Muffin the Mule facts for kids
Muffin the Mule is a famous puppet character from a British TV show for children. The puppet was first made in 1933 for a group called Hogarth Puppets.
The original TV shows with Muffin were presented by Annette Mills. She was the sister of the famous actor John Mills. These shows were broadcast live by the BBC from 1946 to 1952. Annette Mills and Muffin continued making shows until 1955, when Annette sadly passed away.
Later, the series moved to ITV in 1956 and 1957. A newer, animated version of Muffin the Mule was shown on the CBeebies channel in the United Kingdom from 2005 to 2008.
Contents
Muffin's Book Adventures
A book with some of Muffin's stories was published in the Soviet Union in 1958. Based on this book, at least three cartoons were made in 1974 and 1975. In these cartoons and the book, Muffin is shown as a donkey, not a mule.
The 2005 TV Series
In 2003, a company called Maverick Entertainment bought the rights to Muffin The Mule. They created a new animated TV series with 26 episodes. This new show was broadcast on the CBeebies TV channel from September 2005 to August 2008. The series was also translated into Welsh as "Myffin y Mul" and shown on the S4C channel in Wales.
Here are some details about the 2005 series:
- Created by: Sally McNally
- Written by: Jimmy Hibbert, Diane Redmond
- Voices by: Maria Darling, David Holt, Jimmy Hibbert, Sue-Eliott Nicholls
- Theme music composer: Keith Hopwood
- Opening theme: "Muffin The Mule" sung by Keith Hopwood
- Ending theme: "Muffin The Mule" (Instrumental)
- Country of origin: United Kingdom
- Number of episodes: 28
- Running time: About 10 minutes per episode
- Production company: Maverick Entertainment
- Distributor: Blue Fish Cartoons
- Original network: CBeebies (UK)
- Original release: 5 September 2005 - present (UK)
Meet the Characters
The 2005 series featured many fun characters living in Muffinham village:
Muffin
Muffin (voiced by David Holt) is a smart black and white mule. He lives in a caravan and acts like a big brother to his friends. Muffin loves helping others, but he can get grumpy if things don't go his way. Luckily, he cheers up easily and is full of energy! He also loves a cup of tea and carrot cake. When there's a problem, Muffin puts on his red and yellow thinking cap to find a solution.
Peregrine
Peregrine (voiced by Jimmy Hibbert) is an inventive penguin who lives in an igloo. He is one of Muffin's best friends and appears in almost every episode. Peregrine is eager to help, but he can be a bit bossy, even though he means well. He thinks he's very clever and often works on "top secret" things.
Louise
Louise (voiced by Sue Elliott Nicholls) is a white lamb with a lively Cockney accent. She lives in a pink and red knitted house. Louise is very good friends with Grace and they often go for walks together.
Peter
Peter (voiced by Jimmy Hibbert) is a brown bloodhound dog with lots of energy. He lives in a kennel. Peter has a great sense of smell and always wants to use it to solve mysteries. Sometimes his eagerness gets him into trouble, like when he buried his friends' precious items to keep them safe, but then forgot where he put them!
Oswald
Oswald (voiced by Jimmy Hibbert) is a pink-headed ostrich with a British accent. He lives in a shed. Oswald often walks around with his beak open, so his friends, especially Willie, often tell him, "Don’t gape, Oswald!" He is kind and caring. Oswald and Willie the Worm are best friends and love to bury their heads in the sandpit.
Willie
Willie (voiced by David Holt) is a pink worm and Oswald's best friend. He is often carried around on Oswald's back.
Grace
Grace (voiced by Maria Darling) is an elegant orange giraffe with red spots and a soft English accent. She lives in a lighthouse near Muffinham Beach. Grace is very good friends with Louise. They always make sure they look their best when they go out. Grace loves chatting with her friends over tea and a good muffin (the edible kind!).
Monty
Monty (voiced by Sue Elliott Nicholls) is a brown monkey with a memorable British accent. He lives in a tree house and often causes mischief in the village. If there's chaos or a mishap in Muffinham, Monty is usually nearby!
Morris Mouse
Morris Mouse (voiced by David Holt) is a brown mouse with a purple nose and an upper-class English accent. He lives in a straw house with his wife, Doris. Morris enjoys gardening and is always keen to solve problems.
Doris Mouse
Doris Mouse (voiced by Maria Darling) is a white mouse with a purple nose and a childlike English accent. She lives in the straw house near the village's orchard with her husband, Morris.
Episode Highlights (2005 TV series)
The 2005 series features many adventures for Muffin and his friends. Here are a few examples:
- Wish Upon A Star: Louise the lamb learns that wishes should be kept secret, even after Muffin and Peregrine try to help her stargaze.
- The Party: Monty the Monkey accidentally mixes up party invitations, causing a bit of chaos before everyone helps fix it.
- Muffin's Day Off: Muffin tries to have a relaxing picnic, but his friends keep needing his help with their problems.
- No Place Like Home: Peter the dog misunderstands that Morris and Doris Mouse are building him a new kennel and tries to find a new home.
- Peregrine Helps Out: Peregrine tries to solve everyone's problems, but his inventions sometimes cause more trouble, like when his aircraft crashes into a water butt!
- Whodunnit?: Things go missing in Muffinham, and Peregrine builds a trap, only to find out Peter the dog was just burying them for safekeeping.
- Oswald's Garden Party: Oswald the Ostrich plans a party but accidentally squashes his plants. Willie the worm and his friends help by making compost.
- Muffin's Photo Shoot: Muffin wants to take pictures of his friends, but Grace loses her necklace, which Peregrine finds in a leaf-blowing machine.
- Muffin's Mules United: Muffin starts a football team, and Grace the giraffe surprisingly becomes their star goalkeeper.
- Apple Pie Order: Muffin and Morris Mouse try to catch Monty the monkey who is stealing apples, while Doris Mouse bakes delicious apple pies.
- If the Cap Fits: Muffin loses his thinking cap in the wind, and his friends try to make him a new one, but Morris Mouse finds the original.
- Louise Loses Her Top: Monty the monkey accidentally steals Louise's woollen roof, and Muffin and friends help her rebuild her house.
- Magnetic Muffin: Muffin finds treasure and a special necklace that Grace lost, saving the day.
- Jurassic Farce: Morris Mouse finds old bones and thinks they are from a dinosaur. Oswald the ostrich mistakes the rebuilt model for a monster!
- Oswald's Sandpit: Oswald's sandpit runs low, so Muffin takes everyone to Muffinham Beach to collect more sand.
- Grow Up, Peter Pup: Peter the dog overhears Morris Mouse and thinks he needs to move out, but Muffin explains that growing up is a process.
- Penguin of the Year: Peregrine the Penguin gets a bit too proud after being named Penguin Of The Year.
- Don't Gape, Oswald: Willie the Worm tries to get Oswald the Ostrich to stop gaping.
- Make My Day: Monty the monkey accidentally eats the party food meant for Grace's birthday barbecue.
- Crossed Wires: Louise the Lamb is annoyed because Muffin couldn't hear her calling for help.
- Paint Your Wagon: Louise the Lamb decides Muffin's old caravan needs a new coat of paint.
- Pain in the Belly: Grace the giraffe has to look after Muffin because many friends have stomach aches.
