Tottie: The Story Of A Doll's House (BBC, 1984)

[Giles Hill]

Hello all. Can anyone tell me if the BBC still holds either original film or tape transfers for this series please? It was ten episodes long, and made by Oliver Postage of Clangers and Bagpuss fame.

[gileshill]

Hello again all, I hope it doesn't look odd replying to my own post as soon as I've gone legit and registered! I've asked around at other places and it appears that when the BBC wiped some childrens programmes relatively recently they all came from the 1970s, meaning Tottie would be safe. However Tottie wasn't made by the BBC and so I don't know if the owner still has a copy. It certainly hasn't been repeated since 1986 or put on DVD like all the other programmes made by Oliver Postgate, so do the BBC still have a master? Perhaps they were given the original films?

[Andrew Martin]

There were two series of "Tottie", "Story of a Doll's House" in 1984, for which the BBC has copies of the films, and "The Doll's Wish" in 1986 which the BBC no longer has copies of (it was transmitted from VT). Both these series were classed as purchased programmes, so they are not required to be kept by the BBC archive.

[robbiep]

Long time reader & first time poster. Have a look at the news page on this site:

www.dragons-friendly-society.co.uk/main.htm

Looks like a christmas release might happen. it says they, "have negotiated the rights to release Oliver's series Tottie: The Story of A Dolls House"

[gileshill]

Thanks Andrew and Robbie.

I'm glad it all still existed somewhere and even more pleased that there will be a DVD!

Has anyone got a copy from Childrens BBC? Does Philip Schofield or Andy Crane give out a warning like the ones that go "some of the scenes may be disturbing for young children"? One of the dolls gets burnt to death and it was very disturbing for this child in 1986!

Thanks in advance.