Button Moon
Button Moon is a British children's television programme broadcast in the United Kingdom in the 1980s on the ITV network. Thames Television produced each episode, which lasted ten minutes and featured the adventures of Mr. Spoon who, in each episode, travels to Button Moon in his homemade rocket ship. All the characters are based on kitchen utensils, as are many of the props.
| Button Moon | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster | |
| Genre | Children's television series |
| Created by | Ian Allen |
| Narrated by | Robin Parkinson |
| Theme music composer | Peter Davison and Sandra Dickinson |
| Composer(s) | Peter Goslin |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 7 |
| No. of episodes | 91 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Charles Warren |
| Producer(s) | Stan Woodward |
| Running time | 10 mins |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV |
| Original release | 8 December 1980 – 1 December 1988 |
Once on Button Moon, which hangs in "blanket sky", they have an adventure, and look through Mr. Spoon's telescope at someone else such as The Tortoise and the Hare, before heading back to their home on 'Junk Planet'. Episodes also include Mr. Spoon's wife Mrs. Spoon, their daughter, Tina Tea-Spoon and her friend Eggbert. The series ended in 1988 after 91 episodes.
Production
Button Moon was originally conceived by Ian Allen as a stage show for Playboard Puppets in 1978. Allen adapted it into a TV series for Thames two years later. The first series of thirteen programmes was transmitted in 1980. A further six series of thirteen programmes followed, making a total of ninety-one different Button Moon adventures. The series was repeated on a yearly basis for Thames TV up until 1988. All 91 episodes have been shown on satellite channel UK Gold since spring 1993. Every episode was at least 10 minutes.
Narration was by Robin Parkinson. Puppeteers included Ian Allen, John Thirtle, Francis Wright, Alistair Fullarton, Robin Stevens, Sue Dacre, Chris Leith, Judith Bucklow, Ian Brown, Rhiann West, Tony Holthamand and others. The incidental music for the series was written by Peter Goslin. The show's theme tune was composed and performed by Peter Davison and Sandra Dickinson, who were married at the time.
A live stage show toured England in the late 1980s and the early 1990s.
Litigation
The creator of the show successfully sued the manufacturer of lookalike memorabilia in 2013.[1]
This case was featured on an episode of The Sheriffs Are Coming on BBC One.
Episode list
Series 1 (1980-1981)
| Episode | Title | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Three Little Pigs" | 8 December 1980 | |
| Mrs. Spoon gives Mr. Spoon a present. It's a spaceship, so now he can fly to Button Moon. | |||
| 2 | "The Witch's Toast" | 15 December 1980 | |
| Mr. Spoon flies from Junk Planet, through Blanket Sky to shining Button Moon. There he meets Captain Large and the Bottle Army. Through his telescope he spies a witch's magic. | |||
| 3 | "Billy Goat's Gruff" | 22 December 1980 | |
| Mr. Spoon flies from his home on Junk Planet to Button Moon. | |||
| 4 | "Sid and Baby" | 29 December 1980 | |
| Mr. Spoon lives with his family on Junk Planet. He has seen Button Moon shining in Blanket Sky and travels there in his spaceship. | |||
| 5 | "The Three Wishes" | 5 January 1981 | |
| Mr. Spoon goes to see Captain Large and his army. He also meets Bertie and Gertie, who have three wishes. | |||
| 6 | "Storks" | 12 January 1981 | |
| Mr. Spoon sees the stars playing a game. He also sees two strange birds and a camel who help to bring happiness to a sad princess. | |||
| 7 | "The Duck Who Forgot What He Was" | 19 January 1981 | |
