minifie) - One of Bodger's first hotel guests in Series 8. She was bad-tempered and miserable and was rather rude and quite threatening to Bodger.
- Mr Tucknott (Bill Thomas) - A bank manager who stayed in Bodger's hotel in Series 8. He is quite cheerful but appears to be long-suffering and quite nervous about his job, and becomes particularly worried when trying to write a speech in the episode 'Mashy Record Breakers'.
- Mrs Bobbins (Jo Warne) - Stayed in Bodger's hotel in Series 8 at the same time as Mr Tucknott. She is very bubbly and appears to like Bodger, but is not aware of Badger's presence, even in the episode 'Big Bear' when Badger poses as a large teddy bear which she bought for her granddaughter and she tries to wrap him up in wrapping paper.
- Mrs Sharona Melly (Carole Boyd) - The bossy Tourist Information officer from Series 9. She is highly suspicious of Bodger and believes that he is hiding something in his hotel, although she never actually finds out about Badger. She dislikes people having fun on the beach outside her office and will do anything to prevent it. She has a lot of trouble with China the dog, who is always hanging around her office. She often looks for quick ways to make money.
- Mr Malcolm Wilson (Matthew Woolcott) - A trainee bank manager who stayed in Bodger's hotel in Series 9. He is a bit of a cry-baby, who gets upset over the slightest things.
- Mr Bill Gripper (Roger Liddle) - Another hotel guest from two episodes in Series 9. A school P.E. teacher who had a crush on Mrs Melly and challenged Mr Wilson to a running race along the sea front, which he lost (thanks to Badger).
Crew
[edit]- Andy Cunningham - Creator / Writer of most of the episodes (series 1-9).
- Wayne Jackman - Writer (series 6-7)
- Jane Bassett - Other Writer of most of the episodes (series 7-9).
- Pierre Hollins - Writer (series 7)
- Claire Winyard - Director (series 2)
- Judy Whitfield - Executive Producer, Producer (series 1)
- Greg Childs - Producer (series 2)
- Christine Hewitt - Producer (series 5–8)
- Sue Morgan - Producer (series 9)
Popularity
[edit]
In 2000 and 2001, all episodes of Bodger and Badger were repeated on archive children's programming strand CBBC on Choice on the BBC Choice digital TV channel. Additionally, they were broadcast on CBeebies in 2002 but then disappeared from schedules until 2005 when the CBBC channel began a repeat of series 6–9. Since 2008 it has not been shown at all, although recorded episodes have surfaced on the internet and exist on YouTube.
Bodger and Badger has enjoyed something of a cult status, particularly among teenagers and young adults who grew up with the programme. It has also found popularity amongst students, tuning into daytime repeats. As such, it has led to a popular tour of UK universities; 'Mashed Potato Theme Nights' were held at various universities, including Hull, Aston, Warwick, Bath, Buckinghamshire New and Aberystwyth. A DVD, 'Bodger and Badger: Live', was released on 6 November 2006.
Bodger and Badger have also since appeared in other venues, most notably in the kids' field at Glastonbury Festival, where a routine aimed primarily at children is also cleverly[according to whom?] seeded with knowing in-jokes about the festival and the people attending it.
In 2007, two adverts were filmed for instant mashed potato brand Smash, the first in a planned series of adverts for a new marketing campaign featuring the two characters and playing on Badger's love of mashed potato. However, whilst the first two adverts were completed and shown at trade fairs, as well as some industry literature featuring the characters released, the ad campaign was ultimately dropped and never aired, due to the BBC still owning the rights to the Bodger and Badger name and concept, which would conflict with the BBC's obligation to not use any of its programmes or stars to promote commercial properties.
Series and episodes
[edit]Series One (1989)
[edit]Series 1 featured Bodger and Badger working in Troff's Nosherama, a run-down café with pretensions to being a restaurant. It was not known during production whether another series was to be commissioned, hence the last episode of this series is titled "The Final Episode".
The closing titles of this series at first featured specially-shot clips of the cast (in character) then a specially-shot clip of Badger over the technical crew credits. This changed gradually through the series, slowly incorporating repeated clips of cast members (in character) from earlier in the episode, although these were occasionally interspersed with the specially-shot clips, with the latter gradually being phased out. The specially-shot clip of Badger over the technical crew credits remained, however.
The series was broadcast weekly on Wednesdays from 13 September 1989 at 4:05 pm.[4]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Bodger is Chef" | 13 September 1989 | |
|
Simon Bodger must win a cookery contest to get the Chef's job at Troff's Nosherama. | ||||
| 2 | 2 | "The Badgers Are Coming" | 20 September 1989 | |
|
Badger ends up inside a cake. | ||||
| 3 | 3 | "The Health Inspector" | 27 September 1989 | |
|
The Health Inspector pays a visit to Troff's Nosherama where she thinks she's seeing badgers. | ||||
| 4 | 4 | "Portrait of Hector" | 4 October 1989 | |
|
Mr Troff decides the Nosherama needs a new Welcome sign. Mr Troff thinks Mavis is the artist, but in fact it is Badger. | ||||
| 5 | 5 | "Auntie Warnty" | 11 October 1989 | |
|
Mr Troff’s Australian aunt comes to visit the Nosherama. | ||||
| 6 | 6 | "Adrian Loud Warbler" | 18 October 1989 | |
|
Adrian Loud Warbler invites Mavis to lunch to discuss a singing job. Unfortunately he takes her to the Nosherama! | ||||
| 7 | 7 | "The Robot" | 25 October 1989 | |
|
Bodger is in danger of being replaced as chef at the Nosherama when a salesman shows Mr Troff a new 'Shove-a-Chef.' | ||||
| 8 | 8 | "The Final Episode" | 1 November 1989 | |
|
Bodger and Badger are left in charge of the Nosherama, but things do not quite go according to plan with a wedding cake for the wedding party of two mountaineers. Fortunately, Mavis and Badger have an idea when Bodger accidentally crushes the cake... | ||||
Series Two (1991)
[edit]Series 2 and 3 featured Bodger and Badger working at Letsby Avenue junior school. Simon worked as the caretaker.
The series was broadcast weekly on Wednesdays from 9 January 1991 at 3:50 pm.[5]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 1 | "Letsby Avenue" | 9 January 1991 | |
|
Bodger applies for the handyman's job at Letsby Avenue Junior School, but will he get it? | ||||
| 10 | 2 | "Abracabadger" | 16 January 1991 | |
|
Will magic be enough when Miss Moon sees Badger? Class Four come to the rescue. | ||||
| 11 | 3 | "The Bare Mayor" | 23 January 1991 | |
|
Mrs Trout announces that the mayor is coming to visit the school, but Badger gets the wrong end of the stick. | ||||
| 12 | 4 | "The Skeleton" | 30 January 1991 | |
|
Mrs Trout purchases a skeleton for the school, but at the expense of any school trips. | ||||
| 13 | 5 | "Mr Woberts The Watcatcher" | 6 February 1991 | |
|
Mrs Trout thinks the school has rats, so she calls in a ratcatcher. | ||||
| 14 | 6 | "The Hairy Fairy" | 13 February 1991 | |
|
Mrs Trout's birthday cake from the cake shop mysteriously disappears shortly after Badger opens it, so Simon makes a miniature mashed potato statue of the headmistress as a replacement. Miss Moon spots this and thinks the fairies have cast a spell on Mrs Trout. | ||||
| 15 | 7 | "The Wonky Window" | 20 February 1991 | |
|
Bodger and Badger attempt to repair a wonky window in Mrs Trout's office, without much success. | ||||
| 16 | 8 | "Mr Crusher and the Ninja Zombies From Mars" | 27 February 1991 | |
|
Class Four are not impressed with Miss Moon's pixie prancing in PE class. However, they soon discover that the new PE teacher is a lot worse. | ||||
| 17 | 9 | "The Burglar" | 6 March 1991 | |
|
Bodger and Badger mistake Mrs Trout for a burglar when she puts on a costume for the Mayor's Fancy Dress Ball. But it is not long before a real burglar breaks in to steal the school trophies. | ||||
| 18 | 10 | "Snowflakes in Hawaii" | 13 March 1991 | |
|
It's Hawaiian Day at Letsby Avenue. But the fun day proves not to be, when Mrs Trout cancels the coal delivery. | ||||
| 19 | 11 | "Mavis and the Fingerpoppers" | 20 March 1991 | |
|
Mavis from Troff's Nosherama, who is now a pop star, comes to visit Simon at the school. Everyone is excited to have a pop star on the premises, even Mrs Trout. Mavis hypnotises Badger into singing "Old MacDonald Had A Farm". | ||||
| 20 | 12 | "School's Out" | 27 March 1991 | |
|
As the end of term approaches, Bodger and Badger reminisce about their year at Letsby Avenue. Note: This was the first episode to feature clips from previous episodes. | ||||
Series Three (1991)
[edit]Series 3 is still set in Letsby Avenue junior school, but Mrs Trout was fired halfway through the series and Miss Moon became the new temporary headmistress until Mrs Bogart (Mrs Trout's sister) took over as headmistress, when Mrs Trout became a school governor.
The series was broadcast weekly on Tuesdays from 1 October 1991 at 3:55 pm.[6]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 1 | "Mr Valentino and the Rubber Bottom" | 1 October 1991 | |
|
Mr Valentino, the chairman of the school's Governors, has dinner with Mrs Trout who gets a rubber bottom. | ||||
| 22 | 2 | "William Tell" | 8 October 1991 | |
|
Mrs Trout writes, directs and stars in the school play, "William Tell". But will everything be all right on the night? Not likely with Bodger and Badger about. | ||||
| 23 | 3 | "The Head's Anniversary" | 15 October 1991 | |
|
Badger decides to enter Mrs Trout's poetry competition. | ||||
| 24 | 4 | "The Golden Alarm Clock" | 22 October 1991 | |
|
Mr Valentino decides to award Miss Moon a golden alarm clock for not missing a day's school. Mrs Trout is not happy. | ||||
| 25 | 5 | "The New Moon" | 29 October 1991 | |
|
Miss Moon gets a thump on the head and a new view of life. Badger shows her that mash potato is fun to play with. | ||||
| 26 | 6 | "Eamon and the New Headmistress" | 5 November 1991 | |
|
As Mrs Trout has been sent back to teacher training college to learn how to read, the new headmistress Mrs Bogart arrives. She brings along her loathsome nephew, Eamon, to replace Bodger as the school handyman, so Badger and the children try to scare him off. | ||||
| 27 | 7 | "The Mashed Potato Gun" | 12 November 1991 | |
|
A new communication system is set up in the school and Badger makes a mashed potato gun. From this episode this series moved to 3:50pm on original transmission. | ||||
| 28 | 8 | "The Difficult Test" | 19 November 1991 | |
|
Mrs Bogart is determined to make Class 4 sit a difficult test. However, with so many interruptions (mostly from Bodger who is trying to have a fire drill), will it ever happen? | ||||
| 29 | 9 | "The Head's Twin Sister" | 26 November 1991 | |
|
Mrs Bogart will stop at nothing to get hold of Bodger's competition winnings, even posing as her own hard-up identical twin sister! | ||||
| 30 | 10 | "The Baby" | 3 December 1991 | |
|
Miss Moon has agreed to look after her neighbour's baby for the day. Badger, Rocky and Vicky trick Mrs Bogart into eating laxative chocolate. | ||||
| 31 | 11 | "The Doubling Box" | 10 December 1991 | |
|
Mrs Bogart is charging for lost property and keeps stealing the children's possessions to top up on takings. Badger does what he can to stop her. | ||||
| 32 | 12 | "The Class Photo" | 17 December 1991 | |
|
Badger is having a bath because it's time for the class photograph. When the photographer is cancelled, Miss Moon asks Bodger to help out. | ||||
Series Four (1993)
[edit]Series 4 featured Bodger and Badger working at Chessington World of Adventures, a theme park in Surrey.
