Words and Pictures: Series 14 (Sophie Aldred)
Series 14 of the BBC Schools TV series Words and Pictures was shown in the 1990s & 2000s, covering English for Primary pupils.
Popular presenter Sophie Aldred returns for a series featuring plentiful songs and poems, alongside stories told in the studio and on location, activities, and short documentaries presented by adults involved in the subject. Magic pencil sometimes draws each instance of a letter in a different colour.
At the end of the year three Summer Specials take a different approach to books, including an adaptation of The Emperor and the Nightingale with music by Howard Goodall, a guide to making your own Words and Pictures book with all of the letters of the alphabet, and a selection of poetry about the sea.
This was the second of two years of Words and Pictures programmes produced independently by SFTV.
Titles & Theme Music
Episode List
Episode Guide
A simple guide to the books and letters featured in each episode.
Autumn term
1. The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1996)
- Story: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
- Letter: c
First broadcast: Wednesday 18th September 1996, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Monday 6th February 2006, 9:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBV341Y
2. Acrobatic Alphabet
- Story: Acrobatic Alphabet (unpublished)
- Letter: a
First broadcast: Wednesday 25th September 1996, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Monday 6th February 2006, 11:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBV342S
3. Dinosaur Fright
- Story: Dinosaur Fright by Colin Threadgall
- Letter: d
First broadcast: Wednesday 2nd October 1996, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Tuesday 7th February 2006, 9:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBV343L
4. A Busy Day for a Good Grandmother
- Story: A Busy Day for a Good Grandmother by Margaret Mahy
- Letter: g
First broadcast: Wednesday 9th October 1996, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Tuesday 7th February 2006, 11:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBV344F
5. Oliver's Wood
- Story: Oliver's Wood by Sue Hendra
- Letter: o
First broadcast: Wednesday 16th October 1996, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Wednesday 8th February 2006, 9:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBV345A
6. Suddenly
- Story: Suddenly by Colin McNaughton
- Letter: s
First broadcast: Wednesday 30th October 1996, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Wednesday 8th February 2006, 11:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBV346T
7. The Cross-with-Us Rhinoceros
- Story: The Cross-with-Us Rhinoceros by John Bush
- Letter: r
First broadcast: Wednesday 6th November 1996, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Thursday 14th April 2005, 9:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBV347N
8. The Last Noo-Noo
- Story: The Last Noo-Noo by Jill Murphy
- Letter: n
First broadcast: Wednesday 13th November 1996, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Thursday 14th April 2005, 11:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBV348H
9. "Not Me" Said the Monkey
- Story: "Not Me" Said the Monkey by Colin West
- Letter: m
First broadcast: Wednesday 20th November 1996, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Friday 15th April 2005, 9:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBV349B
10. Father Christmas's Feet
- Story: Father Christmas's Feet (unpublished)
- Letter: f
First broadcast: Wednesday 27th November 1996, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Friday 15th April 2005, 11:10am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBV350W
Spring term
11. "I Don't Care", Said the Bear
- Story: "I Don't Care", Said the Bear by Colin West
- Letter: b
First broadcast: Wednesday 8th January 1997, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Monday 27th February 2006, 9:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBV351P
12. Persephone and the Pomegranate
- Story: Persephone and the Pomegranate (traditional)
- Letter: p
First broadcast: Wednesday 15th January 1997, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Monday 27th February 2006, 11:10am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBV352J
13. The Hare and the Hedgehog
- Story: The Hare and the Hedgehog (traditional)
- Letter: h
First broadcast: Wednesday 22nd January 1997, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Tuesday 28th February 2006, 9:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBV353D
14. Katie Morag and the Tiresome Ted (1997)
- Story: Katie Morag and the Tiresome Ted by Mairi Hedderwick
- Letter: k
First broadcast: Wednesday 29th January 1997, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Wednesday 9th February 2000, 9:30am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBV354X
15. Emeka's Gift
- Story: Emeka's Gift by Ifeoma Onyefulu
- Letter: e
First broadcast: Wednesday 5th February 1997, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Wednesday 1st March 2006, 9:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBV355R
16. The Tusk Fairy
- Story: The Tusk Fairy by Nicola Smee
- Letter: t
First broadcast: Wednesday 12th February 1997, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Wednesday 1st March 2006, 11:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBV356K
17. The Leopard's Drum
- Story: The Leopard's Drum by Jessica Souhami & Paul McAlinden
- Letter: l
First broadcast: Wednesday 26th February 1997, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Thursday 24th February 2005, 9:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBV357E
18. Pass The Jam, Jim
- Story: Pass The Jam, Jim by Kaye Umansky & Margaret Chamberlain
- Letter: j
First broadcast: Wednesday 5th March 1997, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Thursday 24th February 2005, 11:10am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBV358Y
19. Jack's Fantastic Voyage
- Story: Jack's Fantastic Voyage by Michael Foreman
- Letter: v
First broadcast: Wednesday 12th March 1997, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Friday 25th February 2005, 9:15am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBV359S
20. The Wind Blew
- Story: The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins
- Letter: w
First broadcast: Wednesday 19th March 1997, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Friday 25th February 2005, 11:10am on CBBC BBC programme number: ESBV360L
Summer term
21. Gran, Gran!
- Story: Gran, Gran!
