Ragdoll Productions
Encyclopedia
Ragdoll Productions is a UK company that produces children's television shows. It was founded in 1984 by Anne Wood
, who later devised many of their television series, seen (in the case of Teletubbies
) in 111 countries and translated into 41 languages.
Before 1984, Ragdoll's founder Anne Wood made children's programmes for Yorkshire Television
and TV-am
. Ragdoll Ltd is a privately owned family company founded in 1984 by Anne Wood. In 2006 Ragdoll and BBC Worldwide formed a joint venture, Ragdoll Worldwide to manage and exploit Ragdoll programming. The slogan for the company is "Works for children."
in Warwickshire
, which stocked a range of merchandise relating to Ragdoll's television series (the shop is now closed).
Anne Wood
Anne Wood CBE is a British children’s television producer.She was born in Spennymoor, County Durham, England and grew up in Tudhoe Colliery, a small coalmining village nearby.-Her Teaching Years:...
, who later devised many of their television series, seen (in the case of Teletubbies
Teletubbies
Teletubbies is a BBC children's television series targeted at pre-school viewers and produced from 1997 to 2001 by Ragdoll Productions. It was created by Ragdoll's creative director Anne Wood CBE and Andrew Davenport, who wrote each of the show's 365 episodes. The programme's original narrator was...
) in 111 countries and translated into 41 languages.
Before 1984, Ragdoll's founder Anne Wood made children's programmes for Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television, now officially known as ITV Yorkshire and sometimes unofficially abbreviated to YTV, is a British television broadcaster and the contractor for the Yorkshire franchise area on the ITV network...
and TV-am
TV-am
TV-am was a breakfast television station that broadcast to the United Kingdom from 1 February 1983 to 31 December 1992. It made history by being the first national operator of a commercial television franchise at breakfast-time , and broadcast every day of the week for most or all of the period...
. Ragdoll Ltd is a privately owned family company founded in 1984 by Anne Wood. In 2006 Ragdoll and BBC Worldwide formed a joint venture, Ragdoll Worldwide to manage and exploit Ragdoll programming. The slogan for the company is "Works for children."
Productions
The following are some of Ragdoll's productions, accompanied by a brief description and vital statistics:- Pob's ProgrammePob's ProgrammePob's Programme was a children's television programme, which was broadcast in the United Kingdom on Channel 4 and BBC between October 1985 and 1990...
— first broadcast in 1985, 5 series, 82 episodes. The company's first official production featuring Pob, who has large ears and a woolly jumper.
- PlayboxPlayboxPlaybox was a TV programme for pre-school children aged 2-5, which ran during the late 1980s and early 1990s in the United Kingdom on ITV and was produced by Central Independent Television. It was the first ragdoll show to be made by ITV...
- first broadcast 1988, 1 series, 20 episodes. About a dog & a cat who live in a box.
- Rosie and JimRosie and JimRosie and Jim was a British children's television programme which appeared, on and off, on CITV since the early 1990s. The programme was the creation of John Cunliffe, in collaboration with Anne Wood and Robin Stevens, Robin Stevens] also played the character Jim...
— first broadcast in 1990, 8 series, 175 episodes. Children's comedy featuring two mischievous ragdolls who magically come to life when the narrowboat owner is away.
- BrumBrum (television)Brum is a children's TV programme about the adventures of a car of the same name. It was produced by Ragdoll Productions for HIT Entertainment and first broadcast in 1991. It was initially directed and written by Tom Poole and produced by Anne Wood, latterly directed and written by Vic Finch, Paul...
— first broadcast in 1991. 6 series, 78 episodes. About a small car that comes to life and goes around helping the inhabitants of the nearby town.
- Open a Door — first broadcast 1992. An international project producing 5-minute children's films.
- BlipsBlips (TV Show)Blips is a British children's television series from Ragdoll Productions, which first aired on CITV in 2004 and returned for a second series in 2005. It starred Robin Stevens as Mr. Perfect and Patricia Routledge as the narrator. The 26 episodes were written by Alan Dapre & Robin Stevens. Since...
- first broadcast 2005. 2 series, 26 episodes.
- Tots TVTots TVTots TV is a television show, produced by Ragdoll Productions and Central . Tots TV was also broadcast in the USA on PBS from 3 January 1993 to 27 April 1998...
