This BBC stop-motion animated children’s series revolved around young Joshua Jones who lived on a canal boat with his dog Fairport.
Together, they would take trips up and down Clearwater Canal from Biggott’s Wharf, delivering items and carrying out tasks for Mr Cashmore.
Other regular characters included Sharon Cope, a bubbly blonde who sold food from her cafe van by the canal; Spanner Wilkins, Sharon’s accident-prone carrot-topped boyfriend who was frequently skiving; retired Admiral Bapu Karia who had served in the Royal Navy; his daughter-in-law Dakasha “Datsa” Karia and her 8-year-old son Ravi; Hungarian-born farmer Joe Laski who had a horse called Trojan; local vet Daphne Peacock; and rich Wilton Cashmore and his 8-year-old daughter, Fiona.
Wharf owner Mr Biggott spoke with Cashmore by telephone in nearly every episode but was never seen.
Bumper Films produced, designed, and created the stop-motion puppets and sets. Coincidentally – and unbeknownst to the production company – a similar canal-based children’s series was being made at the same time, (Rosie and Jim), which was heavily promoted and overshadowed Joshua Jones, to the extent that this series was not a success and lost Bumper a lot of money.
Other regular characters included Sharon Cope, a bubbly blonde who sold food from her cafe van by the canal; Spanner Wilkins, Sharon’s accident-prone carrot-topped boyfriend who was frequently skiving; retired Admiral Bapu Karia who had served in the Royal Navy; his daughter-in-law Dakasha “Datsa” Karia and her 8-year-old son Ravi; Hungarian-born farmer Joe Laski who had a horse called Trojan; local vet Daphne Peacock; and rich Wilton Cashmore and his 8-year-old daughter, Fiona.
