Words and Pictures: Series 5 (Vicky Ireland)
Series 5 of the BBC Schools TV series Words and Pictures was shown in the 1980s, covering English for Primary pupils.
In the 1980s Words and Pictures was set in a children's library, where the funny little animated character Charlie assists the librarian Vicky Ireland to present the programmes and issue books. There are a plethora of different books available and activities for children visiting the library to take part in. A story is read each week, using a variety of animation and illustrations with phrases to read from the screen.
A 'magic pencil' demonstrates how to draw a different letter form each week, and the pencil is now a physical object rather than an animation, an orange pencil floating as if by magic on a black background, which writes letters in white ink and has a light on the end showing when to hold it down to the writing surface.
This full year set of 28 programmes was only broadcast all together once, in 1982-83. The autumn term programmes were repeated the following year, in autumn 1985, and again in autumn 1987. But the spring and summer terms were displaced by a new series introduced in 1983, and they were repeated to a different schedule, earlier in 1985 and 1987.
Titles & Theme Music
Episode List
| # | Title | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Maybe It's a Tiger | 20 Sep 1982 |
| 2. | Cats | 27 Sep 1982 |
| 3. | Mog and the Baby | 4 Oct 1982 |
| 4. | The Hat | 11 Oct 1982 |
| 5. | Witches Four | 18 Oct 1982 |
| 6. | The Surprise | 1 Nov 1982 |
| 7. | Run, Rabbit, Run | 8 Nov 1982 |
| 8. | Fishing | 15 Nov 1982 |
| 9. | The Little Girl and the Tiny Doll | 22 Nov 1982 |
| 10. | Sam's Christmas Tree | 29 Nov 1982 |
| 11. | The Three Little Pigs | 10 Jan 1983 |
| 12. | Noisy Neville | 17 Jan 1983 |
| 13. | Goodnight! | 24 Jan 1983 |
| 14. | The King and the Fluteplayer | 31 Jan 1983 |
| 15. | Mrs Lather's Laundry | 7 Feb 1983 |
| 16. | Master Salt The Sailor's Son | 14 Feb 1983 |
| 17. | Miss Jump The Jockey | 28 Feb 1983 |
| 18. | The Three Billy-Goats Gruff | 7 Mar 1983 |
| 19. | Monsters | 14 Mar 1983 |
| 20. | The Tale of the Turnip | 21 Mar 1983 |
| 21. | Funnybones | 25 Apr 1983 |
| 22. | Oliver Ostrich | 4 May 1983 |
| 23. | The Door That Would Not Open | 9 May 1983 |
| 24. | Going, Going, Gone! | 16 May 1983 |
| 25. | Dizzy Duncan | 23 May 1983 |
| 26. | What Made Tiddalik Laugh? | 6 Jun 1983 |
| 27. | The Flood is Coming | 13 Jun 1983 |
| 28. | Dogger | 20 Jun 1983 |
Episode Guide
A basic overview of the stories and letters featured.
1. Maybe It's a Tiger
- Story: Maybe It's a Tiger by Kathleen Hersom& Niki Daly
- Letter: t
First broadcast: Monday 20th September 1982, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 25th September 1985, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBE079T
2. Cats
- Story: Mog the Forgetful Cat by Judith Kerr
- Letter: c
First broadcast: Monday 27th September 1982, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 2nd October 1985, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBD127X
3. Mog and the Baby
- Story: Mog and the Baby by Judith Kerr
- Letter: b
First broadcast: Monday 4th October 1982, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 9th October 1985, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBD130E
4. The Hat
- Story: The Hat (from 'Days with Frog and Toad') by Arnold Lobel
- Letter: h
First broadcast: Monday 11th October 1982, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 16th October 1985, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBD131Y
5. Witches Four
- Story: Witches Four by Marc Brown
- Letter: w
First broadcast: Monday 18th October 1982, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 30th October 1985, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBE080N
6. The Surprise
- Story: The Surprise (from 'Frog and Toad All Year') by Arnold Lobel
First broadcast: Monday 1st November 1982, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 6th November 1985, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBE077F
7. Run, Rabbit, Run
- Story: Mr Rabbit and the Lovely Present by Charlotte Zolotow& Maurice Sendak
- Letter: r
First broadcast: Monday 8th November 1982, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 13th November 1985, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBD128R
8. Fishing
- Story: How Rabbit Lost His Tail by Sheila Lane& Marion Kemp
- Letter: f
First broadcast: Monday 15th November 1982, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 20th November 1985, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBD126D
9. The Little Girl and the Tiny Doll
- Story: The Little Girl and the Tiny Doll by Aingelda Ardizzone
- Letter: d
First broadcast: Monday 22nd November 1982, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 27th November 1985, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBD132S
10. Sam's Christmas Tree
- Story: Sam's Christmas Tree by Elizabeth Goodacre (unpublished)
First broadcast: Monday 29th November 1982, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 4th December 1985, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBD129K
11. The Three Little Pigs
- Story: The Three Little Pigs (traditional)
- Letter: p
First broadcast: Monday 10th January 1983, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 21st January 1987, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBE088R
12. Noisy Neville
- Story: Noisy Neville by Jenny Taylor& Terry Ingleby
- Also the poem 'Mr Magnolia' by Quentin Blake
- Letter: n
First broadcast: Monday 17th January 1983, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 28th January 1987, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBE083W
