1 9 8 3 – 1 9 8 6 (UK)
40 x 5 minute episodes
There once was an ordinary young boy called Eric who lived at 29 Acacia Avenue. Whenever Eric bit into a banana, an amazing transformation took place and Eric became Bananaman (and his voice changed to sound like Graeme Garden from The Goodies).
Tim Brooke-Taylor narrated the stories, also voicing Eric and King Zorg, leader of alien race the Nerks
Bananaman regularly battled baddies like General Blight, Dr Gloom, Appleman, The Weatherman, Superteech and Auntie while fawning hopelessly over television newsreader, Fiona (I know how it is – I feel the same way about Fiona Bruce actually).
The Bananaman story actually started in 1980 when comic makers DC Thompson (birthplace of The Beano and The Dandy) created the character – brought to life by artist John K Geering – who soon became the superstar of a new comic called Nutty.
Buoyed by the TV series, the character of Bananaman soon eclipsed the success of its host comic, getting its own annuals (whereas Nutty never had any). When Nutty folded in 1985, Bananaman joined The Dandy.
Narrator
Tim Brooke-Taylor
Bananaman
Graeme Garden
Eric
Tim Brooke-Taylor
Fiona
Jill Shilling
Aunty
Tim Brooke-Taylor
Crow
Bill Oddie
Chief O’Reilly
Bill Oddie
Samantha
Jill Shilling
King Zorg of the Nurks
Tim Brooke-Taylor
Mother Nurk
Jill Shilling
Henry the Nurk
Bill Oddie
General Blight
Graeme Garden
Dr Gloom
Bill Oddie
Appleman
Tim Brooke-Taylor
The Weatherman
Bill Oddie