The series was broadcast weekly on Mondays from 13 September 1993 at 3:55 pm.[7]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | 1 | "The Arrival" | 13 September 1993 | |
|
Bodger starts a new job as handyman at the Chessington World of Adventures theme park, where no pets are allowed. But Badger is determined to join Bodger, and together the pair meet Holly who hangs about a lot in the park - for free - because her mum works in the kitchens. All seems well until Badger realises that he has not seen any mashed potato in the park. | ||||
| 34 | 2 | "Mr Beasley's Barrow" | 20 September 1993 | |
|
Mr Beasley tries to catch Badger, who is still at the theme park, but is confused as Bodger, Holly and Badger have great fun tricking him. | ||||
| 35 | 3 | "The Tapirs" | 27 September 1993 | |
|
Badger makes friends with some unusual animals, the tapirs. | ||||
| 36 | 4 | "The Elephant's Trunk" | 4 October 1993 | |
|
Bodger fixes the elephant's trunk and Badger tries to hit Mr Beasley with mashed potato. From this episode onwards this series moved to 4:00pm. | ||||
| 37 | 5 | "A Hard Day's Knight" | 11 October 1993 | |
|
Bodger dresses up as a knight, while Badger tries his paw at flying and Holly rescues him. | ||||
| 38 | 6 | "The New Clothes" | 18 October 1993 | |
|
Mr Beasley is issued with a new uniform, but Bodger manages to ruin most of it with the help of Badger and some mashed potato. | ||||
| 39 | 7 | "The Dragon" | 25 October 1993 | |
|
Holly wins a watch at Bodger and Badger's unconventional ball tossing stall, but Mr Beasley takes it from her. Badger thinks of a novel way of getting it back. | ||||
| 40 | 8 | "Wet Paint" | 1 November 1993 | |
|
Mr Beasley sits on a painted bench and tries to reprimand Bodger for not following orders. Instead, Head Office allow Bodger to run the ice-cream cart. | ||||
| 41 | 9 | "Catapult" | 8 November 1993 | |
|
Mr Beasley has finally mastered a plan to catch Badger using a catapult. | ||||
Series Five (1995)
[edit]Series 5 to 7 featured Bodger and Badger living in a rented bedsit flat (Exterior scenes were filmed at No. 78 Grove Avenue, Hanwell in London). Badger met his new friend Mousey in Series 5, a mouse who lived under the floorboards. She became a permanent fixture of the programme from that point onwards.
The series was broadcast weekly from 9 January 1995 at 3:45 pm.[8]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 1 | "A Mouse in the House" | 9 January 1995 | |
|
Bodger and Badger are living in a new flat. They think they're alone until Badger makes friends with a mouse who lives under the floorboards. | ||||
| 43 | 2 | "Under The Floorboards" | 16 January 1995 | |
|
Badger finds it hard to visit Mousey under the floorboards, so he thinks of a plan to get under. | ||||
| 44 | 3 | "Wash Day" | 23 January 1995 | |
|
After their new washing machine blows up, Bodger and Badger have to go to the laundrette. Badger causes chaos as usual and the pair accidentally leave Bodger's washing in the laundrette. | ||||
| 45 | 4 | "Mr Selby's Pictures" | 30 January 1995 | |
|
When Bodger accidentally paints a shop sign back to front, Badger finds a quick solution with an electric saw. | ||||
| 46 | 5 | "Ancient Egyptian Mashed Potato" | 6 February 1995 | |
|
Bodger has trouble with two burglars, "Boss" and Courtney, who try to steal a valuable Ancient Egyptian statue which belongs to Bodger's aunt. Badger decides to scare the burglars off by being the ghost of the Egyptian statue. | ||||
| 47 | 6 | "Rent Money" | 13 February 1995 | |
|
When the rent money goes missing, Bodger and Badger are told to move out. Nothing can help them get their flat back - except Mousey. | ||||
| 48 | 7 | "Here Comes Raymond" | 20 February 1995 | |
|
Bodger's old school friend - the greedy Raymond Tompkins - comes to stay, and Badger declares war to scare and get rid of him. | ||||
| 49 | 8 | "Twin Brother" | 27 February 1995 | |
|
Bodger rations the mashed potato, so Badger invents a twin brother in order to get double his portion. | ||||
| 50 | 9 | "The Mashy Mouse" | 6 March 1995 | |
|
When Bodger decides to borrow a cat to get rid of the mouse in the house, Badger and Mousey have to find a way of showing him he was imagining things. | ||||
| 51 | 10 | "Seaside" | 13 March 1995 | |
|
Badger wants to go to the seaside but the weather forecast is bad, so he decides to make his own seaside - in the bathroom. | ||||
| 52 | 11 | "Cosmic Potatoes" | 20 March 1995 | |
|
Badger and Mousey trick Bodger into believing that Martians are under the floorboards. | ||||
| 53 | 12 | "One of Those Days" | 27 March 1995 | |
|
Badger makes a huge amount of mashed potato and then has to find places to store it, then Bodger's computer goes wrong after Badger and Mousey have a go on it. | ||||
| 54 | 13 | "Mad Mash Bash" | 3 April 1995 | |
|
During a race with Mousey, Badger bangs his head and loses his memory. Mousey helps him to remember by reminding him of all of the adventures they have had. | ||||
Series Six (1996)
[edit]Bodger, Badger and Mousey are still living at the same flat as featured in series 5. This series mainly featured the pair having problems with their new landlady, Mrs Dribelle, and Elton her sidekick who did all her dirty work. Mrs Dribelle did not allow her tenants to keep animals in her properties, so Bodger always had to hide Badger whenever she came to the flat.
The series was broadcast weekly from 15 January 1996 at 3:55 pm.[9]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 1 | "Mrs Dribelle!" | 15 January 1996 | |
|
Bodger and Badger come face-to-face with their new landlady, the fearsome Mrs Dribelle, whose main objective is to get Bodger out of the flat. | ||||
| 56 | 2 | "Badger in the Box" | 22 January 1996 | |
|
Mrs Dribelle sends her nasty assistant, Elton, to intimidate Bodger into leaving the flat. After Badger hits him on the head with a frying pan, Elton is determined to catch him and get Bodger thrown out for breaking the rule of "No animals allowed." | ||||
| 57 | 3 | "Potty" | 29 January 1996 | |
|
Badger finds Bodger's cactus very amusing as it has been planted in a potty. After an unexpected bump on the head, Badger drives Bodger mad by thinking he's an astronaut or Super Badger. | ||||
| 58 | 4 | "Lottery Lunacy" | 5 February 1996 | |
|
Bodger thinks he has won the lottery, after leaving Badger in charge of writing down the numbers. He later regrets a rude phone call to Mrs Dribelle when he discovers he has not won the lottery after all. Note: An episode of ChuckleVision with the same title aired eight days later. | ||||
| 59 | 5 | "Mrs Dribelle's Mother" | 12 February 1996 | |
|
In an attempt to get Bodger out of her house, Mrs Dribelle pretends to have a sick mother (Elton in drag) who needs his room! | ||||
| 60 | 6 | "Pussy Cake, Pussy Cake" | 19 February 1996 | |
|
Fluffykins (Mrs Dribelle's cat)'s birthday cake is delivered to Bodger and Badger's address. Badger is determined to prove to Mousey that the cake is not a real cat, and ends up destroying it. They then create a substitute cake out of mashed potato, Liquorice Allsorts and baked beans. | ||||
| 61 | 7 | "Diet" | 26 February 1996 | |
|
When Badger gets stuck in his badger flap, Bodger decides it's high time he went on a mash-free diet with a healthy dose of exercise, much to Badger's displeasure. | ||||
| 62 | 8 | "Badger's Bed" | 4 March 1996 | |
|
After finding more of Badger's mashed potato in his clothes drawer, Bodger buys Badger a new bed that turns out to be a baby's cot. Meanwhile, Elton is still determined to catch Badger and show him to Mrs Dribelle. Note: Location work for part of this episode was shot in and around Ravenscourt Park, Goldhawk Road, West London. | ||||
| 63 | 9 | "The Countess of Skegness" | 11 March 1996 | |
|
Bodger loses his rent money and tries to make amends by washing Mrs Dribelle's car, but unintentionally covers it in mashed potato after getting the water buckets mixed up. Later on, Mrs Dribelle's attempt to welcome the Countess of Skegness gets ruined thanks to Badger. | ||||
| 64 | 10 | "Overdue" | 18 March 1996 | |
|
Bodger receives a letter from the library saying that he has an overdue book and now must return it. Unfortunately, Badger lent it to Mousey who converted it into a mattress. | ||||
| 65 | 11 | "Badger's Party" | 25 March 1996 | |
|
Mrs Dribelle tries tricking Bodger with a document to get him out of the flat. Fortunately, thanks to Badger, Bodger signs the other side of the document saying that he can stay in the flat for as long as he wants. Now Badger has to stop Elton from getting it back. | ||||
| 66 | 12 | "Around the World with Badger and Mousey" | 27 March 1996 | |
|
Before Badger and Mousey set off on their round-the-world trip, they take a look back at some of the adventures they have had that year. | ||||
Series Seven (1996–1997)
[edit]Series 7 returned to the format of more everyday adventures, and new characters moved into the flat upstairs, including a slimy trickster called Mr Smart and Mrs Dribelle's niece, Vicky. This was the longest-running series, running for six months with a clip show halfway through the series and another at the end.
