In 1972, the
ITV network expanded its daytime broadcasting hours and the
Independent Broadcasting Authority commissioned four of the main ITV companies to each provide a series of interest to pre-schoolers, as an alternative to the successful US import
Sesame Street. From this commission
Thames Television came up with
Rainbow,
Yorkshire with
Mister Trimble,
Granada with
Hickory House, while
ATV's contribution would be
Inigo Pipkin.
Inigo Pipkin was first shown on
New Year's Day 1973. When the show started, the main character was an elderly puppet maker called Inigo Pipkin (hence the original title), played by
George Woodbridge. The puppets were his creations, and over the course of the first series, viewers saw Inigo bring to life Hartley Hare and the Tortoise (a.k.a. George) played by
Nigel Plaskitt; and Topov the
monkey, Pig and Octavia the
ostrich, all played by Heather Tobias. However, Woodbridge died suddenly from a heart attack in March 1973, while recording of the second series was still taking place.
Inigo Pipkin was not recorded in the order it was transmitted, and Woodbridge had only completed taping of the latter episodes. The scripts for the episodes that would be broadcast first in the transmission run, i.e. those that Woodbridge had not managed to record, were thus hastily rewritten, with Inigo's absence explained by his being away on a fishing holiday. In 1974, in a first for children's television, the death of Inigo was worked into the programme, predating the
Mr Hooper episode on
Sesame Street by nine years. From this episode onwards, the show was renamed
Pipkins and Inigo's assistant, Johnny (
Wayne Laryea), took over. The storyline for this episode was unfolded with remarkable compassion. The puppets, alongside their young viewers, were guided through the experience of loss and grief, learning that, although Mr Pipkin was no longer with them, his love and teachings would endure. The decision to embrace such a difficult subject within the format of a children's programme was a radical choice, particularly at a time when death was largely considered a
taboo topic for young audiences. After Woodbridge's death, the direction of the programme had to change; from here on, the show ceased to centre around a puppet workshop and the characters became the 'Help People', helping anyone in need of a hand. Similarly, another episode "Death of a Goldfish" dealt with the topic of death, in regards to losing a pet. Topov the monkey and Johnny discussed why the goldfish died and why people die. Johnny left
Pipkins around 1978, to be replaced by Tom (
Jonathan Kydd), who moved on in 1980, his place taken by Peter Potter (Paddy O'Hagan). In later years
Sue Nicholls made regular appearances as the Pipkins' neighbour, Mrs Muddle. The name was somewhat ironic as she was always a calming, self-assured presence around the puppets. The familiar workshop set was replaced in 1979 (in the story "Moving Out"), with new interiors based around a kitchen and backyard. The new set was built up from ground level to enable puppeteers to work standing up and to move around more freely, modelled on the methods used by
The Muppet Show which was also filmed at
ATV Elstree Studios. ==Cancellation==