Bertha | The Factory Machine That Could Make ANYTHING!

A factory machine with a mind of her own, a rumbling tummy, and the ability to make anything... sound familiar? 🏭🤖 Welcome back to Big Kids TV Podcast, where we unearth the retro shows that defined our childhoods. This time, we're diving into Bertha – the charming BBC stop‑motion classic from Woodland Animations, the very same team behind Postman Pat, Charlie Chalk, and Gran! First airing on BBC1 on 1 April 1985 at 3:55pm, this 13‑episode series followed the adventures of Bertha – an old but much‑loved factory machine at the Spottiswood & Company factory. Bertha could produce any item requested of her – from cuckoo clocks and windmill money boxes to garden gnomes and beach balls. But she wasn't just a machine – she had a mind of her own, and when she was upset, she'd even rumble![reference:6] Each episode saw the factory face a crisis, and Bertha would invariably save the day with the help of her wonderful factory worker friends. The cast included Mr Willmake (the factory owner), Mr Sprott (chief designer), Tracy (his young assistant), Mrs Tupp (the tea lady), and T.O.M (Talk Operated Machine – a robot built by Bertha herself!). Voiced and narrated by the brilliant Roy Kinnear, with character designs by the legendary Ivor Wood, Bertha was pure BBC gold. Subscribe to us at @BigKidsTVPodcast for regular retro uploads. Let us know what show you’d like us to make a video on in the comments below 👇 #Bertha #80sKidsTV #BBC #StopMotion #WoodlandAnimations #PostmanPat #BigKidsTV #Nostalgia #RetroTV #IvorWood #RoyKinnear