The series was broadcast weekly from 9 September 1996 at 3:55 pm.[10]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67 | 1 | "Jungle Fever" | 9 September 1996 | |
|
Bodger has become Mrs Dribelle's handyman, and she gives him the task of looking after her plants and doing plant removing. Meanwhile, Badger causes chaos by turning the house into a jungle and the garden into a desert. | ||||
| 68 | 2 | "Catnapped" | 16 September 1996 | |
|
Someone threatens to kidnap Mrs Dribelle's cat Fluffykins. Bodger agrees to look after the cat while she finds a detective, so Mousey leaves home in protest. | ||||
| 69 | 3 | "Here Comes Smarty Pants!" | 23 September 1996 | |
|
Mrs Dribelle has a sneaky new tenant, Alec Smart, who always has plenty of dishonest money-making schemes. When he notices Bodger's expensive camera, Mr Smart tricks him into swapping it for some false stain remover. Badger then comes up with a clever idea to get it back. | ||||
| 70 | 4 | "Funny Money" | 30 September 1996 | |
|
Mr Smart starts forging money by simply photocopying £50 notes, which he intends to use by buying the house off Mrs Dribelle. Badger tries to cheer Simon up with practical jokes. | ||||
| 71 | 5 | "Wet Paint!" | 7 October 1996 | |
|
Mr Smart comes up with another devious scheme in selling Mrs Dribelle a painting, which turns out to be more of Badger's doing with mashed potato. | ||||
| 72 | 6 | "Gnome From Gnome" | 14 October 1996 | |
|
Mrs Dribelle's garden gnomes are going missing. The culprit, of course, is Mr Smart who is stealing all the gnomes in the area hoping to make a profit. Badger and Mousey make a mashed potato satellite. | ||||
| 73 | 7 | "Mrs Dribelle's Big Day" | 21 October 1996 | |
|
Mr Smart pretends to be the wealthy "Baron of Billericay" and proposes to Mrs Dribelle with a fake ring. Now Bodger must stop her from making a big mistake. | ||||
| 74 | 8 | "World Badger Day" | 28 October 1996 | |
|
Badger is bored so he decides to make a holiday of his own called "World Badger Day" - a time when everyone has to be nice to all badgers (and mice). | ||||
| 75 | 9 | "Mrs Dribelle and The Queen" | 4 November 1996 | |
|
Mrs Dribelle is going to a pageant dressed as the Queen and Bodger gets roped into being her servant for the day. Mousey thinks she'll be going off to live in Buckingham Palace. | ||||
| 76 | 10 | "Wotcha Vicky!" | 11 November 1996 | |
|
Badger makes a new friend when Mrs Dribelle's niece, Vicky, moves in upstairs. She is a drummer and loves mashed potato, but Mrs Dribelle is constantly making her miserable. | ||||
| 77 | 11 | "Radio Competition" | 18 November 1996 | |
|
Bodger and Badger help Vicky write a song for the radio, but the words do not come out as expected and Mrs Dribelle ends up winning. NOTE: This was the last episode of Bodger and Badger to be repeated on BBC One, on Friday 29 September 2006 at 3:25pm. CBBC Channel repeats continued until 2008. | ||||
| 78 | 12 | "Monkey Trouble" | 25 November 1996 | |
|
Vicky goes to the market and gets a drumming job, where she has to dress up as a gorilla. So Bodger and Badger go to the market, but the gorilla outfit annoys Mrs Dribelle. | ||||
| 79 | 13 | "Say Cheese!" | 2 December 1996 | |
|
When Mousey chews through Mrs Dribelle's best dress, there's trouble ahead. | ||||
| 80 | 14 | "Vicky is a Hit" | 9 December 1996 | |
|
Vicky applies for a job as a drummer and prepares to go for an interview. But she needs Bodger and Badger's help to make sure Mrs Dribelle does not know. | ||||
| 81 | 15 | "Mashy Christmas Everybody" | 16 December 1996 | |
|
Badger and Mousey celebrate Christmas and remember some of their adventures that year. | ||||
| 82 | 16 | "Mashy Music" | 1 January 1997 | |
|
Vicky does not get the drumming job, so she sells her drum kit. Badger and Mousey buy it and try to cheer her up by forming a band, but they need a drummer. This episode was unusual in that it had its first transmission in a morning slot, instead of the usual afternoon slot. This was because BBC1 only had a morning CBBC strand on this date. | ||||
| 83 | 17 | "Good Luck Vicky" | 6 January 1997 | |
|
Mrs Dribelle tries to make Vicky work on her last afternoon, but she has other plans. | ||||
| 84 | 18 | "Too Close For Comfort" | 13 January 1997 | |
|
Mrs Dribelle moves into the flat upstairs and Bodger sticks her wallpaper on with mashed potato by mistake. Then Badger and Mousey pretend to be ghosts to frighten her. | ||||
| 85 | 19 | "The Mashy Mushtake" | 20 January 1997 | |
|
Badger and Mousey get things mixed up, including Mrs Dribelle's beauty cream and some mashed potato. | ||||
| 86 | 20 | "While The Cat's Away" | 27 January 1997 | |
|
Badger and Mousey try to trap a cat burglar that has broken into the flat. | ||||
| 87 | 21 | "Mrs Dribelle's Dancing Partner" | 3 February 1997 | |
|
Mrs Dribelle is learning to dance so her friend Hubert can take her to a ball. In desperate need of practice, she forces Bodger to help her out. Meanwhile, Bodger's shower is not working, so he has to use Mrs Dribelle's while she's out. | ||||
| 88 | 22 | "Vote For Me - Or Else!" | 10 February 1997 | |
|
Mrs Dribelle stands for the town council election - but will anyone vote for her? | ||||
| 89 | 23 | "Cuckoo" | 17 February 1997 | |
|
After Bodger inherits a grandfather clock, Badger and Mousey decide to turn it into a cuckoo clock. | ||||
| 90 | 24 | "The Mash Baaa-sh" | 24 February 1997 | |
|
When Badger cannot sleep, Mousey suggests that he count sheep. Meanwhile, Bodger has an important meeting with Mrs Dribelle which goes horribly wrong when he leaves without his trousers. | ||||
| 91 | 25 | "On The Blink" | 3 March 1997 | |
|
Bodger gets a letter telling him the video he sent of himself reading poems is going to be on the programme 'Say Cheese', but he runs into problems trying to watch it on TV and things are made worse when Badger records over the original footage of what he sent in. | ||||
| 92 | 26 | "Pasta Masha" | 10 March 1997 | |
|
Badger has a visit from his Italian friend Luigi, a fellow badger who enjoys hurling spaghetti. | ||||
| 93 | 27 | "Clay Days" | 17 March 1997 | |
|
Bodger enters a pottery competition, but he does not expect Mousey to be in the pot. | ||||
| 94 | 28 | "The Time Masheen" | 24 March 1997 | |
|
Badger and Mousey travel back in time to relive some of their favourite adventures. | ||||
Series Eight (1997–1998)
[edit]Series 8 and 9 featured Bodger and Badger running a Bed & Breakfast hotel in the fictional seaside town of Puddleford (location filming for series 8 and 9 took place around Brighton).
The series was broadcast weekly from 15 December 1997 at 4:00 pm,[11] with a one week gap during Christmas.
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95 | 1 | "A Smart Start" | 15 December 1997 | |
|
Bodger, Badger and Mousey arrive in Puddleford to run the Seagull's Rest Bed and Breakfast. But they had not counted on the sneaky Alec Smart running the hotel next door to theirs. | ||||
| 96 | 2 | "Well Spotted" | 22 December 1997 | |
|
Mr Smart is trying to steal all of Bodger's hotel guests, but Badger and Mousey have other plans and use spots of red paint to get them back. | ||||
| 97 | 3 | "Peace and Quiet" | 5 January 1998 | |
|
An unpleasant guest named Miss Peake comes to Seagull's Rest for a nice quiet holiday, but Badger's antics make it impossible. | ||||
| 98 | 4 | "The Extra-Terrestrial Toothbrush" | 12 January 1998 | |
|
After a horrid stay from the night before, Miss Peake decides to leave Seagull's Rest and go somewhere else. Mr Smart immediately pounces on her and tries to persuade her to stay at his hotel. Bodger decides to make a trifle to make it up to her. When the trifle starts moving around in the kitchen, Bodger and Miss Peake think it has been taken over by aliens - but Badger knows better. | ||||
| 99 | 5 | "Hat Ahoy!" | 19 January 1998 | |
|
Miss Peake's sun hat goes missing because Mousey decides it's perfect for a boat, so Bodger and Badger have to get it back. | ||||
| 100 | 6 | "Seaweed Bay" | 26 January 1998 | |
|
Badger and Mousey lead Miss Peake and Mr Smart on a wild goose chase as they hunt for the legendary "Pirate treasure of Puddleford." | ||||
| 101 | 7 | "Fancy That" | 2 February 1998 | |
|
Bodger and Millie persuade Miss Peake to enter the fancy dress competition on the last day of her holiday at Seagull's Rest. | ||||
| 102 | 8 | "Water Laugh" | 9 February 1998 | |
|
Bodger and Badger try to compete with Mr Smart's amazing garden decorations for the upcoming gardening competition. | ||||
| 103 | 9 | "The Potato Patch" | 16 February 1998 | |
|
Badger has his eye on Mr Smart's potatoes - and when Smart cheats Bodger out of £20, Badger puts more than his eye on the potatoes. | ||||
| 104 | 10 | "Doggone" | 23 February 1998 | |
|
Badger finds a lost dog called China, so he, Bodger and Millie decide to return him to his owner. However, after hearing about the reward for finding the dog, Mr Smart tries to steal China for himself. | ||||
| 105 | 11 | "Automashic" | 2 March 1998 | |
|
New guests Mr Tucknott and Mrs Bobbins arrive at Seagull's Rest which is being taken over by robots who sound uncannily like Badger and Mousey. | ||||
| 106 | 12 | "Mashy Record Breakers" | 9 March 1998 | |
|
Who do you think holds the record for making the biggest mess with mashed potato? Meanwhile, Mr Tucknott gets nervous about writing a speech to perform in front of the other bank managers. | ||||
| 107 | 13 | "Big Bear" | 16 March 1998 | |
|
Is Mrs Bobbins' toy bear really a toy bear - or is it Badger in disguise? | ||||
| 108 | 14 | "Mash Cash" | 23 March 1998 | |
|
Badger and Mousey cause chaos when they think Mr Tucknott has stolen Mrs Bobbins' money, but he is only trying to help. | ||||
| 109 | 15 | "Splosh!" | 30 March 1998 | |
|
Badger and Mousey form their own fire brigade and rig up fire extinguishers (ceiling-hung balloons full of mashed potato) in the hotel. | ||||
Series Nine (1998–1999)
[edit]Series 9 continued with the setting of series 8, with Bodger still running his hotel with Badger and Mousey in tow.
According to Andy Cunningham, the programme ended when the Head of BBC Children's Programmes, Christopher Pilkington (who had initially commissioned the show in 1989) left his post. Cunningham did not mind, as he said he was struggling for inspiration for things to do with mashed potato towards the end of the show's run. Reference Vaux, Garry (2012). Legends of Kids TV 2. UK: GJB Publishing. pp. 59–60. ISBN 9780956334374.
