Bagpuss Soft Toys

Author's product rating:   

Advantages:	Who can resist the old soggy cloth cat !  Such a range to collect
Disadvantages:	Can be expensive .  Maybe too much to collect .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Once upon a time, Not so long ago, there was a little girl and her name was Emily. And she had a shop.
It was a rather unusual shop because it didn't sell anything.
You see, everything in that shop was a thing that somebody had once lost, and Emily had found, and brought home to Bagpuss.
Emily's cat Bagpuss.
The most important.
The most beautiful.
The most magical.
Saggy old cloth cat in the whole wide world.

And Yes, Emilyo does love him!!

Bagpuss has had a very dear place in my heart ever since I was a small child. You see, I was named after the girl in Bagpuss. My mum thought she was a beautiful girl and that I was going to turn out to be just as beautiful. When I was growing up the name Emily was quite an old fashioned name and I was a little ashamed of it. Now it is the most popular girls name and I could not be prouder.

For those that don’t know Bagpuss was a highly popular animated children’s TV program in the 1970’s. It was made by the people who bought us Ivor the engine and the Clangers.

It is a really simple concept with the titles appearing in black and white pictures. Then when Emily left the shop the magic started and the toys came to life in full colour.

Only 13 episodes were ever made but the show has gained a cult following. Bagpuss is a cute, loveable, pink and white striped cat. Rather amusingly he was intended to be a ginger cat but when the fur arrived to make him it was pink, so he became a pink cat!

He lives in a shop with his friends the mice, Madeleine the rag doll, Gabriel the toad and Professor Yaffle, who is a woodpecker.

In each episode Emily found a “thing” and bought it into the shop. The shop was a lost property shop. When Emily said her magic poem all the toys came to life. They would lovingly restore items and make up stories around the items Emily bought in. Each episode is about 15 minutes and full of stories and singing.

So along with cult status comes all the over-priced merchandise to feed your fascination. I have collected Bagpuss toys and merchandise since I was a teenager. It is fairly easy to find shops that sell it, especially as this year is Bagpuss’ 30th birthday. Clinton cards have special soft Bagpuss cuddly toys to celebrate the anniversary, starting from around £10. They also sell Bagpuss keyrings from £3. I picked up some Bagpuss shot glasses (appropriate for a childrens’ program) from there for £6.99. It is amazing what you can get.

If you visit a character toys web site, they sell a selection of Bagpuss toys such as soft toys, neck pillows, and seat belt comforters. There prices are fair with the soft toys starting from £7.49 and a Bagpuss car freshener for £5.49.

You can get the complete series of Bagpuss on video and DVD, with prices starting from about £10. As Bagpuss rarely appears on our television screens now it is an excellent purchase to make if you are a fan. You get to watch the “soggy old cloth cat” as often as you wish! I love watching my video when I am feeling unwell as it really cheers me up. They are lovely stories, beautifully and simply put together. The series is of course a “U” rating and there is nothing that would be inappropriate for young children. I babysit quite often and have found that children love watching Bagpuss, though one episode is enough for them. It has a timeless quality to it and I can’t wait till my daughter is old enough to appreciate it. Bagpuss is a much loved cat for all ages, a timeless classic.

The list of Bagpuss goods you can get really is endless. You can download the Bagpuss theme tune to your phone and have it as a fascia for your phone (available from the Carphone warehouse). I have a Bagpuss jigsaw that I got last Christmas from Boots. At Christmas time they do a great Bagpuss range. My Bagpuss waterbottle cover was £15 from there. It’s a little thick to really warm me but a great novelty item.

My yawning Bagpuss was from Woolworths for £14.99 – very, very adorable. You can also pick up Bagpuss socks. I got some last Christmas that yawned. You can also get snugly Bagpuss slippers from £9.99. All we need now is a Bagpuss male jock strap and I will be happy!

Many stationery stores have a Bagpuss range. I got a Bagpuss pencil case from WHSmith a few years ago for about £3. Each year too there is a Bagpuss annual for £5.99, available at Christmas time. It is full of stories, facts, colouring pages and competitions.

You can get Bagpuss alarm clocks and watches too, though I have never seen an adult size watch – no fair! The list really is endless. If you are a fan, believe me you will spot them everywhere. You can even get blank Bagpuss CD’s – how mad is that!

If you want a more unique, authentic Bagpuss you can by handmade Bagpusses from:- Monica Keating, Thinking Cap, Unit B24, Brunswick Small Business Centre, Brunswick Business Park, Liverpool, L3 4BD
Tel: 0151 707 2282 For £45 including postage and packaging.

Some great sites to visit are:- www.smallfilms.co.uk
www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ilove/tv/bagpuss
www.bagpuss.co.uk

There is so much Bagpuss merchandise out there for anyone interested in Bagpuss, and the interest is huge. Bagpuss is a great comforter toy and a beautiful thing to collect. The fact that he is a little “loose at the seams” makes him all the more special. I have included a photo's of some of my best loved pieces for you to enjoy.

I will leave you with some Bagpuss trivia to wet your appetite! The 13 episodes made were:- Ship in A Bottle, The Owls of Athens, The Frog Princess, The Hamish Flying, The Ballet Shoe, The Wise Man, The Giant , The Mouse Mill , The Elephant , Old Man's Beard, The Fiddle and Uncle Feedle. In Channel 4's Greatest 100 children's TV programs it came 4th! Emily was played by Emily Firmin, the creators daughter.

Emilyo gave a big yawn and settles down to sleep….thanks for reading, XX