| Mr. Spoon finds a kitchen dresser and helps some cups that have lost their saucers. Through his telescope he sees a duck with a lost memory. | |||
| 8 | "Scruffy and the Bone" | 26 January 1981 | |
| Mr. Spoon helps a pair of scissors which have accidentally cut a thread holding Button Moon in Blanket Sky. Through his relescope he sees two unusual dancers and Scruffy and Basil, two dogs which play hunt the bone. | |||
| 9 | "The Grasshopper and the Ants" | 2 February 1981 | |
| Mr. Spoon sees a lazy grasshopper and some busy ants preparing for the winter. | |||
| 10 | "The Magic Totem" | 9 February 1981 | |
| Mr. Spoon sees some very brightly coloured birds. | |||
| 11 | "The Hare and the Tortoise" | 16 February 1981 | |
| Mr. Spoon, who lives with his family on Junk Planet, takes his daughter, Tina Teaspoon, to Button Moon. They find some talking umbrellas there and through a telescope see a hare and a tortoise having a race. | |||
| 12 | "The Fox and the Hen" | 23 February 1981 | |
| Mr. Spoon travels to Button Moon where he finds a wardrobe and helps to make a sad dress happy. | |||
| 13 | "House For Sale" | 2 March 1981 | |
| Mr. Spoon and his family watch a performance of the Paper Circus. Then through their telescope they see Scruffy the dog, whose best friend is moving away. | |||
Series 2 (1981-1982)
| Episode | Title | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | "A Witch Comes To Stay" | 29 December 1981 | |
| The Spoon family travel to Button Moon where the Vacuum cleaner is sucking up fallen stardust. When they look through the telescope they see Brew the witch preparing for her mother to visit. | |||
| 15 | "The Caterpillar Who Loved His Greens" | 5 January 1982 | |
| Mr Spoon takes Tina to Button Moon. There they see a single glove who has lost her partner. Tina meets Reggie Veggie, a man made out of vegetables. Through the telescope they see a caterpillar turn into a beautiful butterfly. | |||
| 16 | "The New Canoe" | 12 January 1982 | |
| It is snowing all over Blanket Sky. Whilst Tina and Mrs Spoon stay home to build a snowman, Mr Spoon visits Button Moon. There he sees the bottle army trying to keep warm in the snow and through the telescope. | |||
| 17 | "The Biggest Tomato In The World" | 19 January 1982 | |
| Tina Teaspoon is playing hide and seek with Mr and Mrs Spoon in the garden then Mr Spoons and Tina go to Button Moon where they find Vacuum Cleaner where he puts the morning post and the newspaper on the doormat, through the telescope they see Bertie and Gertie where her fairy god mother grants her 3 wishes and she 1st wishes that Bertie had the biggest tomatoes to enter in the vegetable competition but they don't get there in time and lose but Gertie wins a prize for the hat she made. | |||
| 18 | "Scruffy and the Sparrow" | 26 January 1982 | |
| Mr Spoon flies to Button Moon in his spaceship where he finds Vacuum Cleaner and Small Bottle are cleaning the castle pipes. Through his telescope Mr Spoon sees Scruffy the dog, who is singing like a bird. | |||
| 19 | "The Dragon Has a Cold" | 2 February 1982 | |
| Mr. Spoon takes off early in the morning to Button Moon, through his telescope he sees Brew the witch and her dragon who has a cold. | |||
| 20 | "The Flying Jam Sandwich" | 9 February 1982 | |
| When Mr Spoon lands his spaceship on Button Moon, the blast from the engine blows little Fluff into outer space and on to a star. Mr Spoon comes up with an idea to save him but needs the help of. Through the telescope Mr Spoon sees Hare and Tortoise having fun at Hare's House but Wally wasp keeps moving the jam sandwich from the plate to the ceiling. | |||
| 21 | "The Persian Market" | 16 February 1982 | |
