23-442: Timbuctoo is a series of 25 children's books, written and illustrated by Roger Hargreaves , better known for his Mr. Men and Little Miss series. It was published from 1978 to 1979, with selected reprints in 1993 and 1999. The books tell the stories of a group of animals, each of whom is named after the sound that their particular animal makes. An animated series (produced by Flicks Films and Carlton International ) of Timbuctoo
46-519: A Jacob's Award in 1975. He then transferred to another top-rated ITV series when he played Thomas Watkins , the chauffeur, in Upstairs, Downstairs , opposite his wife, Pauline Collins . They had a daughter (the actress Kate Alderton) and two sons and also acted together in spin-off series, Thomas & Sarah , and another sitcom, No - Honestly , as well as in Wodehouse Playhouse (1975–78),
69-443: A cartoonist, in 1971, he created a successful series of characters used to promote Askit Powders on television (these were used from 1971 to 1994). Also, in 1971 while working as the creative director at a London firm, he wrote the first Mr. Men book, Mr. Tickle . Initially, he had difficulty finding a publisher, but once he did, the books became an instant success, selling more than one million copies within three years. In 1974,
92-556: A series featuring adaptations of short stories by P. G. Wodehouse (primarily the Mr. Mulliner stories). In the meantime, he appeared on the big screen against-type as 'Friend' in John Boorman 's cult sci-fi film Zardoz (1974), before returning to more familiar territory, as 1930s Yorkshire vet James Herriot in the 1976 film, It Shouldn't Happen to a Vet . He was a subject of the television programme This Is Your Life in 1974 when he
115-503: A stroke. He was buried in Cowden , East Sussex. He bought the adjacent field to the grave yard at Cowden Church so that he could be buried there. After his death, his son, Adam , continued writing and drawing the Mr. Men and Little Miss characters with new stories (while signing the covers in his father's signature). In April 2004, Hargreaves' widow Christine sold the rights to the Mr. Men characters to
138-405: A tickle looked like. Hargreaves drew a figure with a round orange body and long arms which became Mr. Tickle. Some Mr. Men books have Hargreaves drawn in them. He appears in: Google celebrated what would have been his 76th birthday, 9 May 2011, with a series of 16 Google Doodles on its global homepage. John Alderton John Alderton (born 27 November 1940) is an English actor. He
161-483: Is a commemorative plaque. Hargreaves attended Sowerby Bridge Grammar School (now Trinity Academy Sowerby Bridge ). He then spent a year working in his father's laundry and dry-cleaning business before gaining employment in advertising. By 1968, he was creative director of the Foote, Cone & Belding agency where he wrote slogans such as "Emigrate to Canada Dry (for the sake of your Scotch)". Originally wanting to become
184-610: Is best known for his roles in Upstairs, Downstairs , Thomas & Sarah , Wodehouse Playhouse , Little Miss (original television series), Please Sir! , No - Honestly and Fireman Sam (the original series). Alderton has often starred alongside his wife, Pauline Collins . Alderton was born on 27 November 1940 in Gainsborough , Lincolnshire , the son of Ivy (née Handley) and Gordon John Alderton. He grew up in Hull where he attended Kingston High School . He graduated from
207-523: The Mr. Men series, Little Miss series and Timbuctoo series, intended for young readers. The simple and humorous stories, with bold, brightly coloured illustrations, have sales of more than 85 million copies worldwide in 20 languages. Charles Roger Hargreaves was born in a private hospital at 1 Bath Road, Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire , England, on 9 May 1935 to Alfred Reginald Hargreaves and Ethel Mary Hargreaves. He grew up at 703 Halifax Road, Hartshead Moor, Cleckheaton, outside of which there now
230-652: The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1961 and appeared in their production of The Doctor and The Devils by Dylan Thomas . Alderton first became familiar to television viewers in 1962, when he played Dr Moone in the ITV soap opera Emergency Ward 10 . After an uncredited role in Cleopatra (1963), and appearing in British films such as The System (1964), Assignment K (1968), Duffy (1968) and Hannibal Brooks (1969), he played
253-613: The Timbuctoo series of 25 books, John Mouse and the Roundy and Squarey books—he is best known for his 46 Mr. Men and 33 Little Miss books. Between 1975 and 1982, Hargreaves lived with his family on Guernsey . Then, they settled at Sussex House Farm near Cowden , Kent. Hargreaves died on 11 September 1988 at the age of 53 and at the Kent and Sussex Hospital in Royal Tunbridge Wells following
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#1732847484661276-593: The 1980s and 1990s, Alderton had a few roles. He narrated BBC1 's children's original animated series Little Miss in 1983 (with his wife Pauline Collins ) and, from 1987 to 1994, narrated and voiced all the characters in the original series of Fireman Sam . From 1987 to 1988 he played Estragon in Samuel Beckett 's Waiting For Godot at the National Theatre . In 1988, he starred as Surgeon Robert Sandy in Tales of
