Egbert Nosh

1 9 6 9 (UK)
6 x 10 minute episodes

The BBC moved into the animated cartoon business with a lovable new screen character called Egbert Nosh.

Bowler-hatted and moustachioed Egbert (who was often followed around by his house and dustbin) debuted on Storyline on Sunday 23 February 1969.

The series – designed by Hilary Hayton and Graham McCallum – was produced in colour at a cost of around £5,000 per episode.

The stories were written by Paul Groves, the head of the English department at St Hugh’s Secondary School in Grantham, Lincolnshire, to amuse his two daughters, Wendy and Sally. The stories appeared on Play School before being used for the new cartoon series.

Groves later wrote Bangers and Mash.

The six episodes – with the stories told by actor William Mervyn – were repeated semi-regularly throughout the 1970s.

The director was Michael Grafton-Robinson.

Voices
William Mervyn

Episodes

Mr Egbert Nosh | Thinks Balloon | Through the Window | Egbert’s Holiday | Horatio | Egbert’s Sleepless Night