| Mrs Spoon and Tina Teaspoon are baking a Victoria Sponge Cake while Mr Spoon goes to Button Moon. On Button Moon Mr Spoon finds the Kitchen Dresser where Arthur and Martha Muggins live. On the dresser Roddy Teapot has lost his lid so Mr Spoon offers to help find it but a mouse comes onto the dresser and steals some cheese from the cheese board so Mr Spoon goes after the mouse only to find Roddy's lid. Through the telescope Mr Spoon sees a Persian Market where we see a Snake Charmer, The Sand Dancers and a Man on a unicycle with a bucket of sand on his head. | |||
| 22 | "Music In the Air" | 23 February 1982 | |
| Tina's best friend Egbert comes over and so Mr Spoon takes them both to Button Moon. On Button Moon find a toy box where they meet Rag Doll, The Wibbly Wobbly Man and Robby Robot who are all afraid of the dinosaur that lives in the toy cupboard. Mr Spoon offers to help set the free but soon learns that the Pink and Purple Dinosaur is very friendly so the other toys are not afraid of him anymore. Through the telescope they see a park where it's a very windy day and the band is playing music in the park bandstand. We also see Scruffy the dog and his friends Basil and Daisy who help Mr Cherry the band leader get his sheets of music back when the wind blows them away. | |||
| 23 | "Scruffy At the Seaside" | 2 March 1982 | |
| Mr and Mrs Spoon are off for an evening out on Button Moon while Egbert stays the night with Tina Teaspoon. On Button Moon Mr and Mrs Spoon go out in the Gravy Boat for a trip around Button Hole Pond to watch the pond life. In the pond they see sponge fish, plate fish and Nelly Newt who tells us that they are all going to the Octopus Opera but Little John Turtle can't see her as he's right at the back but Big Whale helps him but letting John Turtle sit on his back and watch the show. Through the telescope they see Scruffy the dog going to the seaside. | |||
| 24 | "The Little Red Hen" | 9 March 1982 | |
| Today is Tina Teaspoon's birthday so the family go off to Button Moon for Tina's birthday surprise. They land on Button Moon where a royal biscuit box takes them to Tabletop Mountain where Queenie Jelly lives where they put on a royal show for Tina from performing doughnuts, The Strongest Gingerbread Man and finally the Birthday Cake. Through the Telescope they see the story of The Little Red Hen who wants to make some bread but her friends the Cat, the Pig and the Cow won't help her. | |||
| 25 | "Getting Away With It All" | 16 March 1982 | |
| Tina and Egbert are drawing pictures in the house while Mr Spoon goes off to Button Moon. The Spaceship lands on Button Moon where Mr Spoon finds a Bathroom where he helps junior toothbrush who's missing out the excitement in bathroom. Through the telescope Mr Spoon sees Brew the Witch who's fed up with the ticking clock, Thunder chewing on her newspaper, Little Brown Spider turning on the radio and Lightning the cat rushing around everywhere so she magics herself away on holiday to an "Island In The Sun" but soon grows homesick and magics herself home. | |||
| 26 | "The Lion and the Mouse" | 23 March 1982 | |
| The Spoon Family are going on Holiday to the Button Moon Hotel. When they land the spaceship on Button Moon they watch the Paper Circus. Afterwards they look through the telescope to see a jungle where we see the story of the Lion and the Mouse. | |||
Series 3 (1983)
| Episode | Title | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | "Looking For Button Moon" | 5 October 1983 | |
| 28 | "Tina Teaspoon and the School Mouse" | 12 October 1983 | |
| 29 | "A Day Trip To Button Moon" | 19 October 1983 | |
| 30 | "Shoebox Station" | 26 October 1983 | |
| 31 | "Two Sticky Mugs" | 2 November 1983 | |
| 32 | "Button Hole Pond" | 9 November 1983 | |
| 33 | "The Scouts' Garden Fete" | 16 November 1983 | |
