The New Adventures of Blinky Bill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The New Adventures Of Blinky Bill |
|
|---|---|
| Created by | Dorothy Wall (book) |
| Developed by | Tom Hanks |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 28 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Judith Simpson |
| Producer(s) | Richard Smith |
| Running time | 26 |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Picture format | PAL (576i) |
| Original release | 22 October 1984 – 18 September 1987 |
The New Adventures of Blinky Bill was an exciting Australian TV show. It combined live actors with puppets! The show aired on ABC Television from 1984 to 1987. Even after new episodes stopped, it was shown again until 1991. There were 28 episodes, each lasting 26 minutes. Judith Simpson and Richard Smith were the producers.
Contents
What's the Story?
This show continued the adventures from the famous Blinky Bill books. These books were written by Dorothy Wall. The story takes place in a make-believe place called Bollygum National Park. You'll meet characters like Blinky Bill, Mrs Magpie, and Angelina Wallaby. These characters are from the original books. New friends also join the fun, such as Charlie Goanna and Eric Echidna. They come from a nearby park called Acadia Ridge.
Meet the Main Characters
This section shows the actors and the puppet characters they brought to life.
| Actor | Character | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ross Browning | Blinky Bill, Eric Echidna | Ross also acted as Max, a ranger from the main office. |
| Janet Ashelford (also known as Janette Dalgliesh) | Angelina Wallaby, Mrs Magpie, Kerry Koala | |
| Alan Highfield | Charlie Goanna, Mr Wombat, Sybella Snake | |
| Robert Hughes | Ranger Barry | Robert played Ranger Barry in the first two seasons. Other actors played rangers later on. |
Special Guest Stars
Many famous Australian actors appeared in the show. They played human characters in different episodes. Some of these guest stars included:
- Benita Collings
- Maggie Kirkpatrick
- Paul Chubb
- David Waters
- Jackie Woodburne
- Mike Meade
- Joanne Samuel
Episode Guide
The show had four seasons with many exciting episodes.
Season 1 (1984)
- Hello Stranger, Goodbye Ranger
- Ho-Ha at Bollygum
- Musical Wares
- Spaceship Shuttlecock
Season 2 (1985)
- Stuck On Gumleaves
- Frills and Feathers
- High Water
- Computer Capers
- Mine Too!
- Bikies from Outer Space
Season 3 (1986)
- Rock 'n' Roll Blues
- Legend in his Own Lunchtime
- Times Flies When You're Feeling Young
- Blinky Hits The Jackpot
- Not a Minute's Peace
- Twice Bitten
- The Visitor
- Food For Thought
Season 4 (1987)
- Say Snake
- Hot Wheels
- A Time Of Testing
- Operation Gumdrops
- Media Wars
- April Fools
- School's In
- Brush With Danger
- Horseplay
- Diplomatic Relations
How the Puppets Were Made
The puppets in the show were very special. They were designed by Beverley Campbell-Jackson. She used thick, fluffy yarn to knit the outer skin of the animal characters. This made them look furry on camera. Charlie Goanna's skin was made from a shiny material called lurex. This gave him a unique look in the sunlight.
Beverley also designed special parts inside the puppets. These parts used triggers to control their heads, mouths, and eyelids. Rods were used to move their arms. Each puppeteer used one hand for the triggers. The other hand controlled both arm rods. This skill is a bit like using chopsticks! Similar puppet techniques are used in some Japanese shows.
