Produced by Oliver Postgate’s Smallfilms in 1979, this animated series starred the titular moth-eaten and accident-prone Afghan Hound puppy (who was actually a pedigree dog whose real name was Prince Amir of Kinjan) who had a yellow duck sitting on top of his head.
The series was based on a series of children’s books by Frank Muir, who also narrated. The music for the 1979 episodes was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
13 new episodes were produced in 1990 (not by Smallfilms) with Muir narrating once more. A further 63 episodes were made in 1995 – this time in America.
Narrator
Frank Muir
Episodes
1 9 7 9 (UK) – A Bee? | A Hat? | A Fish? | A Mole? | A Hound? | Mighty Hunter | Enough for One Day | A Very Good Dog Indeed | A Prince
1 9 9 0 (UK) – What-a-Mess at the Seaside | What-a-Mess Goes to School | Prince What-a-Mess | Super What-a-Mess | What-a-Mess Keeps Cool | What-a-Mess and Cynthia the Hedgehog | What-a-Mess Has a Brain Wave! | What-a-Mess and the Cat Next Door | What-a-Mess and Little Poppet | What-a-Mess Goes Camping | What-a-Mess The Beautiful | What-a-Mess Goes to Town | What-a-Mess Goes to the Vet
1 9 9 5 (USA) – Talkin’ Trash | A Bone to Pick | Midnight Snack | Schoolin’ Around | The Legend of Junkyard Jones | It’s Raining Cats and Dogs | Home Alone…Almost | Super What-A-Mess | Afghan Holiday | The Bone Tree | Just Four More Left | The Ropes | What-A-Mess Has Breakfast | Prize Puppy | The Great Escape | The Scarecrow and Prince Amir |
Show and Tail | I Spy, I Cry, I Try | What-A-Mess and the Hairy Monster | Trick Or Treat |
My Teatime with Frank | Out With the Garbage | Dr What-A-Mess | Ultimate What-A-Mess | This Hydrant Is Mine | Trash’s Wonderful Life | Snowbound | The Thanksgiving Turkey |
Santa What-A-Mess | All Around the Mallberry Bush | What-A-Mess at the Movies | His Royal Highness, Prince What-A-Mess | Party at Poppet’s | Take Me Out to the Dog Park | The Watch Out Dog | Molenapped! | Pound Pals | Taste Test | Slobber on a Stick | Scout’s Honor | Seein’ Double | Luck on His Side | What-A-Mess Keeps the Doctor Away | There’s No Business Like Shoe Business | Joy Ride | Baldwin’s Family Reunion | Do the Mess Around | Messy Encounters | Dog Days of Summer | Fetch! | Real Puppies Don’t Meow |
Invasion of the Puppy Snatchers | The Ballad of El Pero | What-a-Mess Has Lunch | Walking the Boy | Messed Up What-A-Mess | Water Mess | The Big Sleep | High-Wire Heartthrob
