In the Night Garden...

In the Night Garden...
Created by	Anne Wood Andrew Davenport
Developed by	Ragdoll Productions
Narrated by	Derek Jacobi
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
Original release
Network	BBC
Release	March 19, 2007

In the Night Garden is a BBC children's television series, particularly aimed at babies and preschool children, produced in 2005 by Ragdoll Productions. It was created by Anne Wood CBE, Ragdoll's creative director, and Andrew Davenport, who also created the Teletubbies.

The series was announced in October 2005 and twenty episodes were first broadcast in March 2007. According to the BBC's internal magazine Ariel more episodes are to be made in May 2007 with broadcasting resuming soon after.

The programme is said by its creators to be designed to both relax as well as entertain its intended audience of one to three year olds. One hundred episodes were commissioned by the BBC with a budget of £14.5 million.

It is narrated by Sir Derek Jacobi and features a mix of actors in costumes, puppetry and computer animation.

Overview

The programme features colourful characters: Upsy Daisy, Igglepiggle, Makka Pakka, the Pontipines, the Wottingers, the Haahoos and three Tombliboos who live in a forest. As well as trees and tropical birds (Tittifers), the forest features a surprisingly large cast of other creatures for a programme aimed at toddlers. All of the characters have their own unique phrases which they repeat over and over. Little of what they say would make sense or seem logical to any adults watching but the repetition of sound associated with the characters builds up familiarity amongst the target audience. Like Teletubbyland, the forest is a surreal environment and this, along with the title of the programme and the opening sequence of the programme featuring a sleeping child, perhaps indicates the programme is intended to represent a child's dream. Co-creator Anne Wood said:

"We wanted to explore the difference between being asleep and being awake from a child's point of view: the difference between closing your eyes and pretending to be asleep and closing your eyes and sleeping,"

Each episode starts with a child in bed (a different child is used in each episode), the parent is running their finger round and round the child's palm (In Episode 28, Runaway Og-Pog, the parent is absent and the child runs its own right hand forefinger around the palm of its left hand) while the narrator begins to speak and the episode cuts to Igglepiggle in his boat travelling to the Night Garden. Each episode ends with the characters going to sleep, with one character receiving a bedtime story (which is generated by the "Magic Roundabout" style gazebo that sits at the centre of the Night Garden). This story is a summary of the plot of the episode, just as in the Fimbles.

It's quite rare to see panning or tracking shots in In The Night Garden. The camera is often still, with the characters coming in and out of shot, often after a short pause.

Because Igglepiggle is a visitor to the garden he does not go to sleep, and his goodbye sequence ("Igglepiggle's not in bed!" — "Squeak!" — "Don't worry, Igglepiggle, it's time to go.") rounds off the programme - the Night Garden retreats into the night sky and we see him asleep on his little boat as the programme's closing titles roll.

Unlike most programmes aimed at toddlers, In The Night Garden is not aimed primarily at being educational. Instead, it is aimed at helping children relax, and calming relationships with parents. Co-creator Anne Wood stated "We became very aware of the anxiety surrounding the care of young children which manifested itself in all kind of directions – but the one big subject that came up again and again was bedtime. It's the classic time for tension between children who want to stay up and parents who want them to go to bed... so this is a programme about calming things down whereas most children's TV is about gee-ing everything up!"

Characters

Igglepiggle is a blue creature similar to a teddy bear. He always carries his red blanket with him and tends to fall flat on his back when surprised. He arrives at the beginning and leaves the Night Garden at the end of each episode in a boat for which the blanket doubles as a sail. Igglepiggle has a bell in his foot, a squeak in his middle, and a rattle in his left hand. His best friend in the garden is Upsy Daisy .He is the only character not to sleep in the Night Garden.

Upsy Daisy is similar to a rag doll of Afro-Caribbean origin. She has her own special bed, which can move around the garden. Her catchphrases are "Upsy Daisy" and "Daisy Do!" Her hair stands on end when excited, and her skirt inflates to a tutu when she dances or pulls the ripcord on her waist. Upsy Daisy enjoys singing and has an orange megaphone on a stand.

