The Woodentops (9th September 1955)

[ginger8172]

So innocent.......unlike today!!!! They were definitely the good old days, it was so lovely watching it.

[ebenezerhoary]

ahhh, it evokes memories of my childhood in the 60's...gingham tablecloth's, picket fences, belfast sinks..Summers so warm you walked around topless (like Mrs. Woodentop)  ; D

[bonzo874]

my god ,i was 3 months old !!!!!!!

[Jolliffesguy]

Who needs the animated ' digital ' computer-created childrens programmes of today? This is just timeless, thanks.

[boffinme80]

This may look incredibly cheesey nowadays but this was real entertainment. I love heartwarming stories like these. :)

[MissElfreda]

Look! A proper family. You don't see that on TV much nowadays.

[crackincgi]

Wooden Tops was the one I couldn't stand as a 4 yr old. I can remember sulking when it came on. Watching it now... I reminds me of the pre-curser to 'Darling Buds of May'. Nice to see it again - even though I didn't appreciate them at the time lol

[MrAllanThomson]

Social services should have a wee word with Mummy Wooden, and I think the kids are all headed for ASBO's if they carry on making trouble like that.. ;)

[xxkil]

gone are the days when you could leave your kids out while you did the house work....sad really

[howler95uk]

I remember this one, but it was made 4 years before I was born. Surely I wasn't watching a repeat ! Would have complained to Robert Robinson if I'd known.

[BritNostalgia]

@howler95uk You certainly were watching a repeat!  I remember these too - and I was born in 1963!

[sugarcane13X]

@BritNostalgia i was born in 1997 i remember these

[MrsJosephMerrick]

@BritNostalgia Me too! I was born in 1963 as well and I remember watching these. :)

[sugarcane13X]

@howler95uk yep i remember these i was born in 1997

[pbraddazz]

Baby woodentop will be in his 50s now.

[TheShotgunslade]

This is so so beautiful. I bet the boob. oops sorry, beeb, have burned all these when thy were setting light to william hartnell . Thanks for posting. I appreciate this soo much.

[BritNostalgia]

@TheShotgunslade Strangely enough, it would seem that The Woodentops have fared much better than Dr. Who. I'm not certain, but I think most of The Woodentops episodes survive in the BBC's vaults - unlike Dr. Who - who's biggest enemy was not The Daleks or The Cybermen or any of the other weird and wonderful baddies he encountered - it was the BBC themselves!

[Violasax]

Mummy Woodentop has a fantastic figure considering she's had three kids.

[transitcoffin]

@Violasax thats because she had no tv so they had a few early night's and made love :)

[bigrider2806]

great memories 

[Sabakukyo]

I think it was an advantage to have a good well spoken English as we children of the 60´s had on tv and radio growing up

I believe all British people should be able to spreak a "High " english as well as their provicially flavoured English

This is a great Equalizer and would be having many benifits.

I hear repeatedly how ( i live abroad ) people don´t ubderstand British dialects

[Mrfairchap]

This was made when tv was new and so was I! Sadly, the peaceful, polite and cultured England reflected in this programme and which I remember from my childhood has vanished for ever - I don't recognise this country any more. Oh well ... thanks for posting.

[BritNostalgia]

@Mrfairchap So painfully true!

[maccagrabme]

@Mrfairchap What went wrong in your opinion?

[smithhedgehog]

This is PERFECTION...It could make me cry. My mum used to make me watch this since i was old enough to hear and see. :)

[Calamity538]

Loved this....I can still rememeber waving at the tv at the closing sequence!

[wellychef]

sounds like annette crosbie(margaret meldrew) narrating, any comments?

[BritNostalgia]

@wellychef It was Maria Bird.

[wellychef]

@BritNostalgia thankyou, can you see why i thaught it was annette crosbie though? very simelar i thaught, cheers ;-)

[BritNostalgia]

@wellychef Yes, I've got to admit that Maria Bird does sound like Annette Crosbie on these old Woodentops episodes.

[shrivel1]

@wellychef Think about it Wellychef. This sounds a bit like how Annette Crosby sounds now. When this was made, Annette Crosby would have been young and would not have sounded like this.

[littlerisingstars]

the sound of baby woodentop crying still haunts me D:

[olliedotkid]

im 16, and i watched this when i was little lool

[wolfoutlaw1]

i watched this way back then, oh good memories.

[xxkil]

that baby,s an evil looking bastard

[CandyCane6184]

push the pram push the pram, both together both together

[CandyCane6184]

you gotta love baby woodentop

[SuperASFC]

i remember watching this at my grandma flobs, spotty dog was my favourite!

[tacsandamps]

I really loved this series, as a little girl when I was around six or seven. Recently, I came across a photo of us children sitting around the telly in the mid fifties. Such a tiny screen and a huge cabinet. How did we see all the detail, I wonder. Your video has brought back some lovely memories. Thanks. Lol Daphne.