13. Goodnight!
- Story: The Crickets (from 'Mouse Soup') by Arnold Lobel
First broadcast: Monday 24th January 1983, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 4th February 1987, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBE085J
14. The King and the Fluteplayer
- Story: The King and the Fluteplayer by Max Bolliger
First broadcast: Monday 31st January 1983, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 11th February 1987, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBE086D
15. Mrs Lather's Laundry
- Story: Mrs Lather's Laundry by Allan Alhberg
First broadcast: Monday 7th February 1983, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 25th February 1987, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBE087X
16. Master Salt The Sailor's Son
- Story: Master Salt The Sailor's Son by Allan Ahlberg& Andre Amstutz
First broadcast: Monday 14th February 1983, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 4th March 1987, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBE078A
17. Miss Jump The Jockey
- Story: Miss Jump The Jockey by Allan Ahlberg
First broadcast: Monday 28th February 1983, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 11th March 1987, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBE084P
18. The Three Billy-Goats Gruff
- Story: The Three Billy Goats Gruff (traditional)
First broadcast: Monday 7th March 1983, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 18th March 1987, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBE092S
19. Monsters
- Story: Not Now, Bernard by David McKee
- Letter: m
First broadcast: Monday 14th March 1983, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 25th March 1987, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBE089K
20. The Tale of the Turnip
- Story: The Tale of the Turnip (traditional)
- Letter: v
First broadcast: Monday 21st March 1983, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 1st April 1987, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBE093L
21. Funnybones
- Story: Funnybones by Janet& Allan Ahlberg
- Digraph: sk
First broadcast: Monday 25th April 1983, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 29th April 1987, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBE091Y
22. Oliver Ostrich
- Story: Oliver Ostrich by Sheila Lavelle& Nita Sowter
- Digraph: sw
First broadcast: Wednesday 4th May 1983, 11:00am on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 6th May 1987, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBE082B
23. The Door That Would Not Open
- Story: The Door That Wouldn't Open by Boswell Taylor
- Digraph: pr
First broadcast: Monday 9th May 1983, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 13th May 1987, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBE095A
24. Going, Going, Gone!
- Story: Tortoise, Mouse, Lion and Elephant by Cliff Moon& Chris Masters
- The Woman who Always Argued' from Folk Tales for Reading & Telling by Leila Berg.
First broadcast: Monday 16th May 1983, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 20th May 1987, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBE096T
25. Dizzy Duncan
- Story: Dizzy Duncan by Suzy Siddon
- Digraph: sh
First broadcast: Monday 23rd May 1983, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 3rd June 1987, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBE090E
26. What Made Tiddalik Laugh?
- Story: What Made Tiddalik Laugh? by Joanna Troughton
- Digraphs: fr / dr
First broadcast: Monday 6th June 1983, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 10th June 1987, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBE094F
27. The Flood is Coming
- Story: The Foolish Tortoise by Jenny Taylor& Terry Ingleby
- Digraph: fl
First broadcast: Monday 13th June 1983, 2:01pm on BBC1 Last broadcast: Wednesday 17th June 1987, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBE097N
28. Dogger
- Story: Dogger by Shirley Hughes
First broadcast: Monday 20th June 1983, 2:01pm on BBC2 Last broadcast: Wednesday 24th June 1987, 11:00am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBE081H
Broadcasts
| Year | Term | Day | Time | Channel | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982-83 | Autumn 1982, Spring & Summer 1983 | Mon | 14:01 | BBC1 | Ep22 only shown in the Wed rpt slot due to May Bank Holiday on Mon 2nd May; Ep28 shown on BBC2 due to Wimbledon coverage on BBC1 |
| Wed | 11:00 | BBC1 | Repeat Ep6 shown on BBC2 on 3rd Nov due to State Opening of Parliament on BBC1; Ep28 shown on BBC2 due to Wimbledon coverage on BBC1 | ||
| 1983-84 | Autumn 1983 | Mon | 14:01 | BBC2 | Wed 9th May only shown in rpt slot due to May Bank Holiday on Mon 7th May |
| Wed | 11:00 | BBC2 | Repeat | ||
| 1984-85 | Spring & Summer 1985 | Mon | 14:01 | BBC2 | |
| Wed | 11:00 | BBC2 | Repeat | ||
| 1985-86 | Autumn 1985 | Mon | 14:02 | BBC2 | |
| Wed | 11:00 | BBC2 | Repeat | ||
| 1986-87 | Spring & Summer 1987 | Mon | 14:02 | BBC2 | |
| Wed | 11:00 | BBC2 | Repeat |
Credits
| Presenter | Vicky Ireland |
| With | Charles O'Rourke and Aniform as Charlie |
| Music | Paddy Kingsland Ian Humphris |
| Animation | Gil Potter Bura & Hardwick Kimberley Associates Lee Beltoft |
| Puppets | Alan Platt |
| Designers | include Peter Higgins Rod Mclean |
| Producer | Moyra Gambleton |
Resources
There were teacher's notes available.
Topics
School topics covered in this programme. Click to find other programmes covering the same topics, but bear in mind topics are a new addition to the site in 2023 and not many are set up yet.
Keyword tags
Some features of this programme. Click to find other programmes with the same features, but bear in mind tags are also a new addition to the site in 2023 and not many are set up yet.
More
Want more on this programme?
This site attempts to cover thousands of programmes and it will take ages to update them all. If you would like to see this one updated soon please click on the star to 'vote' for it and I will do my best to prioritise it!
Voting is anonymous and you can vote for as many programmes as you like. The number in the box above shows how many people have already voted for this programme. You can also see a list of all the votes so far.
More Programmes
Some random programmes for age 5-7 from the 1980s
| Songs from Something to Think About | |
| BBC Schools Radio | |
| 1983-1984 | |
| Religion |
| Talkabout | |
| BBC Schools TV | |
| 1979-1984 | |
| English |
| See for Yourself (radio) | |
| BBC Schools Radio | |
| 1983-1994 | |
| Science |
| Mother Tongue Song and Story | |
| BBC Schools Radio | |
| 1982-1989 | |
| Miscellany |