Makka Pakka is more rounded than Igglepiggle, smaller than any of the other costumed characters, and is a creamy colour. He lives in a little cave and likes cleaning things, including the other characters and his collection of stacking stones. Makka Pakka sleeps on a stone bed, often cuddling a smooth flat stone. He travels around the Garden pushing his trolley Og-Pog. The Og-Pog carries his sponge and soap, his red trumpet, and a bellows-like apparatus called Uff-uff which he uses to dry items after cleaning them.

The three Tombliboos - Unn, Ooo, and Eee - are like dolls dressed in costumes with stripes and spots: red and green (Unn), brown and pink (Ooo), and pink and yellow (Eee). The names Unn, Ooo and Eee reflect phonetically how a young child might say the numbers One, Two, Three and the Tombliboos always appear in this order by saying their names. They live and sleep in a shared bed in the middle of a bush, in the large spaces between the branches. The Tombliboos enjoy playing the drums and keyboard, which they have in their bush home, although not with any particular musical prowess, and they also enjoy playing with their large stacking cubes. Their trousers (which fall down at random moments) are often seen hanging on the washing line outside their bush home, and they usually take them down from the line and put them on before going on an adventure. They often brush their teeth before bed.

All the above characters are played by actors in costumes.

The Pontipines (red) and Wottingers (blue) are two families of ten tiny creatures (a mother and a father, plus four boys and four girls) similar to peg dolls, who live in adjacent semi-detached houses at the foot of a tree. The Pontipines appear in most episodes, while appearances by the Wottingers are rare. The Pontipines all dress in a very similar fashion to each other, as do the Wottingers. Each family sleeps in one room, their beds next to each other in two rows of five. The Pontipines are able to enter their home by flying down the chimney, as well as through the front door. They have no feet. It is notable that Pontipines enter the Pinky Ponk through a different door to all the other characters, and stay on a separate deck. The Pontipines and the Wottingers are animated using stop motion animation. Mrs Pontipine carries a pair of binoculars around her neck at all times, and she uses them to look for her children when they get lost. The Wottingers can be seen dancing at the end of some episodes, and feature in the episode "Wave to the Wottingers".

The Haahoos are five large pillow-like creatures of various shapes and colours. They are 30ft inflatables. They float slowly around the garden like puffy pillows, calling a low "mmm!" sound to each other as they meet up to go to sleep in a big pillowy pile. The Haahoos appear dancing at the end of some episodes, and then seen going to sleep. They don't appear much but however do appear sometimes when the Pinky Ponk flies over them, and in Washing the Haahoos.

The Tittifers are tropical birds with their own unique songs. When they sing together, they lull everyone in the night garden to sleep except Igglepiggle because he is a visitor. There are four small blue ones, three larger orange-feathered ones (hoopoes) with orange crests, two big green ones (Turacos) and one multicoloured toucan with a huge purple beak.

The Ninky Nonk is a train of five differently sized and shaped carriages. In comparison to the trees and other flora of the forest, it is clearly quite small, but the main characters can easily fit inside it. Seat belts are provided in all carriages, and given how much the Ninky Nonk is seen to shake about on its journeys around the forest, are clearly necessary. When it stops or starts, the seat-belted passengers jerk sharply in their seats. The accompanying loud klaxons warn everyone inside. The Ninky Nonk can drive up and down trees and upside-down along branches. The Ninky Nonk seems to stop and go on its own, and, like the other characters, "goes to sleep", hinting that it may be a sentient machine. Exterior shots of travelling are of a toy-sized train, while interiors and static exterior shots are done on sets or life-sized models. The Ninky Nonk, as well as the Pinky Ponk, appear too small for characters to fit inside. However they can fit inside both vehicles easily. There is no obvious explanation of the disparity of scale.

The Pinky Ponk is an airship, speckled with many fins. The characters often use it to travel around the forest. Judging by the noises it makes whilst travelling it runs on some sort of gas, although it produces no visible emissions other than the "Pinky Ponk juice" which is dispensed in sippi cups. Like the Ninky Nonk, the Pinky Ponk is likely a sentient machine. Exterior shots are chroma keyed model shots, while interior ones are produced on a set. If you look carefully at the Pinky Ponk in flight when Makka Pakka is on board, you might be able to see him jumping up and down to be able to see out of the front window which is too high for him.

