Main content
This programme will be available shortly after broadcast

For love of Bagpuss

Former Blue Peter star Janet Ellis and CBeebie's Mr Bloom, Ben Faulks, are the readers for this nostalgic evocation of the world of Bagpuss.

Bagpuss - that much-loved, furry cat - first appeared on TV screens on 12 Feb 1974. There only ever were 13 episodes but it was such a hit with 1970s children that it was re-run many times, entrancing generation after generation. Part of the secret of the Bagpuss attraction were the characters at the heart of Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin's series: the yawning, baggy cloth cat of course, but also the wise child Emily, the chattering woodpecker Professor Yaffl (said to be a send-up of the philosopher Bertrand Russell), Gabriel the banjo-playing toad, Madeleine the rag doll and those magic mice. This Words and Music looks to these characters for inspiration.

Sandra Kerr and John Faulkner provided the music for the series and you'll hear some of that alongside compositions by Tchaikovsky, Elgar, Hindemith, Florence Price, Ailbhe McDonagh and the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Readings include novels by George Eliot and Roald Dahl, Eleanor Farjeon's poem Cats and Robert Louis Stephenson's To Any Reader, read by the former Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis and the CBeebies actor and presenter Ben Faulks - also known as Mr Bloom.

Producer in Salford: Olive Clancy

You can find a Free Thinking discussion about Bagpuss and the other worlds conjured by Oliver Postgate including The Clangers, and Pogles' Wood. With guests including Sandra Kerr and Daniel Postgate. Available on 麻豆约拍 Sounds

1 hour, 14 minutes

On radio

Next Sunday 18:00
麻豆约拍 Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

Paying Attention

Next

Antarctica - from Shackleton to Happy Feet

See all episodes from Words and Music

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:01

    Oliver Postgate

    Bagpuss opening words

    Performer: Oliver Postgate.
    • Fire Records.
    • 33.
  • 00:00

    Oliver Postgate

    Opening Words

    Performer: John Faulkner. Performer: Oliver Postgate. Performer: Sandra Kerr.
    • Earth (13).
    • EARTHLP033L.

  • Captain Bagpuss ready by Oliver Postgate

  • 00:01

    Elena Kats鈥怌hernin

    Le Chat Noir

    Performer: Tamara Anna Cislowska.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 479 7540.
  • 00:02

    Elena Kats鈥怌hernin

    Chat noir

    Performer: Tamara Anna Cislowska.

  • Cats by Eleanor Farjeon, read by Janet Ellis

  • Eleanor Farjeon

    Cats read by Janet Ellis

  • 00:03

    Elena Kats鈥怌hernin

    Chat Noir

    Performer: Tamara Anna Cislowska.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 4.
  • 00:04

    Elena Kats鈥怌hernin

    Le Chat Noir

    Performer: Tamara Anna Cislowska.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 479 7540.
  • 00:05

    Sergey Prokofiev

    Peter and the Wolf Op 67 IV The Cat

    Performer: Marin Chaputout.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 10.
  • 00:05

    Sergey Prokofiev

    Peter and the wolf - a tale for children Op.67 for narrator and orchestra

    Performer: Marin Chapoutot.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 9029588827.

  • TS Eliott

    The Naming of Cats read by Ben Faulks

  • 00:08

    Robert Smith

    Lovecats

    Performer: The Cure.
    • Polydor.
    • 5.
  • 00:08

    The Cure

    The Love Cats

    • Polydor.
    • 589 435-2.

  • Margaret Atwood

    Cats read by Janet Ellis

  • Cats by Margaret Atwood, read by Janet Ellis.

  • 00:11

    Aram Khachaturian

    Sounds of Childhood: Cat on a swing

    Performer: Corinna Simon.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 11.
  • 00:13

    John Faulkner

    The Millers Song

    Performer: Sandra Kerr. Performer: John Faulkner.
    • Earth Records.
    • 17.
  • 00:14

    John Faulkner & Sandra Kerr

    The Miller's Song

    • EArth Records.
    • n/a.
  • 00:16

    C茅cile Chaminade

    Pastoral Enfantine, Op. 12 (Arr. for Flute and Piano)

    Performer: J眉lide G眉nd眉z.
    • JingleBox M眉zik.
    • 4.
  • 00:17

    C茅cile Chaminade

    Pastoral Enfantine, Op. 12 (Arr. for Flute and Piano)

    Performer: J眉lide G眉nd眉z.
    • JingleBox M眉zik.
    • 4.

