Come Outside facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Come Outside |
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| Genre | Children's Educational Comedy |
| Created by | Elizabeth Bennett Ronald Smedley |
| Directed by | Elizabeth Bennett Peter Rose |
| Starring | Lynda Baron Pippin (series 1) Mr. Higgins (as Pippin) |
| Composer(s) | Jonathan Cohen |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 40 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Judy Whitfield Stacey Adams Anne Brogan |
| Producer(s) | Elizabeth Bennett |
| Production location(s) | Greater London & Buckinghamshire |
| Editor(s) | David Austin Jon Bignold |
| Camera setup | Graham Latter Lee Pulbrook Jeremy Braben |
| Running time | 14 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Spelthorne Productions (Series 1) Tricorn Productions (Series 2-3) |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC Two |
| Picture format | 576i (16:9 SDTV) |
| Original release | 23 September 1993 – 18 March 1997 |
Come Outside was a popular British TV show for children. It taught young viewers about the world around them. The series first aired on 23 September 1993 and ended on 18 March 1997.
The show starred Lynda Baron as Auntie Mabel and her clever dog, Pippin. It was one of the most successful children's programmes from the BBC. Because it was so loved, it was shown again on CBBC and CBeebies until 2012.
Contents
What is Come Outside About?
The show helps young children learn about everyday things. Each episode starts with something familiar, like wood, paper, or even spiders. Auntie Mabel and Pippin then explore where these things come from or how they work.
The main characters are Auntie Mabel and her dog Pippin. Pippin was first played by a female dog also named Pippin. Later, Pippin's grandson, Mr. Higgins, took over the role. Auntie Mabel has a special way to travel: a small airplane. It's easy to spot with its colourful polka dots!
Meet the Characters
Auntie Mabel
Auntie Mabel is the main human character. She lives with her dog, Pippin. Auntie Mabel is played by the actress Lynda Baron. She often talks about her sister, Edie.
Pippin the Dog
Pippin is Auntie Mabel's pet dog. She is the main animal character in the show. Pippin often has funny adventures of her own. She might get into mischief without Auntie Mabel knowing. For example, she once ate sausages from a lunchbox. Another time, she hid soap to avoid a bath!
Other Characters
- Edie Featherstone – This is Auntie Mabel's sister. We never see her on screen, but Auntie Mabel often talks about her. You can hear her voice in the episode "A Woolly Jumper."
- Jay – Auntie Mabel's nephew. He is a young boy who appeared in one episode about a rainy day.
- Great Aunt Edna – Auntie Mabel's great aunt. She is also never seen. Auntie Mabel mentions her in the "Toothpaste" episode.
About the Animals in the Show
Pippin was a mixed-breed dog. She was part Tibetan Terrier and part Bearded Collie. She was related to the famous acting dog, Benji. Ann Head, an award-winning animal trainer, owned and trained Pippin.
The original Pippin was quite old when the show started in 1993. She did the slower, more complex actions. Her grandson, Mr. Higgins, did any actions that needed more physical effort.
Pippin retired after the first series. Mr. Higgins then played the role of 'Pippin' for Series 2 and 3. Mr. Higgins also appeared in commercials for Bakers Complete pet food. He passed away in 2008 from old age. The original Pippin died in the late 1990s.
Many other animals appeared in Come Outside. Some footage was specially filmed. This included snails from London Zoo and frogs at Chester Zoo. Geese from Folly Farm and rabbits from Tilgate Nature Centre also featured. Butterflies, hedgehogs, and spiders were also part of the show. The BBC's Natural History Film Library provided extra animal footage.
How the Show Was Made
Elizabeth Bennett created the show's idea and characters. She wrote the scripts and directed many episodes. She also produced all three series.
The first series was made by Spelthorne Productions. The second and third series were made by Elizabeth Bennett's company, Tricorn Associates.
Aerial views of the places Auntie Mabel visited were filmed by Jeremy Braben.
Filming Locations
The first series was filmed near Denham Aerodrome in Buckinghamshire. Auntie Mabel's house exterior was a cottage there. She would walk from her garden to the airfield to get into her plane. The inside scenes were filmed in a studio in London.
Series 2 was filmed entirely on location. A new empty cottage in Harefield, Middlesex was used for Auntie Mabel's house. To explain the move, an episode about moving house was filmed. This episode linked the two locations. The plane was kept in a nearby field.
Series 3 was also filmed at the cottage in Harefield. The plane was updated with a new propeller.
Auntie Mabel's adventures took her to many places in the United Kingdom. She visited a pencil factory in Keswick and a pottery in Stoke. She also saw Wellington boots being made in Dumfries. Some episodes were filmed closer to home, like in Middlesex. For example, in the "Buses" episode, Auntie Mabel takes a bus to Uxbridge.
In the "Marmalade" episode, Auntie Mabel flies to Seville, Spain. She visits an orange grove there. Filming had to happen on the exact day the oranges were ready. This meant last-minute travel plans! Lynda Baron, who played Auntie Mabel, could not travel to Spain. So, she was filmed in a studio with a special background. A body double was used for shots of her in Spain.
Awards and Home Videos
The episode called Bricks won an award. It received the Royal Television Society Educational Television Award in 1997. This was for the Pre-school and Infants category.
The BBC released Come Outside on VHS tapes and later on DVD. You can now buy the complete series in a DVD box set. The BBC also made DVDs with booklets for schools. These were for educational use.
- Come Outside: A Windy Day - DVD 1
- Come Outside: Plants and Other Living Things - DVD 2
- Come Outside: Natural Materials - DVD 3
- Come Outside: Keeping Safe, Keeping Well - DVD 4
- Come Outside: Food - DVD 5
- Come Outside: Around Our Homes - DVD 6
- Come Outside: Animal - DVD 7
Books based on the episodes were also released by the BBC in the mid-1990s.
Come Outside at BBC Online
- Come Outside pilot Alan Cassidy's website
