Paddington is a British children's animated television series based on the Paddington Bear stories written by Michael Bond. Broadcast from 1976 to 1980, the series was scripted by Bond himself, and produced by FilmFair; it was narrated by Michael Hordern, who also voiced all of the characters.
Paddington is animated in stop motion. Paddington himself is a puppet in a three-dimensional environment, whilst other characters are paper cut-outs. The final television special used a slightly different technique using 2D drawn fully animated characters.
BBC1 premiered Paddington in January 1976; the series concluded in May, but was appended by two Christmas specials in December. A second series—retitled The Adventures of Paddington—followed in October 1979, and ran until April 1980. In all, 56 episodes were broadcast, followed by three television specials: Paddington Goes to the Movies (1983), Paddington Goes to School (1984), and Paddington’s Birthday Bonanza (1987).
Paddington was the first television programme adapted from the Paddington Bear stories. Later, Paddington Bear (1989) was produced by Hanna-Barbera for broadcast syndication, while The Adventures of Paddington Bear (1997) was produced by CINAR and Protecrea.
Source material Episodes of Paddington are based on stories published in the following books by Michael Bond:
Characters
Paddington Bear – the protagonist, an accident-prone but well-meaning bear from Darkest Peru. He was named Paddington Brown by the Browns after they found him at Paddington Station as his Peruvian name was difficult to pronounce. He has a fondness for marmalade sandwiches and always keeps one under his hat for emergencies. He is initially found to be wearing a luggage label around his neck bearing the words "Please look after this bear. Thank you." He is also very polite, never addressing someone by their first name but always by their title (Mr., Mrs., Master or Miss). Mr. Henry Brown – the patriarch of the Brown family. Mrs. Mary Brown – the matriarch of the Brown family. Jonathan and Judy Brown – the Brown family children. It is never established if one is older than the other, leading to the perception they are twins. Mrs. Bird – the Browns stern but kind-hearted and affable nanny and housekeeper, who is treated more like a member of the family than a servant. Mr. Samuel Gruber – Paddington's best friend and the elderly owner of an antique shop on Portobello Road, which Paddington frequents for elevenses. Like Paddington himself, he is an immigrant to Britain, hailing from Hungary. Mr. Reginald Curry – the Browns nasty and ill-tempered next-door neighbour. He often seeks to get something for nothing, and frequently addresses Paddington as "Bear!".
Broadcast
In 1975, FilmFair completed production of the first series, which comprised 30 episodes. The first series aired on BBC1 in 1976. The second series, which comprised 26 episodes, was titled The Adventures of Paddington. These aired in 1978 and 1979, followed by specials in 1980, 1984, and 1986. It later aired on Channel 4 with the series being shown on a wrapper programme called Take 5 which aired children's programmes that been previously shown on other networks.
The series was then briefly repeated on Children's ITV (CITV) during August 1997 in the run-up to the launch of 'Adventures of Paddington Bear'. It was then repeated on Nickelodeon from September to October 1997; and December 1997, before returning to CITV in a daily slot between March and May 1998.
Paddington and the Christmas Shopping also aired on CITV on Christmas Eve 1998. All four specials were later shown on CITV during the Christmas period of 2002 - 2003.
The series was also repeated between 2004 and 2010 numerous times on Nick Jr UK via its evening slot Nick Jr Classics - which featured the likes of FilmFair's The Wombles.
In the United States, episodes of Paddington aired on Nickelodeon as a segment on the programme Pinwheel, and as part of the syndicated series Romper Room. Paddington also aired in the early 1980s on many PBS stations as well. The Disney Channel purchased broadcast rights to Paddington in 1989 for inclusion in the programme Lunch Box, and also aired the series as post-show interstitials until 1997.
In the Republic of Ireland, the series was broadcast on Raidió Telefís Éireann.
The series later aired in Singapore on Channel 5 as part of their children's block Kids Corner.
The series was also broadcast on e.tv in South Africa during the late 2000s and early 2010s.
In Brunei, the series aired on RTB.
In Japan, it was broadcast on NHK Educational TV from 1994 to 1997.
In Hong Kong, the series was transmitted on Rediffusion Television (which later became ATV in 1982) and aired as part of a children's block called The 5 O'Clock Club.
In Germany the series aired on ZDF, Super RTL in Toggolino, RTL II in Vampy, Sat.1, Tele 5 in Bim Bam Bino, VOX, Das Erste, Kinderkanal, BR, Hr, Rbb, MDR, NDR, WDR, SWR, SR, BR-alpha, One, 3sat, Eins Plus and EinsMuXx.
In Italy, the series aired on Rai Uno in 1977.
In Australia, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation broadcast the programme in the early 1980s.
In New Zealand, it was shown on TVNZ 1 (originally TV One) in the late 1970s and during the 1980s.
Theme music The composition that became known as the Paddington Bear theme was composed by Herbert Chappell and began life as incidental music for the 1972 BBC adaptation of Lord Peter Wimsey. Its first commercial release was on the b-side of the Lord Peter Wimsey theme single in 1972, where it was titled "Size Ten Shuffle" and credited to "Boyfriends". This recording - which is not the one actually featured in Paddington - has since appeared on several TV theme compilation albums.
The composition first became connected with Paddington in a theatre show, "The Adventures of a Bear Called Paddington", in 1973. The track now had lyrics (provided by Herbert Chappell's wife Brenda Johnson) and was retitled simply "Paddington Bear". A version performed by Bernard Cribbins appeared on a four-track single of songs from the show in 1974.
The piece was re-recorded (in two different versions) for the TV show; no performers are credited onscreen apart from composer Herbert Chappell. One of these takes was released on the 1976 album "Paddington's Party Record" which credits the performers as Freddie Williams and The Master Singers. This vinyl release remains the only source of the original televised version of the Paddington theme tune.
