Mr. Benn!

dr.bollocko

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8375309.stm

Residents of the street that helped inspire the Mr Benn stories have clubbed together to pay tribute to the classic children's character.

Festing Road, in Putney, south London, became famous when illustrator David McKee lived there in the late 1960s and made it Mr Benn's home address.

On Saturday, an engraved paving slab will be laid outside the house where McKee invented the iconic cartoon.

McKee has also revealed that he has just signed a new Mr Benn movie deal.

Mr Benn's adventures always began when he visited a magical fancy dress shop.

The shop's changing room was a portal to another world which reflected Mr Benn's chosen costume.

The stories are best known through the 13 TV episodes that were first broadcast in the early 1970s, and have often been repeated.

Anyone else remember this show? Movie deal? Also high def versions of the original shows? Very strange stuff altogether. Nice to see the stranger side of kids TV is still getting an airing!

nlgbbbblth

Liked it during the 70s. Bought DVD for my kids and they love it.

stovelid

I always think of it as being a slightly countercultural allegory. Not that you noticed as a kid. Square guy goes to a magical shop, trips out on weird outfits and escapes from reality by "having an adventure".

I think I've seen a user icon here on boards with the shop owner in his fez

sundodger5

saw mr benn t shirts somewhere lately.
my kids just didnt get it....

gipi

Were there only 13 episodes? They must have repeated them all the time!

The narrator, Ray Brooks, turned up in Eastenders in later years (having been in Corrie before his Mr Benn days).

phasers

I loved Mr Benn when I was younger! They repeated it on Nickelodeon and a few other channels in the early 90s

I just bought the DVD recently and it's still great, I'm gonna show it to my nephew when he's older

Elba101

What a show! He did everything!!

actingthegoat

Can't believe there were only 13 episodes,could have sworn it was on every day at lunchtime. classic stuff!

ctrl-alt-delete

13 episdoes!!! mad, i loved that show,

i think Bellx1 mention it a song of theirs

I don't bring you spices from the East
I don't bring you the world's you crave
'Cos everyday you need a new one

Just like Mr Benn, just like Mr Benn

and

I don't speak in all your tongues
So I don't even know if I'll be welcome
But what if I appeared as if by magic?
Just like in Mr Benn

me-skywalker

yea shocked only 13 episodes I could have sworn I watched this every monring at 8 eating my breakfast then walking to school for 3years straight haha..

Mr Benn, Original Power Rangers, and Original Batman(Adam West one) was wat i watched before going to school! Needless to say I was very creative haha