The son of the creator of The Clangers, reveals that the classic TV show for children called The Clangers concealed’saucy language’ behind the voices of the knitted characters.
These innocent, friendly creatures were beloved by British 1970s kids. They communicated in an’swaneewhistle language’ and went on loving adventures on small planets.
Oliver Postgate’s father, Oliver, was the creator and author of the show. Now, his son has admitted that the speech they wrote was made by their father, and made by Clanger’s voice actors into the Clanger sound. It also hid swearing and saucy language.
The Clangers, a classic TV show for children that aired from 1965 to 1970, concealed’saucy language’ behind the voices of its knitted characters. This was revealed by its creator’s son.
Mr Postgate created the ‘voices’ by writing a script for the programme’s voice actors to interpret, and translate into the whistling notices.
Fans who have been watching the show for a long time often wonder what the pink knitted mouse-like mice – among other creatures- mean to each other.
‘When my dad wrote the scripts out, they sometimes call each other “you rotten rodent” and things like that,’ Dan Postgate told the Telegraph.
He had to make them so that he understood what he meant when he started whistling. There are a few saucy bits of language in there, I don’t want to give too much away,’ Mr Postgate added.
According to the newspaper, he is looking for crowdfunding publisher Unbound to publish the scripts of his father under Clangers: Complete Scripts 1969-1974.
Postgate claimed that he’s still reviewing and editing the scripts of his father. He stated that there is a lot of swearing in them, but that he did not want to say any particular words.
He compared the script’s use swear words to James Bond books, which only used the first letter for certain words.
Postgate explained that the distinctive whistles of characters were often translated from swearing. One example was when someone used a harsh word.
‘I think if you look carefully when Major Clanger kicks the double-doors, in the double-doors episode… he gives them a kick and says something quite rude at that point,’ he said.
Oliver Postgate’s innocent creations (pictured) were beloved by 1970s kids. These adorable creatures, created in an innocent way by Postgate, would have lovable adventures and talk in a swanee-whistle language.
The Telegraph also reported that The Soup Dragon was a character that was ‘quite bad-tempered’, and that Iron Chicken was his only character that didn’t have translations. He said that Iron Chicken was more expressive.
The new book will include scripts, kitting patterns and drawings. Mr Postgate, who is currently working on The Clangers version 2015, could also collect his father’s work.
His crowdfunding appeal has already raised 50% of its goal.
According to Mr Postgate, the script will provide new insights into the beloved TV show of his father, and the new words will bring the characters alive in a fresh way.
Oliver Postgate’s youngest son, Dan Postgate, has just revealed that the speech they wrote was made by Dan Postgate. The Clanger’s voice actor turned it into a whistling sound by its voice agents. Dan Postgate now says their speech is ‘hideous language’.
Oliver Postgate, Peter Firmin and Peter Firmin created The Clangers. It was broadcast for the first time by BBC in 1969-72.
Postgate created a variety of popular children’s TV programmes including Bagpuss and Noggin the Nog.
The new series was started in 2015 after Dan Postgate joined with his father’s fellow creator Peter Firmin, narrated by Monty Python’s Michael Palin.
Postgate is the voice of many episodes, including The Iron Chicken and The Soup Dragon. Her son, Baby Soup Dragon, also voices some of these new episodes.
For the episode “I am the Eggbot”, he won a Bafta.