Rosie and Jim

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Rosie and Jim
Jim (left) and Rosie (right)
Created by	John Cunliffe[citation needed] Anne Wood Robin Stevens
Presented by	John Cunliffe (Series 1–2) Pat Hutchins (Series 3–4) Neil Brewer (Series 5–8)
Starring	Rebecca Nagan Robin Stevens John Cunliffe Pat Hutchins Neil Brewer
Music by	Andrew McCrorie-Shand Robert Hartley
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	8
No. of episodes	175
Production
Running time	Series 1–2: 15 minutes Series 3–8: 11 minutes
Production companies	Ragdoll Productions Central Independent Television (1990–1996) Carlton UK Productions (1996–1998) United Productions (1998–2000)
Distributor	Central Television Enterprises (Series 1-2) Ragdoll Productions (Series 3-8)
Release
Original network	ITV Network (CITV)
Original release	3 September 1990 (1990-09-03) – 16 May 2000 (2000-05-16)
External links
Website

Rosie and Jim (sometimes written as Rosie & Jim) is a British children's television programme which was produced by Ragdoll Productions and aired on ITV from 3 September 1990 to 16 May 2000. The programme continued to be repeated periodically on CITV until August 2004. In January 2013, CITV aired the first episode, Locks, as part of the channel's 30th anniversary Old Skool Weekend. A series of short animations were created in 2018 by DHX Media for Wild Brain and aired on their official YouTube channel.

Story[]

Rosie and Jim are two rag dolls who live aboard a narrowboat called the Ragdoll, which is from the West Midlands. There, they sit with a concertina on their lap, and come alive when no one is looking to explore the world that they pass by on the canal. They learn to experience things by following the Ragdoll's owner on his or her adventures, and secretly joining in with them. Usually, they end up causing trouble, but they are never detected because no one ever sees them.

Characters[]

Rosie[]

Rosie (puppeteered and voiced by ) is the female rag doll. In their adventures, she carries a bag that has her name written on it. She wears a yellow dress and has long shaggy black hair. She is often heard referring to the boat driver as "fizzgog" (John Cunliffe), "loopy lobes" (or just "loopy"; Pat Hutchins) and "tootle" (Neil Brewer). She sometimes calls Jim "Noggin". Her skin colour became a bit darker from series 2.

Jim[]

Jim (puppeteered and voiced by Robin Stevens) is the male rag doll. In their adventures, he can be seen carrying a notebook, in which he sometimes draws things that he has seen. He has short red hair and wears light brown trousers, a shirt with a red scarf, and a brown waistcoat. He also refers to the boat driver as "fizzgog", "loopy lobes" and "tootle". The shade of his skin has changed slightly throughout the series.

Duck[]

Duck is a wooden model of a duck, who sits on top of the Ragdoll boat. He does not talk but can be heard quacking and flapping his wings when there are no humans around so that both Rosie and Jim know that the coast is clear. During many episodes, either Rosie or Jim give him a kiss. He is the only character to directly interact with all three presenters (as only Cunliffe directly addressed Rosie and Jim).

Narrowboat owners[]

Rosie and Jim's home is the narrowboat Ragdoll. Throughout its run the boat was acquired by three owners, each one playing a role according to their profession.

• John Cunliffe (Fizzgog): 1990–1992, 50 episodes

An author who writes stories about Rosie and Jim based upon his own everyday outings. Cunliffe is the only presenter to break the fourth wall, delivering pieces to camera and narration throughout every episode, which ended with a self-penned short cutout animated story done by Alan Rogers and Peter Lang (Pigeon Street). He is the only presenter to directly address Rosie and Jim on-screen.

• Pat Hutchins (Loopy Lobes): 1995–1996, 45 episodes

An illustrator who creates pictures, gathering ideas from her adventures. Each episode would start with Pat finishing a drawing of Rosie and Jim and end with an illustration, again by Pat, based upon the episode. At the end of each episode, Duck would be hidden in the picture, with Rosie and Jim trying to find him. Pat also illustrated the books and art work for the videos between 1995 and 1996. Hutchins is the only female presenter of the series.

