Orm and Cheep is a 1980s British children's television series that was aimed at the younger viewers of Children's ITV. It used puppets as the main characters (Orm being a worm and Cheep being a bird) and was narrated by Richard Briers. The show was created by Tony Martin, the puppets created by Mary Edwards. There were a total of 26 eleven-minute episodes, broadcast between 1984 and 1987. The series was aired in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada and Iran.
Plot Cheep was an infant bird who fell from his nest, prior to learning to fly (the theme tune, "If only Cheep could fly", ensured that Cheep's difficulties in learning to fly became a recurring joke throughout the series). He befriends Orm, a worm who inhabits a subterranean home. Their acquaintances include Snail and Mouse, all friends and foes have a single-word, noun name. Their notable foes include Rat and Crow, who often scheme to consume the pair.
Episodes
Series 1 The Fall (10.04.1984) A Piece of Cake (17.04.1984) Cat Nap (24.04.1984) Down to Earth (01.05.1984) Don't Sneeze Please (08.05.1984) Eye, Eye! (15.05.1984) Strawberry Patch (22.05.1984) Cat and Mouse (29.05.1984) A House for Mouse (05.06.1984) What a Rat (12.06.1984) Silvery Trail (19.06.1984) Cheep Skate (26.06.1984) The Search Party (03.07.1984)
Series 2 Water, Water Everywhere (5.03.1987) Spring Clean (12.03.1987) Gone with the Wind (19.03.1987) Buried Treasure (26.03.1987) The Dark Wood (02.04.1987) Sports Day (09.04.1987) Ghosts (16.04.1987) Falling Leaves (23.04.1987) The Scarecrow (30.04.1987) The Terrible Three (07.05.1987) Cricket Tea (14.05.1987) Rat Trap (21.05.1987) Blow Out (28.05.1987)
Cast/Crew First series Creator - Tony Martin Director - Jan Martin Producer - Jan Martin Executive Producer - David Hamilton Artistic Director - Tony Martin Puppet creator _ Mary Edwards Writer - Guy Hallifax Narrator - Richard Briers Puppeteers - Mary Edwards, Geoff Felix and Ian Thom Directors Tony Martin and Derek Oliver Producer David Hamilton Associate Producer Claire Derry Writer Guy Hallifax Narrator Richard Briers Puppeteers Geoff Felix, Mary Edwards and Ian Thom
Australian VHS releases Roadshow Entertainment (2000)
VHS titleRelease dateEpisodes Orm And Cheep: Water, Water Everywhere (102992)4 September 2000Water, Water Everywhere, Spring Clean, Gone with the Wind, Buried Treasure and The Dark Wood Orm And Cheep: Eye Eye (102993)4 September 2000Eye Eye, Strawberry Patch, Cat and Mouse, A House for Mouse and What a Rat Orm And Cheep: The Fall (102994)4 September 2000The Fall, A Piece of Cake, Cat Nap, Down to Earth and Don't Sneeze Please
DVD release In 2019, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (as DreamWorks Classics) announced it would be releasing the entire first series on DVD (Region 2, PAL format).
References Jedi's Children's TV. Jedi. 10 Feb. 2005. 25 Feb. 2007
Toon Hound. Frazer Diamond. 11 Aug. 2006. 25 Feb. 2007