Mr Benn

MR BENN
Made by: Zephyr Films
Shown on: BBC
Years shown: 1971 onwards

Whenever you discuss vintage children’s television with a group of people, somebody always thinks it’s big and clever that they remember Mr Benn. David McKee made only thirteen episodes of this little gem, but the face of kids’ TV would be very drab without this dapper, quintessentially British, adventurer. As everyone knows, Mr Benn lived at 52 Festive Road (based on McKee’s home on Festing Road); he dressed as though he was heading for a job in the city, but instead, he made his way to a costume-hire shop. This little shop was chock-a-block with weird and wonderful outfits and, “as if by magic”, the shopkeeper appeared, to help Mr Benn decide what he would like to try on. Whenever he emerged from the dressing room in his new costume, he found himself in a world which corresponded to it - for instance, when he wore his suit of armour, he found himself in medieval times, with a dragon to engage in battle. During his jaunts, Mr Benn became - deep breath - a Red Knight, a hunter, a cook, a caveman, a balloonist, a zoo keeper, a diver, a wizard, a cowboy, a clown, an Arabian Knight, a spaceman, and a pirate. But the great thing was that he didn’t have to pay for any of it! The shopkeeper, a strange man with a fez and a dubious moustache, never charged Mr Benn for trying on the costumes and entering these magical lands - which is just as well, as Mr Benn plainly didn’t go to work and therefore couldn’t afford it. Unless he had a private income. To add to this, Mr Benn always took home a keepsake from his exploit, such as a hat, but no money ever exchanged hands - which is part of why Mr Benn has such an enchanting, mystical charm.

SQUARE EYES RATING: 10/10

(Thanks to www.jedisparadise.co.uk for the borrowed pic)