The series was broadcast weekly from 14 December 1998 at 3:55 pm.[12]
| No. overall | No. in series | Title | Original release date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 110 | 1 | "Hello Mrs Melly" | 14 December 1998 | |
|
The mean-spirited Mrs S. Melly is the new Tourist Information Officer in Puddleford, and immediately takes a dislike to Bodger. To make matters worse, Badger has left the hotel in a mess when she comes round for an inspection. | ||||
| 111 | 2 | "Poster Potatoes" | 21 December 1998 | |
|
After Mrs Melly refuses to add Seagull's Rest to her Good Hotel Guide, Bodger and Badger decide to do some advertising of their own. This episode was moved to 4:00pm owing to an episode of Due South being scheduled earlier that day. | ||||
| 112 | 3 | "A Twitch in Time" | 4 January 1999 | |
|
Miss Piper, an elderly birdwatcher, comes to stay at Seagull's Rest hoping to spot a rare bird. Unfortunately, she reveals this to Mrs Melly, who has an idea to catch the rare bird so she can charge people to see it. | ||||
| 113 | 4 | "A Whale of a Time" | 11 January 1999 | |
|
Bodger decides to make a video advertising Seagull's Rest. But it all goes wrong when Badger and Mousey want to make their own film. | ||||
| 114 | 5 | "The Great Escape" | 18 January 1999 | |
|
Trainee Bank Manager Mr Wilson comes to stay at Seagull's Rest. Unfortunately, he gets locked in the bathroom when he has a serious interview to go to, thanks to Mousey. | ||||
| 115 | 6 | "Hundreds and Thousands" | 25 January 1999 | |
|
Mrs Melly mistakes Bodger's telephone conversation for winning the lottery and starts being nice to him, thinking he's won hundreds and thousands of pounds. | ||||
| 116 | 7 | "Mr Wilson's Bathing Trunks" | 1 February 1999 | |
|
Mr Wilson has a job interview to attend, but beforehand he decides to go for a swim. Things go awry when Mrs Melly takes his clothes away while he's swimming and refuses to give them back. | ||||
| 117 | 8 | "Green Potatoes" | 8 February 1999 | |
|
Bodger's new green towel gets ruined thanks to Mousey, so Badger makes another one by covering a white one with green paint, but they had not counted on Mrs Melly using it. | ||||
| 118 | 9 | "A Mashy Romance" | 15 February 1999 | |
|
P.E teacher Mr Gripper arrives to stay at Seagull's Rest. He comes across Mrs Melly and immediately falls in love with her. Meanwhile, Badger and Mousey bottle mashed potato soup, some of which ends up in a suntan lotion bottle. | ||||
| 119 | 10 | "China Comes To Stay" | 22 February 1999 | |
|
Millie leaves China with Bodger and Badger to look after him for a day. | ||||
| 120 | 11 | "Pop" | 1 March 1999 | |
|
While watching a film on the TV, Bodger receives a Sodastream fizzy pop machine in the post and sets about making fizzy pop, but Badger and Mousey decide to make fizzy mash with Millie's empty milk bottles. When the corks shoot off the bottles, Bodger and Mr Wilson believe it's gunshots and that the hotel is being raided by bank robbers. | ||||
| 121 | 12 | "Ready, Steady, Go" | 8 March 1999 | |
|
A bullying Mr Gripper challenges Mr Wilson to a running race around the sea front, but when Badger and Mousey see him cheating, they decide to stop him from winning. | ||||
| 122 | 13 | "Mrs Melly Investigates" | 15 March 1999 | |
|
After finding rabbits in another hotel in Puddleford, Mrs Melly decides to find out once and for all what is happening at Bodger's hotel. Badger thinks Mrs Melly is a burglar and sets all the anti-burglar devices off. | ||||
| 123 | 14 | "Puddleford Day" | 22 March 1999 | |
|
It's a special day of dressing up in Puddleford, as it's the day when Queen Elizabeth I visited their town, only Badger has other plans for this day including ruining Mrs Melly's poem. | ||||
| 124 | 15 | "Mashy Museum" | 29 March 1999 | |
|
Badger, Mousey and China show a various amount of items that remind them, of memories from the previous episodes, of how much fun they had. | ||||
References
[edit]- ^ Hayward, Anthony. "Andy Cunningham obituary", The Guardian, London, 12 June 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
- ^ Vaux, Gary (2012). Legends of Kids TV 2. UK: GJB Publishing. pp. 59–60. ISBN 9780956334374.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link) - ^ Vaux, Garry (2012). Legends of Kids TV 2. UK: GJB Publishing. p. 58. ISBN 9780956334374.
- ^ https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e0367325f61c7f6421c3856d92078481
- ^ https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/cf64ea32fc9300bc65a10f79963c2228
- ^ https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/7bb3ef122a0c0a5de57b7059b60f60e1
- ^ https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/8f5ed080804d718c99ce136a3842c98f
- ^ https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/497aca2de20c47485a2126b724be6def
- ^ https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/9f1f6a8afc78dde268f6bd1afda17ac5
- ^ https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/cdda70173bd00690dcdcf52415f7c386
- ^ https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/76fa558f13f9b471110bb628500c7680
- ^ https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1926bcb0b624c15e6a380a782deafa00
External links
[edit]Bodger & Badger
View on GrokipediaOverview
Premise
Bodger & Badger is a British children's comedy programme that centres on the chaotic escapades of handyman Simon Bodger and his irrepressible puppet badger companion, Badger, whose antics frequently derail Bodger's attempts at everyday tasks. The core storyline follows Bodger as he takes on various odd jobs across different workplaces, struggling to conceal the troublemaking Badger from authority figures, which inevitably leads to slapstick disasters involving mess and destruction. This premise highlights themes of incompetence and unlikely friendship, presented through absurd, child-friendly humour that satirises mishaps in ordinary settings.[1] Recurring narrative elements include Badger's obsessive love for mashed potatoes, which sparks many comedic scenarios of culinary chaos and food-related mayhem, as well as the duo's interactions with school staff and students during Bodger's tenure as caretaker at Letsby Avenue Junior School. In this primary school environment, spanning several early series, Bodger's bodge jobs—such as botched repairs in workshops and corridors—escalate into widespread disorder, often amplified by Badger's sneaky explorations through air vents and his penchant for causing structural havoc. These motifs underscore the show's emphasis on playful rebellion and the joys of creative failure.[3][1] Over the course of nine series from 1989 to 1999, the premise evolved from standalone sketches and job-focused episodes in locations like a restaurant and the junior school to longer, interconnected story arcs centred on Badger's independent adventures. Later seasons shifted the narrative spotlight to the seaside guesthouse run by the duo, incorporating extended plots with recurring sidekicks like the dim-witted, cheese-loving Mousey, while maintaining the foundational elements of absurdity and camaraderie amid escalating comedic turmoil.[1][4]Format and style
Bodger & Badger employed a sitcom format blending live-action sequences with puppetry, typically structured around short, self-contained comedic scenarios centered on mishaps in everyday settings. Episodes averaged 15 minutes in length, allowing for quick-paced narratives that built to chaotic climaxes involving the titular characters' antics.[1][5] The humor relied heavily on slapstick and physical comedy, often revolving around themes of "bodging"—portrayed as comically inept craftsmanship—and Badger's disruptive, mashed potato-obsessed behavior, which introduced surreal and anarchic elements to the proceedings. This approach distinguished the series from more didactic children's programming by twisting light educational nods to skills like woodworking into farcical disasters, emphasizing visual gags over verbal exposition.[6][1] Visually, the show embraced a low-budget charm through its workshop-inspired environments, featuring exaggerated props and practical effects to heighten the chaos of collapsing structures or flying debris during key scenes. The single-camera setup and colorful, cluttered aesthetics amplified the puppetry's expressiveness, with Badger's operations seamlessly integrated into the live-action for a whimsical, handcrafted feel.[6][4] Aimed primarily at children aged 5 to 9, the series balanced broad accessibility with subtle layers of wordplay and absurdity that appealed to slightly older viewers, fostering repeat watchability through its unpretentious, joyful execution.[2][1]Production
Development and creation
Bodger & Badger was conceived by entertainer Andy Cunningham in 1988, drawing on Cunningham's background in ventriloquism, magic, and puppetry to create a comedic double act featuring a hapless handyman and his mischievous badger companion.[6] The concept originated as appearances by the duo on the BBC One Saturday morning children's programme On the Waterfront, where they tested the dynamic of human-puppet interaction through slapstick humour centred on everyday mishaps and Badger's obsession with mashed potatoes.[6] Following the positive response to these 1988 segments, the BBC commissioned a full pilot and subsequent series for Children's BBC (CBBC), aiming to deliver light-hearted, anarchic comedy suitable for young audiences in an era of evolving children's programming.[6] Cunningham wrote the initial scripts, establishing the core premise of Simon Bodger's chaotic life disrupted by his pet badger, with early episodes set in a café environment to highlight the slapstick potential of food-related antics.[6] The influences included traditional puppetry styles for the interactive puppet-human elements and broad comedic traditions emphasizing physical humour, reflecting Cunningham's performance experience.[6][3] The series expanded beyond its one-off pilot origins due to strong audience engagement after the first series aired in 1989, with viewers responding enthusiastically to the show's exuberant chaos and memorable catchphrases, prompting the BBC to renew it for eight additional series through 1999 and a total of 124 episodes.[6][3] This growth allowed for evolving settings, such as shifting Bodger's role from chef to school caretaker, to sustain the comedic formula while maintaining its appeal to children through relatable school-life scenarios infused with puppetry-driven mayhem.[6]Crew and filming
The production of Bodger & Badger was overseen by a rotating team of producers across its nine series, reflecting the BBC's children's programming structure. Judy Whitfield served as producer for the first series and later as executive producer for series 5 and 6, while Greg Childs handled production for series 2 and 3. Margie Barbour produced series 4, Christine Hewitt took over for series 5 through 8 (covering 68 episodes), and Sue Morgan produced the final series 9.[7] Directorial duties also shifted over time to accommodate the show's evolving formats and settings. Claire Winyard directed series 2 and 3 (20 episodes), Angela Ferreira and Sally Fraser shared series 4 (9 episodes total), Kay Benbow helmed series 5 and 6 (25 episodes), David Coyle directed series 7 and 8 (43 episodes), and Paul Shuttleworth led series 9 (15 episodes). These changes allowed for fresh approaches to the puppet-led comedy, particularly as the series transitioned from school and café settings to bedsit and hotel environments in later seasons.[7] Puppetry was central to the show's execution, with Andy Cunningham operating and voicing Badger throughout all 124 episodes while starring as Simon Bodger. Additional puppeteers included Robbie Barnett for 7 episodes in series 3 and Judith Bucklow for 9 episodes in series 4, supporting the live-action puppetry style that integrated the badger character seamlessly with human performers. Production design, crucial for the chaotic mashed potato antics and set destructions, was primarily managed by Roger Harris across 83 episodes, ensuring practical, low-key builds suited to the children's comedy tone. Costume and makeup teams, led by figures like Fiona Swift (58 episodes) and Cathy Burczak (28 episodes), handled the everyday, relatable aesthetics of Bodger's odd-job world.[7] Filming relied on live-action puppetry techniques, blending studio-based performances with practical effects to capture Badger's mischievous energy and the ensuing slapstick chaos. The core method involved real-time manipulation of the Badger puppet during scenes, allowing for spontaneous interactions that defined the show's humor. Later series introduced minor upgrades in puppet handling through additional operators, enhancing the fluidity of group scenes without overhauling the foundational approach.[8]Characters and cast
