Bill and Ben is a British stop-motion animated television series produced by Cosgrove Hall Films for BBC Worldwide. It is a remake of the 1952 TV series Flower Pot Men aimed at young children. Production began in 2000, and it aired for two series between 4 January 2001 and 10 December 2002.

Broadcast On January 4, 2001, a new series in colourFlowerpot Men bloom again, BBC Online, 4 January 2001. Retrieved 28 December 2009 named Bill and Ben began on Children's BBC on BBC One,, accessed 1 December 2023. The date of its broadcast @ 3:45pm. this time involving stop-motion animation, 35mm film style and full colour, and made by Cosgrove Hall Films with a team of ten animators."". www.bcdb.com, 13 April 2012 This show features the voices of John Thomson (who also serves as the narrator), Jimmy Hibbert, and Eve Karpf. The TV series aired in the Republic of Ireland on RTÉjr and formerly aired on CBeebies from February 11, 2002 to the afternoon of August 29, 2008.

Difference between versions

Many additions were implemented: A mean female rosebush with two talking buds in the neighbour's garden named Rose. A mischievous female prickly plant named Thistle. A female magpie named Pry, obsessed by shiny treasure, often just every bottle cap. A male hedgehog named Boo. Slowcoach the Tortoise remains in the series, with few changes to his characteristics. He gets angry at Bill & Ben for ruining his things, but mostly, for messing around. A male frog named Tad. A female squirrel named Scamper. A male baby squirrel named Scuff. He is Scamper's baby nephew. A female spider named Whimsy. A male earthworm named Whoops. A male talking tomato named Ketchup. Another male tortoise called Lightning. He is Slowcoach's brother. Bill and Ben's voice tones have switched; Bill now has the deep-toned voice, while Ben now has the high-toned voice. Weed no longer just says her name; she speaks conventional English, playing an "earth mother" role to Bill and Ben and often assisting them.

Episodes Episodes within each series are listed in order of first UK broadcast, according to Radio Times. The last three episodes of the first series, which featured snow, were delayed until Christmas and were therefore broadcast out-of-sequence between episodes 11 and 12 of the second series.

Series 1 (2001–2002) BBC One (CBBC strand)

BBC Two (CBBC strand)

Series 2 (2001–2002) BBC Two (CBBC strand)

BBC Two (CBeebies strand)

UK VHS and DVD releases Several VHS and DVD releases of the series were released by BBC Worldwide.

In April 2008, Ben Productions LLC and Bulldog Licensing appointed 2 Entertain as home video distributor as part of a merchandise-led relaunch.https://www.awn.com/news/classic-and-new-licensing-andy-pandy-and-bill-and-ben

VHS or DVD title Release date Episodes Bill and Ben: Flobbadobba Fun! (BBCV 7141) 2 April 2001 Bill and Ben: Garden Games (BBCV 7188) 17 September 2001 Bill and Ben: Flowerpot Friends (BBCV 7313) 20 May 2002 Bill and Ben: Here Comes the Sun and Other Stories 2006 Bill and Ben: Go Fly a Kite (2EDVD0431) 8 September 2008 Bill and Ben: Here Comes the Sun (2EDVD0432) 8 September 2008

References

External links