Children’s television
The Adventures of Rupert Bear
The story
The Adventures of Rupert Bear (My Little Rupert in the US) was a British live-action puppet television series, based on the Mary Tourtel character Rupert Bear, produced by ATV. It aired from 28 October 1970 to 24 August 1977 on the ITV network, with 156 11-minute episodes produced over four series, which received regular repeat screenings until 1981.
Production
The characters were all puppets, although the opening sequence featured a toy version of Rupert Bear sitting in a live-action child's bedroom. Rupert's friends and flying chariot appeared just as they had in the pages of the Daily Express, although he was joined by some new friends, including a sprite called Willy Wisp. One of the most-remembered elements of the series was the theme song, which was written by Len Beadle and Ron Roker, sung by Jackie Lee, and reached No. 14 in the United Kingdom charts in 1971. The song includes the erroneous lyric "Rupert the Bear" (Rupert has never had the definite article in his name). The narrator of the stories was Judy Bennett.
Archival status
Of the 156 episodes made, for many years only 75 were known to exist in their original colour film format, with a further 16 duplicated on black-and-white 16mm film. The remaining episodes were thought to be lost. On 21 April 2017, it was announced by the Network imprint that original film elements for all 156 episodes had been located, and were to be released on DVD in three volumes, with the first release comprising the earliest 52 episodes.
Characters
Rupert Bear — a little bear who lives near Nutwood village and likes adventures and helping people. He owns a flying go-kart – which he calls his magic chariot – and has a catchphrase "Wizardy whizz!"
Mr. Bear — Rupert's father, who loves gardening and carpentry.
Mrs. Bear — Rupert's mother, who loves to cook and often throws parties for Rupert and his friends.
Willy Wisp — an occasionally mischievous but usually friendly and helpful sprite who gave Rupert’s go-kart the ability to fly. First appeared in 'Rupert and the Flying Chariot'.
Bill Badger — a little badger and Rupert's best friend, who has accompanied him on more adventures than anyone else.
Bobby Badger — Bill's baby brother. First appeared in 'Rupert and the Baby Badger'.
Podgy Pig — a little pig who is always hungry and often greedy, but means well.
Edward Trunk — a little elephant who is very strong and has a catchphrase "Trumpety trumps!".
Pong-Ping — a Pekinese with Chinese origins.
George — a little dragon and Pong-Ping's pet.
P.C. Growler — the local constable who ensures law and order and always has time for a cup of tea.
Margot — one of Rupert's closest friends, rather timid and likes animals. First appeared in 'Rupert and the Sky Boat'.
Tiger Lily — a young girl with Chinese origins.
The Chinese Conjuror — Tiger Lily's father, who possesses magic powers.
Sailor Sam — a sailor who lives in a shack and is often away on sea trips.
Gypsy Granny — a wise old gypsy who often gives Rupert advice in riddles. First appeared in 'Rupert and Raggety'.
Rosalie Pig — Podgy's spoilt cousin. First appeared in 'Rupert and the Truant'.
Ting Ling — Tiger Lily's cousin. First appeared in 'Rupert and the Crackerjack'.
Raggety — a grumpy but good-hearted twig troll who feeds on wood. First appeared in 'Rupert and Raggety'.
Santa Claus — a kind old man who delivers presents to the children of the world at Christmas.
Jack Frost — Prince of the North Pole and in charge of ice and snow. First appeared in 'Rupert and the Snow Machine".
The Snow Queen — Queen of the North Pole. First appeared in 'Rupert and the Winter Woolies'.
Simple Simon — Formerly from Nursery Rhyme Land and not very clever. First appeared in 'Rupert and Unlucky Simon'.
Mr. Grimnasty — the bad tempered Old Man of the Wood and Raggety's housemate. First appeared in 'Rupert and Raggety'.
The Inventor — mad but well meaning scientist. First appeared in 'Rupert and the Blue Fireworks'.
The Professor — sensible and clever scientist.
The Wise Old Wizard — expert on spells and potions and humanised version of the Wise Old Goat in the original stories. First appeared in 'Rupert and the Baby Badger'.
