Countdown: Favourite British Puppets — Part Two (5–4)
5: Rosie and Jim (1990–2000)
In a recurring theme here, I find myself surprised by how long this one ran.
Once again, I watched it with Grandad, so that automatically gives it bonus points. There was also a song that went around the school about Rosie and Jim — and a biscuit tin I’m not going to go into — but it definitely helped this one spring to mind when you think of British puppets.
Researching it now, I find that the storyteller — the person driving the boat — changes as time goes on. But when I watched it, it was a guy named John who talked directly to the camera. Some episodes were as simple as John taking the trash out from his boat.
The puppets Rosie, Jim, and the duck would come to life, have their adventure, and John would be none the wiser.
I was reminded of this show recently on a walk around Lincoln. There’s a themed boat there. I’ve checked — it’s not the original — it’s used for holiday lets. The show is very clearly still embedded in people’s minds.
4: Flower Pot Men (1952–1953)
This was one we had on a VHS tape — one of the earliest experiences I remember of our parents sharing something they were nostalgic for. I now read it ran for only 26 quarter‑hour episodes. That formula — magic things coming to life when people aren’t around — it’s all here.
Once the gardener has gone for his tea, the weed calls for the Flower Pot Men to come and play. By “call” I mean it says “weed,” because that’s all the weed says.
Looking at it now, this programme shows its age. There’s a lot of that posh BBC talk‑down language. Doesn’t matter — the Flower Pot Men had that magical formula nailed over 70 years ago.