• Neil Brewer (Tootle): 1997–2000, 80 episodes

A singer and musician who plays the harmonica and the concertina. Neil would begin each episode looking for his harmonica followed by Rosie and Jim talking about and introducing him. Brewer would often end each episode with a song played on his concertina; prompted by Rosie and Jim who would leave the instrument for him to play, next to Duck. At the end of each episode, the rag dolls would often join in with the song, unknown to Neil. Brewer became the longest serving owner of the boat and was the only one to star in a live theatre tour of the show in 2000. Brewer is the only presenter to have starred in more than 2 series.

Following the boat's redundancy from Ragdoll Productions, it is no longer on display to the public.

Episodes[]

Series 1 (1990–1991) – John Cunliffe[]

• 1. Locks – 3 September 1990
• 2. Painting – 10 September 1990
• 3. Supermarket – 17 September 1990 – John Cunliffe travels to Merry Hill Shopping Centre to shop at Sainsbury's
• 4. Tunnel – 24 September 1990 – John takes the Ragdoll along the Netherton Tunnel Branch Canal.
• 5. Horse Towing – 1 October 1990
• 6. Glass – 8 October 1990 – John travels to Stourbridge to see how Glass is made
• 7. Boat Building – 15 October 1990
• 8. Washing – 22 October 1990 – John travels to Quarry Bank to visit to do his Laundry
• 9. Coal – 29 October 1990
• 10. Clipping – 5 November 1990
• 11. Falcons – 12 November 1990
• 12. Woollen Mill – 19 November 1990
• 13. Bread – 26 November 1990
• 14. Shopping – 3 December 1990 – John travels to Tewkesbury to shop at and later have a picnic
• 15. Weaving – 10 December 1990 – John travels to Upton-Upon-Severn to visit
• 16. Ferry – 17 December 1990 – John travels to Evesham to ride on Hampton Ferry
• 17. Milking (AKA "Milk") – 7 January 1991
• 18. Sailing – 14 January 1991
• 19. Steam – 21 January 1991
• 20. Abbey – 28 January 1991 – travels to Tewkesbury to visit Tewkesbury Abbey
• 21. Breakdown – 4 February 1991
• 22. Pottery – 11 February 1991 – John travels to Pershore to visit a Pottery in Pershore
• 23. Fairground – 18 February 1991 – John travels along the River Severn through Worcester to Stourport
• 24. Letters – 25 February 1991 – John travels to Worcester to visit the
• 25. Finding the Way – 4 March 1991 – John travels along the River Severn through Worcester then he goes to Ragley Hall in Alcester to a maze

Series 2 (1991–1992) – John Cunliffe[]

• 26. Automata – 30 September 1991 – John visits to see some musical instruments
• 27. Butterflies – 7 October 1991 – John visits Stratford Butterfly Farm in Stratford Upon Avon
• 28. Houses – 14 October 1991 – John Visits Charlecote House In Charlecote
• 29. Hair – 21 October 1991 – John visits in Birmingham
• 30. School – 28 October 1991 – John visits in Birmingham
• 31. Bricks – 4 November 1991 – John visits in Blockley
• 32. Small Animals – 11 November 1991 – John visits Evesham from Stratford Upon Avon to see some Small Animals at
• 33. Hats – 18 November 1991 – John visits in Birmingham
• 34. Hospital – 25 November 1991 – John visits Birmingham Children's Hospital in Birmingham featuring Mickey Mouse, Gus from Cinderella and Bart Simpson cameos on the walls
• 35. Boat Painting – 2 December 1991 – John visits The National Waterways Museum in Gloucester
• 36. Sheepdog – 9 December 1991 – John visits in Mathon to see a Sheepdog
• 37. Waterworks – 16 December 1991 – John visits Severn Trent Water
• 38. Blacksmith – 6 January 1992 – John visits in Gloucester
• 39. Library – 13 January 1992 – John visits in Sutton Coldfield
• 40. Dredging – 20 January 1992
• 41. Rope – 27 January 1992 – John visits Bewdley to get a new rope for The Ragdoll Boat featuring Minnie Mouse Cameo on girl's shirt
• 42. Trees – 3 February 1992
• 43. Shoes – 10 February 1992 – John visits Worcester to buy some shoes from
• 44. Brass – 17 February 1992
• 45. Flying – 24 February 1992 – John visits Bidford on Avon to learn to fly in a plane at
• 46. Coracle – 2 March 1992
• 47. Puppet Show – 9 March 1992 – John visits Stratford Upon Avon to Swan Theatre (Stratford) see a Puppet Show performed by
• 48. Shire Horses – 16 March 1992 – John visits Stratford Upon Avon to visit the
• 49. Eggs – 23 March 1992 – John visits Wythall to see where Eggs Come From
• 50. Boat Festival – 30 March 1992 – John visits a boat festival on his last day of owning the Ragdoll before being replaced by Pat Hutchins.