Farmer Termutt — local farmer. First appeared in 'Rupert and the Old Hat'.
The Scarecrow — Farmer Termutt's walking talking scarecrow. Named Odmedod in the original stories but unnamed here.
The Crow — a mischievous but sometimes helpful crow.
Goosegog — a mischievous imp and friend of Raggety's, who loves practical jokes and has a head like a huge gooseberry. First appeared in 'Rupert and the Gooseberry Fool'.
The Wizard of the Wind — head of the world’s weather. First appeared in 'Rupert and the Flying Chariot'.
Drizzle — grumpy assistant to the Wizard of the Wind who likes to do odd jobs. He owns a magic sou'wester which can grow to three times its size and fly. First appeared in 'Rupert and the Flying Chariot'.
Mother Dragon — George's mother. Lives with the Emperor of Games. First appeared in "Rupert and the Hiccuping Dragon".
Great-Grandfather Dragon — George's great-grandfather. Lives with the Emperor of Games. First appeared in 'Rupert and the Dragon Sweets'.
Mary-Mary Quite Contrary — character from nursery rhyme of the same name. First appeared in 'Rupert and Unlucky Simon'.
Jack and Jill — characters from nursery rhyme of the same name. First appeared in 'Rupert and Unlucky Simon'.
The Witch — a friendly witch whose spells often go awry. First appeared in 'Rupert and the Witch's Chariot'.
Mr. & Mrs. Weather — weather people who live in a huge weather house in the sky and control the weather. First appeared in 'Rupert and the Newspapers'.
Bianco and Bianca — two children who live in Cloud Land and look after the clouds. First appeared in 'Rupert in Cloud Land'.
The Rabbit — a white rabbit who lives under Nutwood Common. First appeared in 'Rupert and the Moledigger'.
The Spring Chicken — personal alarm clock for the Bird King. First appeared in 'Rupert and the Spring Chicken'.
Season 1 (1970)
Rupert and the Flying Chariot
Rupert and Raggety
Rupert and the Unknown
Rupert and the Blue Fireworks
Rupert and the Fishing Rod
Rupert and the Snow Machine
Rupert at Rocky Bay
Rupert and the Christmas Toffee
Rupert and the Spring Chicken
Rupert and Sky Boat
Rupert and the Paper Fall
Rupert and the Compass
Rupert and the Butterflies
Rupert and the Magic Ball
Rupert and the Basket Rocket
Rupert and the Green Buzzer
Rupert and the Blue Moon
Rupert in Mysteryland
Rupert and Margot
Rupert and the Snowman
Rupert and the Train Journey
Rupert and the Distant Music
Rupert and the Cold Cure
Rupert and the Ice Flowers
Rupert and the Old Hat
Rupert and the Inventor
Season 2 (1971)
Rupert and the Truant
Rupert and the Autumn Primrose
Rupert and the Baby Badger
Rupert and the Rope Ladder
Rupert and the Gooseberry Fool
Rupert and the Yellow Dog-Roses
Rupert and the Flying Saucer
Rupert and the Top Hat
Rupert and the Forest Fire
Rupert and the Crackerjack
Rupert and the Birthday Kettle
Rupert and the Snuff Box
Rupert and the Dragon Sweets
Rupert and the Elephants
Rupert and the Winter Woolies
Rupert and the Sketch-Book
Rupert and the Woffle Fly
Rupert and the Lost Chariot
Rupert and the Golden Acorn
Rupert and the Balloon
Rupert and the Spring Adventure
Rupert and the Missing Pieces
Rupert and the Outlaw
Rupert and Unlucky Simon
Rupert and Rusty
Rupert and the Old Chimney
Season 3 (1973)
Rupert and the Salt Queen
Rupert and the Falling Star
Rupert and the Piggy Bank
Rupert Gets a Message
Rupert and the Willow Patterned Plate
Rupert and the Moledigger
Rupert and the Witch’s Chariot
Rupert and the Dragon Feast
Rupert and the Scaredly Scarecrow
Rupert, Raggety and the Bricks
