Something altogether different from those mmmmmarshmallow sweets we used to love tucking into, The Flumps were a kids' TV show produced by David Yates, which aired just after lunchtime on the Beeb in 1977. There were only 13 episodes of The Flumps made, but oh how we loved it!
Family Flumpy consisted of: Grandfather Flump, Father Flump who was very clever and into inventing things, Mother Flump who is a traditional mum and spends most of her time doing the housework or reading to the young Flumps, Perkin, Posie and Pootle. Sporting the best bobble hats on the Beeb and looking rather owly and cute, kids loved The Flumps. You might think they look quite similar to Mr Potato Head - you'd be right, but these have a few more accessories - Posie usually sports a blue ribbon in her hair, Perkin customises his look with a yellow and blue knitted hat, Pootle has a babyish white hat and Grandfather Flump favours a touch of tweed.
As with most kids TV programmes of this ilk, there were only so many morals that could be taught, so The Flumps storylines weren't all that original. There were capers with magnets, roller skates and rockets, but by far my favourite was the first episode. Entitled "Secrets", it centred around Posie being told to keep a secret under her hat - only problem being she couldn't find her hat. Oh dear… At least Grandfather Flump was offering something more original from his "Flumpet" (basically a trumpet, FYI) in most episodes - until baby Pootle shoved a carrot into the end. The 13 episodes were called: Secrets, The Cloud, The Magnet, Get Your Skates On, Moon Shot, Balloons, Keep Fit, Something Different, Lend A Hand, Quiet Please, Grandfather's Birthday, What A Carrot and Where's Grandfather? (you'll be pleased to know they found him).
You can now pick up a copy of The Flumps on DVD (released in 2000). And for those of you with a keen ear, you may have heard the theme tune being used in a series of adverts for AutoTrader in early 2008.
Do You Remember The Flumps?
Do You Remember The Flumps?