  • Robert Louis Stevenson

    To any Reader read by Janet Ellis

  • To any Reader by Robert Louis Stevenson, read by Janet Ellis

  • Roald Dahl

    Matilda read by Ben Faulks

  • Matilda by Roald Dahl, read by Ben Faulks

  • 00:20

    Florence Price

    Child Asleep

    Performer: Lara Downes.
    • Flipside Music.
    • 1.
  • 00:20

    Florence Price

    Child Asleep

    Performer: Lara Downes.
    • Flipside Music.
    • 0000000.

  • George Eliot

    Silas Marner read by Janet Ellis

  • 00:23

    Taylor Swift

    Never Grow Up

    Performer: Taylor Swift.
    • Big Machine Records, LLC.
    • 8.
  • 00:24

    Taylor Swift

    Never Grow Up

    Performer: Taylor Swift.

  • Charles Kingsley

    The Water Babies read by Ben Faulks

  • 00:27

    Emahoy Tsegu茅-Maryam Gu猫brou

    Mothers Love

    Performer: Emahoy Tsegu茅-Maryam Gu猫brou.
    • Mississippi Records.
    • 1.

  • The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley, read by Ben Faulks

  • 00:28

    Emahoy Tsegu茅-Maryam Gu猫brou

    Mothers Love

    Performer: Emahoy Tsegu茅-Maryam Gu猫brou.
    • Mississippi Records.
    • MRP-099.

  • Henry James

    What Maisie Knew read by Janet Ellis

  • 00:30

    Ailbhe McDonagh & Orla McDonagh

    Kites Fly

    • Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Ltd.
    • 1.
  • 00:33

    Ailbhe McDonagh

    Kite Flying

    Performer: Ailbhe McDonagh. Performer: Orla McDonagh.
    • Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers Ltd.
    • 198000520038.
  • 00:32

    Camille Saint鈥怱a毛ns

    Carnival des Animaux

    Performer: Alexandre Dubrus.
    • Warner.
    • 30.
  • 00:34

    Camille Saint鈥怱a毛ns

    Le Carnaval des animaux

    Performer: Alexandre Dubrus.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 0190296746048.
  • 00:35

    Bruce Klepper

    The Wizard of Oz: The Queen of the Field Mice

    Performer: Bruce Klepper.
    • Burce Klepper.
    • 1.

  • Rose Fylman

    Mice read by Janet Ellis

  • 00:37

    Sandra Kerr & John Faulkner

    We will fix it

    • Earth Records.
    • 13.
  • 00:40

    John Faulkner & Sandra Kerr

    We Will Fix It - Bagpuss: Mouse Round (Mending Song)

    • EArth Records.
    • n/a.
  • 00:37

    Oliver Knussen

    Where the wild things are

    Performer: London Sinfonietta.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 44.
  • 00:40

    Oliver Knussen

    Where the wild things are - fantasy opera Op.20

    Conductor: Oliver Knussen. Performer: London Sinfonietta.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
    • 469-557-2.

  • The Dolls House by Rumer Goden, read by Janet Ellis

  • Rumer Goden

    The Dolls House read by Janet Ellis

  • Kafka

    Fable read by Ben Faulks

  • Fable by Kafka, read by Ben Faulks

  • 00:39

    Jacques Offenbach

    Les Contes d'Hoffmann - Act 2; Les Oiseaux dans la charmille

    Orchestra: Munich Radio Orchestra. Singer: Jodie Devos.
    • Alpha.
  • 00:42

    Jacques Offenbach

    Les Contes d'Hoffmann - opera in 5 acts, compl. Guiraud

    Conductor: Laurent Campellone. Performer: Jodie Devos. Performer: Munich Radio Orchestra.
    • Alpha.
    • ALPHA437.
  • 00:41

    Claude Debussy

    Serenade for a Doll (Children's Corner)

    Performer: Carolyn Jones.
  • 00:45

    Claude Debussy

    Children's corner for piano

    Performer: Carolyn Jones.
    • Promo.
    • 0000000.
  • 00:42

    Claude Debussy

    Children鈥檚 Corner: serendade for a doll

    Performer: Carolyn Jones.
    • Independent.
    • 10.
  • 00:48

    The Four Seasons

    RAG DOLL

    Music Arranger: N/A.
    • Rhino Records.
    • WPCR-16679.
  • 00:45

    The Four Seasons

    Ragdoll

    • Rhino.
    • 6.

