Funnybones (Welsh: Y Sgerbydion), was a Welsh children's television comedy series which was first aired in Welsh on S4C and in English on BBC One in 1992. It was based on the eponymous series of books by Janet and Allan Ahlberg which were illustrated by Andre Amstutz, and focused upon the adventures of a gang of skeletons known as the Funnybones. There was Big Funnybone (whose catchphrase was "Good idea."), Little Funnybone, (who was the brains of the outfit), and (White, White) Dog ("These Bones") Funnybone (whose catchphrase was "Woof."). Each episode was 5 minutes in length. The voices were provided by popular comedian Griff Rhys Jones who also played Moon Man, who served as the narrator in the TV series.
Episode guide
| Title of Episode | Air Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The Pet Shop | 29 September 1992 | Big and Little decide to swap Dog for another pet, because all he does is bark and dig holes. |
| 2. Bumps in the Night | 6 October 1992 | It is a particularly dark, dark night, tonight, and Big and Little
keep bumping into each other, making them fall to pieces, and there is only one thing to do: send for Dr. Bones, who does a great job of patching them up. |
| 3. Give the Dog a Bone | 13 October 1992 | Dog is having his favourite dream - the one about the big, juicy bone. |
| 4. Dinosaurs | 20 October 1992 | Dog gets left behind when Big and Little decide to visit the dark, dark dinosaur museum. |
| 5. Ghost Train | 27 October 1992 | Big, Little and Dog are invited to take a trip on the Ghost Train full of monsters. |
| 6. Skeleton Crew | 3 November 1992 | The Funnybones are on a boat holiday on the dark, dark sea. |
| 7. Mystery Tour | 10 November 1992 | The Funnybones receive an invitation to the party at the end of the Mystery Tour. |
| 8. Wishbone | 17 November 1992 | The Funnybones find a huge wishbone, and try to decide which one of them has the best idea for what to wish for. |
| 9. Shake, Rattle and Roll | 24 November 1992 | The Funnybones decide to put on a show. |
| 10. Cat Chase | 1 December 1992 | What happens when the white, white Dog disappears in the white, white snow? |
| 11. City Nights | 8 December 1992 | Little is bored with the quiet life on the dark, dark hill. So he decides to go to the city. |
| 12. Night Fright | 15 December 1992 | The Funnybones decide to go out and frighten anybody they come across. |
A BBC video entitled Funnybones - Bumps in the Night (Cat. No. BBCV 4871) which contained all twelve episodes was released soon after the series ended (but this is now out of print). The VHS tape was also released in Bulgaria by the company Proxima Entertainment.
Credits
- Based on a series of books by: Janet Ahlberg, Allan Ahlberg
- Illustrated by: Andre Amstutz
- Published by: William Heinemann Ltd.
- Script: Jocelyn Stevenson
- Voices: Griff Rhys Jones
- Storyboard: Clive Dawson
- Layout: Neil Graham
- Animation: Graham Griffiths, Chris Webster, Steve Hayne, Reg
Lodge, Sue Rowe, Bill Tapp, Robert Brown, Zan Light, Michael Price, Steve John, Ken Hayes, Richard Wasilewski, Peter Arthy, Clive Dawson
- Trace and Paint/Backgrounds by: The Ink 'n' Paint Co.
- Production Co-Ordinator: Ceri Griffin
- Filmed by: Rostrum Cameras Ltd., Pineville Films
- Editor: Robert Francis
- Assistant Editors: William Oswald, Jane Murrell
- Sound: Taran
- Music: Ernie Wood
- Director: Gary Hurst
- Producer: Naomi Jones
- Executive Producers: Theresa Plummer-Andrews, Christopher Grace
- Made in Wales by Cartwn Cymru for S4C in association with William Heinemann Ltd. and BBC Enterprises Ltd.
- © S4C/William Heinemann Ltd./BBC Enterprises Ltd. MCMXCII
Repeats
Funnybones has been shown regularly on BBC1 and BBC2 from 1992 - 2001, CBBC on Choice has been showing Funnybones beginning on Monday 3rd April 2000 at 7.55am, 10.55am, 1.55pm and 4.55pm and continuing until Tuesday 18th April 2000. It returned on Wednesday 18th October 2000 at 8.35am, 11.35am, 2.35pm and 5.35pm until Thursday 2nd November 2000. The final time was shown was a weekend run beginning on Sunday 25th November 2001 at 9.25am, 12.25pm, 3.25pm and 6.25pm until Sunday 6th January 2002.