This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7772620.stm

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Bagpuss and Ivor creator dies Bagpuss and Ivor creator dies
(20 minutes later)
Bagpuss creator Oliver Postgate has died aged 83, his family has confirmed.Bagpuss creator Oliver Postgate has died aged 83, his family has confirmed.
Mr Postgate, who lived in Kent, created some of the best-loved children's TV series including Ivor the Engine, the Clangers and Noggin the Nog.Mr Postgate, who lived in Kent, created some of the best-loved children's TV series including Ivor the Engine, the Clangers and Noggin the Nog.
His work, screened on the BBC and ITV from the 1950s to the present day, was often in collaboration with the artist and puppeteer Peter Firmin.His work, screened on the BBC and ITV from the 1950s to the present day, was often in collaboration with the artist and puppeteer Peter Firmin.
In a poll earlier this year, Bagpuss, a saggy pink cloth cat, was voted the best TV animal of all-time.In a poll earlier this year, Bagpuss, a saggy pink cloth cat, was voted the best TV animal of all-time.
Disused cowshed
Mr Postgate's work was popular with generations of children who loved the strangeness of the characters and the warmth of his story-telling.Mr Postgate's work was popular with generations of children who loved the strangeness of the characters and the warmth of his story-telling.
The short animated films, which he would script and narrate, were created by Smallfilms production company, set up with Mr Firmin.The short animated films, which he would script and narrate, were created by Smallfilms production company, set up with Mr Firmin.
The partners worked in a makeshift studio in a disused cowshed in Kent. The partners worked in a makeshift studio in a disused cowshed in Kent.Bagpuss was invented in 1974 by Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate
They established themselves as reliable purveyors of children's entertainment, in the days when there were just two channels and children's television occupied a privileged teatime slot on both.They established themselves as reliable purveyors of children's entertainment, in the days when there were just two channels and children's television occupied a privileged teatime slot on both.
Describing the commissioning process, Mr Postgate said: "We would go to the BBC once a year, show them the films we'd made, and they would say, 'Yes, lovely, now what are you going to do next?'"Describing the commissioning process, Mr Postgate said: "We would go to the BBC once a year, show them the films we'd made, and they would say, 'Yes, lovely, now what are you going to do next?'"
"We would tell them, and they would say, 'That sounds fine, we'll mark it in for 18 months from now', and we would be given praise and encouragement and some money in advance, and we'd just go away and do it.""We would tell them, and they would say, 'That sounds fine, we'll mark it in for 18 months from now', and we would be given praise and encouragement and some money in advance, and we'd just go away and do it."
Only 13 episodes of Bagpuss were made in 1974, but were regularly repeated until 1987.Only 13 episodes of Bagpuss were made in 1974, but were regularly repeated until 1987.
Mr Postgate made his last film in 1987, complaining that children's television commissioners were no longer interested in what he had to offer.Mr Postgate made his last film in 1987, complaining that children's television commissioners were no longer interested in what he had to offer.
In October this year, the rights to many of his characters were bought by company Coolbai, which said it planned to introduce Bagpuss to a new generation.In October this year, the rights to many of his characters were bought by company Coolbai, which said it planned to introduce Bagpuss to a new generation.