Series 3 (1995) – Pat Hutchins[]

• 51. Radio Station – 6 January 1995 – Pat Hutchins visits BBC CWR radio studios in Coventry
• 52. Babies – 13 January 1995 – Pat visits
• 53. Steam Train – 20 January 1995 – Pat visits the Battlefield Line Railway
• 54. Barn Owl – 27 January 1995
• 55. Gingerbread Man – 3 February 1995 – Pat visits in Nuneaton to see how Gingerbread Men are made
• 56. Musical Instruments – 10 February 1995 – Pat visits Leicester to meet
• 57. Flower Baskets – 17 February 1995 – Pat visits in Evesham
• 58. Duck Gets Lost – 24 February 1995
• 59. Ten Pin Bowling – 3 March 1995 – Pat visits a Bowling Alley in Coventry
• 60. Sneezes – 10 March 1995 – Pat visits in Leicester
• 61. Digging For Potatoes – 17 March 1995
• 62. Pony Riding – 24 March 1995
• 63. Lovely Bananas – 31 March 1995
• 64. Splish Splash Splosh – 7 April 1995
• 65. Down on the Farm – 21 April 1995
• 66. The Hat Factory – 28 April 1995 - Pat visits the Hat Factory and sees how hats are made, Rosie wanted a red hat and with some help from Jim they decorated a beautiful red hat for Rosie.
• 67. The Disappearing Sausages – 5 May 1995 - Pat's friends are going on a boating holiday, but Rosie and Jim wanted to go on a boating holiday too once they starts pack up Jim wants to pack some sausages but Rosie refused and after they finished packing up they accidentally throw their suitcase on another boat and then got mix up someone else suitcase.
• 68. Soapy Duck – 12 May 1995
• 69. Bouncy Castles – 19 May 1995 - featuring Minnie Mouse Cameo on girl's shirt
• 70. A Special Dance – 26 May 1995
• 71. Flood on the Boat – 9 June 1995 - Pat had glass of water then it run out so Rosie gives her another glass of water, but she had forgotten to turn the tap off at the sink and while the water keeps going on the whole room was flooded with water. When Pat saw what happened, she ask a man with a tractor to take the Ragdoll boat out of the water and Rosie and Jim sees what's underneath the boat. When Rosie suddenly realised what she has done and with help from Jim, they managed clean up and get the water off the boat and turn the tap off.
• 72. The Shoemaker – 16 June 1995
• 73. Scarecrow – 23 June 1995
• 74. Roller Skating – 30 June 1995
• 75. Stars at Night – 7 July 1995

Series 4 (1996) – Pat Hutchins[]

