Nuzzle and Scratch facts for kids

Nuzzle and Scratch is a fun British TV show for kids, shown on CBeebies. It features two silly puppet alpacas named Nuzzle and Scratch. These characters were created by Barry Quinn and Alan Robinson.

About the Show

The show begins with a beautiful scene from the Andes mountains. This is where Nuzzle and Scratch originally come from. They even sing about it: "We're from high up in the Andes, we've got hooves instead of handies!"

How Each Episode Works

Every episode of Nuzzle and Scratch follows a similar pattern. Nuzzle and Scratch work for a company called '2 by 2, the Any Animal Agency'. This agency is run by a tough-talking girl known as The Boss.

The Boss gets a phone call from someone who needs help. All her best animals are busy, so the only ones left are Nuzzle and Scratch. The Boss knows they aren't very good. She doesn't want to send them, but there's usually a mix-up on the phone. This means Nuzzle and Scratch end up getting the job anyway!

As you might guess, Nuzzle and Scratch often mess things up at first. The person who hired them usually calls The Boss to complain. But The Boss is good at convincing people to give them another chance. In the end, Nuzzle and Scratch usually turn things around. They often impress the person who hired them. They might even win a rosette or get offered a permanent job. But they always refuse, ready for their next adventure!

Funny Habits and Catchphrases

Nuzzle and Scratch love to climb mountains. They will try to climb anything that looks like a mountain, even piles of clothes! However, Nuzzle is scared of heights. When he gets to the top, he gets really scared, and Scratch has to rescue him.

Alpacas like to herd things. When Nuzzle and Scratch see many things together, or if they get scared, they shout 'herd up!' Then they start trying to herd whatever is around them.

There's a running joke in the show about starting over. At some point in an episode, someone will say they need to 'start from Scratch'. Nuzzle always gets upset about this. He asks why they can't 'start from Nuzzle' instead. The person is usually confused but agrees to 'start from Nuzzle'. In one episode, Scratch even complains that they always 'start from Nuzzle'. So, they actually do 'start from Scratch' that time!

Nuzzle and Scratch have some funny catchphrases. These include:

• 'Is it snack time yet?'
• 'No job's too easy'
• 'Working can be fun'

Meet the Characters

The main characters are the ones you see in every episode.

Nuzzle

Nuzzle is a white alpaca. He is played by Neil Sterenberg. Nuzzle loves to climb mountains, but he is afraid of heights. He often helps other characters in the episodes. He really doesn't like it when people say they need to "start from Scratch." He always wants to "start from Nuzzle" instead!

Scratch

Scratch is a brown alpaca. He is played by Dave Chapman. Scratch often likes to tell Nuzzle what to do. He sometimes gets Nuzzle into trouble with his ideas.

The Boss

The Boss is the young girl who runs '2 by 2, the Any Animal Agency'. She is played by Eve de Leon Allen. She is the one who sends Nuzzle and Scratch out on their jobs.

Songs from the Show

The show features a few catchy songs.

Theme Tune

The main theme song is very memorable:

Here we are Nuzzle and Scratch

Best by far Nuzzle and Scratch

We're alpacas from the Andes

With hooves instead of handies

No two others can match Nuzzle and Scratch

Nuzzle and Scratch!

Hoof and Safety

There's also a song about safety:

Here we are Nuzzle and Scratch

Best by far Nuzzle and Scratch

We're alpacas safety rangers

Investigating dangers

No two others can match Nuzzle and Scratch

Nuzzle and Scratch!

Working Can Be Fun

Another song they sing is about how fun work can be:

Working can be fun,

Getting somethings done,

Get set go

And don't be slow

The work has just begun

Whatever job we do,

There's laughter all day through

We must confess we make a mess

When starting something new,

Working Hard

They also have a short song about working hard:

Working hard, its good to get it done

Working hard, its good to get it done

If you want stuff doing, nuzzle and scratch are number one

Episodes Overview

Nuzzle and Scratch has two series, with 20 episodes in each series, making a total of 40 episodes. Nuzzle, Scratch, and The Boss appear in all episodes.

Series 1 Highlights (2008-2009)

• Window Cleaner: Nuzzle and Scratch help a window cleaner named Bob Sheen. Nuzzle accidentally cleans a window by rubbing his fur on it after falling!
• Swimming Pool: They help lifeguard Terry Towling get ready for a swimming gala. Nuzzle even saves the Mayor from falling into the water!
• Hairdresser: They try to help hairdresser Clarissa Snips. They play hair gel hockey and dye hair blue. But a boy loves his new blue hair, bringing in many customers.
• Beach Attendant: Nuzzle and Scratch help Mr. Sandy Bottom get ready for a sandcastle competition. Nuzzle finds the Mayor's lost gold chain.
• Cinema: They help at a cinema. After treating a film like a frisbee, they decide to make their own movie!
• Dinner Ladies: They help a dinner lady named Nora make lunch. They accidentally put furballs in the food!
• Laundry: They help at a laundrette. They wash dry-clean-only costumes, which shrink. Luckily, they shrink to the perfect size for The Boss!
• The School Caretakers: They help school caretaker Mr. Haddock. They buff the floor too much, making it super slippery.
• Hotel: They prepare a hotel room for a celebrity. They "mess" it up, but the celebrity loves their unique style.
• Magician: They help magician David Potterfield. The Boss is happy to send them when she hears he can make anything disappear!
• Camping: They assist adventure camp leader Mr. Merryweather. They get very muddy. When the leader oversleeps, Nuzzle and Scratch have already done all the activities with the kids!
• Sports Day: They organize a school sports day. Nuzzle even substitutes for a child in a race and wins! This is the only episode where they actually "start from Nuzzle."
• Painting and Decorating: They help decorate The Boss's flat. They cause a lot of trouble. But The Boss loves the paint splatters, as they match her new picture.
• Ice Cream Van: They work an ice cream van. The Whippety Whips Lady gets covered in ice cream when she opens the van door!
• Orchestra: They are hired to play in an orchestra. They accidentally conduct the orchestra beautifully while trying to swat a fly.
• Park Keeper: They help a park keeper get rid of moles. They discover the moles don't like noise.
• Car Wash: Nuzzle and Scratch are supposed to be doing the car wash for adults to clean cars.
• Supermarket: They dream of working on the checkouts. They need to earn their "happy helper badges" first.
• Theme Park: They help at a theme park. They give a special celebrity, Mr. Tumble, the ride of his life!
• Library: They help at the library. The librarian isn't sure about them when Scratch tries to file books with a nail file. But the children love Nuzzle and Scratch's story time.

Series 2 (2010)

Series 2 also had 20 episodes, continuing the adventures of Nuzzle and Scratch.

Spin-off Shows

Nuzzle and Scratch was so popular that it led to two spin-off series:

• Hoof and Safety With Nuzzle And Scratch: This show premiered on CBeebies on March 1, 2010. It had 13 episodes.
• Nuzzle and Scratch: Frock and Roll: This second spin-off started on CBeebies on February 7, 2011. It ran for 20 episodes.

Nuzzle and Scratch at BBC Programmes