  • Kuhli Kohli

    The ragdoll read by Janet Ellis

  • The Ragdoll by Kuli Kohli, read by Janet Ellis

  • Hans Christian Anderson

    The Steadfast Tin Soldier read by Ben Foulks

  • The Steadfast by Hans Christian Anderson, read by Ben Faulks

  • 00:49

    Edward Elgar

    Nursery Suite II The Serious Doll

    Orchestra: Hall茅. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.
    • Halle Concerts Society.
    • 14.
  • 00:51

    Edward Elgar

    Nursery suite

    Conductor: Sir Mark Elder. Performer: Hall茅.
    • HALLE.
    • CDHLL7548.
  • 00:52

    Thomas Morley

    The Frog Galliard

    Performer: Julian Bream.
    • Editions Audiovisuel Beulah.
    • 15.
  • 00:53

    Thomas Morley

    The Frogge galliard for consort a 6 [after Dowland; 1st Booke of Consort Lessons, 1599]

    Performer: Julian Bream Consort.
    • RCA.
    • RD-87801.

  • Kenneth Graeme

    The Wind in the Willows read by Ben Foulks

  • The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graeme, read by Ben Faulks

  • 00:56

    John Rutter

    Toad's Song

    Ensemble: The King鈥檚 Singers.
    • Collegium.
    • B0000DJKDL.
  • 00:54

    John Rutter

    The Wind In the Willows: Toads Song

    Performer: Richard Baker.
    • Collegium.
    • 7.
  • 01:00

    Johan de Meij

    The Wind in the Willows

    Performer: The Danish Concert Band.
    • Mark Records.
    • 4736-MCD.

  • Morris Gleitzman

    Toad Rage, read by Ben Foulks

  • Toad Rage by Morris Gleitzman, read by Ben Faulks

  • 00:58

    Johan de Meij

    Wind in the Willows - Toad

    Performer: R酶dovre Concert Band.
    • Mark Records.

  • Christina Rosetti

    Caterpillar read by Janet Ellis

  • Caterpillar by Christina Rosetti, read by Janet Ellis

  • 01:01

    Christian Lindberg

    Woodpeckers Dance

    Performer: Anders Paulsson. Performer: Christian Lindberg.
    • EUROPEAN GRAMOPHONE.
    • n/a.
  • 01:18

    Christian Lindberg

    Woodpeckers Dance

    Performer: Anders Paulsson. Performer: Christian Lindberg.
    • EUROPEAN GRAMOPHONE.
    • 0000000.

  • Ted Hughes

    The Woodpecker read by Ben Foulks

  • The Woodpecker by Ted Hughes, read by Ben Faulks

  • 01:02

    Trad.

    The Woodpecker Song

    Performer: Glenn Miller Orchestra.
    • Red Cab Records.
    • 11.
  • 01:21

    罢谤盲诲

    The Woodpecker Song

    Performer: Glenn Miller and His Orchestra.
    • Bluebird.
    • ND-90600.
  • 01:06

    Amy Beach

    Fugata from Fantasia Fugata

    Performer: Kirsten Johnson.
    • Guild GmbH.
    • 1.
  • 01:26

    Amy Beach

    Fantasia Fugata

    Performer: Kirsten Johnson.
    • GUILD.
    • 7351.

  • Extract from The New Generation by Bertrand Russell, read by Ben Faulks

  • Bertrand Russell

    Extract from The New Generation read by Ben Foulks

  • 01:08

    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Lullaby, Op.16 no.1

    Performer: N.F.I.

  • Elizabeth Maddox Roberts

    Woodpecker read by Janet Ellis

  • 01:08

    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Lullaby Op 16

    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 5.
  • 01:33

    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    6 Songs Op.16

    Performer: Anna Netrebko. Performer: Daniel Barenboim.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
    • 477-8589.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 11 Feb 2024 17:30
    麻豆约拍 Radio 3
  • Next Sunday 18:00
    麻豆约拍 Radio 3

The hidden history of plant-based diets

The hidden history of plant-based diets

Forget social media influencers - the meat-free movement started with the Victorians.

Books website

Get closer to books with in-depth articles, quizzes and our picks from radio & TV.