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| ''Bertha'' was created by ], who also produced the shows '']'' and '']'' for the BBC. The show was written by ] & ] and produced by ] | ''Bertha'' was created by ], who also produced the shows '']'' and '']'' for the BBC. The show was written by ] & ] and produced by ] | ||
| in 1997 ''Bertha'' was created by ] and , who also produced the shows for the BBC and ]. The show was written by ] & ] and produced by ] | |||
| in 2007 ''Bertha'' was created by ] and ] and , who also produced the shows for the BBC and ]. The show was written by ] & ] and produced by ] | |||
| The Narration was provided by ], who also provided the voices for the characters, along with ]. | The Narration was provided by ], who also provided the voices for the characters, along with ]. | ||
Revision as of 06:55, 15 January 2007
1985 British TV series or program| Bertha | |
|---|---|
| Developed by | Cosgrove Hall Films |
| Starring | Roy Kinnear (voice) Sheila Walker (voice) |
| Narrated by | Roy Kinnear |
| Theme music composer | Brian Daly |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Production | |
| Producer | Ivor Wood |
| Running time | 15 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | BBC 1 |
| Release | 1 April 1985 – 18 June 1986 (though repeated since) |
Bertha is a British stop motion animated children's television series about a factory machine. It was made from 1985 to 1986 and was first aired on 1 April 1985 by the BBC. It was aimed at pre-school children.
Story
The series was set in Spottiswood factory - a small manufacturing plant which produces a wide range of manufactured goods ranging from cuckoo clocks to windmill money depository boxes.
The show focussed on Bertha, who is an old fashioned factory machine. In each episode there would be some sort of daily crisis involved in factory production. With the help of her friends (the factory workers), Bertha invariably solves all the problems, and comes as "the best machine" in Spottiswood factory. It should be noted that, as far as the audience saw, Bertha was also the only machine in Spottiswood factory.
Production
Bertha was created by Woodland Animations, who also produced the shows Postman Pat and Charlie Chalk for the BBC. The show was written by Eric Charles & Stephen Flewers and produced by Ivor Wood
in 1997 Bertha was created by Woodland Animations and , who also produced the shows for the BBC and HIT Entertainment. The show was written by Eric Charles & Stephen Flewers and produced by Ivor Wood
in 2007 Bertha was created by Woodland Animations and Cosgrove Hall Films and , who also produced the shows for the BBC and Entertainment Rights. The show was written by Eric Charles & Stephen Flewers and produced by debbie peers
The Narration was provided by Roy Kinnear, who also provided the voices for the characters, along with Sheila Walker.
Main characters
- Mr. Willmake - Manager of the factory
- Miss McClackerty - Mr. Willmake's assistant
- Mr. Sprott - Chief designer
- Tracy - Assistant designer
- Mr. Duncan - Foreman
- Ted Turner - Chief machine operator. Named after Ted Turner a president of a radio and movie station
- Roy Willing - Assistant machine operator
- Mrs. Tupp - The tea lady
- Panjid - Forklift truck operator
- Nell and Flo - Packers and Stackers
- T.O.M. - Talk Operated Machine, a robot built to perform tasks around the factory
Materials Produced by Bertha throughout the series
- windmill money boxes
- garden gnomes
- beach balls
- 365 springs
- plastic bears
- cuckoo clocks
- Jack-in-the-Boxes
- jigsaw puzzles
- watering cans
Original Broadcast Dates
Bertha premiered on BBC 1 with The Great Painting Job which aired on 1 April 1985 at 3.55pm. The next seven episodes were shown over the following weeks, apart from interruptions for the Easter and May Day holidays.
Episodes eight to eleven were first broadcast at the end of an Autumn rerun. Similarly, the final two episodes premiered in the midst of a third outing in 1986.
List of episodes and first broadcast dates
- The Great Painting Job - 1 April 1985
- More Speed, Less Work
- The Windmills
- The Big Order
- A Mouse in the Works
- The Burglars
- The Best Machine Competition
- Bertha's Birthday Party
- TOM Gets Lost
- The Big Sneeze
- The Flying Bear
- TOM's New Friend
- The Tea Nurse
Bertha theme tune
Bertha had a catchy theme tune, with music and lyrics by Brian Daly, and sung by Guy Fletcher
- Bertha lovely bertha
- You are lovely machine
- And anyone who works with you will know just what I mean
- Whoa...
- Bertha lovely bertha
- Sometimes i think you're a dream
- When we work out what you have to do
- You can always turn the goods out
- Always turn the goods out
- We can depend upon you
- Clicking in the day, flashing in the night
- Your computer is shining brightly
- Some people say you have a mind of your own
- And i think thats very likely, likely