The Ball is a large beach ball type of creature. It is occasionally seen going from character to character, playing with each as it goes. It would seem that the Ball is sentient as it described by the narrator as having feelings and enjoying playing with the other characters.

The Troublyphone is a telephone network that runs in the Night Garden. Upsy Daisy, the Tombliboos and the Pontipines can be seen calling each other in certain episodes. Generally, it is to complain about the others music or singing that is going on at the time (and one time by the Pontipines, to complain about Igglepiggle's blanket).

Episode List

Series	Part	Title	Description
1	1	Makka Pakka Washes Faces	Makka Pakka visits all the inhabitants of the garden to wash their faces.
1	2	Tombliboos' Waving Game	The Tombliboos wave to everybody as they fly through the garden in the Pinky Ponk.
1	3	Everybody All Aboard the Ninky Nonk	Everybody goes for a ride in the Ninky Nonk. Makka Pakka gets left behind.
1	4	The Prettiest Flower	Upsy Daisy wants to look at all the pretty flowers in the garden.
1	5	Makka Pakka's Trumpet Makes a Funny Noise	The Pontipines count to three and Makka Pakka's trumpet is making a funny noise.
1	6	Pontipines in Upsy Daisy's Bed	The Pontipines count up to five and go for a very long walk around the garden.
1	7	Who's Next on the Pinky Ponk	The Tombliboos decide to ride in the Pinky Ponk, but no-one notices the Pontipines arrive.
1	8	Igglepiggle's Blanket in Makka Pakka's Ditch	Igglepiggle has lost his blanket. Upsy Daisy helps him look for it.
1	9	Ninky Nonk Wants a Kiss	Upsy Daisy kisses everything in the garden, including a tree, a flower and Igglepiggle.
1	10	Too Loud Tombliboos Nice and Quiet	The Tombliboos are practicing their music so loudly it can be heard all over the garden.
1	11	Makka Pakka Gets Lost	Makka Pakka sets off through the garden looking for stones but he loses his way.
1	12	Jumping for Everybody	The Pontipines count to six. Upsy Daisy shows Igglepiggle how to jump.
1	13	Hiding in Flowerpots	The Pontipines play hide and seek.
1	14	Pinky Ponk Adventure	The Pinky Ponk gets stuck in a tree and tips up. Everybody slides up one end.
1	15	Tombliboos' Tower of Five	The Tombliboos are inside their bush, building with their very own bricks.
1	16	Igglepiggle's Mucky Patch	Igglepiggle falls down flat and gets a muddy patch on his tummy.
1	17	Riding Pinky Ponk and Drinking Juice	The Tombliboos are riding in the Pinky Ponk, enjoying their Pinky Ponk Juice.
1	18	Special Megaphone	Upsy Daisy sets up her own special megaphone to sing, but she can't make herself heard.
1	19	Tombliboos Clean Their Teeth	The Tombliboos run all over the inside of their bush looking for their toothbrushes.
1	20	Igglepiggle's Blanket Walks About By Itself	Igglepiggle's blanket has landed on Makka Pakka and seems to be running about by itself.
1	21	Pontipine Children in the Tombliboos' Trousers	The Pontipines go for a long walk to the Tombliboo house, where the children play a game.
1	22	Upsy Daisy's Big Loud Sing Song	Upsy Daisy chooses to sing through her megaphone, and the Pontipines cover their ears.
1	23	Playing Hiding with Makka Pakka	The Tombliboos have discovered a new game - hiding in the garden. Where have they gone?
1	24	The Ball	A ball bounces around the garden visiting one character after another.
1	25	Where is the Pinky Ponk Going?	Everyone in the Night Garden boards the Pinky Ponk for a very special journey.
1	26	Igglepiggle Looks For Upsy Daisy and Follows Her Bed	Igglepiggle cannot find Upsy Daisy, but then he spots her bed and follows it to her.
1	27	Wave to the Wottingers	The Pontipines set out on a walk, but everywhere they go the Wottingers get there first.
1	28	Runaway Og-Pog	Makka Pakka's Og-pog runs away by itself.
1	29	Upsy Daisy, Igglepiggle, the Bed & the Ball	While Upsy Daisy plays with a ball, Igglepiggle decides to go to sleep in her bed.
1	30	Tombliboo Ooo Drinks Everybody Else's Pinky Ponk Juice	Everyone is riding on the Pinky Ponk, but Tombliboo Ooo is more interested in drinking.
1	31	Looking for Each Other	Igglepiggle and Upsy Daisy are best friends, but Igglepiggle can't find her.
1	32	High and Low	The Tombliboos explore inside their house, which is full of interesting spaces.
1	33	Tombliboos Have a Very Busy Day	The Tombliboos spend all day riding on the Pinky Ponk and exploring the garden.
1	34	The Pontipines on the Ninky Nonk	Everyone goes for a ride on the Ninky Nonk.
1	35	The Pontipines Find Igglepiggle's Blanket	Igglepiggle is dancing in the garden when he loses his blanket.
1	36	Igglepiggle's Accident	Igglepiggle finds the stones which Makka Pakka has tidied.
1	37	Upsy Daisy Kisses Everything	Upsy Daisy loves the garden so much that she frequently kisses everything around her.
1	38	Following	The Tombliboos are playing inside their house, but Tombliboo Eee can't decide what to do.
1	39	Look What the Ball Did!	The ball is bouncing all over the garden, knocking things over.
1	40	The Tombliboos Build an Arch	Inside the Tombliboo house the Tombliboos build an arch out of their bricks.
1	41	Makka Pakka's Stone Garden	Makka Pakka discovers he can make musical notes by tapping different stones.
1	42	Hurry Up Tombliboos	The Tombliboos are in their house when Makka Pakka comes to call.
1	43	Wake Up Igglepiggle	Igglepiggle tucks up in Upsy Daisy's bed. When she returns he has to jump out quickly.
1	44	Washing the Haahoos	The smallest Pontipines and biggest Haahoos get clean when Makka Pakka washes their faces.
1	45	Where's Upsy Daisy Gone?	Upsy Daisy teaches Igglepiggle how to play hiding.
1	46	Over and Under	Everyone is riding on the Pinky Ponk when the Ding Dong alarm goes.
1	47	Upsy Daisy's Tiring Walk	Igglepiggle and Upsy Daisy go for a very long walk.
1	48	Makka Pakka's Present	Makka Pakka makes a pile of six stones.
1	49	Igglepiggle Goes Visiting	Igglepiggle can't find the Pontipines because they are so very small.
1	50	Tombliboo Trousers	The Tombliboos are having fun in the garden, but their trousers keep falling down.

