ATV - "Bill & Ben The Flower Pot Men"

[JBofBrisbane]

"And just behind the big flower pots was a little weed - with a very limited vocabulary..."

"WEEEEEEED!"

Sorry, couldn't resist. Yeah, the ABC carried this out here when I was growing up.

[busybee621]

I remember it well as a child, growing up in England! My brother and sister and I used to sit by the 'tele' and watch it, while eating banana sandwiches.

[TheBikergoth]

Absolute Classic

[405liner]

Ruined by the top left logo. Do we really need this?

[Padfoot10112]

Did anyone else noticed that it looked like Ben was kissing Weed at about 3:10 in the video?

[kahanasam]

I watched this as a youngster living near High Wycombe - in Chesham. Small world. Many memories of being 6. Thanks.

[tardiskeeper6]

TVs changed a bit since then. I am too young to have been watching this.

[balmaiden1]

was8 when i watched this

[NYCPANCAKES]

Do they have this on dvd, for Region 1 (for the U.S. and Canada)?

This is amazing!

[DesignRec]

i was born in 1992 and this is the first tv show i remember. :) thumbs up.

[ianmlees]

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;

Or close the wall up with our English dead.

[GiantMonkeyRapist99]

Such an inspiration

[4evagreendayfan]

@xXemidgleyXx aw thats good to hear actually, I'm glad they're still going strong :) have you watched any of the other watch with mother episodes? I love them :)

[Shagger]

i used to have bill & ben on video and i used to watch it every single day for about 5 years :)

[steve998]

@Shagger .  And thats how you got your name.

[JUSTxSMILExANDxNOD]

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEED. WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED.

[adrenobrit]

Weeeeeed! This show was dope! I remember it well from my childhood. I wonder how many mothers really had a clue as to what the kids program was really about?!

[transitcoffin]

@adrenobrit its called entertainment much better than shit.e for kids on tv today memories for me happy memories

[AminThePoet]

@transitcoffin - dont worry ur parents would have said the same thing bout this shiite. So will ur children's generation say about their children's TV. For pricks this continues.... the original thought.

[wattonstp]

I'm quite sure there was more than a little weed in that garden.  That I spent my early years watching this kind of thing explains an awful lot.... no regrets!

[mrstupid]

flobalobalob little weed

[ajudeit1]

Yes.. I used to watch this on an old black & white TV with a huge magnifying glass on the front - had to sit square on or the picture would be distorted - I'm sure England is still beautiful - left in 1964 to live in NZ.

[SatanBabyDollx]

Yeah i bet there was a little 'weed' in that garden!

[DrRumstain]

Why is the potato man Irish? Anyone notice the racism in this...Hahaha, I'm joking.

[bendybob4]

haha my mom grew up in Britain and told me she used to watch this

[potshot121]

This haunted my dreams as a child

[Griceyboy]

If that weeds not careful its gonna get smoked lol

[andtakeyomonay]

"WEEEED.... WEEEEEED!!!" XDDDDD LMFAO

[LOCOMOTIONNUMBER1]

Definately one of the best programmes ever shown.

[DrRumstain]

2:10-2:12, NINE, YOU HAVE HAD ENOUGH!!!!!

[o0portal0o]

My dad sent me here. xoxox Just great!

[TheRealBarnez]

Watch with mother FTW. I have one of the old cassettes :P Its the only reason I persuaded my mum not to throw away the VCR.

All I will say is... Little Weed sounds like a druggie. "Weeeeeeeed" :P

[11jeopardy11]

why does ben sound like hes has a stroke?

[2222LINDSAY]

Quite sublime and glorious! Watching this as a child in the 1950s undoubtedly made me the man that I am today.....now it's time for my injection.

[Mrfairchap]

@2222LINDSAY Ha Ha! I feel much the same way - this was all a little insane, although I watched it avidly as a 5 year old. What everybody has to remember is that these were very innocent times - kids in 1950's Britain were not the worldly-wise, techno-smart, hardened young cynics that we see today. The England of those days has totally vanished - both a good and a bad thing. Live in the present, look to the future, remember the past. Thanks for posting some great memories.

[highwave2hell]

Interesting to see after so many years. I remember my grandmother having to warm up the TV for five minutes so I could watch it. But it does now strike me as incredibly dull. Fortunately my childhood also had the likes of The Wombles, Paddington, Ivor the Engine and Rhubarb.