[BboyFiZiX]

i was 3 or maybe 4 when i first watched this. my mum got it for me on video because she liked it when she was little. im 25 now :) nostalgia! we were both huge fans of Spotty Dog :) he still rules! When the narrator says "and he's a very funny dog" and his reaction, that used to have me in hysterics XD

[philbailey2311]

Ahh! I was still putting in the finishing touches to my own imminent arrival on to the World's seen when this aired. Another two months before I would open my eyes and take in all the wonders; this was one of my earliest. Very nostalgic (and innocent!).

[matthewparsons1996]

oh my god, i remember watching the woodetops, my brother had this episode and other old puppet show and i loved the watch with mother indent in the beginning, this has brought back so many memory's thank you so much for uploading this, you probably can't find this anywhere else now.

:)

[BritNostalgia]

@matthewparsons1996 Glad this has brought back some happy memories for you.

[1957chandler]

@matthewparsons1996

fantastic.loved the wooden tops.

[Dadsodillo]

Wonderful bit of nostalgia! Can remember watching this as a child. Thanks for posting this.

[BritNostalgia]

@Dadsodillo Glad you like it!

[davidgrahamscott]

I thought baby woodentop was cute when I was a kid. It's not quite the same now...shit, I wish I could go back in time.

[cokerainbows]

does anyone remember that bottle island? i want to see that again and when she was making those paper lantern things!

[lisaphoenix1]

Well I never !! just watched the Woodentops again and I'm 53. I used to watch it all through my childhood, just loved it, and the music. When i got married 8 years ago I even did a Spotty Dog impression coming into the reception.... silly but good fun.

[BritNostalgia]

@lisaphoenix1 I bet that was something to see!

[TheBdiw]

Good grief, I'm 54 now, and sat watching this with my 14 month grandaughter. I think I was more interested than she was? It brought back loads of happy childhood memories.

[BritNostalgia]

@TheBdiw Yes. people of our generation tend to watch this through rose tinted glasses!

[spiritfree]

@BritNostalgia I think you're right. Tho I've just taken mine off. had fond memories of it, but this episode is boring as. Perhaps they all would be - now. Ah well. :-)

[Chocstarfish]

oh my god, weirdest flashback at that 'sawdust and hay for dinner today' song! I remember my mum putting this on for me as a kid. Now i'm 19.

[TheRandyChimp]

20 years old and I remember watching this when I was about 2-3, maybe earlier than that. It was on a videotape my aunt and uncle had. Great show.

[SerenTwilight]

i remember watching this when I was young... and I'm only 18! Great show!!

[BritNostalgia]

@SerenTwilight Thanks for the kind comment. I suppose this proves that it doesn't matter how basic the programme might look, if the story is good the programme is good - even if The Woodentops were more MDF than CGI!

[motherhenism]

@BritNostalgia ohmigod! I was three days old when this episode showed! I grew up watching this thanks so much for the memories!

[BritNostalgia]

@motherhenism No problem. Stick around.  I hope to upload some more like this shortly.

[bootsandsaddles]

Thank you,

[BritNostalgia]

@bootsandsaddles You're welcome!

[isabelle1955]

Ah those were the days....! When all good British mothers strapped their babies into their prams, stuck them out in the garden and cheerfully ignored them for hours...

[aheide08]

Does anyone remember a show that aired in the 60s that had a story within a story that featured a matchstick family? I have not found anyone that remembers it and I am beginning to think i dreamt it...

[debragoring]

Love this! Fab to see it after so many years... thanks.

[twinklez1985]

I had a video of Watch With Mother as a kid and I loved watching it so this brings back so many memories for me

[David315842]

This will shock you, but I happen to have this video as well. :D

[BritNostalgia]

@David315842 It doesn't quite shock me. This was released on video a few years ago. It was on the same tape as some other 'Watch With Mother Stuff'. By the way, for some daft reason, Youtube has flagged your comment as 'spam'!!!

[David315842]

@BritNostalgia A few years ago? try a couple of decades ago, LOL. Though I recon the tape must have been a real nostalgic trip to those who seen these shows back in the sixties, so you're right it must have sold fairly well. As for YouTube/Google, well they were silly to do that as my comment contained no attempt to advertise anything illegal.

[BritNostalgia]

@David315842 When you get to my age a couple of decades is just a few years ago! The Woodentops are from the 50's, by the way - well before my time (I'm happy to report!).

[David315842]

@BritNostalgia Ah so they are, my bad. :D Time certanly does fly, I'm certanly feeling the effects of speedy time nowadays. ;D

[BritNostalgia]

@David315842 Ah, you're still just a young pup yet. Wait until you get to my age!

[David315842]

@BritNostalgia Young pup? someone's obviously been watching Dogtanian recentily. :D Well in 20 or so years, i'll let you know if i feel any different. :D

[BritNostalgia]

@David315842 I haven't seen Dogtanian in ages. And, believe me, in 20 years time you'll be wishing it was 2010 all over again! I've spent the last week or so re-living 1990 by playing acid house records!

[David315842]

@BritNostalgia LOL, No doubt I'll prerhaps will. Thoug sometimes I wish i could go back to the 80's 1990 huh, the same year Dreamstone first aired. What a coincidence. :D