Colouring in some Clangers. Who doesn't like colouring in?
For those of us of a certain..ahem...vintage, the Clangers have a very special place in our hearts and being part of the team involved in the new series has been an utter thrill. Believe me, I didn't know it was possible to get so excited by wool.
The production of the new Clangers series has been a joy - an outstandingly talented crew - all working to the same vision, wanting do the very best for the pink knitted creatures and do justice to the original series. So how lovely then, to be present at the first public unveiling of the full Clangers episodes Saturday 30 May and to witness the audience reaction at first hand.
Tiny and Small Clanger pose for the camera.
It was a day of great excitement. To be greeted by, and have photographs with, Tiny and Small Clanger would have been enough for me quite frankly. But, the fantastic Firmin family (Peter Firmin, the co-creator of the original Clangers is Executive Producer on this series and has been part of the production from the word go) had put together something more: an array of craft activities for children large and small to take part in. My plasticine Clanger was a triumph, if I say so myself.
Jackie's plasticine Clanger.
After much colouring in and felt flower-making we entered the screening theatre to be welcomed by our host for the day, space scientist and CBeebies Stargazing presenter Maggie Aderin-Pocock. Maggie has been a Clangers fan since she was three years-old and, as she told the audience, it was the Clangers that inspired her whole career in science. Maggie explained how she hoped that this new series would be similarly inspirational to today's audience.
An excited audience prepare themselves for a special Clangers screening.
To kick things off, composer John du Prez and 主播大秀 Young Musician of the Year finalist, Sophie Westbrook, gave a virtuoso performance of the Clangers theme tune. Sophie plays the melody on recorder, so think of her when you listen to the music on the opening titles and marvel!
We screened two episodes on Saturday. 'I am the Egg Bot' and ' The Knitting Machine' are, in classic Clangers style, surreal and funny. But, they also show beautifully the warmth and kindness of Clangers. The Clanger family are on another planet for sure, but the universal trials, tribulations, foibles and funnies of family life are instantly recognisable - something everyone in the audience seemed to connect with. The laughs, oohs and awwws were in all the right places.
Clangers narrator Michael Palin speaks during the Q&A.
In between episodes we hosted a Q&A session with executive producers Peter Firmin and Dan Postgate, the son of original co-creator Oliver Postgate, who is also a writer on the show. They shared the stage with narrator Michael Palin. Asked why he wanted to become involved in the show Palin answered: For a narrator, what’s not to like?'
Then came our chance to speak Clanger. Or, more correctly, Clangerese, the point in proceedings when series producer ‘whistling Dan Maddicott’ as he has now become known, instructed us in the art of the Swannee whistle.
Playing the swannee whistle. A very serious business.
You might think giving Swanee whistles to a room full of kids was a noisy 'mistake' but the parents didn't complain. They were, in fact, unable to tell their children to be quiet, rendered hopeless by having a mouthful of Swanee whistle themselves while trying to emulate how to say 'Woooooow' in Clanger. And I am afraid I was one of the worst offenders. It was a great finale!
We like to say that like the old series, the new one is made with wool and love. There seemed to be a lot of love for the Clangers on Saturday and I really hope you'll enjoy the series when it starts on CBeebies at 5.30pm on June 15th.
Happy whistling.
Jackie Edwards is an executive producer for CBeebies
- The Clangers airs on CBeebies on Monday 15 June 2015