| 34 | "Queenie Jelly" | 23 November 1983 | |
| 35 | "Painting the Pipes" | 30 November 1983 | |
| 36 | "Freddy Teddy" | 7 December 1983 | |
| 37 | "The Clown Who Lost His Smile" | 14 December 1983 | |
| 38 | "Happy Birthday Mrs Spoon" | 21 December 1983 | |
| 39 | "Bundle and Fluff" | 28 December 1983 | |
| Mr Spoon flies to Button Moon to see Vacuum Cleaner playing Hide and Seek with Bundle and Fluff | |||
Series 4 (1985)
| Episode | Title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | "Egbert Goes To Button Moon" | 30 January 1985 |
| 41 | "The Spaceship Breaks Down" | 6 February 1985 |
| 42 | "Playing Games On Button Moon" | 13 February 1985 |
| 43 | "The Gravy Boat" | 20 February 1985 |
| 44 | "Sticky Sweets" | 27 February 1985 |
| 45 | "Picnic On Button Moon" | 6 March 1985 |
| 46 | "The Cake Fairy Goes Ice Skating" | 13 March 1985 |
| 47 | "Rag Doll Marries A Dinosaur" | 20 March 1985 |
| 48 | "Egbert Goes Camping" | 27 March 1985 |
| 49 | "Banana Birds" | 3 April 1985 |
| 50 | "Pink and Purple Dinosaur" | 10 April 1985 |
| 51 | "The Shark In The Bath" | 17 April 1985 |
| 52 | "The Paper Parade" | 24 April 1985 |
Series 5 (1986)
| Episode | Title | Original airdate |
|---|---|---|
| 53 | "A Hole In Blanket Sky" | 7 January 1986 |
| 54 | "Egbert Wants To Help" | 14 January 1986 |
| 55 | "Tutti Frutti Ice Cream" | 21 January 1986 |
| 56 | "Granny Spoon and the Missing Apple Pie" | 28 January 1986 |
| 57 | "Rain Stopped Play" | 4 February 1986 |
| 58 | "Bottle Party" | 11 February 1986 |
| 59 | "Paperchase On Button Moon" | 18 February 1986 |
| 60 | "Winter Sports For The Frozen Vegetables" | 25 February 1986 |
| 61 | "Ding-A-Ling Ice Cream" | 4 March 1986 |
| 62 | "Blue Button Moon" | 11 March 1986 |
| 63 | "Crazy Games" | 18 March 1986 |
| 64 | "The Royal Handkerchief Ballet" | 25 March 1986 |
| 65 | "The Holiday Weekend" | 1 April 1986 |
Series 6 (1987)
| Episode | Title | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 66 | "The Good Luck Bird" | 6 January 1987 | |
| Mrs Spoon, Vanilla, Tina and Egbert go to the Button Moon Museum | |||
| 67 | "Hose On Charlie's Nose" | 13 January 1987 | |
| Captain Large and Small Bottle are cleaning Button Moon and Small Bottle takes the hose to Charlie and Elsie Tap | |||
| 68 | "Planet Doughnut" | 20 January 1987 | |
| 69 | "Rag Doll Has A Cold" | 27 January 1987 | |
| Mrs Spoon, Tina and Miss Johnson go to Button Moon to see that Rag Doll has a Cold | |||
| 70 | "Honeymoon" | 3 February 1987 | |
| Tom Tubb has Married Caramel and The Spoon Family take them to Button Moon and Captain Large, Small Bottle and Little Bottle and the Bottles are going on Holiday to the Seaside | |||
| 71 | "Mrs Spoon's Jumble Sale" | 10 February 1987 | |
| 72 | "Buttonhole Pond" | 17 February 1987 | |
| Mr Spoon, Tina and Egbert fly to Button Moon to Buttonhole Pond and Small Bottle and Little Bottle look after the Telescope | |||
| 73 | "Missing Martha Muggins" | 24 February 1987 | |
| 74 | "Barn Dance" | 3 March 1987 | |
| 75 | "Bobbing Bottle" | 10 March 1987 | |
| Mr Spoon and Tina fly to Button Moon to join Captain Large who is taking the Bottles Swimming at the Button Moon Baths | |||
| 76 | "Cows On Button Moon" | 17 March 1987 | |
| When Mr and Mrs Spoon take Tina to Button Moon they discover that Freddy Teddy has gone camping. The Campsite they used to set up their tents is in Candlewick Fields but it is also the field where The Cows live and they come to visit Freddy Teddy and Rag Doll. | |||
| 77 | "Cinders and the Magic Beans" | 24 March 1987 | |
| Mr Spoon, Mrs Spoon and Tina go The Button Moon Theatre to watch Cinders and the Magic Beans starring Rag Doll and Freddy Teddy. | |||
| 78 | "Queenie Jelly Loses Her Cherries" | 31 March 1987 | |
Series 7 (1988)
