subject: Charlie Chalk - Gas Compressor Manufacturer - Oil Pipe Manufacturer [print this page] Synopsis Synopsis
It tells the story of Charlie Chalk - a jolly clown who, after falling asleep whilst fishing out at sea, ends up on a strange island by the name of Merrytwit (as explained in the title sequence before each episode). Characters had to be aware of coconuts which constantly fell from the trees on the island.
The pilot episode of the series (entitled 'Shipwrecked Charlie') finds Charlie having just landed on Merrytwit, and after making friends with some of its inhabitants, decides to stay and build a home there. The following episodes follow Charlie and his new friends on various adventures on the island.
Main characters
Charlie Chalk - A clown, he was out on a fishing trip, when he ended up on Merrytwit Island. In the theme tune, he is described as "Got a funny way of walking and a wacky way of chalking". He was voiced by Michael Williams. His 'funny way of walking' was developed when on occasion he would tumble in an acrobatic circus-style through frames, around obstacles, or just to show folks how happy he was. He also had the ability to do magic tricks as well.
Captain Mildred: The boss, who loves to see everyone hard at work. She shows strong influences of Margaret Thatcher.
Mary the Hover Fairy An old fairy whom often proves useful due to her ability to cast spells...provided her magic wand, Houdini, hasn't wondered off again. She is getting old, so has decided to settle down on Merrytwit. She now lives on Buttercup, serving as Mildred's first mate.
Lewis T. Duck: A small duck with a short temper! He is full of ideas, and believes his ideas to be the best, so is quick to inform people that he is 'always right.' He can be quite friendly, but lacks in patience. The 'T' stands for 'The'.
Arnold the Elephant: A pink elephant, who is quite jolly, but also very clumsy, much to the annoyance of Lewis, who always seems to be on the receiving end of Arnold's bouts of clumsiness!
Edward: A monkey who likes his sleep. He has quite a dislike for work.
Trader Jones: Trader is the island's odd job man; not only does he drive the bike, which acts as a taxi and a means of transporting goods, he also owns a general supplies store on the island; 'if you want it, he's got it.' He never accepts money; he trades. A supply of bananas may cost you a days beachcombing.
Bert: A giant monster, discovered by Charlie, Arnold and Lewis in The Mountain that Moaned episode. He lives inside a cave, and whilst an extremely friendly monster, he is quite lacking in intelligence.
Litterbug: A tiny little bug who is kept busy tidying up litter around the island. He often complains about the amount of litter, but doesn't realize there'd be far less litter if his sack didn't have a hole in it! Being so tiny, he isn't always noticed, a fact which further frustrates him.
Episode list
The series consisted of 13 original episodes, as listed below:
Shipwrecked Charlie
Arnold's Big Night Out
The Coconut Harvest
The Sneezes
Jumping Bananas
The Mountain That Moaned
Edward Keeps Fit
The Feast
There Are No Roads On Merrytwit
Mildred's Day Off
Bert's Boring Day
Return Of The Litter
Goodbye, Hello
Merchandise
Charlie Chalk - The Complete Collection features all 13 episodes and is currently available on BBC DVD.
In 1988, Redrock Records released a Charlie Chalk LP. It included the several incidental songs played on the show and the full Charlie Chalk theme song which includes some previously un-heard lyrics.
A new Charlie Chalk CD has been developed in America.
The UK based restaurant chain Brewers Fayre originally used Charlie Chalk as their mascot, but this image has since changed to the firm's own 'Brewster the Bear'.
References
External links
Charlie Chalk at Cjetech.co.uk
Charlie Chalk at the Internet Movie Database
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Categories: BBC children's television programmes | Stop-motion animated television series | Children's television series stubs