Main characters
Mr. BodgerSimon Bodger, portrayed by Andy Cunningham, is the human protagonist of Bodger & Badger, depicted as an incompetent odd-job man and, in series 2–3 set at Letsby Avenue Junior School, a caretaker/handyman.[1][9][2] He is characterized by his optimistic yet nervous disposition, which frequently leads to clumsiness and accidents during his attempts to perform everyday tasks or maintain the school.[1][2] Bodger's role drives the narrative as he navigates various jobs, from handyman roles to other positions, often striving to maintain order amid chaos.[1] Badger
Badger, a puppet character voiced and puppeteered primarily by Andy Cunningham, serves as Bodger's mischievous companion and the show's chaotic force.[1][2] Obsessed with mashed potato, which he loves to play with and shape, Badger is badly behaved, wacky, and prone to causing trouble through his impulsive antics, such as shouting his iconic catchphrase "Mashed potato!"[1][2] He wears a beret and often uses props like a toasting fork in his playful disruptions.[2] The core dynamic between Bodger and Badger forms the comedic heart of the series, with their unlikely friendship highlighting Bodger's patient attempts to manage Badger's disruptions, particularly in the school setting where mash potato mishaps ensue.[1][2] This partnership underscores themes of loyalty and slapstick humor, as Badger's literal interpretations of instructions frequently derail Bodger's efforts, leading to messy but endearing escapades.[1]
Recurring and guest characters
Recurring staff characters provided authority figures that contrasted with the chaos caused by Bodger and Badger's mishaps. In the first series, Mr. Hector Troff, the café owner played by Roger Walker, oversaw the environment at Troff's Nosherama café and often dealt with the duo's disruptions.[1] Mavis, portrayed by Joanne Campbell, served as Bodger's assistant in early episodes, assisting with odd jobs while navigating the badger's antics. Later series introduced Mrs. Daphne Trout (Lila Kaye in series 2–3), a strict teacher, and Miss Geraldine Moon (Selina Cadell in series 2–3), another school authority figure who interacted with the main characters in educational settings.[1] Additional staff included Mrs. Bogart (Richenda Carey in series 3), Mr. Lionel Beasley (Jon Glover in series 4), Mrs. Dribelle (Carol MacReady in series 6–7), the animal-hating landlady who frequently clashed with Badger, and Mrs. Melly (Carole Boyd in series 9).[10] These characters facilitated plots by enforcing rules that Bodger's incompetence inevitably broke, heightening the comedic tension.[2] Recurring child characters in school settings added youthful energy and often became unwitting victims of the workshop chaos or Badger's mashed potato obsessions. In series 2, students like Danny (Neil Kattenhorn) and Curtis, also known as Brains (Andrew Fraser), appeared as mischievous pupils at the school, participating in activities that led to bodged projects.[10] Vicky (Victoria Avery in series 2–3) was a recurring girl student who enjoyed the antics, while Rocky (Rocky Samrai in series 3) contributed to group dynamics in school-based storylines. Later, Holly (Sophie Worters in series 4), a friendly visitor at the theme park/zoo setting who befriended Bodger, often helping or hindering the main duo's efforts.[10] These characters typically drove subplots involving pranks or failed experiments, emphasizing themes of friendship amid disorder.[2] In later series set outside school environments, additional recurring child and young characters appeared. Vicky (Sally Ann Marsh in series 7) was Mrs. Dribelle's niece who lived upstairs and enjoyed mashed potato. Elton (Joe Cushley in series 6) was Mrs. Dribelle's unpleasant assistant. Alec Smart (Ricky Diamond in series 7–8) was a sneaky, scheming tenant and con artist. Millie (Jane Bassett in series 8–9) was a helpful local milkwoman at the B&B setting.[10] Additional recurring elements included Badger's puppet companions, which expanded the ensemble in later series. Mousey, a slow-witted, cheese-loving mouse puppet operated and voiced by Jane Bassett, appeared in 83 episodes from series 5 onward as Badger's loyal but dim friend, often joining in the mischief.[1] Other puppets like Luigi, another badger, and China, a dog, provided brief recurring support in animal-centric gags.[11] Guest characters, primarily one-off human and animal roles, appeared across episodes to advance specific plots, such as parents, visitors, or temporary workers who encountered the duo's disasters. Notable examples include Eamon Trout (Philip Herbert), Mrs. Trout's spoiled son in school-focused stories, and various episode-specific figures like burglars or hotel guests that amplified the comedy of bodged repairs.[12] These guests rarely returned but contributed to the episodic variety by serving as foils for Badger's disruptive behavior.[4]Cast evolution across series
Andy Cunningham maintained his dual role as the hapless handyman Simon Bodger and the voice and puppeteer for the mischievous Badger across all nine series of the programme, from its debut in 1989 to its conclusion in 1999, providing continuity to the central dynamic of the show.[1][10] As the series progressed, child actors portraying characters in school settings (primarily series 2–3 at Letsby Avenue Junior School) were periodically recast due to the natural aging of the young performers over the decade-long run. For instance, the role of Vicky was initially played by Victoria Avery in Series 2 and 3 (1991), but a different Vicky character, Mrs. Dribelle's niece, was played by Sally Ann Marsh in Series 7 (1998), reflecting the introduction of new characters in non-school settings.[7] Similarly, other roles saw turnover, with new child actors like Sophie Worters as Holly introduced in Series 4 (1993) to maintain the energetic interactions central to the comedy in the theme park setting.[7] Later series incorporated additional recurring and guest performers to expand the ensemble and introduce fresh comedic elements. Jane Bassett joined as the voice and puppeteer for Mousey, Badger's cheeky rodent companion living under the floorboards, starting in Series 5 (1995) and continuing through Series 9, which added a new layer of puppet-based mischief and banter to the humour.[7] Guest appearances in these years included Ricky Diamond as the dim-witted Alec Smart in Series 7, whose antics complemented the chaotic environment and contributed to evolving storylines involving pranks and mishaps.[7] These casting shifts, particularly the integration of new puppet characters and updated roles, allowed the programme to sustain its slapstick appeal by injecting novel interactions and voices while preserving the core absurdity driven by Bodger and Badger.[1]Music and theme
Theme song
The theme song for Bodger & Badger was composed by Peter Gosling, with lyrics written by Andy Cunningham, the show's creator and star.[13] Sung by children, it features an upbeat, cheerful melody designed to capture the playful chaos of the series, opening with repetitive chants of "Bodger and Badger" accompanied by "la la la" refrains.[1] The tune incorporates simple, rhythmic elements that evoke the show's handyman antics and animal humor without complex instrumentation. The lyrics highlight key aspects of the characters' personalities, emphasizing Badger's obsession with mash—"Everybody knows, Badger loves mash / He makes them into shapes and eats them every day"—while underscoring the inseparable bond between Bodger and his mischievous badger companions: "Everywhere he goes, Bodger always knows / Badger and his Badger mates are never far away." This content ties directly into the series' comedic focus on DIY mishaps and Badger's food-related pranks, making the song a concise narrative hook for young viewers. A distinctive shout of "MASHED POTATOES!" punctuates the track, reinforcing the badger's quirky trait.[14] Over the nine series from 1989 to 1999, different versions of the theme were used, with the full song sometimes played during the end credits.[13] These adaptations maintained the core structure. The theme played a pivotal role in establishing the show's enduring appeal, becoming "insanely catchy" and a staple of 1990s children's programming nostalgia.[1] Its sing-along simplicity encouraged audience participation, lodging phrases like the mashed potato refrain in viewers' memories long after broadcast, contributing to the series' cult status among British audiences.[15]Soundtrack and effects
The incidental music for Bodger & Badger was composed primarily by Peter Gosling, who scored 22 episodes across series 1, 2, and 4, featuring quirky orchestral pieces tailored to underscore the show's comedic timing and chaotic sequences. Martin Cook provided the music for two episodes in series 2.[7] Sound effects were a vital component of the programme's slapstick humour, with exaggerated crashes, squeaks accompanying puppet movements, and custom audio for elements like cheese toasting, all designed to amplify the playful chaos of workshop disasters and Badger's antics. Various sound designers contributed over the run, including Keith Mayes for series 1, John Ralph for series 3, Keith Nixon and Andy Stacey for series 4, and Dave Howell for series 5, 7, and 8.[7] The overall audio style began with a low-fi, whimsical approach in early series that complemented the rudimentary puppetry and live-action blend, evolving to more polished and prominent effects in series 5 and beyond to heighten the comedic impact. Notable recurring motifs included lively cues for Badger's surprise entrances and escalating disaster soundscapes during mash potato mishaps or structural collapses.[7]Broadcast history
Original run
Bodger & Badger premiered on 13 September 1989 with its first episode, "Bodger is Chef," airing on BBC One as part of the Children's BBC strand. The series was designed for young audiences and featured short, 15-minute episodes centered on comedic mishaps involving the titular characters. Broadcasts occurred in typical weekday afternoon slots, aligning with Children's BBC programming aimed at schoolchildren.[16][5] Over its original run, the programme spanned nine series from 1989 to 1999, comprising a total of 124 episodes. Episode counts varied by series, with the debut series featuring 8 episodes and the final series consisting of 15 episodes; intermediate series generally ranged between 10 and 14 episodes each. The show maintained a consistent format of Monday-to-Friday transmissions during school terms, allowing for serialized storytelling within each series' unique setting, such as a café in the first series or a school in subsequent ones.[4][17][18] The series aired exclusively on BBC One throughout its production, presented under the Children's BBC banner, which evolved into greater integration with the CBBC identity in the mid-1990s as the BBC restructured its children's programming. This ensured wide accessibility via the main terrestrial channel without requiring separate viewing for families. The original run concluded on 29 March 1999 with the final episode of series 9, "Mashy Museum," signaling the end of new episodes after a decade of broadcasts.[16][5][19]Repeats and home media