[goofysbitch]

WEEEDDDD



[endracismguy]

it was so exciting back then

[camscotland]

@uraldneprvw

and now it seems the bnp is in meltdown. You must be well pissed off...

[camscotland]

@uraldneprvw

and now it seems the bnp is in meltdown. You must be well pissed off...

[nni9310]

I too saw this, in Australia, in the early 1970s when I was 4 or 5. I am quite surprised to see that it originated in the 1950s and still being shown some 20 years later.

What I like most of these old children's programmes is that, as an adult, I appreciate the quality of the English: clear, concise, dignified and pleasant, though I doubt that as a child I would have understood it or appreciated it.

I am not quite sure what to think about the story line, though. It does seem odd and pointless.

[jealous121]

i used to whatch this when i was 3 or 4 years old in high wycombe australia

[Mackeson3]

Bill and Ben are in the the pub one night. Bill says to Ben "Oh flob a dob flobba dobba dob!" So Ben replies "C'mon mate, I think we had better go home, you sound a bit pissed to me!"

[arobekie]

I think bill and ben had a problem with weed.

[nimgitman]

I used to bunk off school just to watch this.

[LOCOMOTIONNUMBER1]

I used to watch this pissing with laughter when I was 5 year old

[Mahjan22]

Just love these dudes grew up as a kid In the UK watching them.

[TheRealDerfMan]

............I'm a pot man...............

[5evad2]

Omg. I am 55 and this popped into my head from my childhood and I thought ok lets see how good you tube is! Damn that is amazing!!!

[YouMe7898]

this was the best show in the world

[MikeHudson65]

Doesn't she mean lunch?

[MadProgresser]

hmmm now i know why i am a pot-head. thank you weed :D

[Leanashe23]

Oh my. Nostalgia overload!

[354natz]

im 2o and i used to watch this its soo good

[iluvjustinbieber6464]

My dad made me watch this!!!! !：）Lol

[TigerIPanzer]

flob-a-lob weeeeeeeeeeed

[Peaceoutnow1]

@TigerIPanzer . Thank you for putting the words down. I had to prove this show to my americanized children. They didnot believe me.

[babshodgkinson]

they dont make them like this now do they? I am sure I grew up in a nicer world

[elvenwishes]

@babshodgkinson I so totally agree I use to watch this when it was on ABC TV in Australia and loved it so much. Now all there is on TV is violence and other crap, I think we did grow up in a better and nicer world...

[janettwinkle]

I used to love Bill and Ben! Such fun. My daughter tells me (as an adult) that had she watched it, she would have been very anxious about the man who worked in the garden coming back from his lunch and catching the Flowerpot Men! So there was tension in the script too! Better than some of the adventure capers that were on TV later.

[lollyclan]

schmicmic:  you're hit the nail on the head my dear. Only he won't be laughing, he'll be sobbing. Thank God the end is in sight.

[yohoyoho123456]

is it just me or does 'weed' have a third eye on her forehead at the very end? WOW. illuminati tagged along our generation for THAT long?!

[TheNerd90]

ben fucked bill bill fucked ben cause they are gay little flower pot men

[peter007taylor]

...I think in a Modern Version of this....Bill & Ben would be two Gays, with their own little boy born of an unemployed Surrogate Mother who lives in a tower block and needs money for Fags...ahh!..how times change...

[Theloligy]

weeeeeed

[TheEx3rgj]

after appearing on parkinson in the early seventies,after the show bill and ben complained to the producers of the parkinson show that they couldnt understand a word the thick barnsley twat was talking about.

[silversurfers7]

I loved watching this program 45 years ago; my 2yr old daughter just watched this for the first time just now. My daughter always knows about scary/horror movies sounds and runs away. The point is, when i played this clip just now, upon hearing the opening song ..."Bill & Ben the flower pot men etc".....she immediately ran away from the computer! I too, feel this is a ghostly sounding voice, but i still love it. Funny, kids don't lie at this age, she understood the ghostly voice.

