Toonhound - Here Comes Mumfie (1975-1978)

     "Here comes Mumfie!"

    Mumfie was a Neliphant - not just an elephant, as you may have thought - and he
    had numerous exciting adventures with his best pal Scarecrow (who was indeed,
    a talking Scarecrow - nothing more, nothing less). Scarecrow had a hanky in
    one of his coat pockets and a pet mouse called Panky living in another. Mumfie
    and Scarecrow regularly visited Uncle Samuel E Phant who lived in a big blue
    beached boat-turned-house. There was also a moustached tramp called Nutty Sax,
    so named because he swapped his motorcycle and sidecar for Scarecrow's
    "natty socks". Other characters included some spiv-like Weasels and the
    best-avoided evil Witch who wanted nothing more than to snare Mumfie and
    drain him dry of his politeness and niceity. You see, our Mumfie talked a kind
    of Mary Poppins style mockney-cockney and he was always terrribly polite in
    the company of adults...

        Mumfie and Scarecrow...

    Mumfie was brought to life by puppet-masters Mary Turner and John Read,
    who had previously brought us the definitive tv-adaptation of Rupert Bear
    and went on to produce The Hound's most-favourite-ever series Cloppa Castle.
    The Mumfie books had been written by Katherine Tozer and first published
    in 1930. They make for fascinating reading, actually. In the first adventure, we
    learn that Mumfie was actually a present from Santa Claus, given to a young
    boy called Tommy. When he discovers that his pal Scarecrow isn't with
    him any more he sets off in search of him. There's an Oz-like tone to the tales,
    with much magic and curious proceedings and a pervading atmosphere of
    melancholy. There is also a notable cruel streak to the tales, as is frequently
    exhibited in Enid Blyton's Noddy books, and indeed, in the Rupert stories
    too. Mumfie is regularly blamed and chastised for bad deeds and occurences
    which he clearly isn't responsible for - poor thing...

        The Mumfie Puppeteers at work...    Mumfie brochure

    The scans above have been provided by Mumfie puppeteer Sue Dacre.
    They show the Mumfie Puppet crew constructing the puppets for the show,
    and then, on the right there is the cover of a "Mumfie" brochure showing Mumfie,
    Nutty Sax and Uncle Sam on and about the latter's big blue boat house.

    Sadly, like "The Adventures of Rupert", the Turner/Read Mumfie has seemingly
    been overlooked by the current rights holders. Mumfie's were snapped up by
    Brit Allcroft a few years back, and their animated adaptation, "The Magical
    Adventures of Mumfie" has proven to be a worldwide hit. One suspects that
    whilst the new version endures the original will be kept tightly under wraps.
    But "Here Comes Mumfie" is simply a gem of a series, calling out for a
    DVD revival someday. Let's keep our trunks crossed, eh?

   "Mumfie.. you are... an elephant who's
    bound to... go far.. Down in Pinetree Forest...
    the star you are - Mumfie!"


    Mumfie episodes

    Missing Clock
    The Naughty Gingerbread Man
    Trouble with Noise
   Tom Tom the Tinker
    An Hour to Spend
    Things that go Bang

     an ATV colour production
     from the characters and stories by Katherine Tozer

      director:           Mary Turner
      writer:              Marcia Webb
      title song:         Tat Meagre and Miki Anthony
      sung by:           The Mumfie Gang
      puppetry:         Judith Shutt, Susan Dacre,
                            Tricia Brummer, Christopher Covington
      sets:                 Alan Verndell
      dialogue
      co-ord:             Chris Mutter
      photography:     John Read
      camera op:         Paul Marwaha
      sound:              Cyril Brown, Clive Coker
      narration:         Judy Bennett
                            Charles Collingwood

     On the web

     Marcia Webb
     Mumfie's story queen...

     Jediman
     Photos and info here...

     Off the Telly
     TJ Worthington has contributed this excellent Rupert/Mary Turner article
     to an equally-excellent tv site - well worth a read....

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			Here Comes Mumfie (1975-1978) producers: Mary Tuner and John Read for ITC Entertainment puppets: string and radio-controlled puppets episodes: 52 x 10mins
		"Here comes Mumfie!" Mumfie was a Neliphant - not just an elephant, as you may have thought - and he had numerous exciting adventures with his best pal Scarecrow (who was indeed, a talking Scarecrow - nothing more, nothing less). Scarecrow had a hanky in one of his coat pockets and a pet mouse called Panky living in another. Mumfie and Scarecrow regularly visited Uncle Samuel E Phant who lived in a big blue beached boat-turned-house. There was also a moustached tramp called Nutty Sax, so named because he swapped his motorcycle and sidecar for Scarecrow's "natty socks". Other characters included some spiv-like Weasels and the best-avoided evil Witch who wanted nothing more than to snare Mumfie and drain him dry of his politeness and niceity. You see, our Mumfie talked a kind of Mary Poppins style mockney-cockney and he was always terrribly polite in the company of adults... Mumfie was brought to life by puppet-masters Mary Turner and John Read, who had previously brought us the definitive tv-adaptation of Rupert Bear and went on to produce The Hound's most-favourite-ever series Cloppa Castle. The Mumfie books had been written by Katherine Tozer and first published in 1930. They make for fascinating reading, actually. In the first adventure, we learn that Mumfie was actually a present from Santa Claus, given to a young boy called Tommy. When he discovers that his pal Scarecrow isn't with him any more he sets off in search of him. There's an Oz-like tone to the tales, with much magic and curious proceedings and a pervading atmosphere of melancholy. There is also a notable cruel streak to the tales, as is frequently exhibited in Enid Blyton's Noddy books, and indeed, in the Rupert stories too. Mumfie is regularly blamed and chastised for bad deeds and occurences which he clearly isn't responsible for - poor thing... The scans above have been provided by Mumfie puppeteer Sue Dacre. They show the Mumfie Puppet crew constructing the puppets for the show, and then, on the right there is the cover of a "Mumfie" brochure showing Mumfie, Nutty Sax and Uncle Sam on and about the latter's big blue boat house. Sadly, like "The Adventures of Rupert", the Turner/Read Mumfie has seemingly been overlooked by the current rights holders. Mumfie's were snapped up by Brit Allcroft a few years back, and their animated adaptation, "The Magical Adventures of Mumfie" has proven to be a worldwide hit. One suspects that whilst the new version endures the original will be kept tightly under wraps. But "Here Comes Mumfie" is simply a gem of a series, calling out for a DVD revival someday. Let's keep our trunks crossed, eh? "Mumfie.. you are... an elephant who's bound to... go far.. Down in Pinetree Forest... the star you are - Mumfie!" Mumfie episodes Missing Clock The Naughty Gingerbread Man Trouble with Noise Tom Tom the Tinker An Hour to Spend Things that go Bang an ATV colour production from the characters and stories by Katherine Tozer director: Mary Turner writer: Marcia Webb title song: Tat Meagre and Miki Anthony sung by: The Mumfie Gang puppetry: Judith Shutt, Susan Dacre, Tricia Brummer, Christopher Covington sets: Alan Verndell dialogue co-ord: Chris Mutter photography: John Read camera op: Paul Marwaha sound: Cyril Brown, Clive Coker narration: Judy Bennett Charles Collingwood On the web Marcia Webb Mumfie's story queen... Jediman Photos and info here... Off the Telly TJ Worthington has contributed this excellent Rupert/Mary Turner article to an equally-excellent tv site - well worth a read.... index » previous » next »

© ITC Entertainment / Mary Turner & John Read / F2010