Following the original run, Bodger & Badger experienced several reruns on CBBC throughout the 2000s. Episodes were broadcast on BBC One as part of Children's BBC programming in July and August 2000, including segments where Badger and Mousey traveled back in time or Simon inherited a grandfather clock.[20][21] Further repeats aired in April 2005, featuring the antics of Bodger managing a bed and breakfast.[22] These broadcasts helped maintain the show's popularity among younger audiences during holiday periods and school breaks. Home media releases for the television series have been notably limited. No official VHS compilations or DVD sets of the episodes were produced during the 1990s or subsequently, leaving fans reliant on personal recordings.[23] The only authorized physical release is a 2006 DVD of the live stage show Bodger & Badger: Live on Stage, which captured the characters' slapstick performances in a theater setting and was distributed by GV Films.[24] As of 2025, no full series Blu-ray editions exist, reflecting the BBC's archival approach to older children's programming. In terms of modern accessibility, full episodes are not available on official streaming platforms like BBC iPlayer, where the programme is listed but marked as unavailable.[25] Instead, numerous clips and complete episodes circulate on YouTube through unofficial uploads by fans, often preserving 1990s broadcasts with original CBBC intros.[26] International distribution in the 1990s was restricted primarily to select European markets via BBC channels, with no confirmed widespread exports to regions like Australia.[1]Episodes
The nine series of Bodger & Badger comprise a total of 124 episodes, including the listed installments and possible additional sketches or specials from earlier BBC appearances.Series 1 (1989)
The first series of Bodger & Badger premiered on BBC One on 13 September 1989, introducing viewers to the chaotic world of hapless handyman Simon Bodger and his mischievous puppet companion, Badger, who shares a particular fondness for mashed potatoes. Set primarily in the dilapidated café Troff's Nosherama, the series establishes the core premise of Bodger's futile attempts to maintain employment while concealing Badger's disruptive antics from his boss, Mr. Troff, and other staff. This inaugural run consists of eight 15-minute episodes, broadcast weekly on Wednesdays at 4:05pm, blending live-action comedy with puppetry in a sketch-like format that emphasizes slapstick humor and workplace mishaps.[4][27] The series arc revolves around Bodger's role as the new chef at the café, where everyday tasks like cooking and cleaning inevitably spiral into mayhem due to Badger's interventions, often involving food fights and hidden puppet escapades. Early episodes highlight the workshop basics gone wrong, such as baking disasters and inspections, underscoring the theme of incompetence amplified by Badger's irrepressible personality. This setup lays the foundation for the show's enduring appeal to young audiences through its simple, relatable humor centered on concealment and culinary chaos.[27][28]| Episode | Title | Air Date | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bodger Is Chef | 13 Sep 1989 | Simon Bodger competes in a cookery contest against rival Marcel to secure the chef position at Troff's Nosherama, but Badger's interference leads to unexpected results.[27] |
| 2 | The Badgers Are Coming | 20 Sep 1989 | Now the chef, Bodger attempts to bake a cake, only for Badger to get accidentally trapped inside, causing pandemonium at the café.[27][28] |
| 3 | The Health Inspector | 27 Sep 1989 | A health inspector visits the unsanitary kitchen of Troff's Nosherama and suspects badgers are infesting the premises after spotting Badger.[27][28] |
| 4 | Portrait of Hector | 4 Oct 1989 | Mr. Troff commissions a new sign for the café; Badger deceives him into believing waitress Mavis has artistic talent, leading to a disastrous portrait attempt.[28] |
| 5 | Auntie Warnty | 11 Oct 1989 | Mr. Troff's formidable aunt visits the café, and Badger's hidden pranks threaten to expose Bodger's secret pet.[28] |
| 6 | Adrian Loud Warbler | 18 Oct 1989 | Mavis auditions for a singing role with talent scout Adrian Loud Warbler at the café, complicated by Badger's noisy disruptions.[28] |
| 7 | The Robot | 25 Oct 1989 | A robotic chef arrives to automate the kitchen and replace Bodger, prompting Badger to sabotage the machine in defense of his friend.[28] |
| 8 | The Final Episode | 1 Nov 1989 | Left in charge of Nosherama for a wedding reception, Bodger and Badger oversee a event that descends into mashed potato-fueled anarchy.[28] |
Series 2 (1991)
The second series of Bodger & Badger relocated the characters to Letsby Avenue Junior School, with Simon Bodger employed as the school caretaker, building on the chaotic antics from the first series by emphasizing mishaps amid everyday school life. This setting introduced greater student involvement, such as interactions with Class Four pupils Rocky and Vicky, who often aid or exacerbate Badger's disruptions. Aired weekly on BBC One over 12 episodes from 9 January to 27 March 1991, the series featured slightly lengthened sketches compared to Series 1, blending standalone stories with subtle continuity through recurring school dynamics.[29][30][10] The narrative arc centers on Bodger's efforts to perform maintenance duties while concealing Badger's presence, leading to escalating comedy involving staff like headmistress Mrs. Trout (played by Lila Kaye) and teacher Miss Moon (Selina Cadell). Minor cast additions included these school authority figures and child actors portraying students, enhancing the ensemble for more layered interactions. Unique to this series were early multi-episode threads, such as ongoing tensions with Mrs. Trout and Badger's growing rapport with the children, which foreshadowed later developments. Viewership indicators showed rising appeal, as the program's continuation into multiple additional series reflected sustained child audience engagement.[10][12][2]| No. | Title | Air Date | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Letsby Avenue | 9 January 1991 | Simon Bodger applies for the handyperson job at Letsby Avenue Junior School and faces a practical test from headmistress Mrs. Trout, while keeping Badger hidden.[31] |
| 2 | Abracabadger | 16 January 1991 | When teacher Miss Moon spots Badger, Bodger stages a magic act to explain it away, with Class Four pupils assisting in the deception.[32] |
| 3 | The Bare Mayor | 23 January 1991 | Mrs. Trout announces a visit from the mayor, but Badger mishears it as a "bear mayor" and prepares an ill-advised welcome involving costumes and chaos.[30] |
| 4 | The Skeleton | 30 January 1991 | Mrs. Trout purchases a new classroom skeleton model, sparking rumors and pranks that lead to school trip cancellations and Badger's meddling.[30] |
| 5 | Mr. Woberts the Watcatcher | 6 February 1991 | Suspecting rats in the school, Mrs. Trout hires ratcatcher Mr. Woberts, who pursues Badger in a series of frantic chases around the premises.[33] |
| 6 | The Hairy Fairy | 13 February 1991 | Badger devours Mrs. Trout's birthday cake, prompting Bodger to sculpt a mashed potato replacement that spirals into a fairy-themed disaster.[30] |
| 7 | The Wonky Window | 20 February 1991 | Bodger and Badger attempt to repair a malfunctioning window in Mrs. Trout's office, resulting in structural mishaps and escalating damage.[30] |
| 8 | Mr. Crusher and the Ninja Zombies From Mars | 27 February 1991 | A new gym teacher, Mr. Crusher, imposes rigorous "ninja zombie" exercises on unimpressed students, with Badger sabotaging the sessions. |
| 9 | The Burglar | 6 March 1991 | Bodger and Badger confuse costumed Mrs. Trout for an intruder at a fancy dress event, only for a genuine burglar to target the school's trophies.[34] |
| 10 | Snowflakes in Hawaii | 13 March 1991 | A Hawaiian-themed school day unravels when Mrs. Trout halts a coal delivery, leading to improvised wintery chaos from Badger's antics.[30] |
| 11 | Mavis and the Fingerpoppers | 20 March 1991 | Former colleague Mavis, now a pop star, visits the school and hypnotizes Badger into performing a farmyard song, thrilling yet bewildering everyone.[35] |
| 12 | School's Out | 27 March 1991 | As term ends, Bodger and Badger reminisce about their school year, reflecting on friendships formed and the persistent mashed potato mayhem.[36] |
Series 3 (1991)
The third series of Bodger & Badger aired on BBC One from 1 October to 17 December 1991, comprising 12 fifteen-minute episodes that continued the slapstick antics at St. Gilbert's School.[37] This season deepened ensemble involvement by introducing recurring characters such as the strict new headmistress Mrs Bogart (played by Jill Maslanka) and her scheming nephew Eammon, who clashed frequently with Bodger and Badger, heightening the group's collaborative chaos.[38] Episodes emphasized Badger's mashed potato obsession through gags like accidental food fights and improvised weapons, while later installments incorporated holiday themes, such as preparations for end-of-term events amid December broadcasts.[39] The series maintained the format of short, self-contained stories focused on school disruptions, with Badger's pranks often escalating minor issues into full mayhem involving the pupils Rocky, Vicky, and others.| Episode | Title | Air Date | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mr Valentino and the Rubber Bottom | 1 October 1991 | Mr Valentino, the school governors' chairman, dines with Mrs Trout, but a prank by Bodger and Badger results in her getting a rubber bottom, sparking outrage and cover-up attempts.[40] |
| 2 | William Tell | 8 October 1991 | Mrs Trout writes, directs, and stars in a school production of William Tell, but Bodger and Badger's interference turns the performance into a disaster of props and mashed potato mishaps. |
| 3 | The Head's Anniversary | 15 October 1991 | To mark the headmistress's anniversary, Badger enters Mrs Trout's poetry competition, leading to humorous verses and a chaotic awards ceremony involving the whole class. |
| 4 | The Golden Alarm Clock | 22 October 1991 | Mr Valentino presents Miss Moon with a golden alarm clock for her perfect attendance, enraging Mrs Trout and prompting Badger to sabotage the celebration with food-based tricks. |
| 5 | The New Moon | 29 October 1991 | After a head injury alters Miss Moon's strict demeanor, she joins Badger in embracing mashed potato fun, causing school-wide pandemonium as her newfound playfulness disrupts lessons. |
| 6 | Eammon and the New Headmistress | 5 November 1991 | Mrs Trout is sent for retraining, allowing Mrs Bogart and her nephew Eammon to take over; they fire Bodger, but the pupils and Badger stage scares to reinstate him. |
| 7 | The Mashed Potato Gun | 12 November 1991 | Mrs Bogart installs a new school communication system, which Badger repurposes into a mashed potato gun, firing spuds at staff and escalating into a full cafeteria battle.[39] |
| 8 | The Difficult Test | 19 November 1991 | Mrs Bogart enforces a rigorous test for Class Four, but Bodger's botched fire drill—fueled by Badger's distractions—interrupts the exam with smoke and slippery potato hazards. |
| 9 | The Head's Twin Sister | 26 November 1991 | Mrs Bogart impersonates her twin sister to swindle Bodger's competition winnings, but Badger uncovers the ruse through a series of disguise mishaps and potato pursuits. |
| 10 | The Baby | 3 December 1991 | Miss Moon babysits a neighbor's infant, while Badger, Rocky, and Vicky feed Mrs Bogart laxative-laced chocolate as revenge, resulting in frantic chases and baby-sitting mayhem.[41] |
| 11 | The Doubling Box | 10 December 1991 | Mrs Bogart exploits a lost property scheme to confiscate pupils' items and charge fees; Badger uses a mysterious "doubling box" gadget to multiply chaos and reclaim the belongings.[42] |
| 12 | The Class Photo | 17 December 1991 | With the holiday class photo looming, Badger reluctantly bathes to look presentable, but when the photographer no-shows, Bodger steps in, leading to smeared lenses and potato-smudged portraits. |
Series 4 (1993)