[bigbawser]

i always liked the weed

[MrColin3373]

How could you not like this as 12 have, its for kids and if you dont find it to your liking then get up and leave the room. It doesn't compare to the crap and crud that is aired on tv for kids, so glad i'm not a kid in todays world

[pandarello]

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE­EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEED

[MrAxemana]

2:17 till 2:40... imagine if at 2:40 she said "and out came the DRUG DEALERS."

[kbram1]

Monday, Picture Book, Tuesday, Andy Pandy, Wednesday, Bill and Ben, Thursday, Rag, Tag and Bobtail, Friday, The Woodentops, OH what happy days.

[w35m17h]

Yeah, way too much weed...

[PAPABEARSMUSIC]

Very odd, I understood what they were saying back then, now I dont understand anything?

[roughcovers]

you must show pity for parents who were raised on this

it is a little known fact that the language of bill and ben (flobalong?) was modeled on the sound of someone farting in the bath

[MrsMMM]

@roughcovers Actually, the alleged "unsavoury" origin of Bill and Ben's language is a widespread myth. The language was actually created by the "voice" of Bill and Ben - Peter Hawkins. You can read more (and about the erroneous Q.I. mention of the unfortunate myth :-)) on the Toonhound website:

[SpyWhoLovedHimself]

This programs fucking weird

[werewolf9613]

Oc! Do you remember this? And watch with mother... aw.. the memories..

[Hayleym994]

i remember this i used to have it on VCR!

[3DEC3]

Hooray Dandelions!

[5Fathom5]

and a little weed......maybe too much weed?

[prisonerfan]

There was one episode I loved of Bill and Ben and it was the one where everything was icy and frosty. It was repeated fairly often in those days but I didn't mind.I'm still into children's tv as my 2 year old grandson loves Iggle Piggle. The language for kids hasn't changed much in 50 odd years

[Roxgirl83]

Weeeeeeed! Weee-eee-eeed!

...

No you can't, you've had enough.

[makeupismymantra]

What happened to my beautiful England ??????? If only we could go back in time to when she was a proud nation, such wonderful memories.

[nylonTS]

@makeupismymantra oh i do agree with you 100%

[bondsee]

@makeupismymantra beautiful england indeed !! long gone im afraid, labour left have seen to that

[schmicmic1]

I disagree with you on your "labour" claim...Britain and its conservatives should have heeded the words of Enoch Powell, that is where we were defeated, now your lovely Britain ( and mine) are a memory only, full of the trash of a world community that bludges on the government. I be E.P is up there having a good laugh

[bondsee]

@schmicmic1 they got rid of him because he spoke the truth !! , and it cost them votes. they should all be tried for treason !!

[anonUK]

@makeupismymantra

Early 1950's? Whole areas of the cities were flattened (although damage in Germany, Poland and Russia was far worse), many things were still rationed, the Empire was packing up and leaving and British industry was in a desperate state. People were scared of Russia and China, huge countries with massive armies and nuclear ambitions.

I'm not defending what's happened since, but we can't pretend that life was all rosy in the 1950's, the 1930's or any other decade.

[videoit]

@makeupismymantra if we go back in time, can i take my ps3, call of duty and my LED tv

[Buondelmonte123]

@makeupismymantra What happened? Well, I'd say the rot began with The Beatles. Truly.

[uraldneprvw]

@makeupismymantra Democracy ruined the country, politicians ruined it, the EU ruined it. It's gone forever. What a shame! I miss it so much. I had to move to NZ last year to escape the undemocratic multi-culturism foced upon the British.

[MsNerin26]

@makeupismymantra Oh my sentiments exactly! What has happened over the past 50 odd years to end up to where we are now. Clips like this on Youtube are little treasures.

[squirm13]

@makeupismymantra I agree, times were so different then, more innocent. There were much better tv shows, really, kids tv had so much imagination.

[thechuckyduck]

@squirm13 thanks to acid.

[greysquid1]

@makeupismymantra i was watching a show the other day, eh it was shot in the 60s, i was born in 1990 so i wouldnt know obviously lol but looking back, wow it looked so much better, just, i dont know, just better and now i hate living here, i just think we've lost what we once had, its so sad really.

[gramule]

@makeupismymantra you have answered your own question. my england only existed in your head, it is, and always has been, our, everyones england. now i hope you are listening..........

