Bug Alert facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bug Alert
The title card from the first and second series
Created by	Two Sides TV
Written by	Peter Eyre and Francis Wright
Starring	Rebecca Nagan Alison McGowan Sarah Wright Francis Wright Joe Greco Richard Coombs Jeremy Stockwell
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of series	3
No. of episodes	78
Production
Executive producer(s)	Catherine Robins
Release
Original network	52 Episodes on GMTV 26 Episodes on Channel 4
Original release	1996 (1996) – 2000 (2000)

Bug Alert was a fun British children's television series that first aired in September 1996 on GMTV. The show was all about a group of cool bug-like characters. They lived in the kitchen of a house and only came out when the humans weren't around!

In the last series, the bugs moved out of the house. They opened a restaurant called "Bug Bites" and served funny dishes like Weasel Curry. In total, 78 episodes were made. The show was repeated on GMTV, Tiny Living, and Channel 4 from 1996 to 2004.

After the first two series, Channel 4 bought the show's idea. They ordered 26 more episodes, which were shown on weekend mornings. The show was known for having some jokes that adults might understand more than kids.

The 78 episodes, each 30 minutes long, were written by the director Peter Eyre and the main puppeteer, Francis Wright. Catherine Robins from Two Sides TV was the main producer. The first two seasons, made for GMTV, are now owned by DHX Media. They produce old shows for Wild Brain. Some episodes were even shown in HD on Wild Brain's official YouTube pages before they were taken down.

Meet the Bug Alert Characters

Main Bug Friends

• Grub Bug: He was like the dad and chef of the bug family. Grub Bug was red, a bit plump, and acted like a military leader. He loved going to his shed to "tend his vegetables." He was also a bit sensitive about losing his hair and once wore a ginger wig! He and Mystic Mug were good friends and even went on vacation together.
• Mystic Mug Bug: Also known as Mystic Mug, she was like a fortune teller with a crystal ball. In the first two series, she shared "Mystic Mug Bug's Amazing Facts." As the show went on, she became more and more quirky.
• Doodle Bug: This bug was very emotional and loved to fix things. He was also an artist! Doodle Bug would create all sorts of cool gadgets. These gadgets often caused funny problems during the show.
• Plug Bug: He was Doodle Bug's best friend. Plug Bug was a bit of a scaredy-cat and a little fancy. But he was super protective of his sink! He didn't like what others put down it. He was also very good to his mom.
• Buggins: An orange, worm-like creature. Buggins was always super excited and cheerful. Even when Grub Bug and Doodle Bug tried to keep him in line, he usually ended up smiling!
• Grunge and Slopp: These two were dirty, green, and hairy, like hippie bugs. They loved telling jokes and singing songs. You didn't hear their names much, but they often played pranks on the other characters.
• Gorgon and Zola: A husband and wife team of fuzzy worms. They were a bit grumpy to everyone but also loved telling jokes. They often danced in the background during songs.

Other Cool Characters

• The Customer: He joined the show in series 3. His real name was Roy, and he lived in a mobile home. He spent a lot of time at the "Bug Bites" café but rarely ate anything.
• The Health Inspector: He appeared in one episode. He got stuck to Grub Bug and, after some funny threats, wrote a great report about the café.
• The Genie: This character showed up, offered wishes, and then left.
• Baxter: Plug Bug's good friend and a prankster. His jokes got him into trouble when he pranked Mystic Mug too much. He was last seen disappearing down a big hole!
• Bernard: A robot built by Doodle Bug. Bernard had a switch that made him nice or nasty. He caused a lot of chaos over two episodes.
• Henri: A French chef that Mystic Mug really liked. He tied up Grub Bug and then had a dramatic ending.
• Doodle Bug's Granny: She appeared in Series 2. It turned out to be Doodle Bug dressed up the whole time!
• Squelch: Buggins' brother. He got his name because that was the sound people made when he sat on them!

Fun Segments in Bug Alert

The show had some short, regular parts that were always entertaining:

• Raid the Fridge: Grub Bug would show how to make some very unusual food creations.
• In the Bin: Doodle Bug would get creative! He'd make cool arts and crafts using things he found in his bin.
• Through the Washing Machine/Notice Board: These were short clips where a child would show something interesting.
• Through the Cat Flap: Rebecca Nagan narrated this part. It was filmed from the point of view of a Scottish cat. The cat would wander around, watching humans and visiting different places across the UK.
• Mystic Mug Bug's Amazing Facts: Only in Series 1 and 2. Mystic Mug would share interesting facts related to the day's topic.

How Many Episodes?

Bug Alert had 3 series and a total of 78 episodes!