Debbie Gates
Encyclopedia
Debbie Gates is a UK television
writer
and producer
. She specialised in children's stories told on location by actor
s taking the parts of various characters without costumes, make-up or props. She is best known for writing and producing Tales From Fat Tulip's Garden
, broadcast by ITV
in May and June, 1985. This series won prizes at the Chicago International Festival of Children's Films and the Children's Program at the San Francisco International Film Festival. It was followed by the sequel Fat Tulip Too (thirteen episodes shown during the summer of 1987) and then a Christmas
special on December 25, 1987.
The Fat Tulip stories were told and co-written by Tony Robinson
and included characters such as Thin Tim, Fred the Baddy, Gilbert Harding Sheep, Bunting Tadpole, Anwar and Amita Rabbit, Tracey Bee, a cockle called Jim Morrison, and the Terrible Stinkers - Peter, Paul and Mary. Spin-off
books were also published in 1985: Meet a Dog Called Dorian and Never Eat a Tortoise in picture book
format, and Tales from Fat Tulip's Garden as a paperback
.
Gates' other series included:
All these series were directed by Jeremy McCracken
.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
. She specialised in children's stories told on location by actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
s taking the parts of various characters without costumes, make-up or props. She is best known for writing and producing Tales From Fat Tulip's Garden
Tales From Fat Tulip's Garden
Tales from Fat Tulip's Garden was a children's TV program in the mid 1980s, starring Tony Robinson. It was produced by Debbie Gates for Central Independent Television and aired on British TV network ITV from 1985-87, in a 4:00pm timeslot, with each episode lasting about 10 minutes.Robinson would...
, broadcast by ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
in May and June, 1985. This series won prizes at the Chicago International Festival of Children's Films and the Children's Program at the San Francisco International Film Festival. It was followed by the sequel Fat Tulip Too (thirteen episodes shown during the summer of 1987) and then a Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
special on December 25, 1987.
The Fat Tulip stories were told and co-written by Tony Robinson
Tony Robinson
Tony Robinson is an English actor, comedian, author, broadcaster and political campaigner. He is best known for playing Baldrick in the BBC television series Blackadder, and for hosting Channel 4 programmes such as Time Team and The Worst Jobs in History. Robinson is a member of the Labour Party...
and included characters such as Thin Tim, Fred the Baddy, Gilbert Harding Sheep, Bunting Tadpole, Anwar and Amita Rabbit, Tracey Bee, a cockle called Jim Morrison, and the Terrible Stinkers - Peter, Paul and Mary. Spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
books were also published in 1985: Meet a Dog Called Dorian and Never Eat a Tortoise in picture book
Picture book
A picture book combines visual and verbal narratives in a book format, most often aimed at young children. The images in picture books use a range of media such as oil paints, acrylics, watercolor and pencil.Two of the earliest books with something like the format picture books still retain now...
format, and Tales from Fat Tulip's Garden as a paperback
Paperback
Paperback, softback or softcover describe and refer to a book by the nature of its binding. The covers of such books are usually made of paper or paperboard, and are usually held together with glue rather than stitches or staples...
.
Gates' other series included:
- Gum Tree, cowritten and acted by Ben KeatonBen KeatonBen Keaton is an Irish actor who appeared as Jeff Brannigan in ITV soap opera Emmerdale. He appeared in BBC's Casualty playing the part of Spencer between 1999-2002. He also appeared in the Channel 4's Irish comedy Father Ted, "Think Fast, Father Ted"...
and broadcast in the spring of 1988 by Channel 4Channel 4Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
. The description for episode five: "In his new room at Gumtree House Mathew Milligan is searching for his socks. Unfortunately he opens the wrong box, and it contains Raj Mandi Gumbi Beans that are beginning to wake up..."
- Revolting Animals, written and told by Morwenna BanksMorwenna BanksMorwenna Banks is a British comedy actress, writer and producer.Banks is perhaps best known in the UK as a cast member of the British Channel 4 comedy series Absolutely, where her best-known character was a schoolgirl who sat on the edge of a desk.She appeared as the Keeper of the Rules in the...
, Chris England, Andy Taylor and Chris LangChris LangChris Lang is a writer, actor, and producer for British television.He has written for British television shows including 'Alas Smith and Jones, The Bill, Casualty, Soldier Soldier, The Knock, Reach for the Moon, The Glass, Sirens, Unconditional Love, P.O.W., Amnesia, Lawless,The Palace, 'Primeval...
. The program was shot on location at the London ZooLondon ZooLondon Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo. It was opened in London on 27 April 1828, and was originally intended to be used as a collection for scientific study. It was eventually opened to the public in 1847...
and shown in 1988.
- Jellyneck, written and told by Morwenna BanksMorwenna BanksMorwenna Banks is a British comedy actress, writer and producer.Banks is perhaps best known in the UK as a cast member of the British Channel 4 comedy series Absolutely, where her best-known character was a schoolgirl who sat on the edge of a desk.She appeared as the Keeper of the Rules in the...
, Chris England, Andy Taylor and Chris LangChris LangChris Lang is a writer, actor, and producer for British television.He has written for British television shows including 'Alas Smith and Jones, The Bill, Casualty, Soldier Soldier, The Knock, Reach for the Moon, The Glass, Sirens, Unconditional Love, P.O.W., Amnesia, Lawless,The Palace, 'Primeval...
. The program was shot on location and shown in 1989.
All these series were directed by Jeremy McCracken
Jeremy McCracken (UK)
Jeremy McCracken is a television director. He directed the 1985 UK television series, Tales From Fat Tulip's Garden.-External links:...
.