The Magic House is a British children's television live-action puppet show created by Joe Austen, that was broadcast on Scottish Television from 7 January 1994 to 30 July 1996. The television programme was adapted from a series of children's books written and illustrated by Austen in the early 1980s. The show's 52 10-minute episodes were aired across the ITV Network between 1994 and 1996. As well as the television episodes, a spin-off series of books was also produced, written and illustrated by Joe Austen. The show, which featured Uncle Teapot, Kitty Kettle, Barney Bin and other characters based on household items, proved a success with the characters appearing in adverts for the Trustee Savings Bank for children's savings accounts. The show’s theme music is a pastiche of the Beatles song "It's All Too Much".
Characters Barney Bin Bessy Brush Grandpa Clock HG Well Kitty Kettle PC Pot Soapy Bubbles Uncle Teapot Teddy Chair The Eggcups Jack Salt Paddy Pepper Sam Spade Waffle Peek, Gobble and Fluff
Production and ownership In 2001 the Dundee-based Austen bought back the rights to The Magic House and other shows produced by his Storyland company. Ownership of Storyland where previously in the hands of Carlton Television and Scottish Media Group in 2003.
Plans for a revival In 2005, a new television series, as well as various types of books for the series, were planned to be developed.
Episodes SeriesFirst air dateLast air dateEpisodes126213313
Series 1 Moving Pictures - 7 January 1994 Air Fare - 14 January 1994 Apple Pie Bed - 21 January 1994 Ups & Downs - 28 January 1994 Down in the Dumps - 4 February 1994 Mirror Mirror - 11 February 1994 A Drop in the Bucket - 18 February 1994 Whats in the Box - 25 February 1994 Cat & Dog - 4 March 1994 Blind Mans Buff - 11 March 1994 Curious Cases - 18 March 1994 The Runaway Trees - 25 March 1994 Exercising - 1 April 1994 Sticking Together - 8 April 1994 Sound Asleep - 15 April 1994 Kind Hearts & Juicy Pies - 22 April 1994 Full Moon - 29 April 1994 Now You See Her - 6 May 1994 Big Blowout - 13 May 1994 Fast & Tight - 20 May 1994 Pig Business - 27 May 1994 Absent Friends - 3 June 1994 Ready Teddy Go - 10 June 1994 What A Balloon - 17 June 1994 Blowing Hot & Cold - 24 June 1994 Musical Chairs - 1 July 1994
Series 2 The New Arrival (A.K.A Meet Waffle) - 7 February 1995 Colours and Painting - 14 February 1995 Soapy Bubble’s Little Troubles - 21 February 1995 Football on the Beach - 28 February 1995 The Waffle Cycle - 7 March 1995 Cloud Animals - 14 March 1995 Peek a Boo PC Pot - 21 March 1995 The Magic Watch - 28 March 1995 Trip to the Seaside - 2 May 1995 PC Pot’s Long Lost Relative - 9 May 1995 Barney Bin’s 5 Wishes - 16 May 1995 Food Marvellous Food - 23 May 1995 The Pantomime - 30 May 1995
Series 3 Gobble, Peek and Fluff - 2 January 1996 The New Wonder Hat - 9 January 1996 The Wishing Tree - 16 January 1996 Dreamland - 23 January 1996 Follow the Leader - 30 January 1996 Winter Wonderland - 27 February 1996 Wibbly Wobbly - 5 March 1996 Guess The Music Instruments - 12 March 1996 Toys Everywhere - 19 March 1996 X Marks The Spot - 9 July 1996 Copies - 16 July 1996 Kitty's Birthday - 23 July 1996 It’s a Wonderful Life of Pc Pot - 30 July 1996
References
External links
The Magic House page at Storyland (archive.org) Joe Austen, Uncle Teapot and the Foodwood, Storyland — one of the Magic House books (archive.org) Joe Austen, Soapy Bubbles' Little Troubles, Storyland — a preview of the book