Rupert to the Rescue
Rupert and the New Star
Rupert and the One-Eyed Monster
Rupert and the Christmas Stocking
Rupert’s Christmas Party
Rupert at the Pantomime
Rupert and the Floating Water
Rupert in Rhyme Land
Rupert and the Magic Icicle
Rupert and Great Aunt Emily
Rupert and the Snow Guard
Rupert and the Chinese Kite
Rupert and the Wonderful Lamp
Rupert and the Forgetful Flowers
Rupert and the Thief
Rupert in Cloud Land
Rupert and the Goosegog Trap
Rupert and the Treasure Hunt
Rupert and the Jack-in-the-Box
Rupert in Space
Rupert and the Changing Weather
Rupert and the Troublesome Tent
Rupert and the Leaking Roof
Rupert and the Jigsaw Puzzle
Rupert and the Tightrope Walker
Rupert and the Roses
Rupert and the Poppies
Rupert and the Time Zone
Rupert and the Flying Sou'wester
Rupert and the Newspapers
Rupert on the Farm
Rupert and the Electronic Key
Rupert and the Holiday Adventure
Rupert and the Castaway
Rupert and the Princess
Rupert and Rosalie
Rupert and the Air Smugglers
Rupert and the Rainbow
Rupert and the Pothole
Rupert and the Seashell
Rupert and the Experiment
Rupert and the Pie Contest
Season 4 (1974)
Rupert and the Cyclone
Rupert and the Daffodil Telephone
Rupert and the Singing Birdseed
Rupert Turns Detective
Rupert and the Computer
Rupert Rescues Rosalie
Rupert and the Hiccuping Dragon
Rupert and the Upside-Down Tree
Rupert and the Giant Pancake
Rupert and the Sleepless Hedgehog
Rupert and the Man in the Moon
Rupert and the Red Mac
Rupert and the Lonely Pillar Box
Rupert and Nutwood Station
Rupert and the Fancy Dress Party
Rupert and the Sand Castle
Rupert and the Eskimo
Rupert and the Wool Gathering
Rupert and the Golden Egg
Rupert and the House That Never Was
Rupert and the Snow Cloud
Rupert and the Light Situation
Rupert and the New Neighbours
Rupert and the Buried Silver
Rupert and the Shoemaker's Son
Rupert and the Unusual Portrait
Rupert and Raggety's Birthday
Rupert and the Rope Trick
Rupert and Red Riding Hood
Rupert and the Crock of Gold
Rupert and the Knight
Rupert and the Easter Parade
Rupert and the New-Fangled Heater
Rupert and the White Christmas
Rupert and Little Jumping Joan
Rupert Goes Shopping Twice
Rupert and Mr. Grimnasty's New Home
Rupert and Tiger Lily
Rupert and the White Rabbit
Rupert and the Happy Families
Rupert and the Old Coat
Rupert and the Bedoozle Man
Rupert and the Helpful Time
Rupert and the Profusion Plant-Grower
Rupert and the Striped Digger
Rupert and the Nutwood Fair
Rupert and the Naughty Tinker
Rupert and the Old Mill
Rupert and the Good Deed
Rupert and the Late Winter
Rupert and the Professor's Problem
Rupert and Punch and Judy
DVD release
In April 2017, Network announced it would be releasing the first 52 episodes from the first two series on DVD (Region 2, PAL format). http://networkonair.com/exclusives/2626-adventures-of-rupert-bear-the-volume-1
The set was made available only directly through Network's website.
A second volume containing the 52 episodes from series 3 was released soon afterward, again exclusive to the Network DVD website and in the same format. http://networkonair.com/exclusives/2686-adventures-of-rupert-bear-the-volume-2
Later, a third volume containing all 52 episodes from series 4 was released, once again exclusive to the Network DVD website and in the same format as the other volumes. http://networkonair.com/all-products/2715-adventures-of-rupert-bear-the-volume-3
All four series were later released as a complete set in October 2017, available from all major retailers.