The Adventures of Parsley facts for kids

The Adventures of Parsley is a fun TV show for kids, made using a special technique called stop-motion. This means characters are moved tiny bits at a time and photographed. When played fast, it makes them look like they are moving on their own! The show has 32 episodes and was created by Michael Bond, who also made the famous Paddington Bear.

It is a spin-off from another show called The Herbs. In The Adventures of Parsley, the animal characters can talk. Each episode usually features funny conversations between Parsley the lion and Dill the dog. Parsley is often calm and sensible, while Dill is super excited and sometimes a bit silly. Other characters from The Herbs also appear sometimes. Just like in The Herbs, the stories are told by actor Gordon Rollings.

Making the Show

The Adventures of Parsley was created and written by Michael Bond. It was directed by Ivor Wood. The show was made by a company called FilmFair.

When it Aired

The series was first shown on BBC1 in the United Kingdom. The very first episode aired on April 6, 1970. Each episode was only five minutes long. They usually played at the end of the day's children's TV shows. They were shown just before the BBC's early evening news.

Meet the Characters

The show mainly focuses on two best friends:

• Parsley the Lion: He is usually calm and thoughtful. Parsley often tries to make sense of Dill's wild ideas.
• Dill the Dog: He is very energetic and often gets into funny situations. Dill loves bones and is always full of enthusiasm.

Other characters from the Herb Garden sometimes join in their adventures. These include Constable Knapweed, Mr. Onion, and Tarragon the Dragon.

Episode Highlights

There are 32 episodes in total, each telling a short, fun story. Here are a few examples of the adventures Parsley and Dill have:

• "Cowboys and Indians" (April 6, 1970): Parsley and Dill play a game. They think real Indians are attacking the Herb Garden when they see smoke. It turns out to be Tarragon the Dragon!
• "Aunt Mint's Barbeque Party" (April 7, 1970): Parsley and Dill get an invitation from Aunt Mint. But they have trouble reading it. Dill even eats the telegram by mistake! They realize too late they missed a barbecue party.
• "Toothache" (April 8, 1970): Parsley bumps his tongue. He groans, and Constable Knapweed thinks he has a toothache. Their attempt to help Parsley causes trouble for Dill's house.
• "Dill's Who's Who Entry" (April 10, 1970): Dill writes about himself for a book called "Who's Who." Parsley doesn't think it's very accurate and helps him fix it.
• "Parsley's Invention of a Mechanical Dog" (April 13, 1970): Parsley tries to invent a robot dog. He wants one that isn't obsessed with bones, unlike Dill!

The episodes often show Parsley and Dill trying new things, solving small problems, or just having funny conversations about everyday life in the Herb Garden. They explore ideas like inventing, putting on shows, and even learning French!