299-1228: The RSC's production of Dutch Uncle . At the Comedy Theatre , July 1969, he played Jimmy Cooper in The Night I Chased the Women with an Eel . At the Howff, in October 1973, he played Stanley in Punch and Judy Stories , and played the same part in Judies at the Comedy, January 1974. At the Shaw Theatre , London,in January 1975, he played Stanley in Pinter's The Birthday Party . At the Apollo, London in May 1976, he played four parts in Ayckbourn's Confusions . During
322-512: The UK entertainment group Chorion , for £ 28 million. In December 2011, Chorion sold the Mr. Men brand and its associated merchandise business to Japan's Sanrio . On 4 March 2021, Hargreaves was posthumously awarded a gold Blue Peter badge . Hargreaves and his wife had four children: Adam , Giles and twins Sophie and Amelia. The first of the Mr. Men characters was allegedly created when Hargreaves' son Adam, then aged 8, asked his father what
345-638: The Unexpected , in the episode The Surgeon , and from 1989 to 1992 he starred in the series Forever Green as the character Jack Boult. he also appeared in the film Clockwork Mice in 1995. Alderton played opposite his wife Pauline in Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War in 2002 and made something of a comeback in the 2003 film, Calendar Girls . Then, in 2004 he played a role in the BBC series of Anthony Trollope 's He Knew He Was Right . Also in 2004, Alderton starred in
368-537: The books spawned a BBC animated television series narrated by Arthur Lowe . A second series the following year saw newer titles transmitted in double bill format with those from the first series. By 1976, Hargreaves had quit his day job. In 1981, the Little Miss series of books was launched and in 1983, it also was made into a television series narrated by Pauline Collins and her husband, John Alderton . Although Hargreaves wrote many other children's stories—including
391-507: The eight 1999 versions published in Greek. Four of the books ( Woof , Trumpet , Buzz and Oink ) were republished in 1993. There was also a set of Timbuctoo Shape Books released, including Oink , Neigh , Growl , Roar , Squeak , Trumpet , Cluck and Puff . Bray was an additional character created and written by Roger's son Adam. This was because standard TV series are often produced in 13 or 26 episode series and an additional character
414-465: The first series of ITV 1's Doc Martin in an episode entitled "Of All The Harbours in All The Towns" as sailor John Slater, a friend and former lover of Aunt Joan. He played Christopher Casby in the 2008 BBC adaptation of Charles Dickens ' Little Dorrit . Alderton married actress Jill Browne in 1964, but they divorced. In 1969, he married actress Pauline Collins and they have three children,
437-475: The lead in the comedy series Please Sir! , as hapless teacher Mr Hedges, which later resulted in him also playing the character in the 1971 feature film of the same name. He was cast by Richard Lester in the title role of a film version of Flashman but the project was abandoned. In 1972, he appeared with Hannah Gordon in the BBC comedy series My Wife Next Door which ran for 13 episodes, and for which he won
460-535: Was based on the characters of the book series. Series 1 was released on VHS as Neigh Finds a New Home and Other Stories in March 1999 and Series 2 released as Woof Has Forgotten How to Bark and Other Stories in February 2000. A total of 26 episodes were produced. Roger Hargreaves Roger Hargreaves (9 May 1935 – 11 September 1988) was a British cartoonist , illustrator and writer of children's books . He created
483-457: Was required to reach 26 episodes. Eight of the original books were reprinted in 1999, with new illustrations, to accompany the TV series. While Bray was listed on the back cover along with the rest of the cast, only Buzz, Cluck, Growl, Meow, Neigh, Oink, Snap and Trumpet were reprinted. The Timbuctoo animated television show was broadcast from January 1998 to April 1999. It ran on CITV for two series and
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#1732847484661506-505: Was shown on CITV which ran from 9 January 1998 to 5 January 2000, narrated by Ronnie Corbett . The original set of 25 books named after their main character were published in 1978 and 1979, along with board books, shaped story books and three Timbuctoo Annuals. In 1999 eight of the books were reprinted with new illustrations to promote the television show, along with a new character, Bray. The first twelve books were also published in Dutch, and
529-786: Was surprised by Eamonn Andrews . He made his first stage appearance with the repertory company of the Theatre Royal , York in August 1961, in Badger's Green by R.C. Sherriff. After a period in repertory, he made his first London appearance at the Mermaid , November 1965, as Harold Crompton in Spring and Port Wine , later transferring with the production to the Apollo . At the Aldwych . In March 1969, he played Eric Hoyden in
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