Click here to listen to the vocals of Barnaby the Bear (Thanks to Pat again)
Click here to listen to the tune whistled by Barnaby the Bear (Thanks to Dave)
Barnaby
Barnaby was on BBC television around the early 1970s (feel free to correct me here as I do not have a Radio Times that has it listed before that). It concerned the adventures of Barnaby a small likeable bear who was a good bear if a little mischievous from time to time. This was no ordinary bear though. He could sing , dance, juggle and perform acrobatic stunts such as riding a large ball and balancing on high wires. The narrator for the show was Colin Jeavons who was a brilliant performer mostly remembered for his roles in Inspector Lestrade in Sherlock Holmes dramas, Lucky Jim, Billy Liar, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy as well as Jackanory. My earliest memory of him was in Billy Liar where he played the head of the funeral palour as the immortal Mr. Shadrack. I also remember him playing Professor James Moriarty in the 1983 series "The Baker Street Boys." Other readers will no doubt recall his wonderful narration on the children's program "Joe" shown back in the late 1960s, again another Q3 London production. Not sure about an actual story listing as I seem to remember that Barnaby was a complete story split into smaller adventures. He started off in the forest where he learnt to sing. He then left the forest and got taken in by the circus. He travelled around with them until one day he decided that he wanted to do other things and so tried to leave the circus. Mr. Pimoulu, - the circus owner was not too pleased since Barnaby's act drew in the crowds and made him the most money. Barnaby's friends, however, helped him escape and so he headed off to new adventures.
Remember the lyrics to his song:
Barnaby the bear's my name
Never call me Jack or James
I will sing my way to fame
Barnaby the bear's my name
Birds taught me to sing
When they took me to their king
First I had to fly
In the sky so high, so high, so high, so high, so high
So, if you want to sing this way
Think of what you'd like to say
Add a tune and you will see
Just how easy it can be
Treacle pudding, fish and chips
Fizzy drinks and liquorice
Flowers rivers sand and see
Snowflakes and the stars are free
La La La La La
La LaLa La La La
La La La La La
La La La LaLa La La La La
Barnaby the bear's my name
Never call me Jack or James
I will sing my way to fame
Barnaby the bear's my name
Barnaby - Main Page |
Barnaby - The Circus |
Characters
Barnaby the Bear |
Mr. Pimoulu - Circus Owner |
The Policeman |
Mrs. Pimoulu |
The Mayor |
The Cats |
The Moneys (Ricky and Dicky) |
Sara the Seal |
Town's woman - Mayors Wife perhaps |
The Baker |
The Butcher |
Other Towns folk |
More Towns folk |
The Town sweep |
The Circus Lion |
Barnaby - Main Page |
Barnaby - The Circus |
Credits
Barnaby the Bear | Based on a character by Olga Pouchine |
English version produced by | Michael Grafton-Robinson |
Voicing Talents of | Colin Jeavons, Charles Collingwood, Gwenllian Owen and Percy Edwards |
Music by | Mireille |
An Albert Barille production | |
Q3 London Production 1973 | |
And so once again, like all Little Gems, into the distance and into memory we will not be seeing this little bear again. Memories, thoughts corrections to the usual address. I would also love to hear from anyone involved in the making of this wonderful program whether it be in front of the camera or behind.