The Bumblies (1954)

Michael Bentine devised and wrote a thirteen part children's series about three friendly little aliens from outer space, cheerful ambassadors from the Planet Bumble, who landed in their flying saucer in the garden of an absent-minded professor of astronomy, with the express purpose of getting to know the children of Earth, and learning how to play their games.

The Bumblies had numbers rather than names. Bumbly One was their leader and the most intelligent one. Bumbly Two was the fattest and most jovial of the trio, and Bumbly Three was the dim one, who always got things wrong (and was similar to the Eccles character which Spike Milligan had made famous in The Goons).

The Bumblies slept on the ceiling and at the start of the every programme 'Professor' Bentine would order: "Bumbly One, come on down; Bumbly Two, come on down; Bumbly Three, come on down".

In the course of the series Michael played Pirates with them, using a large pirate ship, which they conjured out of thin air by a thought process using their invention, the Bumblescope. They also played Cowboys and Indians, with costumes and props conjured up by the same process, and they followed this by playing King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, with jousting Bumblies riding on roller skates.

The final film, from which this short clip comes, was about motor-racing and featured Bumbly Three driving a racing-car round a table fitted out with with a race-track, pit-stops, and a spectators stand where Bumbly Two gave a sports commentary on the event.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• bumblies
• michael bentine
• tv
• television.children
• 1954
• '50s
• 1950
• 1950s

[WhirligigTV]

It was posted on the Internet some years ago but the website has since disappeared, so I thought it ought to be resurrected for the sake of history and nostalgia for those who remember the programme from their childhood..

[Rankerbill1]

OMG I remember The Bumblies. I always thought they were REAL. Thanks for posting

[bazcol1963]

More! we want More, the Bumblies were great as a kid I watched every one, wish they did a Video of them, if there is anyone out there with more, please post them Thanks

[LinuxManUK]

reminds me of Wallace and Grommit a little.

[AaranAardvark]

I remember the bumblies they were the best thing on TV at the time

[rubberobert]

I am so glad this is on now I can make the grandkids watch it as they did not beleive me

[QFIhawkman]

Start the car! 

[flammasherman]

I recall the fact that at the end of the programme the 3 Bumblies went skyward and went to sleep on the ceiling !.Also, the little song that introduced the programme,Bumbly No 3 ' was not very bright ',and used the voice of Eccles from The Goons,Spike Milligan of course !.

[NSQUIRT]

'The Bumblies' was my favorite show back then.

Do you have any more?

[jungfraujoch11333]

David Llloyd cricket commentator was nicknamed bumble, because of his facial similarity to the bumblies