Children's TV favourite Bagpuss to reawaken for new film

Bagpuss and friends will "stir from their slumber to find themselves in contemporary Britain"

Bagpuss, the saggy old cloth cat who starred in one of Britain's best-loved children's TV shows, is set to appear in a new film that will see him awaken in the present day.

In the 13 original episodes, broadcast in 1974, the pink-and-white toy cat came to life when he woke up in a shop window.

Bagpuss gained more young fans with frequent repeats, and it was voted the nation's favourite children's show of all time in a BBC poll in 1999. Nine years later, he topped a poll to find the nation's favourite children's TV animal.

The planned film sequel, which is currently in development, will be the first new Bagpuss production since the original series and will feature a mixture of live action and animation, producers said.

Bagpuss, Professor Yaffle and Gabriel the Toad appeared in an exhibition of children's TV characters at the Lowry in Salford in 2014

Bagpuss and his companions, including a woodpecker called Professor Yaffle and Madeleine the rag doll, will "stir from their slumber to find themselves in contemporary Britain", the announcement said.

They will embark on a "modern-day quest" with a story and animation techniques that will stay true to the spirit of the classic series, producers promised.

The film is being developed with the estates of Bagpuss's original creators, Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin.

Firmin's daughter Emily, who was the girl in the original series, said: "Bagpuss was an integral part of my childhood. To me he wasn't just a character on the screen, he was a friend who taught me about kindness, care, and imagination.

"To see our most magical cat return now is incredibly moving and I'm thrilled that new fans will have the chance to discover him, and that his magic will live on and be shared with the next generation."

In the original series, Emily brought lost and discarded property for Bagpuss to identify.

He was described at the beginning of each episode as "the most important, the most beautiful, the most magical saggy old cloth cat in the whole wide world".

The film will be made by Birmingham-based Threewise Entertainment, co-creators of Nickelodeon's Rock Island Mysteries, who are aiming for a release date in 2027.

The production has already received investment from Creative UK via the West Midlands IP Fund, part of the West Midlands Combined Authority.

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