Series 4 of Bodger & Badger marked a significant shift in setting and narrative structure, relocating the action from the school environment of previous seasons to Chessington World of Adventures, a real-life theme park in Surrey where Bodger takes up a role as handyman.[43] The no-pets policy at the park creates ongoing tension, as Badger repeatedly sneaks in to join Bodger, leading to a series arc centered on evasion tactics, park maintenance mishaps, and interactions with animals and visitors. This season expands Badger's role beyond classroom pranks to broader chaos involving theme park attractions, fostering more continuous storytelling through recurring attempts to conceal Badger from park manager Mr. Beasley (played by Jon Glover) while building alliances with new ally Holly, a young visitor who aids the duo.[43] The change in location addressed the aging of the child actors from earlier series, refreshing the cast with Sophie Worters as Holly, a friendly girl who befriends Bodger and Badger, alongside returning voices like Jane Bassett as Mousey. Production upgrades included enhanced sets replicating park elements such as animal enclosures and rides, allowing for more dynamic visual comedy compared to the static school interiors of prior seasons.[44] The season consists of 10 episodes, broadcast weekly on BBC One at 3:55 pm starting 13 September 1993.[43]| Episode | Title | Air Date | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Arrival | 13 September 1993 | Bodger begins his new job as handyman at Chessington World of Adventures, but the no-pets rule forces Badger to sneak in and hide while causing initial disruptions.[43] |
| 2 | Mr Beasley's Barrow | 20 September 1993 | Mr. Beasley uses a wheelbarrow to hunt for Badger around the park; Bodger, Badger, and Holly devise tricks to evade capture and protect Badger's presence.[43] |
| 3 | The Tapirs | 27 September 1993 | Badger befriends the park's tapirs in their enclosure, leading to escaped animals and Bodger's frantic efforts to cover up the mess before Mr. Beasley notices.[43] |
| 4 | The Elephant's Trunk | 4 October 1993 | Bodger repairs a malfunctioning elephant statue's trunk attraction, but Badger's mash potato antics target Mr. Beasley during the fix.[43] |
| 5 | A Hard Day's Knight | 11 October 1993 | For a medieval-themed event, Bodger dresses as a knight, but Badger's interference turns the jousting and pageantry into slapstick mayhem. |
| 6 | The New Clothes | 18 October 1993 | Mr. Beasley receives a new uniform, which Bodger and Badger ruin with spilled mash potato during a park inspection.[43] |
| 7 | The Dragon | 25 October 1993 | Holly wins a watch at the duo's rigged ball-tossing stall, but Mr. Beasley confiscates it; Badger retrieves it using the park's dragon ride for a daring heist.[43] |
| 8 | The Painted Bench | 1 November 1993 | Mr. Beasley sits on a freshly painted bench, leading to a reprimand for Bodger, who then gets permission to operate the ice-cream cart as compensation.[43] |
| 9 | The Catapult | 8 November 1993 | Mr. Beasley builds a catapult to trap Badger once and for all, but the plan backfires amid park games and Badger's countermeasures.[43] |
| 10 | The Fireworks | 15 November 1993 | As the season culminates in a fireworks display, Bodger and Badger's hidden antics risk exposing Badger but end in a chaotic celebration with Holly's help.[43] |
Series 5 (1995)
The fifth series of Bodger & Badger comprised 13 episodes and aired on BBC One from January 9 to April 3, 1995, shifting the primary setting to a rented bedsit flat in London, which allowed for expanded adventures beyond the workshop environment of previous seasons. This installment emphasized bolder narratives with heightened slapstick elements, such as chaotic laundrette visits and improvised seaside recreations, often involving Badger's obsession with mashed potatoes leading to escalating mishaps. A notable development was the introduction of Mousey, a clever female mouse living under the floorboards, who quickly became a recurring ally to Badger in outwitting Bodger and causing domestic pandemonium; Mousey remained a fixture in subsequent series.[45][46] The series incorporated loose multi-episode arcs, particularly in the early installments centered on discovering and integrating Mousey into their lives, while maintaining standalone comedic escapades that amplified physical comedy through everyday objects and settings. Minor tweaks to the theme song, composed by Peter Gosling with lyrics by Andy Cunningham, adapted slightly to the new flat-based antics, though core elements persisted. Bodger & Badger continued to enjoy devoted viewership among children in the mid-1990s, solidifying its status as a BBC staple with sustained appeal through its anarchic humor.[3][47]| Episode | Title | Air Date | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Mouse in the House | January 9, 1995 | Bodger and Badger settle into their new flat, unaware of Mousey living under the floorboards until Badger befriends her. |
| 2 | Under the Floorboards | January 16, 1995 | Badger digs through the floorboards to play with Mousey, leading to structural chaos in the flat. |
| 3 | Washday | January 23, 1995 | After their washing machine explodes, Bodger and Badger head to a laundrette where Badger's antics cause widespread mess. |
| 4 | Mr. Sellby's Pictures | January 25, 1995 | Badger wields an electric saw to "fix" a neighbor's back-to-front shop sign, resulting in accidental destruction. |
| 5 | Ancient Egyptian Mashed Potato | February 6, 1995 | Burglars target Bodger's valuable Egyptian statue, but Badger and Mousey use mashed potato traps to thwart them. |
| 6 | Rent Money | February 13, 1995 | When rent money vanishes, Mousey aids Bodger and Badger in recovering it to avoid eviction. |
| 7 | Here Comes Raymond | February 20, 1995 | Badger wages war on Bodger's greedy friend Raymond, who overstays and devours their food supplies. |
| 8 | Twin Brother | February 27, 1995 | To bypass Bodger's mashed potato rations, Badger invents an identical twin brother for double portions. |
| 9 | Mashy Mouse | March 6, 1995 | Bodger introduces a "cat" to evict Mousey, but Badger and Mousey expose it as a ruse to stay together. |
| 10 | Seaside | March 13, 1995 | Frustrated by poor weather, Badger transforms the bathroom into a makeshift seaside holiday with disastrous floods. |
| 11 | Cosmic Potatoes | March 20, 1995 | Badger and Mousey convince Bodger that Martians lurk under the floorboards, using potatoes as "evidence." |
| 12 | One of Those Days | March 27, 1995 | Badger hoards excess mashed potatoes, accidentally smashing Bodger's computer in the process. |
| 13 | Mad Mash Bash | April 3, 1995 | After losing his memory in a race with Mousey, Badger regains it through reliving their shared mashed potato-fueled adventures. |
Series 6 (1996)
The sixth series of Bodger & Badger aired on BBC One from January to March 1996, comprising 12 episodes that emphasized the central friendship between handyman Simon Bodger and his mischievous badger companion amid escalating domestic chaos. This installment introduced a recurring antagonist in the form of their strict new landlady, Mrs. Dribelle (played by Carol MacReady), and her bumbling assistant Elton (Joe Cushley), whose repeated eviction schemes tested the duo's loyalty and resourcefulness while amplifying the show's signature slapstick involving mashed potatoes. The narrative arc revolved around Bodger and Badger's determination to remain in their flat, portraying their bond as a source of resilience against external pressures, with Badger's antics often turning potential disasters into comedic triumphs. The series maintained cast stability, with Andy Cunningham reprising his roles as Bodger and the voice of Badger, and Jane Bassett returning as the voice of Mousey, ensuring continuity in the core ensemble.[48][49] Unique to this series were enhanced physical comedy sequences featuring the new characters, though no dedicated guest animations were incorporated; the production relied on established puppetry techniques for Badger and Mousey, complemented by live-action performances. Episodes incorporated light seasonal undertones reflective of early-year domesticity, such as home maintenance mishaps and indoor escapades suited to winter viewing. The show's format remained consistent at approximately 15 minutes per episode, broadcast weekly in the late afternoon slot targeting young children.| Episode | Title | Original Air Date | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mrs Dribelle! | 15 January 1996 | Bodger and Badger encounter their formidable new landlady, Mrs Dribelle, who immediately schemes to evict Bodger from the flat due to Badger's presence.[48] |
| 2 | Badger in the Box | 22 January 1996 | Mrs Dribelle dispatches Elton to harass Bodger, but Badger clobbers him with a frying pan, prompting an eviction threat over keeping a pet.[48] |
| 3 | Potty | 29 January 1996 | Badger experiments with Bodger's potted cactus and, after a head bump, imagines himself as Super Badger, exasperating Bodger with overzealous heroics.[48] |
| 4 | Lottery Lunacy | 5 February 1996 | Bodger believes he has won the lottery based on Badger's scribbled numbers, leading to a regrettable outburst against Mrs Dribelle upon discovering the mistake.[48] |
| 5 | Mrs Dribelle's Mother | 12 February 1996 | Mrs Dribelle fabricates a tale of her "ailing mother" (Elton in disguise) requiring Bodger's room, escalating the eviction plot with absurd theatrics.[48] |
| 6 | Pussy Cake, Pussy Cake | 19 February 1996 | A birthday cake for Mrs Dribelle's cat Fluffykins arrives by mistake; Badger devours it and substitutes a mash-and-beans concoction, sparking outrage.[48][50] |
| 7 | Diet | 26 February 1996 | Stuck in his flap from overeating mash, Badger faces Bodger's enforced diet and exercise regimen, resulting in rebellious sabotage and hunger-fueled pranks.[48] |
| 8 | Badger's Bed | 4 March 1996 | Discovering mash hidden in his drawer, Bodger purchases a crib for Badger, while Elton's persistent attempts to capture the badger lead to bedroom mayhem.[48] |
| 9 | The Countess of Skegness | 11 March 1996 | Bodger loses his rent and botches washing Mrs Dribelle's car with mash, as Badger disrupts her pretentious "Countess" reception with uninvited chaos.[48] |
| 10 | Overdue | 18 March 1996 | Bodger scrambles to return an overdue library book that Badger loaned to Mousey, who has repurposed it as bedding, uncovering a trail of destruction.[48] |
| 11 | Badger's Party | 25 March 1996 | Mrs Dribelle forges a document to oust Bodger, but Badger's interference ensures he signs the wrong side, securing their tenancy amid a surprise gathering.[48] |
| 12 | Around the World with Badger and Mousey | 27 March 1996 | As Badger and Mousey prepare for a global adventure, they reminisce on the year's mishaps, blending clips with new reflections on their unbreakable friendship.[48] |
Series 7 (1996–1997)
The seventh series of Bodger & Badger aired on BBC One from 9 September 1996 to 24 March 1997, comprising 28 episodes that continued the established comedic format of handyman Simon Bodger navigating daily mishaps caused by his mischievous pet badger and companion mouse, often centered around mashed potato-related chaos.[51] This series marked a progression in the mid-run narrative structure, blending ongoing domestic plots at Mrs. Dribelle's residence with escalating disasters, including holiday-themed escapades and interactions with new recurring characters like the drumming enthusiast Vicky, while maintaining the core theme of concealing the animals from authority figures.[52] Production for the series involved standard BBC studio filming at Television Centre alongside location shoots, with minor adjustments to character dynamics reflecting Bodger's semi-unemployed status as a handyman-for-hire.[2] The episodes featured a mix of standalone antics and loose arcs, such as Badger's inventive holidays and family intrusions, culminating in larger-scale comedic disruptions compared to prior series, like time-travel fantasies and community competitions.[52] Fan discussions and archival viewership data indicate this series held strong appeal among young audiences, with episodes like the Christmas special and inventive holiday inventions contributing to its enduring nostalgic status in British children's programming.[4]| Episode | Title | Air Date | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jungle Fever | 9 Sep 1996 | Bodger is tasked with tending Mrs. Dribelle's plants, but Badger transforms the house into a jungle and the garden into a desert.[53] |