— first shown in 1993, 8 series, 276 episodes. The adventures of puppets Tilly, Tom, and Tiny where they live in their magical house in the woods with their friend Donkey and of course Sniffles. Tilly spokes French (Spanish in the American broadcast, and English in the French broadcast), thus introducing children to a second language. Earned Ragdoll two BAFTA awards.
- TeletubbiesTeletubbiesTeletubbies is a BBC children's television series targeted at pre-school viewers and produced from 1997 to 2001 by Ragdoll Productions. It was created by Ragdoll's creative director Anne Wood CBE and Andrew Davenport, who wrote each of the show's 365 episodes. The programme's original narrator was...
— first broadcast in 1997, production on Teletubbies ended in 2001 after 365 episodes. A show about the adventures of four characters, the Teletubbies, Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po where they live over the hills called "Teletubbyland". Re runs on CBeebiesCBeebiesCBeebies is the brand used by the BBC for programming aimed at children 6 years and under. It is used as a themed strand in the UK on terrestrial television, as a separate free-to-air domestic British channel and used for international varients supported by advertising, subscription or both...
- Badjelly the WitchBadjelly the WitchBadjelly the Witch is a brief handwritten, illustrated story by Spike Milligan, created for his children, then printed in 1973. It was made into an audio and a video version....
— premiered 2000. A film based on the book by the late Spike MilliganSpike MilliganTerence Alan Patrick Seán "Spike" Milligan Hon. KBE was a comedian, writer, musician, poet, playwright, soldier and actor. His early life was spent in India, where he was born, but the majority of his working life was spent in the United Kingdom. He became an Irish citizen in 1962 after the...
.
- BoohbahBoohbahBoohbah is a 2003 children's television series produced by Ragdoll Productions and aimed at children between three and five years old. It premiered in 2003 on GMTV and CITV in the United Kingdom, in the United States on PBS and PBS Kids Sprout. It was created by Anne Wood with scripts by Alan Dapre...
— first broadcast in 2003. 104 episodes. An exercise programme aimed at 3-6 year-olds.
- In the Night GardenIn the Night GardenIn the Night Garden... is a BBC children's television series, aimed at children aged from one to four years old. It is produced by Ragdoll Productions. Andrew Davenport created, wrote, and composed the title theme and incidental music for all 100 episodes. It was produced by Andrew Davenport and...
— First broadcast in 2007; intended for children aged 1-4. 100×30 minutes commissioned by the BBC and shown on CBeebiesCBeebiesCBeebies is the brand used by the BBC for programming aimed at children 6 years and under. It is used as a themed strand in the UK on terrestrial television, as a separate free-to-air domestic British channel and used for international varients supported by advertising, subscription or both...
.
- TronjiTronjiTronji is a CG animated TV series and a multiplayer online game, produced in the United Kingdom and aimed at children aged six to eight years. It was commissioned by CBBC, produced by Ragdoll Productions and will be distributed globally by BBC Worldwide...
— first broadcast in 2009, is aimed at children aged 6-8. 30×30 minutes commissioned by the BBC and shown on CBBCCBBCCBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...
.
- DipdapDipdapDipdap is a children's programme on CBeebies, in which a drawn line creates endless challenges and surprises for the unsuspecting little character Dipdap.The series was created by Steve Roberts and produced by Ragdoll Productions-Episodes:...
- first broadcast in 2010, a 52×3 minute programme about a drawn character on a drawn line and shown on CBeebiesCBeebiesCBeebies is the brand used by the BBC for programming aimed at children 6 years and under. It is used as a themed strand in the UK on terrestrial television, as a separate free-to-air domestic British channel and used for international varients supported by advertising, subscription or both...
.
- The Adventures of Abney & Teal - first broadcast in 2011, a 52×11 minute programme about two friends and shown on CBeebiesCBeebiesCBeebies is the brand used by the BBC for programming aimed at children 6 years and under. It is used as a themed strand in the UK on terrestrial television, as a separate free-to-air domestic British channel and used for international varients supported by advertising, subscription or both...
.
Shop
There was a Ragdoll shop in Stratford-upon-AvonStratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
in Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, which stocked a range of merchandise relating to Ragdoll's television series (the shop is now closed).