[junkman19571]

@makeupismymantra its been destroyed by the anti english labour party,and the celtic cabal in it.they'll never vote for independence...they'd have to earn what they spend.and don't get me started on mass uncontrolled immigration done deliberately by labour........multi culturism my arse..ggrrrrr

[teaka1948]

the lady who was speaking in this video, used to be the lady who played maid marrion on the show robin hood starring richard greene, am i correct??

[byrdland5d]

i want some of what they were on

[silversurfers7]

Ghostly!! 

[sandozer57]

Bill and Ben, Andy Pandy, The only show in the afternoon...then out to play.

[Animebaz]

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee­eeeeeeed

[4evagreendayfan]

Im glad how being born in the 90's and still watching these childrens episode classics was good considering its a 50's programme :) just shows how many generations it can be good for :)

[ratuse]

Almost as scary as Torchy.

[knausspiano]

Yes, I liked these best. What day was Andy Pandy, was it Tuesday? and Rag Tag and Bobtail Thursday? Anyway, as a Marionette Entertainer myself I can report that the fascination with this type of puppetry still remains. There is something comforting or reassuring knowing how things work, and Thunderbirds proved this with it's phenomenal success. Goin' to look for Muffin The Mule now like a 61 year old kid!

[Dellarobinson13]

I'll give it weed in a minute. WEEDKILLER. The only annoying character in the series

[michael72401]

@Gyphia You have summed upwhat is missing from young childrens lives today

[elowe549]

my mum used to watch this when she was young and she kept them. i watched them when i was about 5 years old, im now 18 and still remeber the words to it hehe :)

[toops1060]

I used to sit and watch this every day when I lived in Northolt back in the early 60's. Thanks :)

[Brownrigglynn2126]

Me too!!!! I used to watch it when I was 3 or 4 at my Grandmother's house in High Wycombe

[Blissbomb2]

I remember running around the house yelling "Bloppy Blop", Im sure this had an effect on my adult life.

[10teviotstreet]

I remember watching this too when i was small in Banton, kilsyth when I was about 4 or 5 and also Andy Pandy was a favourite. must have been about the late 60s. Not at all as mentally stimulating as the programmes they have for children now., but we all enjoyed it at the time.

[Simcat888]

Love it!

[elayneann]

As soon as the musuc started I knew what it was! I am 56 and I can still remember Watch With Mother - on Mondays it was Picture Book, Tuesday was Andy Pandy, Wednesday was Flowerpot Men, Thursday was Rag Tag and Bobtail and Friday was the Wooden Tops. I may have Wednesday and Thursday round the wrong way - does anyone remember?

[Barryhuelin]

@elayneann

You got in right, Wednesday was the flower pot men, and Thursday was Rag Tag and Bobtail, I am now 59 years and remember them as if it were yesterday. Living the other side of the world 50 years on in time doesn't water down the memories.

[westersprings]

@Barryhuelin yep I even bought the tape for my kids 22 years ago as I thought they could get something out of it , compaired to the drivel that is supposed to for kids nowadays . ex scot nz

[KasperVeste]

I'm astonished--when I watched this, shivers ran down my spine--literally! (And one or two other paces, but let that pass.) I'm 59, and I can remember watching with my mother; she remembers it too. We've seen WWM in more recent years, as it finds its way into quite a few retrospective tv shows; we have a video somewhere, too. I wonder what my kids will do for nostalgia? Whatever, it won't be as good!

[P0mbum]

im 21 and i used to watch this when i was little! I loved this!

[teddybear1829]

scary stuff right there

[SleepoverGirls1]

OMG! You guys used to watch it??

This is so scary!!!!! I wont sleep well at night!!

[geordiegirlnufc]

that was good...its been ages since i saw this lol

might check out Andy pandy now

[fireyjax79]

@geordiegirlnufc HA HA!! COULD'NT AGREE MORE.....HOW SAD ARE WE?!!!!

THE KIDS TODAY ARE MISSIN' A REAL TREAT HA HA!!

[minicooper1959]

thanks for posting this i grew up with bill and ben its been many years since i have seen this its so funny to watch it again and see the strings

i loved spotty dog from the wooden tops thanks again cheers

[cathoarder704]

That song is pierced into my brain for the rest of my life. So long ago. Will never forget. Thank You!

[happyenjoytime]

@chiffley ... it's 58 years for me and I still find that so snuggly. Little Weeeeeeeed :)

[fireblade95]

oh god! i remember this! i musta bin stoned! i still am! i hope i am it cant be real!