• 76. Acrobats – 5 January 1996 – Pat Visits a Circus in Stratford Upon Avon
• 77. Earrings – 12 January 1996
• 78. The Best Boat in the World – 19 January 1996 – Pat visits Stratford Upon Avon to have a ride in a Gondola
• 79. Mouse on the Boat – 26 January 1996
• 80. Floating Restaurant – 2 February 1996 - Pat visits a mobile restaurant on a boat with a beautiful dress and had dinner there. Pat order an ice-cream for pudding but Jim was so hungry and Rosie was serving the customers by giving them their ice-creams, when Jim starts to eat Pat's special ice-cream Rosie try's to take away but Jim wants it and then they throw the ice-cream right onto Pat's face.
• 81. On Safari – 9 February 1996 – Pat visits Woburn Safari Park in Woburn
• 82. Exercise – 16 February 1996 – Pat visits The Metropolitan Club to do some Exercise
• 83. Little Lost Kitten – 23 February 1996 – Pat finds a lost kitten and takes it back to a Family at
• 84. Stripes – 1 March 1996 – Pat visits Woburn Safari Park in Woburn to see some Stripes
• 85. Magical Lights – 8 March 1996 – Pat has been invited by the Lord Mayor of the town to help turn on the Christmas lights in Stratford Upon Avon
• 86. Making Pizza – 28 June 1996 – Pat visits in Oxford Featuring Minnie Mouse Cameo on girl's jumper
• 87. Shop Window – 5 July 1996 – Pat visits Oxford to help with a Mannequin Dummy
• 88. Visiting the Vet – 12 July 1996
• 89. Bus Ride – 19 July 1996
• 90. Dog Training – 26 July 1996
• 91. Winning the Race – 2 August 1996
• 92. The Milkman – 9 August 1996 - Pat visits the milkman to buy milk
• 93. Ballroom Dancing – 16 August 1996
• 94. The Umbrella Factory – 23 August 1996
• 95. Sleepy Baby – 30 August 1996 – Pat looks after a baby on her last day of owning the Ragdoll before being replaced by Neil Brewer.

Series 5 (1997) – Neil Brewer[]

• 96. Harmonica – 10 January 1997 - When Neil Brewer's harmonica slips out of his hand and fell into the children's water bowl and when he got it back it lost its toot, he went to a shop that sells musical instruments he tried out the violin, the rock guitar and then the drums. At last he tried out the new harmonica and he thinks it's perfect.
• 97. Spring Cleaning – 17 January 1997
• 98. Water Skiing – 24 January 1997
• 99. Cake – 31 January 1997
• 100. Sing Song – 7 February 1997
• 101. Pony And Trap – 14 February 1997
• 102. Ducks – 21 February 1997
• 103. Football – 28 February 1997 – Neil visits Bristol City Football Club in Bristol
• 104. Chimney Sweep – 7 March 1997
• 105. Windy Day – 14 March 1997
• 106. Chair – 21 March 1997 - Rosie and Jim accidentally broke one of their chairs, it was in pieces so they followed Neil to the Woodland Workshop to learn how to make a chair.
• 107. Kites – 4 April 1997
• 108. Tailor – 11 April 1997 - Neil visits a tailor shop to get a new jacket, but with help from Rosie and Jim the tailor made a jacket for Neil.
• 109. Hot Air Balloon – 18 April 1997
• 110. Bike Ride – 25 April 1997 – Neil visits to ride on a Tricycle
• 111. Parrot – 9 May 1997
• 112. Beach – 16 May 1997
• 113. Roundabout – 23 May 1997 – Neil visits Brean Leisure Park in Brean to ride on a Merry-Go-Round
• 114. Mattress – 30 May 1997
• 115. Theatre – 6 June 1997

Series 6 (1998) – Neil Brewer[]

