We were chatting in the office today at lunch time and the subject of what we used to watch when we were all children came up. Some watched Play School, others Andy Pandy, some watched Watch With Mother and the younger ones amongst us recalled Button Moon.
My favourite however was one called Mr Benn. Mr Benn lived at 52, Festive Road, and one day he got an invite to a fancy dress party. He eventually found a fancy dress shop and wandered in. This is where children of all ages become engrossed. One of my favourite lines is "As if by magic the shopkeeper appeared". At the mention of magic I was hooked. Mr Benn proceeds to try on a suit of Red Armour in the fitting room but rather than an exit through the door he entered he sees another door and takes a walk through that one.
[caption id="attachment_2790" align="alignright" width="300"]
Screen grab of Mr Benn - Red Knight Episode 1[/caption]
It must be a magic door because Mr Benn finds himself not back in the shop but in a strange land where the suit of armour is the perfect attire. He proceeds to have a great adventure before returning to the shop and then back out through the other door and off home again.
Further adventures follow as Mr Benn visits the fancy dress shop each week and chooses a different costume. He is an astronaut, a cowboy, a wizard, a caveman and others that I can't remember. Each time the three main ingredients to the plot are the same. The shopkeeper appears as if by magic, Mr Benn chooses an outfit and he proceeds to leave the changing room through the mysterious magical second door which leads to adventure.
Story writers have always known the intrigue of doors and what lies beyond them and I for one am happy to listen to and watch their stories.
