Noggin the Nog

Noggin the Nog was a popular British children's television series originally shown by the BBC during the years 1959 to 1965. Thirty programmes were made, originally in black and white, by a company called Smallfilms, the brainchild of Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin. The level of animation was basic, but this did not detract from the popularity of the series.

Strictly speaking, the title is "The Saga of Noggin the Nog", since the stories were based on the principle of a Norse saga, and every episode began with the words, "Listen to me and I will tell you the story of Noggin the Nog, as it was told in the days of old...etc". This, combined with Vernon Elliott's haunting bassoon score, conveyed a slightly "creepy" atmosphere, which children found a little frightening and consequently even more exciting. However it was primarily inspired by a Norse chess set.

The stories were based around the central character of Noggin, a rather simple, good-natured prince. In the early episodes, he married an Eskimo princess, Nooka, and they had a son, Knut, who came to the fore in some of the later episodes. Other regular characters were Noggin's friend, Thor Nogson, an eccentric inventor, Olaf the Lofty, and a big green bird called Graculus whose origins were slightly obscure. Although the individual stories varied, any trouble encountered by the heroes was usually caused by Nogbad the Bad, Noggin's wicked uncle who wanted the throne for himself.

Various Noggin short stories were also published, a visitor in one of them, Noggin and the Moon Mouse, later providing the basis of the characters in the popular Clangers TV series.