Captain Abercromby facts for kids

Captain Abercromby was a fun children's TV show. It aired on BBC Two from 2002 to 2003. The show featured a cast of amazing puppets.

About Captain Abercromby

This puppet series tells the story of a boy named Abercromby. He lives with his kind grandfather. One day, Abercromby hears how his Grandpa lost a special watch. This watch was a gift from Abercromby's mother.

That night, Abercromby dreams he is a brave captain. He sails a ship called the "Hope." His mission is to find the lost watch. But there's a problem! A rival crew, led by Captain Jake, is also looking for treasure. Captain Jake thinks Abercromby is after buried gold. This makes the show a race between the two ships.

Each episode starts with Grandpa telling his story. He is in a cozy green bedroom. Around him are objects that come alive in Abercromby's dreams. These include a suit of armor (Arthur), a carved mermaid (Siren), and the tree outside (Great Oak). Abercromby then climbs into bed. He says, "I'll find that watch one day." Then he falls asleep and enters his dream world. This starts the show's exciting title sequence.

Every story ends with an alarm clock ringing. This wakes Abercromby up. His Grandpa is usually standing by his bed. Abercromby then excitedly tells his Grandpa about his dream adventure. The credits roll as he talks.

Meet the Characters

The show has many unique characters. They are split into two main groups: Abercromby's crew and Captain Jake's crew.

Abercromby's Crew

• Abercromby – He is the main character. Abercromby is a boy who dreams of finding his Grandpa's lost watch.
• Siren – She is part of Abercromby's ship. Siren is the living front of the ship. She believes in Abercromby the most. She often convinces the others to help him.
• Great Oak – This is a talking oak tree. He is the ship's helmsman. He helps keep the ship moving. Great Oak is also very wise and knows a lot.
• Arthur – He is a talking suit of armour. Arthur works on the ship. He is a bit clumsy but very funny. Arthur is one of the most important characters.
• Poindexter – He is the ship's janitor. Poindexter is a purple talking dog. He is very smart and can do many human-like things. He is the only character, besides Abercromby, who appears in both the "real" world and the dream world.

Thunderbottom Crew

• Captain Jake – He is a pirate and Abercromby's main enemy. Even though Jake is an adult, he often acts like a child. He looks like a typical pirate. But his eyepatch covers a good eye, and his hook is just held in his hand. Jake's plans to catch Abercromby usually end up being funny failures.
• Bobweb – She is a spider who sits on Jake's shoulder. She is like a parrot for a pirate. Bobweb is the clever one in their team. She is smarter than Jake. But she often gets into trouble too.
• Russian Dolls – The Thunderbottom ship has three black and white "pirate-themed" Russian dolls. They come in different sizes. One is bigger than all the other characters. There is also a tiny "Baby skull" doll.
• Seagulls – Most of the Thunderbottom crew are Seagulls. They often talk or are given funny names.
• Clawdia – She is the ship's cat. Clawdia is often steering the Thunderbottom.
• Snappy – He is the chef. Snappy is a red lobster. His voice sounds like Woody Allen.

Other Important Characters

• Sultan – He is the ruler of "Rabadabdab." This is a colorful seaside port. It is where the "Hope" ship often docks. The Sultan is a purple puffin. Most people in Rabadabdab are birds.
• Lily Limpet – She is a mollusc from the East-end. Lily serves food and drinks at the Limpet Inn. They only serve soft drinks there!
• Admiral Dobbin – He is an important authority figure. Admiral Dobbin leads the "King's Navy." He often shows up to help sort out problems in the story.
• Grandpa – He is Abercromby's grandfather and guardian. Abercromby dreams of finding his lost watch.

Episode Adventures

Here are some of the exciting episode titles from the show:

• Birthday Bash
• Sailor Of The Year
• Captain's Cook
• The Duel
• Extra Pair Of Paws
• Unlucky For Some
• The Right Treatment
• The Rule Book
• The Sultan's Visit
• Mrs Jake
• Arthur's Family Tree
• Trumpet Boy
• Out Of The Hat
• Watch Out
• Navy Blues
• Lights Out
• Stowaway Star
• What A Washout
• Gee A Genie
• The Sultan's Challenge
• Big Blue Fish
• Mummy's Little Treasure
• Bobweb's Machine
• Bully For You
• Captain Invisible
• Marooned

In the episode "Out of the Hat," Abercromby and his crew briefly find a watch. It looks just like his Grandpa's watch. This watch is seen every week in the opening of the show. However, Admiral Dobbin says this copy of the watch is a fake.

Behind the Scenes

The show was made by Wark Clements for BBC Scotland. Filming happened from February to July 2001 in Glasgow. The team was filming at Media Park in Maryhill, Glasgow. But on April 22, a fire broke out in the studio. It destroyed all the sets, props, and equipment. The production team then moved to another studio nearby. They rebuilt what they needed to finish filming the series. The music for the show was created by Rowland Lee.

Show Style

The puppets and the look of the show were designed to be very child-friendly. Most of the creatures were "Muppet"-style puppets. They were built by Neil Sterenberg's studio.

International Broadcast

• The Emirates
  • Channel 33