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Bob the Builder

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Bob the Builder is a stop-motion animated children's TV programme about the adventures of a construction contractor and his friends.

It features Bob (voiced by actor Neil Morrissey in the English original), his colleague Wendy, various neighbours and friends, and their gang of anthropomorphised work-vehicles and equipment. In each episode they help with renovations, construction, and repairs, and with other projects as needed. The show emphasizes conflict resolution, co-operation, socialization, and various learning skills.

Bob's catchphrase is "Can we fix it? Yes, we can!". This phrase is also the title of the show's theme song; the song became a Christmas number one single in 2000 and appeared 72nd in the all-time UK best-sellers list issued in 2002. A second single by Bob, "Mambo No.5", with lyrics adapted from Lou Bega's 1999 hit version, also reached number one a year later.

There is also a movie, "A Christmas to Remember", starring Elton John, Alison Steadman and Noddy Holder.

Bob and his twin brother Tom are also radio hams: see amateur radio.

An ongoing interest for adults who may inadvertently watch the series is the love interest between Bob and his friend and colleague, Wendy. A certain degree of tension is almost always palpable, and in one particular episode, "Buffalo Bob", Wendy has to act as a last minute stand-in for Bob's usual line dancing partner, Mavis, who has injured herself a few days before a competition. Naturally, Bob and Wendy go on to win the competition. Having returned to the yard to pass on the good news to the construction vehicles, Bob walks Wendy home through the winding moonlit streets. Arriving at their destination, they pause a moment on the doorstep before Bob mumbles "I'd better be going home, then." Another beat passes, and they part. Wendy rushes upstairs and wistfully watches Bob walk away from her house. After showing his trophy to his friends, Bob turns and blows her a kiss.

The show is produced in the UK by Hit Entertainment, and draws heavily on claymation techniques such as those pioneered by Art Clokey and more recently on the successful works of Aardman Animations, (although the show is not claymation but instead the characters are made from silicone for the skin with a metal armatured skeleton inside).The Characters and sets are designed by Curtis Jobling. It is shown in more than thirty countries, and versions are available in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Dutch, among other languages. It is shown on CBeebies on BBC television in the UK, and was shown on Nickelodeon TV channel in the US and Canada (in the US, starting with the 2005-06 season, episodes will be shown on PBS Kids instead). The "North American" version uses the actual BBC episodes, but dubs the voices in local accents and slang (for example, the word "soccer" is used to avoid confusion with the very different "football" popular in the U.S. and Canada).

==Characters== from the Nicktoons USA Version of Humans:

  • Bob the Builder
  • Wendy - Bob's colleague
  • Farmer Pickles
  • Spud - A scarecrow (belongs to Farmer Pickles)
  • Mr Sabatini - Runs the local pizza shop
  • Mr Bentley - The fatass building inspector.
  • Mrs Sabatini
  • Pamela Anderson
  • Mr Ellis - Museum Manager
  • Mr Beasley
  • Mrs Percival - School Headmaster
  • Mrs Potts
  • Mavis - Postwoman
  • Mr.Dixon - Postman
  • Robert - Bob's Dad
  • Dorothy Day- Some Communist
  • Tom - Bob's Twin Brother
  • Mr Costello - Drive-in Movie manager
  • JJ - Parts Supplier
  • Molly - JJ's daughter
  • Jenny - Wendy's Hot Sister
  • Dora - Bob's Aunt

Machines:

Animals:

  • Pilchard - Bob's cat
  • Bird - A bird, Roley's best friend
  • Squak - A Crow
  • Tommy - Mrs.Potts turtle
  • Humpty - Farmer Pickles' prize pig
  • Scruffty - Farmer Pickles' dog
  • Hamish - Molly's Parrot

All the characters are machines or adult humans or animals except for Spud the scarecrow. Spud serves as the stand-in for a naive child. It is Spud who must learn to be patient, to not eat all of the food etc. Spud has a habit of trying to do work and with his limited intelligence getting it wrong and spoiling materials. Sometimes he rides on Travis or Scrambler.

Crew

  • Jonathan Kershaw - Lead Propmaker
  • James Taylor - Propmaker

See also

External links

Categories: