Rhubarb & Custard Complete Collection. Image: Simply Media
De ner dener de ner dener de ner de ner de nere…
More than 40 years after making their debut on British TV screens, and over a decade since their return, green dog and pink cat Roobarb & Custard are bounding back into view again, accompanied by their ubiquitous theme tune (acclaimed as one of finest children’s TV title songs ever).
The groundbreaking animated series and its sequel are being paired together for the first time ever on a DVD due to be released as Roobarb & Custard: The Complete Collection on 16th May 2016, courtesy of Simply Media.
Famed for both entertaining kids at the end of children’s TV programming, and, ahead of the teatime BBC news, wooing a cult audience of grownLups, Roobarb & Custard is instantly recognisable, from its distinctive theme tune, penned by library legend Johnny Hawksworth (Man About the House), to its crazy lead characters. That theme tune was even sampled for a rave friendly chart version in the early 1990s.
Simply Media’s splendid new DVD release pairs the original 30 episodes from the 1974 series – the first fully animated television series to be made in the UK – as well as the 2005 Roobarb & Custard Too series, comprising of 39 episodes.
Both come from the mind of original creator Bob Godfrey (Henry’s Cat) and each feature the distinctive narration of British comedy legend Richard Briers (The Good Life). Each of the two series features the antics of the green dog Roobarb and his outlandish schemes and hapless plans, seemingly forever foiled by his nextLdoor nemesis, pink cat Custard.
• Roobarb & Custard: The Complete Collection Certificate: U Release Date: 16th May 2016 Cat No: 166458 Running Time: 345 mins approx. on 3 discs RRP: £34.99
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
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