• 116. Noodles – 5 January 1998
• 117. Pigeons – 9 January 1998 – Neil visits Trafalgar Square in London to meet some pigeons
• 118. Camping – 12 January 1998
• 119. Big Ben – 16 January 1998 – Neil visits Big Ben in Westminster, London
• 120. Golf – 19 January 1998 – Neil plays golf with Neil Jordan at Sudbury Golf Course.
• 121. Tower of London – 23 January 1998 – Neil visits the Tower of London
• 122. Newspaper – 26 January 1998
• 123. Waterslide – 30 January 1998
• 124. Fish – 2 February 1998 – Neil visits London Aquarium to meet some fish
• 125. Stilts – 6 February 1998
• 126. Diy – 9 February 1998
• 127. Ketchup – 13 February 1998 – Neil visits a Tomato Ketchup Factory to see how Tomato Ketchup is made
• 128. Lullaby – 16 February 1998
• 129. Driftwood – 20 February 1998
• 130. Tower Bridge – 23 February 1998 – Neil visits Tower Bridge to see how it works
• 131. Music Boat – 27 February 1998
• 132. Recording Studio – 2 March 1998
• 133. One Man Band – 6 March 1998
• 134. Chinese Lion Dance – 9 March 1998
• 135. Music Party – 13 March 1998

Series 7 (1999) – Neil Brewer[]

• 136. Sticky Honey – 5 January 1999 – Neil visits a honey farm to see how it is made
• 137. Chainmaking – 12 January 1999
• 138. Shining Armour – 19 January 1999
• 139. Naughty Little Frog – 26 January 1999
• 140. Thatching – 2 February 1999
• 141. Sailing Boat – 9 February 1999
• 142. Drawing – 16 February 1999
• 143. Disco – 23 February 1999
• 144. Remote Control – 2 March 1999
• 145. Keep Fit – 9 March 1999 – Neil decides to keep fit
• 146. Dry Walling – 16 March 1999
• 147. Baby Elephant – 23 March 1999
• 148. Washing Day – 30 March 1999
• 149. Lifeboat Rescue – 6 April 1999 – Neil calls The Lifeboat Rescue Crew in Caister on Sea
• 150. Knitting Factory – 13 April 1999
• 151. Road Boat – 20 April 1999
• 152. Line Dancing – 27 April 1999
• 153. Stay Safe Near Water - 4 May 1999
• 153. Wallpaper – 11 May 1999
• 154. High Bar – 18 May 1999 - Neil visits a gymnastics club in the City of Birmingham
• 155. Riding Lesson – 25 May 1999

Series 8 (2000) – Neil Brewer[]

• 156. Disappearing Dog – 4 January 2000
• 157. Upside Down – 11 January 2000
• 158. Where's My Wedding Ring – 18 January 2000
• 159. Mother's Day – 25 January 2000
• 160. Steel Band – 1 February 2000
• 161. Disappearing Trousers – 8 February 2000
• 162. Jumble Duck – 15 February 2000
• 163. Flour Trail – 22 February 2000
• 164. Birthday Party – 29 February 2000
• 165. Lots of Knots – 7 March 2000
• 166. Flashing Fire Engine – 14 March 2000
• 167. Amazing Teddy – 21 March 2000
• 168. Rescue The Rubbish – 28 March 2000
• 169. Water, Water Everywhere – 4 April 2000
• 170. Hop to the Hospital – 11 April 2000
• 171. Lazy Day – 18 April 2000
• 172. The Window Cleaner – 25 April 2000
• 173. Little Ducklings – 2 May 2000
• 174. Runaway Roller Blades – 9 May 2000
• 175. The Magic Show – 16 May 2000

Home media releases[]

Video Collection International released VHS tapes of the series. Throughout 1991 until 1994, the tapes were released through the Central Video imprint, which then transitioned off to Carlton Home Entertainment's CTE Video imprint for a short time in the mid-90's, before reverting to Video Collection International.

The Bumper Pack DVD was released by Platform Entertainment.

UK VHS releases[]

Australian VHS releases[]

• Roadshow Entertainment (1999-2003)

DVD[]

• Rosie and Jim – Sticky Honey and Other Stories
• Rosie and Jim – Flashing Fire Engine and Other Urgent Adventures
• Rosie and Jim – Up, Up And Away and Other stories
• Rosie and Jim – Bumper Pack 1 (released 28 March 2016)
• Rosie and Jim – Bumper Pack 2 (released 3 October 2016)

References[]

External links[]

• Rosie and Jim website
• Ragdoll Productions website
• Rosie and Jim at IMDb