Source: BBC Programmes

The Show airs on the CBeebies channel Mon-Fri at 11am, 2pm and 6:20pm in the bedtime hour, and on Sat and Sun at only 6:20pm. Like every other show on Cbeebies, the same episodes are shown all day.

In 2007 the show won the Children's BAFTA for 'Pre-School live action'.

Merchandising

In the Night Garden merchandising, DVDs, Igglepiggle dolls and other ways of 'extending the experience' were due to arrive in the shops in the summer of 2007. The show's makers, Ragdoll Productions, signed a deal to make the toy producer Hasbro a global partner long before the show hit the screens." As promised, merchandise arrived in British high streets and supermarkets in July 2007, including small Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy and Makka Pakka stuffed toys and a small Ninky Nonk train with detachable carriages. In addition, wheeled toy licensee MV Sports & Leisure Limited produced the Iggle Piggle Tri Scooter and Iggle Piggle Trike with Upsy Daisy and Og Pog scooters and trikes to follow in early 2008.

Two DVDs have been released: Who's Here? and Hello Igglepiggle! A third titled Hello Upsy Daisy! is due to be released in February.

In the Spring/Summer 2008 edition of the Argos catalogue, many new toys arrived, including Roll along characters, Talking Cuddly Makka Pakka, Ninky Nonk Pop-up tent and more.

External links

• CBeebies - In the Night Garden at bbc.co.uk, which includes a Flash game.
• In the Night Garden for grown-ups at bbc.co.uk
• Official In the Night Garden web site for parents
• BBC CBeebies 5th anniversary press release feature on ITNG includes interview with Anne Wood
• Ragdoll - production company
• Nightgardeners - Fan site and forum