Charlie Chalk - The Complete Collection (DVD)

...excited to get it as Charlie Chalk, from what I could remember of it, was always one of my favourite children's programmes. I think it was the happy-go-lucky clown, the theme tune, and all the bright colours that did it for me! And i'd say my excitement was justified as it is still as good now as it was all those years ago.

Charlie Chalk is a children's animation from the mid 80's, was created by Ivor Wood, and comes from the producers ...
...many weird and wonderful inhabitants, Charlie decides to stay there.

The animals (and people) living on the island are-
*Trader Jones - trades various things with the people on the island
*Edward - a big grey gorilla type animal who is always falling asleep
*Arnold - a clumsy pink elephant
*Lewis T Duck - quite often tends to pay for Arnold's accidents
*Captain Mildred - lives on her derelict boat ... more

I was given this DVD for christmas in the year it came out (2005), and I have to say I was pretty excited to get it as Charlie Chalk, from what I could remember of it, was always one of my favourite children's programmes. I think it was the happy-go-lucky clown, the theme tune, and all the bright colours that did it for me! And i'd say my excitement was justified as it is still as good now as it was all those years ago.

Charlie Chalk is a children's animation from the mid 80's, was created by Ivor Wood, and comes from the producers of Postman Pat. Charlie is voiced by Michael Williams, the late husband of Dame Judi Dench. The series is about a cheerful clown who was fishing out at sea, fell asleep on his little rowing boat, and woke up to find himself shipwrecked on an island called Merrytwit. This is shown in the title sequence at the start of each episode, accompanied by a catchy theme tune. After a look around the island, and meeting the many weird and wonderful inhabitants, Charlie decides to stay there. The animals (and people) living on the island are-

• Trader Jones - trades various things with the people on the island
• Edward - a big grey gorilla type animal who is always falling asleep
• Arnold - a clumsy pink elephant
• Lewis T Duck - quite often tends to pay for Arnold's accidents
• Captain Mildred - lives on her derelict boat on the island, and is quite bossy
• Mary the hoverfairy - lives with Captain Mildred, and appears occasionally to help others, although not always successfully!
• Bert - a strange looking creature who lives under/in a mountain
• Litterbug - tries to collect litter but his bag has a hole in it, so consequently is not very good at his job!

The DVD contains all 13 episodes of the programme, each about 15 minutes long.Charlie Chalk is full of bright, colourful characters and backgrounds. Each of the characters have their own, often slightly eccentirc, personalities, and are all lovable. In particular you have to love Arnold for having his heart in the right place, but frequently causing accidents. When I say his name, I always have to say it the way Lewis T Duck does: "Aaaarnoooold!!!". If you watch the series you'll understand, and then you may find you're doing the same thing too!!

The series follows Charlie's many adventures on the island with his new found friends, including when the inhabitants decide to hold a feast, when they hear the mountain 'moaning' and go in search of the origin of the noise, and when it's time for the coconut harvest.

Even now I still love Charlie Chalk, and when I have children (which won't be for a few years yet!) I will certainly be showing this to them. 

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