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The good old Beeb comes in with a new show for Spring. Brought to us by
the makers of the Teletubbies, so expect everything a student needs for
sniggering about down The Union.
Before we go on to laughing about it, I should point out that it is beautifully
made and is the new favourite in our house. Surreal and worrying, but
great nonetheless.
Let's meet the cast.
Igglepiggle
Poor Igglepiggle. He and his blanket travel every night to the Garden, but
it's an alien world. He has a permanent look of confusion on his face - it's
strange here. He's also desperately in love with Upsy Daisy. They kiss
each other a lot. They also regularly wander off, hand in hand into the
woods with Igglepiggle's blanket, only to return later in the show looking
flushed.
Upsy Daisy
Brash and brazen Upsy Daisy loves to kiss the boys. She also wheels her
bed around with her and regularly shows us her pants. "No one is allowed
to sleep in Upsy Daisy's bed," narrator Derek Jacobi tells us with a knowing
smirk.
The Tombliboos
OK, so what's wrong with three men called Ooh, Eeh and Un (yes, really)
sharing a house together. What they're doing inside on a sunny afternoon
with no trousers on is none of our business. (The official Night Garden
website tells us that one of the things they do inside is "bang their drums"
which sounds like a euphemism to me.)
Upsy Daisy regularly pops by to bestow kisses, but she is so barking up the
wrong tree.
The Pontipines
Hard-working, Turkish economic migrants The Pontipines squeeze their
large family into a small one-bedroom semi in the woods. How Mum and
Dad Pontipine ever managed to have the large family, what with the shared
bedroom, is beyond me. Ethnic tensions abound. Their next door
neighbours appear briefly, but don't seem to want anything to do with the
new arrivals in the street.
Makka Pakka
Clinically obese Makka Pakka can often be seen using his disability aid to
get around the garden with. We're not sure of the words to his song, but
we're pretty certain the words Wacky Baccy are made to rhyme somehow.
Add to this, Makka Pakka's obsession with stones, soap-bar (if you know
your lingo*) and his vacant expression and there's plenty to keep the
tongues wagging down the Student Union. It brings back fond memories of
my own student days and the debates about Tubby Toast.
The Ninky Nonk
The Garden's express train service boasts luxury compartments. "We're
going to ride on the Ninky Nonk," Derek tells us gleefully. Needless to say,
Upsy Daisy and Iggle Piggle are never far away.
The Pinky Ponk
Floating cocktail bar, the Pinky Ponk soars high above The Garden.
Regularly the residents of The Garden can be seen on board drowning
their sorrows.
Ooh, Aah and Un can be seen drinking predictably flamboyant beverages.
Upsy Daisy and Iggle Piggle cuddle up together in a quiet corner. Even the
tiny Pontypines can be seen enjoying alco-pops. Mum and Dad should be
ashamed.
Macca Pacca sits in a corner, alone. Everyone clearly giving him a wide
berth due to his reputation when he's got a drink in him.
The Narrator - Derek Jacobi
Surely Shakespearean acting, all-round famous chap, Derek, took one look
at the script full of innuendo and ran a mile? No? Each script is attacked
with unwarranted enthusiasm, those RSC tones booming out as he tells us,
"Iggle Piggle, Iggle Onk. We're going to ride the Ninky Nonk." It's just yet
another gloriously surreal addition to the show.
The Tittifers
A group of birds that turn up to separate the elements of the show.
Referred to in our house (due to the innuendo content of the show) as The
Titter-Ye-Nots, although you have to be old enough to remember Frankie
Howerd in Up Pompei to get that one.
Someone's not in bed...
Back to Parents Guide To Kid's TV
* I've been e-mailed by a few people with more sheltered upbringings than mine, asking what Soap
Bar is. All I can suggest is downloading (or looking up the lyrics of) the song "Soap Bar" by Goldie
Lookin' Chain for an amusing introduction, but be warned it contains very strong language
throughout.
executives, he runs Bus Stop Toy Shop and sells some great toys for kids
of all ages. Why not have a glance around the main Bus Stop Toy Shop
website while your here? Better still you can sign up to our monthly
newsletter (details at the top right of every page) and keep up to date with
the very best in toys.
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