| Episode | Title | Original airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 79 | "Boat Race" | 8 September 1988 | |
| 80 | "Vacuum Cleaner For Sale" | 15 September 1988 | |
| Vacuum Cleaner is having trouble picking up the sweet papers the litterbugs have left around. Captain Large comes to the Rescue but all is not well | |||
| 81 | "Benny Bin" | 22 September 1988 | |
| Freddy Teddy and Rag Doll are baking a Button Moon cake. but they haven't recogned Benny Binn who just can't wait for a piece of cake | |||
| 82 | "Little Bottle Floats Away" | 29 September 1988 | |
| 83 | "Talent Show" | 6 October 1988 | |
| 84 | "Mr and Mrs Spoon's Anniversary" | 13 October 1988 | |
| 85 | "Mice Play On Button Moon" | 20 October 1988 | |
| 86 | "Dotty Teapot" | 27 October 1988 | |
| Mr and Mrs Spoon, Tina and Egbert fly to Button Moon to join Queenie Jelly who is having a Tea Dance | |||
| 87 | "Rag Doll Moves House" | 3 November 1988 | |
| 88 | "What's The Matter With Marrow?" | 10 November 1988 | |
| Reggie Veggie is trying to cheer up poor Marrow who has got Black Spots and Root Rot and is not feeling too well | |||
| 89 | "Egbert's Birthday" | 17 November 1988 | |
| 90 | "Cold Cows On Button Moon" | 24 November 1988 | |
| Snow falls today on Button Moon and when the Spoon Family Arrive they find Freddy Teddy in Trouble | |||
| 91 | "The Snoring Princess" | 1 December 1988 | |
VHS and DVD releases
| VHS Title | Release Date | Episodes |
|---|---|---|
| Button Moon (TV9947) | 17 July 1987 | The Good Luck Bird, Persian Market, Barn Dance, Music in the Air, Cinders and the Magic Beans |
| Picnic on Button Moon (TV9965) | 5 October 1987 | Picnic on Button Moon, The Cake Fairy Goes Skating, Happy Birthday Mrs Spoon, Tutti Fruitti Ice Cream, The Royal Handkerchief Ballet |
| Winter Sports on Button Moon (TV9989) | 5 October 1987 | The Holiday Weekend, Bottle Party, Queenie Jelly Loses Her Cherries, Blue Button Moon, Winter Sports for the Frozen Vegetables |
| Button Moon: Sticky Sweets + The Paper Parade (TV8000 & TV8001) | 5 October 1987 | Sticky Sweets, The Spaceship Breaks Down, Egbert Goes to Button Moon, Playing Games on Button Moon, The Gravy Boat, The Paper Parade, Banana Birds, Egbert Goes Camping, Pink and Purple Dinosaur, The Shark in the Bath |
| Children's Favourites - Volume 2 (TV8011) | 1 February 1988 | Cows on Button Moon, Buttonhole Pond (Compilation VHS with 'Rainbow' and 'The Sooty Show') |
| Touchdown on Button Moon (TV8025) | 4 April 1988 | Hose on Charlie's Nose, Planet Doughnut, Rag Doll Has a Cold, Mrs Spoon's Jumble Sale, Bobbing Bottle |
| A Day Trip on Button Moon (TV8039) | 7 November 1988 | A Day Trip on Button Moon, Painting the Pipes, Freddy Teddy, Tina Teaspoon and the School Mouse, Queenie Jelly |
| Paperchase on Button Moon (WP0001) | 7 November 1988 | Paperchase on Button Moon, Honeymoon and Ding-a-Ling Ice Cream |
| Talent Show on Button Moon (TV8056) | 6 February 1989 | Talent Show on Button Moon, A Hole in Blanket Sky |
| Crazy Games on Button Moon (TV8049) | 24 April 1989 | Crazy Games, Egbert Wants to Help, Rain Stopped Play, Granny Spoon and the Missing Apple Pie, Missing Martha Muggins |
| Looking for Button Moon (LL0028) | 1 May 1989 | Looking for Button Moon, Shoebox Station, Rag Doll Marries a Dinosaur, The Clown Who Lost His Smile, Getting Away From It All. |
| Mice Play On Button Moon (LL0029) | 1 May 1989 | Mice Play on Button Moon, The Scouts Garden Fete, Egbert Goes Camping, The New Canoe, The Little Red Hen |
| Children's Favourites Vol. 3 (LL0032) | 1 May 1989 | Two Sticky Mugs (Compilation VHS with 'Rainbow' and 'The Sooty Show') |
| Children's Favourites Vol. 4 (LL0033) | 1 May 1989 | Bottle Party (Compilation VHS with 'Rainbow' and 'The Sooty Show') |
