Mr Benn
Mr Benn is a character created by David McKee who appears in several children's books, and an animated television series of the same name transmitted by the BBC in 1971 and 1972. Whether in a book, or on television, Mr Benn's adventures take on a similar pattern. Mr Benn, a businessman wearing a black suit and bowler hat, leaves his house at 52 Festive Road and visits a fancy-dress shop where he is invited by the moustachioed, fez-wearing shopkeeper to try on a particular outfit. He leaves the shop through a magic door at the back of the changing room and enters a world appropriate to his costume, where he has an adventure (which usually contains a moral) before the shopkeeper re-appears, and the story comes to an end. Mr Benn returns to his normal life as a businessman, but is left with a small souvenir of his magical adventure.
Additionally, scenes before and after his adventure usually have some connection to it, such as the games the children are playing in the street as he passes.
The books
Several of Mr Benn's adventures are available to buy in book-form: four were published originally, and further books in the 1990s were based on the television series. The original four books were: Mr Benn Red-Knight, Big Game Benn, 123456789 Benn, and Big Top Benn. There were six original books planned, but the fifth and sixth were never published. The fifth was called Mr Benn Rides Again, the story of which was used to make the television episode The Cowboy. The sixth, never completed, was Superbenn, in which the superhero Benn sets out on an environmental adventure.
There is one book for which no corresponding television episode has (yet) been made. 123456789 Benn was published in 1970 (ISBN 0-234-77361-8) and tells the story of Benn as a convict (hence the number) inspiring his jail-mates to brighten up their cells.
A new story was published in 2001, the first Mr Benn story that David McKee had written in thirty years, and is called Mr Benn, Gladiator (ISBN 1-84270-024-3). McKee has indicated [1] that he may write more Mr Benn stories in the future.
2001 also saw the publication of Mr Benn's Little Book of Life (ISBN 0-09-943649-3) by Tess Read and David McKee, which explores the lessons of Mr Benn's adventures.
The only character who appears several times, apart from Mr Benn and the shopkeeper, is Smasher Lagru. Smasher first appears as an inmate in 123456789 Benn, and then after his release in Big-Top Benn and the new Mr Benn, Gladiator.
The television series
McKee wrote and animated (with Ian Lawless) thirteen Mr Benn episodes for the BBC in the early 1970s. These episodes were repeated many times over the years, and many people retain fond memories of him. The episodes were narrated by Ray Brooks, and the music composed by Don Warren.
McKee has not benefited financially to the extent he might have: "I signed a contract where I only got a one-off payment and no repeat fees but I've done quite well from a number of other things and I'm still exhibiting paintings." [2]
After over thirty years, a brand new Mr Benn episode was screened for the first time on 1 January 2005, on the UK channel Noggin. The episode was based on McKee's 2001 book Mr Benn, Gladiator.
The series was voted the sixth most popular children's television programme in the 2001 Channel 4 poll 100 Greatest Kids' TV shows.
Episode listing
| Episode name | Synopsis | Memento gained |
|---|---|---|
| The Red Knight | Mr Benn helps a disgraced palace dragon regain the King's favour, and bring justice on the evil man who ruined his reputation. | Box of matches |
| The Big Game Hunter | Mr Benn is dressed as a hunter, but he doesn't behave like one. He prevents his fellow hunter from killing any of the animals. | Photograph |
| The Clown | Mr Benn helps the circus people to build a bridge to get to the next town. | Red nose |
| The Balloonist | Mr Benn and his partner in a balloon race outwit the cheating Baron Bartrum. | Medal |
| The Wizard | Mr Benn is asked by a Queen to change her husband's appearance. | Jar |
| The Spaceman | Mr Benn and his fellow astronaut visit several weird and wonderful planets. | Lump of rock |
| The Caveman | Mr Benn helps a stone-age community deal with its traffic problems. | Stone hammer |
| The Cook | Mr Benn helps a Princess who refuses to eat find her appetite. | Wooden spoon |
| The Zoo-Keeper | Mr benn helps the animals in the zoo to improve their accomodation. | Parrot's feather |
| The Diver | Mr Benn helps King Neptune and his mermaid daughter outwit the crews of two submarines out to find a sea monster | Shell |
| The Cowboy | Mr Benn helps a tribe of cowboys defeat some Indians, in a rather unusual game. | Sheriff's badge |
| The Magic Carpet | Mr Benn helps a boy outwit an evil magician, with the help of a genie in a bottle. | Bottle stopper |
| The Pirate | Mr Benn helps some sailors turn their Captain into an honest man. | Jolly roger flag |
| The Gladiator | – | Whistle |
Character origin
The character Mr Benn was based on a picture taken by photographer Micaela Mitchell called The Business Man. [citation needed]
Mr Benn lives in London at 52 Festive Road, which was inspired by Festing Road in Putney where David McKee used to live. McKee also cites one of his influences as Dartmoor, Devon, home to a famous British prison in the somewhat bleak surrounding moorland.
Merchandise
Many posters and t-shirts have been made with the image of the shopkeeper or Mr Benn, or bearing the phrase: "As if by magic, the Shopkeeper appeared.". Recent toys made include beanies of the shopkeeper and Mr Benn in his suit, and dressed as a spaceman and wizard.
Mr Benn in popular culture
- Bell X1 have a song on their Flock album entitled "Just Like Mr Benn".
- Festive Road, the first track on The Divine Comedy's 1993 album Liberation, is about Mr Benn.
Credits
- Created, Written & Produced by: David McKee
- Drawn by: David McKee, Ian Lawless
- Narrated by: Ray Brooks
- Music by: Don Warren
- Musicians: Ken Baldock, Harry Stoneham, Art Morgan, Peter Hughes, Kenny Wheeler, Terry Emery, Ray Swinfield
- Sound: United Motion Pictures (London)
- Filmed by: Zephyr Film Productions
- Directed by: Pat Kirby
- © King Rollo Films Ltd / Zephyr Film Productions
References
Simon Sheridan's book The A to Z of Classic Children's Television (Reynolds & Hearn books, 2004, reprinted 2007) ISBN 1-903111-27-7 contains a chapter on Mr. Benn and an interview with creator David McKee.
Sources
- Mr Benn official site
- Wandsworth Guardian, 12 Nov 2001: "Mr Benn's Back In Town"