| 2 | Catnapped | 16 Sep 1996 | A threat to kidnap Mrs. Dribelle's cat Fluffykins leads Bodger to guard it, prompting Mousey to leave in protest. |
| 3 | Here Comes Smarty Pants! | 23 Sep 1996 | Tenant Alec Smart tricks Bodger into swapping his camera for fake stain remover; Badger plots to retrieve it. |
| 4 | Funny Money | 30 Sep 1996 | Mr. Smart forges money to buy the house; Badger cheers Bodger with jokes amid the scheme. |
| 5 | Wet Paint! | 7 Oct 1996 | Mr. Smart sells a mashed potato painting created by Badger as fine art. |
| 6 | Gnome from Gnome | 14 Oct 1996 | Garden gnomes go missing; Badger and Mousey build a mashed potato satellite to investigate. |
| 7 | Mrs Dribelle's Big Day | 21 Oct 1996 | Mr. Smart poses as a baron to propose with a fake ring; Bodger and the animals intervene. |
| 8 | World Badger Day | 28 Oct 1996 | Badger invents "World Badger Day" to promote kindness toward badgers and mice. |
| 9 | Mrs Dribelle & The Queen | 4 Nov 1996 | Mrs. Dribelle attends a pageant as the Queen; Bodger serves tea, confusing Mousey. (Synopsis unavailable in sourced databases.) |
| 10 | Wotcha Vicky! | 11 Nov 1996 | Badger befriends Vicky, Mrs. Dribelle's mashed potato-loving drumming niece. |
| 11 | Radio Competition | 18 Nov 1996 | Bodger and Badger help Vicky compose a radio song, but Mrs. Dribelle wins the contest instead. |
| 12 | Monkey Trouble | 25 Nov 1996 | Vicky drums in a gorilla costume at the market, irritating Mrs. Dribelle. |
| 13 | Say Cheese! | 2 Dec 1996 | Mousey chews Mrs. Dribelle's dress, sparking trouble for the group. |
| 14 | Vicky is a Hit | 9 Dec 1996 | Vicky auditions for a drumming job; Bodger and Badger hide it from Mrs. Dribelle. |
| 15 | Mashy Music | 16 Dec 1996 | (Synopsis unavailable in sourced databases.) |
| 16 | Mashy Christmas Everybody | 1 Jan 1997 | Badger and Mousey celebrate Christmas, reminiscing about the year's adventures. |
| 17 | Too Close For Comfort | 6 Jan 1997 | Mrs. Dribelle relocates upstairs; a mashed potato spill leads to ghost pranks by Badger and Mousey. |
| 18 | Good Luck, Vicky | 13 Jan 1997 | On Vicky's final afternoon, Mrs. Dribelle assigns chores while Vicky pursues drumming opportunities. |
| 19 | The Mashy Mushtake | 20 Jan 1997 | Badger and Mousey confuse beauty cream with mashed potato in Mrs. Dribelle's routine. |
| 20 | While the Cat’s Away | 27 Jan 1997 | Bodger and Mousey set a trap for a suspected burglar during Mrs. Dribelle's absence. |
| 21 | Mrs Dribelle’s Dancing Partner | 3 Feb 1997 | Mrs. Dribelle learns to dance; Bodger borrows her shower, leading to chaos. |
| 22 | Vote for Me - Or Else! | 10 Feb 1997 | Mrs. Dribelle campaigns for town council amid questions about her suitability. |
| 23 | Cuckoo | 17 Feb 1997 | Badger and Mousey modify Bodger's inherited clock into a cuckoo version. |
| 24 | The Mash Baa-sh | 24 Feb 1997 | Badger counts sheep for sleep; Bodger's important meeting derails when he forgets his trousers. |
| 25 | On The Blink | 3 Mar 1997 | Bodger's poetry video airs on TV, but Badger accidentally tapes over it. |
| 26 | Pasta Masha | 10 Mar 1997 | Badger's friend Luigi visits, delighting in spaghetti-hurling antics. |
| 27 | Clay Days | 17 Mar 1997 | Bodger competes in pottery; Mousey gets trapped inside a pot. |
| 28 | The Time Masheen | 24 Mar 1997 | Badger and Mousey invent a time machine to revisit favorite past adventures. |
Series 8 (1997–1998)
The eighth series of Bodger & Badger marked a shift to a seaside setting, with Simon Bodger, Badger, and Mousey relocating to the fictional town of Puddleford to manage the Seagull's Rest Bed and Breakfast.[54] This installment, comprising 10 episodes, emphasized the characters' evolving relationships amid escalating comedic disruptions, as Bodger attempted to run a legitimate business while Badger's mashed potato obsessions and Mousey's mischief alienated guests and sparked rivalries. The narrative arc highlighted Bodger's maturation into a more responsible figure—now a hotelier rather than a handyman—yet the core chaos intensified, with Badger's antics often reflecting the puppets' long-standing disruptive personalities in increasingly absurd scenarios involving hotel sabotage and guest pranks.[54] Unique to this series were the introduction of recurring human characters like the scheming hotel rival Alec Smart (played by Duncan Preston) and helpful milkwoman Millie (Jane Bassett, who also voiced Mousey), alongside a rotation of guest actors portraying quirky visitors such as the finicky Miss Peake (Valerie Minifie).[12] The puppet designs remained consistent with prior seasons, featuring the familiar Badger and Mousey operated by Andy Cunningham and Jane Bassett, but the B&B environment allowed for fresh visual gags centered on coastal themes like treasure hunts and garden competitions.[10] While specific viewership data for individual episodes is unavailable, the series sustained a dedicated young audience on BBC's CBBC strand, contributing to the show's overall longevity into its ninth and final season. The episodes maintained the program's signature slapstick humor, often incorporating light meta-references to the characters' enduring misadventures, such as Badger's repeated failures to behave in a "respectable" setting after years of similar escapades. Below is a list of episodes with brief synopses:| No. | Title | Air Date | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Smart Start | 14 December 1997 | Bodger, Badger, and Mousey arrive at the Seagull's Rest to begin operations, only to discover their next-door rival is the conniving Alec Smart, who plots to poach their first guests.[54] |
| 2 | Well Spotted | 21 December 1997 | Alec Smart lures away Bodger's guests with false promises, prompting Badger and Mousey to launch a counterattack using red paint spots to expose his tricks and reclaim the customers.[54] |
| 3 | Peace and Quiet | 4 January 1998 | A peace-seeking guest, Miss Peake, checks in for a restful stay, but Badger's noisy disruptions turn her holiday into a cacophony of smashed furniture and hidden pranks.[54] |
| 4 | The Extra-Terrestrial Toothbrush | 11 January 1998 | Bodger prepares a moving trifle for Miss Peake to smooth over earlier chaos, but when Badger interferes, the dessert animates in a way that convinces her of an alien invasion via her toothbrush.[54] |
| 5 | Hat Ahoy! | 18 January 1998 | Mousey commandeers Miss Peake's prized hat as a toy boat during a beach outing, forcing Bodger and Badger into a frantic rescue mission amid tidal mishaps. |
| 6 | Seaweed Bay | 25 January 1998 | Badger and Mousey organize a chaotic treasure hunt for supposed "Pirate Treasure of Puddleford," leading guests on a seaweed-strewn adventure that unearths more mess than riches.[54] |
| 7 | Water Laugh | 1 February 1998 | Bodger and Millie urge Miss Peake to participate in a local fancy dress contest, but Badger's water-based sabotage turns the event into a soggy spectacle of costumes and splashes.[54] |
| 8 | Doggone | 8 February 1998 | Badger discovers a lost dog named China and vies with Alec Smart for the reward, resulting in a series of pet-swapping blunders and hotel-wide pursuits. |
| 9 | Big Bear | 15 February 1998 | Badger suspects a guest's teddy bear is a rival spy planted by Smart, igniting a paranoid chase that culminates in mashed potato "interrogations" across the B&B.[54] |
| 10 | Mash Cash | 22 February 1998 | After Smart cheats Badger out of £20, the duo retaliates by targeting his potato supply, escalating into a mash-filled war that threatens both hotels' reputations.[54] |
Series 9 (1998–1999)
Series 9 of Bodger & Badger served as the final installment of the children's comedy series, broadcasting 15 episodes on BBC One from 14 December 1998 to 29 March 1999.[55] Set at Seagull's Rest, Bodger's seaside bed and breakfast in the fictional town of Puddleford, the series continued the format from Series 8, with Simon Bodger (Andy Cunningham) managing the establishment alongside his mischievous pet badger, Badger (voiced by Andy Cunningham), and Mousey (voiced by Jane Bassett).[56] The arc centered on Bodger's efforts to promote and maintain the B&B amid conflicts with the new tourist information officer, Mrs. S. Melly (Jane Booker), who repeatedly undermines his business through her snobbery and schemes, leading to chaotic interventions by Badger and Mousey that often result in mashed potato mishaps.[57] This series emphasized ensemble interactions, including recurring characters like Mr. Gripper, Mr. Wilson, and Miss Piper, building toward resolutions that highlighted the core characters' enduring friendship and Badger's irrepressible antics.[56] The episodes maintained the show's signature blend of slapstick humor, wordplay, and light-hearted resolutions, with Badger's obsession with mashed potatoes driving many plots. Key themes included community events in Puddleford, misunderstandings with guests, and Mrs. Melly's escalating rivalries, often culminating in her comeuppance. Production wrapped up the run after a decade on air, with the finale providing nostalgic closure by revisiting past adventures.[55]| Episode | Title | Air Date | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hello Mrs. Melly | 14 December 1998 | Bodger and Badger encounter the new tourist information officer, Mrs. S. Melly, who takes an immediate dislike to Bodger, while Badger causes disruptions at the hotel.[56] |
| 2 | The Great Escape | 21 December 1998 | Trainee bank manager Mr. Wilson arrives for an interview but gets trapped in the bathroom by Mousey, sparking a rescue effort amid escalating panic.[56] |
| 3 | A Twitch in Time | 4 January 1999 | Birdwatcher Miss Piper stays at the B&B to spot a rare twitch, but Mrs. Melly learns of it and plots to exploit the discovery for profit.[56] |
| 4 | A Whale of a Time | 11 January 1999 | Bodger films a promotional video for Seagull's Rest, which derails when Badger and Mousey hijack the project for their own chaotic film.[56][57] |
| 5 | Poster Potatoes | 18 January 1999 | Bodger promotes Seagull's Rest with posters after Mrs. Melly omits it from her guidebook, but Badger's involvement turns the campaign into a mashed potato fiasco.[56] |
| 6 | Hundreds and Thousands | 25 January 1999 | Mrs. Melly mistakenly believes Bodger has won the lottery and showers him with false kindness, leading to humorous deceptions and revelations.[56] |
| 7 | Mr. Wilson's Bathing Trunks | 1 February 1999 | Mrs. Melly steals Mr. Wilson's clothes while he swims, forcing Bodger to improvise a cover-up as embarrassment ensues at the B&B.[56] |
| 8 | Green Potatoes | 8 February 1999 | Badger paints a towel green after Mousey ruins one, and Mrs. Melly unwittingly uses it, resulting in unexpected comedic consequences.[56] |
| 9 | A Mashy Romance | 15 February 1999 | Mr. Gripper develops a crush on Mrs. Melly, while Badger and Mousey accidentally mix mashed potato soup into suntan lotion bottles.[56] |
| 10 | China Comes to Stay | 22 February 1999 | Millie entrusts her dog China to Bodger for the day, but Badger's playfulness leads to Bodger being covered in baked beans and mash.[56] |
| 11 | Ready, Steady, Go! | 1 March 1999 | Mr. Gripper challenges Mr. Wilson to a race, but Badger and Mousey intervene when they spot Gripper's cheating tactics.[56] |
| 12 | Pop | 8 March 1999 | Bodger acquires a fizzy drink machine, which Badger and Mousey misuse with mash, causing a bubbly explosion of chaos.[56][57] |
| 13 | Mrs. Melly Investigates | 15 March 1999 | Mrs. Melly inspects Seagull's Rest under suspicion, prompting Badger to activate anti-burglar measures in a case of mistaken identity.[56] |
| 14 | Puddleford Day | 22 March 1999 | The town celebrates a historical event with costumes; Badger disrupts Mrs. Melly's poetry reading, covering her in mash.[56] |
| 15 | Mashy Museum | 29 March 1999 | In the series finale, Badger, Mousey, and China create a museum exhibit of mementos from their adventures, reflecting nostalgically on their time at Seagull's Rest.[56] |