| Children's Summer Stories (TV8060) | 5 June 1989 | Boat Race (Compilation VHS with 'Rainbow' and 'The Sooty Show') |
| Panto On Button Moon (TV8072) | 2 October 1989 | The Snoring Princess, Little Bottle Floats Away, Mr and Mrs Spoon's Anniversary, Rag Doll Moves House, Egbert's Birthday |
| Children's Favourites: Bedtime Stories (TV8077) | 6 November 1989 | Bundle and Fluff, Scruffy at the Seaside (Compilation VHS with 'Rainbow' and 'The Sooty Show') |
| Animals on Button Moon (TV8086) | 5 February 1990 | The Three Pigs, Billy Goat's Gruff, The Fox and the Hen, Scruffy and the Bone, The Hare and the Tortoise |
| Favourite Stories on Button Moon (TV8101) | 6 August 1990 | Vacuum Cleaner for Sale, Benny Bin, Dotty Teapot, What's the Matter with Marrow?, Cold Cows on Button Moon |
| Children's Club: Children's Favourites (KK0005) | 4 February 1991 | Bottle Party (Compilation VHS with 'Rainbow' and 'The Sooty Show') |
| Button Moon Re-release (KK0006) | 4 February 1991 | The Good Luck Bird, Persian Market, Barn Dance, Music in the Air, Cinders and the Magic Beans |
| Cult Kids Classics | 2001 | A Day Trip to Button Moon (Compilation VHS with 'Chorlton and the Wheelies', 'Danger Mouse', 'Count Duckula', 'Jamie and the Magic Torch' and 'Rainbow') |
| I Love Cult Kids | 2002 | Button Hole Pond (Compilation VHS with 'Danger Mouse', 'Chorlton and the Wheelies', 'Count Duckula', 'Jamie and the Magic Torch', 'Rainbow' and 'Cockleshell Bay') |
| Classic Kids Collection | 2002 | Boat Race (Compilation VHS with 'Count Duckula', 'Chorlton and the Wheelies', 'Jamie and the Magic Torch', 'Danger Mouse' and 'Rainbow') |
DVD
Button Moon - Boat Race was released on 6 July 2009 in the UK. It comprised 10 episodes.
Button Moon - Talent Show was released in 2010 in the UK. It Comprised 3 episodes which are: Button Moon Talent Show, Dolly Teapot and The Fox and Hen.
(Series 1): The Good Luck Bird; The Persian Market; Barn Dance; Music in the Air; Cinders and the Magic Beans
(Other series): Button Hole Pond; Cows on Button Moon; Buttonhole Pond; Boat Race; and Buttonhole Pond
(iTunes): Season 6 of Button Moon can now be purchased on iTunes UK.
Broadcast History
- In the United Kingdom, the series was first broadcast on ITV on terrestrial television. Years later it was repeated on satellite and cable television and was shown on various television networks including The Children's Channel, Nick Jr. and Nick Jr. Classics.
- In New Zealand, the series was broadcast on TVNZ 1.
- In Singapore, the series was broadcast on Mediacorp Channel 5 and Mediacorp Channel 8.
- In Spain, the series was broadcast on Telemundo.
- In Germany, the series with its English voiceovers was broadcast on the BFBS as well as its former network known as SSVC Television. It was also on SSVC Television and the BFBS in other countries including Falkland Islands, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Belize and Bosnia as well on satellite television in the United Kingdom which was the series' homeland.
- In Zimbabwe, the series was broadcast on ZBC.
- In Kenya, the series was broadcast on VOK (now KBC since 1989).
- In Hong Kong, the series was broadcast on TVB.
- In Iceland, the series was broadcast on BBC Prime with its original English language. The channel not only aired just works from the BBC but also programmes from Thames Television's catalogue including the series.
References
- "Button Moon creator wins court fight". 17 May 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2018 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
External links
- Button Moon Theme Tune at themesfromtv.com
- Button Moon at Toonhound.com
- Character list
- Button Moon on IMDb
- Button Moon at TV.com
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