Post #1623065
2026-04-02 19:51 UTC
@Sarahw
Well, I've read about it...
Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin wrote proper scripts for each episode, and then played swannee whistles to the rhythm of the words. In one episode, the dustbin lid of a crater sticks, and the script actually had Major Clanger saying "Oh, sod it, the bloody thing's stuck again"
BBC bosses were not happy when they saw the script, but Postgate reasoned that nice minded children would probably hear "oh bother, the blooming thing's stuck again" and it stayed.
Replies (5)
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@suearcher@toot.wales 2026-04-02 19:53
@Sarahw Years later, when the Clanger toys came out, the ones you squeeze and they make Clanger sounds, a simple sample was needed. And so of course, Postgate made sure it was "Oh, sod it, the bloody thing's stuck again!" that was used....
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@nxskok@cupoftea.social 2026-04-02 19:57
@suearcher @Sarahw this does sound like the sort of thing Postgate would have tried to sneak in.
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@Sarahw@mastodon.green 2026-04-02 20:08
@suearcher I've never heard this but it's utterly charming. Thank you
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@LifeinCarms@toot.wales 2026-04-04 07:50
@suearcher @Sarahw Bought this when it came out in 2022 - https://www.psbooks.co.uk/clangers
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@CiaraNi@mastodon.green 2026-04-06 07:20
@suearcher @Sarahw This is delightful to learn. Thanks for sharing this story.