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Joshua Jones (TV series) facts for kids

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Joshua Jones
Created by Rob Lee
Developed by Bob Wilson
Written by Bob Wilson
Directed by Ian Frampton
John Walker
Starring George Layton
Barbara Flynn
Narrated by George Layton
Music by Ben Heneghan
Ian Lawson
Opening theme "Joshua Jones" performed by Mal Pope
Ending theme "Joshua Jones (Shorter version)" performed by Mal Pope
Country of origin Wales, United Kingdom
Production
Executive producer(s) Christopher Grace
Theresa Plummer-Andrews
Producer(s) Ian Frampton
John Walker
Editor(s) William Oswald
Jane Murrell
Ellen Pierce Lewis
Running time 10 minutes
Production company(s) Bumper Films
Prism Art and Design Ltd
Release
Original network S4C
BBC One (UK)
Original release 17 September (Wales)
7 January 1992 (UK) – 3 December 1991 (Wales)
31 March 1992 (UK)

Joshua Jones was a British stop motion children's television series produced by Bumper Films in 1992. Bumper Films also produced Rocky Hollow and Fireman Sam.

The series was about a cheerful Romani man named Joshua Jones who lived on a canal boat with his canine companion Fairport. They take trips up and down Clearwater Canal, delivering items and carrying out tasks for the folks at Biggott's Wharf and generally having a fun time on the water.

Joshua's bosses are Bapu Karia, a retired Indian admiral, Dakasha "Datsa" Karia, Mr Cashmore's co-worker and Bapu's daughter-in-law, and the get-rich-quick Wilton Cashmore.

Joshua's friends are Joe Laski, the Hungarian farmer who owns a horse named Trojan, Ravi Karia, Mrs. Karia's son (the admiral's grandson) and Fiona, Mr. Cashmore's not-so-money-hungry daughter.

His co-workers are: Sharon, a dizzy blonde girl who owns a catering van, Spanner, Sharon's lazy boyfriend and Daphne Peacock, the vet who takes care of sick and injured animals.

Characters

Adults

  • Joshua Jones - A young man who lives in the Karia's Residence and travels by his canal boat with his dog Fairport. His main job is to transport goods along the canals but he is more than willing to utilize his boat to help out others in a crisis.
  • Admiral Bapu Karia - A retired Indian admiral who served in the Royal Navy and is always putting his experience to good use in everyday tasks. He is Datsa's father-in-law and Ravi's grandfather.
  • Dakasha "Datsa" Karia - The admiral's daughter-in-law and Ravi's mother. She is a very cheerful woman and her first name is only mentioned in the episodes "Tortoise" and "Boomer". Ravi's father never appears, implying that Datsa may be divorced or a widow.
  • Joseph "Joe" Laski - A Hungarian-born farmer who lives on a farm on a hill near the tunnel and he takes care of his horse Trojan.
  • Daphne Peacock - The local vetarinian who is often called in to take care of sick animals and she is the only character who is seen to drive a car (however Joe Laski is seen driving a tractor in one episode).
  • Wilton Cashmore - A local rich busybee who likes to boss his staff around, especially Spanner. He goes to great lengths to try to impress his own boss, the unseen Mr. Biggott. He is a nasty man especially in episode The Silver Key when he didn't get his delivery speedboat engine delivered by Joshua, Sometimes when Spanner has some lunch at Sharon's Café when Cashmore spots him Spanner sometimes says Here Comes Trouble. He is the father of Fiona, but his wife and Fiona's mother is never seen or mentioned on the show, implying that Mr. Cashmore may be a widower or divorced.
  • Mr. Biggott - Wilton's boss. Although he never appears, Mr. Cashmore speaks to him on the phone in almost every episode. The closest we get to seeing the Biggotts is in the episode "Haywire".
  • Mrs. Biggott - Mr. Biggott's wife and like her husband, she never appears. She is only mentioned in the episode "Haywire".

Teenagers

  • Sharon Cope - A ditsy but bubbly blonde lady who sells food from her bistro wagon by the canal.
  • Spanner Wilkins - Sharon's boyfriend; a lazy, accident-prone, orange-haired chap in his early twenties, who does odd-jobs for Cashmore and various other characters. He often skives off work to go and eat at Sharon's cafe.

Children

  • Ravi Karia - An eight-year-old boy, Datsa's son and Bapu's grandson.
  • Fiona Cashmore - An eight-year-old girl, Wilton Cashmore's daughter.

Animals

  • Fairport - A Terrier crossbreed dog, Joshua's faithful animal friend.
  • Trojan - Joe's brown horse.
  • Boomer - A colourful parrot who was once loaned to the admiral.
  • Tearaway Trevor - Ravi's pet tortoise.

Episode list

  • 1. Horseplay (7 January 1992) - When Trojan the horse falls into the canal, Joshua Jones comes to the rescue.
  • 2. Haywire (14 January 1992) - There's a storm brewing and Spanner is helping Joe Laski fetch his hay. Meanwhile, Mr Cashmore is organising a buffet for Mr Biggott.
  • 3. Treasure (21 January 1992) - Spanner, Cashmore and Sharon go digging for treasure when they find a supposed "treasure map".
  • 4. Boomer (28 January 1992) - Josh rescues Ravi and Fiona from the weir when they get lost while looking for Boomer the parrot, who has escaped.
  • 5. Tortoise (4 February 1992) - One of Spanner's meat pies is mistaken for Ravi's tortoise.
  • 6. Sting (11 February 1992) - When some chemicals infect Fairport's eyes, Josh's friends organise a sponsored walk for the ointment his dog needs. Cashmore sponsors Spanner knowing he won't get far, but some treacle pudding and a swarm of wasps prove him wrong.
  • 7. Spook (18 February 1992) - Ravi and Fiona believe there's a ghost in Joe's barn. Meanwhile, Wilton Cashmore's new burglar alarm is proving unpopular.
  • 8. Plum Crazy (25 February 1992) - Admiral Karia needs to find an easy way to pick the plums from his plum tree.
  • 9. Paperwork (3 March 1992) - After decorating her cafe van, Spanner takes Sharon on a picnic, but the wind teaches them not to throw litter around.
  • 10. Photo Finish (17 March 1992) - Josh has made a raft for Ravi, but disaster strikes when Cashmore borrows it to fish out Mr Biggott's birthday present from the canal.
  • 11. Snake Chase (24 March 1992) - Daphne Peacock is looking after a grass-snake but mayhem ensues when it meets Trojan the horse.
  • 12. The Silver Key (31 March 1992) - Admiral Karia is determined to win "The Lock Competition". Meanwhile, Joshua and Joe have trouble with a runaway tyre.
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