Episodes Series 1: Paddington (1976)
Series 2: The Adventures of Paddington (1979–80)
Specials (1980–86) Three television specials aired on BBC from 1980 to 1986.
In popular culture
Paddington is seen in four adverts for Marmite in the late 2000s.
In 2009, the version of Paddington from this show appeared in The Official BBC Children in Need Medley by Peter Kay's Animated All Star Band alongside other animated characters.
Home media
DVD In Region 2, Abbey Home Media Group released the entire series on DVD-Video in the UK on 23 June 2008 (Cat. No. AHEDVD 3318). The 2-disc set features all 56 short episodes as well as the 3 TV specials.
DVD title Episodes Paddington Bear -Complete DVD Collection -2 disc set DISC 1: Episodes 1-40DISC 2: Episodes 41-56 and three TV specials
In Region 1, Mill Creek Entertainment (under licence from Cookie Jar Group) released the complete series on DVD on 15 February 2011 in a 3-disc set entitled Paddington Bear: The Complete Classic Series which includes 5 bonus episodes of The Wombles and 10 bonus episodes of Huxley Pig and also released on the same day, the first disc was also released as a single DVD called Paddington Bear: Marmalade Madness which includes the same 5 bonus episodes of Huxley Pig.
UK VHS Releases
In 1980, Thorn EMI Entertainment released six VHS video cassettes in the UK, each with five episodes from the first series. They released two more cassettes in 1982, each with five episodes from the second series. In August 1983, they released a single video cassette featuring ten episodes from the second series. In December 1983, they released the TV special of Paddington Goes to the Movies on a single video cassette along with five episodes from the second series.
VHS title Catalogue number Release year Episodes Paddington's 1st'Anywhen' T.V. Show EVH 20032 / TVF 900032 2 1980 Paddington's 2nd 'Anywhen' T.V. Show EVH 20033 / TVF 900033 2 1980 Paddington's 3rd'Anywhen' T.V. Show EVH 20034 / TVF 900034 2 1980 Paddington's 4th'Anywhen' T.V. Show EVH 20035 / TVF 900035 2 1980 Paddington's 5th'Anywhen' T.V. Show EVH 20036 / TVF 900036 2 1980 Paddington's 6th'Anywhen' T.V. Show EVH 20037 / TVF 900037 2 1980 Paddington's 7th'Anywhen' T.V. Show TVF 900750 2 1982 Paddington's 8th'Anywhen' T.V. Show TVF 900762 2 1982 Paddington's 9th'Anywhen' T.V. Show TVF 900855 2 1983 Paddington Goesto the Movies TVF 900867 2 1983
In June 1987, Screen Legends released two single video cassettes containing five episodes from the first series on each one.
VHS title Catalogue number Release year Episodes Paddington's 1st'Anywhen' T.V. Show SL 1007 1987 Paddington's 2nd'Anywhen' T.V. Show SL 1008 1987
In Autumn 1987, Screen Legends released a "Double Bumper Issue" video cassette containing 10 episodes from the first series.
VHS title Catalogue number Release year Episodes Paddington's 3rd and 4th'Anywhen' T.V. Shows SL 1009 1987
In 1988, Screen Legends released a single video cassette with 10 episodes.
VHS title Catalogue number Release year Episodes Paddington's 5th and 6th'Anywhen' T.V. Shows SL 1064 1988
In 1988, Screen Legends had released a 'Watch and Play'-type video with five stories from the first series.
VHS title Catalogue number Release year Episodes A Taste of Paddington SL 3004 1988
On 4 March 1991, Abbey Home Entertainment released two videos with 10 stories on each tape.
VHS title Catalogue number Release year Episodes A Bear Called Paddington 94732 1991 Paddington'sHoliday Fun 94742 1991
On 15 July 1991, Abbey Home Entertainment released a special edition video with 12 episodes.
VHS title Catalogue number Releaseyear Episodes Paddington Bear -Special Edition 94992 1991
On 9 September 1991, Abbey Home Entertainment released a Christmas-themed video with 10 episodes.
VHS title Catalogue number Release year Episodes Paddington'sChristmas Special 95122 1991
On 19 September 1994, BMG Video released a single video cassette with the three feature-length specials.
VHS title Catalogue number Release year Episodes Paddington Goes to School 74321 22762 3 1994
On 28 December 1994, Abbey Home Entertainment released a single video release with eight episodes from the second series.
VHS title Catalogue number Release year Episodes Paddington Bear -In and Out of Trouble 97442 1994
On 3 April 1995, Abbey Home Entertainment released a 3-hour biggest ever video cassette with 37 episodes.
VHS title Catalogue number Release year Episodes Paddington Bear -The Biggest Ever Video 976122 1995
On 18 March 2002, Universal Pictures (UK) Ltd released a single video cassette with ten episodes from the first series.
VHS title Catalogue number Release year Episodes Paddington – Please Look After This Bear And Other Stories 9058833 2002
On 22 July 2002, Universal Pictures (UK) Ltd released a seaside-themed bumper video with nine episodes from the second series.
VHS title Catalogue number Release year Episodes Paddington -Seaside Special 9068533 2002
On 21 April 2003, Universal Pictures (UK) Ltd released two videos with seven episodes on each one.
VHS title Cataloguenumber Release year Episodes Paddington -A Visit to the Theatreand other stories 8200692 2003 Paddington -An Unexpected Partyand other stories 8200694 2003
UK DVD releases
Between 2006 and 2007, three DVD releases of Paddington Bear were published by Abbey Home Media in the 'Tempo TV Classics' range of children's DVD releases.