Paperplay
Encyclopedia
Paperplay was a British
children's television programme, produced by Thames Television
for the ITV
network between 1974 and 1981. The show was devised and presented by Susan Stranks, a former Magpie
presenter.
In each show, Stranks would make simple creations from paper and other household waste. Assisting her would be two mischievous hand-puppet spiders named Itsy and Bitsy. Itsy was the red male, growling spider and Bitsy the yellow female, squeeking spider. Occasionally they were joined by other puppets, such as Boris the ladybird
, Cardew the caterpillar
and Katie the bird. The puppets were operated by Norman Beardsley, who was hidden by a black backdrop.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
children's television programme, produced by Thames Television
Thames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
for the 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...
network between 1974 and 1981. The show was devised and presented by Susan Stranks, a former Magpie
Magpie (TV series)
Magpie was a children's television programme shown on ITV from the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. It was a magazine format show intended to compete with the BBC's Blue Peter, but attempted to be more "hip", focusing more on popular culture...
presenter.
In each show, Stranks would make simple creations from paper and other household waste. Assisting her would be two mischievous hand-puppet spiders named Itsy and Bitsy. Itsy was the red male, growling spider and Bitsy the yellow female, squeeking spider. Occasionally they were joined by other puppets, such as Boris the ladybird
Coccinellidae
Coccinellidae is a family of beetles, known variously as ladybirds , or ladybugs . Scientists increasingly prefer the names ladybird beetles or lady beetles as these insects are not true bugs...
, Cardew the caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
and Katie the bird. The puppets were operated by Norman Beardsley, who was hidden by a black backdrop.