- Letter: a
First broadcast: Wednesday 16th April 1997, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Saturday 30th August 2003, 3:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBV361F
22. Meg the Clever Red Hen
- Story: Meg the Clever Red Hen
- Letter: e
First broadcast: Wednesday 23rd April 1997, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Saturday 30th August 2003, 3:15am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBV362A
23. Big Fish, Little Fish
- Story: Big Fish Little Fish by Alan Durant & Ant Parker
- Letter: i
First broadcast: Wednesday 30th April 1997, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Saturday 30th August 2003, 3:30am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBV363T
24. Mog on Fox Night
- Story: Mog on Fox Night by Judith Kerr
- Letter: o
First broadcast: Wednesday 7th May 1997, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Saturday 30th August 2003, 3:45am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBV364N
25. The Dog That Dug
- Story: The Dog that Dug by Jonathan Long & Korky Paul
- Letter: u
First broadcast: Wednesday 14th May 1997, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Saturday 30th August 2003, 4:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBV365H
26. The Emperor and the Nightingale
- Story: The Emperor and the Nightingale by Michael Hobbs
First broadcast: Wednesday 21st May 1997, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Saturday 30th August 2003, 4:15am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBV366B
27. Make Your Own Words and Pictures
- Story: Finn McCoul (traditional)
- A-Z
First broadcast: Wednesday 4th June 1997, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Saturday 30th August 2003, 4:30am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBV367W
28. Poetry: The Sea
First broadcast: Wednesday 11th June 1997, 9:45am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Saturday 30th August 2003, 4:45am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBV368P
Broadcasts
| Year | Term | Day | Time | Channel | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996-97 | Autumn 1996, Spring & Summer 1997 | Wed | 09:45 | BBC2 | |
| Fri | 13:45 | BBC2 | Repeat | ||
| 1998-99 | Autumn 1998, Spring & Summer 1999 | Mon | 10:30 | BBC2 | Wed 5th May only shown in rpt slot due to May Bank Holiday on Mon 3rd May |
| Wed | 09:45 | BBC2 | Repeat | ||
| 1999-2000 | Autumn 1999, Spring & Summer 2000 | Wed | 09:30 | BBC2 | Skipping ep26 |
| 2002-03 | Summer 2003 | Mon-Fri | 09:15 & 11:00 | CBBC | Episodes 1-20 |
| 2004-05 | Spring & Summer 2005 | Mon-Fri | 09:15 & 11:15 | CBBC | Episodes 11-20 & 1-10 |
| 2005-06 | Spring 2006 | Mon | 09:15 & 11:15 | CBBC |
In addition, the summer term programmes (episodes 21-28) were repeated in a two hour overnight block in the BBC Learning Zone on BBC2 during the summer holidays in 2003, designed for recording by home learners. The block was broadcast at 3am on Saturday 19th July and Saturday 30th August 2003.
Credits
| Presenter | Sophie Aldred |
| Music | Philip Pope Howard Goodall (episode 26) |
| Animation | Alan Rogers & Peter Lang Hedley Griffin |
| Design | Kathy Atty |
| Education Officer | Su Hurrell |
| Studio director | Helen Sheppard |
| Film director | Alison Stewart |
| Producer | Alison Stewart (episode 26) |
| Executive producer | Anne Brogan |
| Series producer | Sheila Fraser |
Resources
Teacher's Notes
English Resource Pack
A pack consisting of teacher's notes, worksheet photcopymasters, posters and photo cards was assembled for this 1996 series of Words and Pictures.
Software
Three Words and Pictures software packs were released around 1996, featuring story and letter games basically reflecting the order that the letters and sounds are covered by this year's series of Words and Pictures.
The packs cost £31.75 each and were initially available for Acorn computers running RISC OS only, later expanded to CD-ROMs for Windows and Mac computers.
Alphabet Rhymes children's books
Children's books called Magic Pencil's Alphabet Rhymes written by Sue Palmer each cover one of the letters of the alphabet, with stories using the chosen letter, pictures with extra objects to spot starting with that letter, and an illustration of magic pencil writing the letter.
The initial 20 books featuring letters from the autumn and spring terms of Words and Pictures were published in 1997, followed by six more in 1999 to complete the alphabet. The stories were also published as a classroom Big Book in 1999.
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