[trishj11]

memories ..lol ....love it xx

[shrivel1]

My favourite episode featured Band B sneaking through a hole in the fence and venturing into the woods. I was overjoyed the next time they went through the fence, not realising it was a repeat and they only actually did it once.

[Rebeccas7Suns]

lovely memories of Bill & Ben. Thanks foro sharing this.

[ihaf2cthis]

Was I the only one who was puzzled that it was on "Watch with mother" and couldn't understand why my mum didn't watch it?

Makes you realise that we shouldn't criticise "In the night garden" though.

Unbeatable memories of the age of innocence.

[jet936]

Thank You.......1953 was when we had our first television for the Coronation. Who remembers Billy Bean and his Funny Machine, or The Woodentops ?

[xbfalcon351coupe]

Little weed? It helps...

[coopedupinculture]

oh wow

[missdeebates]

was a BBC production not ATV

[peterbjames]

your never get things let this today lets get then back again .

[knowsleyisboss]

@peterbjames actually i used to watch it only a few years ago. must have been about 8 years ago

[MrRobbo53]

brilliant brilliant brilliant

[caliwonder123]

GAY GAY GAY GAY!

[blagger56]

My mum always said if I waited right to the end, I MIGHT catch a sight of the gardener. I never did...

[BeverleyLeslie]

@blagger56 HAHAHAHA your mum sounds cute :) I can just imagine you little face glued to the screen....while your mum had ten minutes of peace and quiet LOL

[finchfanatic313]

look up dalla kalla and his bag of tricks if you likr this vid ;)

[Hyndman08]

Watching this is like watching a man eat his own face... So painful and yet so satisfying !! The weed deserves an award btw !

[rhiaanbaby]

wweeeeeeeed weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed

[lefty5128]

Ah smoke the little weed

[KristiKnitting]

Can ANYONE but me remember when they used to fly when they went out into the back garden??? Please let it be true,

Kristi

[yaremus]

Yes! I remember! They went through a hole in the fence to a woods where magical things happened like flying! Didn't happen often but they were my favourite episodes!

[jarrrod900]

bill and ben the flower pot men dont like weed anymore so they decide to sell weed...

[blanduser1]

GAWD, I just realized that Bill and Ben are selling pot again!

[doctorqueso]

brattymom, that was brilliant

[3bratmom]

Gorgeous diction - Bill and Ben? Heddo Bill, pass the weeeeeeeeeeeeed!

[doctorqueso]

you must sing, "I like cheeeese!" and be proud. i enjoy working the garden and long walks. flower pot men!!!! bill wants mah nuts

[doctorqueso]

pot and weed being the main words. this was made in a basement with three ppl smoking pot. jesus

[BeCAUSEBExx]

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeed weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed

[walkerchild69]

@BeCAUSEBExx hahahahaha .. i used to watch this when it was about ( 1960's ) .. i was 4 or 5 years old ( give or take a year ) who'd of thought eh ? .. weed in the middle !!

[roseofluna]

Weeeeeed! Weeeeeeeeeeed! XD

[001AussieMale]

I used to have a ben puppet when i was a kid.

[richardsouthall]

I remember Bill And Ben .......I only now no why they speak like that its because they are always pissed

[ChristinaCroft]

It's just gorgeous diction and so 'of another era'...that I vaguely remember! "The man who worked in the garden!"

Lovely - thank you!

[LOCOMOTIONNUMBER1]

How refreshing to hear someone speak correct English

[seventiesclassic]

yes it is..I hate the way some presaenters..ie Fearne Cotton..use slang dumbed down language

[jordhart1]

Remember this well, great to see it again,and the woodentops. Thankyou

[keiraleejade]

Wow, I prefer the newer ones but maybe that's because they come closer from my decade, haha.

[RegisteredTrademark]

Mind you, torchy the battery boy is the scariest looking puppet in history lol.

[RegisteredTrademark]

My mum showed me these old videos when i was two. It was, and still is, probably the creepiest and most disturbing thing ive ever seen.

[DepressedEnglishChap]

Bill and Ben were in bed together.

Bill said "Flobalobalobalobalobalob"

Ben said "If you love me you'd swallow that."