Tales of the Riverbank
Also known as
Hammy Hamster
Genre: Children's television
Created by: Dave Ellison and Paul Sutherland
Written by: Dave Ellison, Charles Fullman, Paul Sutherland and Cliff Braggins
Presented by: Peggy Miller
Voices of: Paul Sutherland (Canada) and Johnny Morris (UK)
Opening theme: Andante in C by Mauro Giuliani
Country of origin: Canada/UK
Original language(s): English
No. of seasons: 5
No. of episodes: 143
First: 13
Second: 39
Hammy Hamster: 26
HBO/C4: 65
Production
Producer(s): Dave Ellison and Paul Sutherland
Cinematography: Josef Seckeresh
Broadcast
Original channel: BBC (1960), HBO (Hammy Hamster, 1972), /Channel 4 (1995-1998)
Picture format: Black-and-white (1960s), 405-line (Hammy Hamster), PAL (C4 episodes)
Tales of the Riverbank, sometimes called Hammy Hamster, was a British children's television show developed from a Canadian pilot - though this original series was later broadcast on
Canadian and U.S. television, dubbed by Canadian and American actors for the markets they were to be broadcast in.
The pilot was created by David Ellison and Paul Sutherland, CBC film editors, in 1959. After completing the pilot programme, CBC turned down the production and so Dave Ellison
travelled to the BBC in London to show it.[1] The BBC initially commissioned thirteen episodes, but extended this later. A second series were made in colour in the 1970s, narrated by
Johnny Morris.
A later remake was produced by YTV and Channel 4 in 1995 which ran for three years, and a feature-length film was made in 2008 using puppets rather than live animals.
Format
The programme had human voices in sync with the actions of the live animals, to give the impression that the creatures were performing activities. They lived in a place called "The Riverbank" and operated various artifacts including toy sailboats, cars, and even a diving bell.
Various techniques were used to persuade the animals to do what was required, including smearing jam on the objects they were to handle. The voices were selected to reflect the personalities of the animals. Each episode ended with the narrator alluding to an event
involving the characters, but refusing to elaborate, saying "But that is another story."
The original black and white Tales of the Riverbank series was first shown by the BBC on 3 July 1960 at 4:50 pm. It was originally narrated by Paul Sutherland, but the BBC did not want Canadian accents and so for the BBC showings, all the voices were provided by Johnny Morris. The series was eventually sold to 34 countries around the world.
Further episodes
After the original thirteen episodes, 39 further episodes were made in black and white. The majority were written by David Ellison, Charles Fullman, Paul Sutherland and Cliff Braggins. The episodes of Tales of the Riverbank purchased by the BBC were adapted by staff writer Peggy Miller. Much of the filming was done on location at Wootton Creek on the Isle of Wight.
A later series with 26 episodes was filmed in colour in the 1970s, retitled Hammy Hamster (full title: Hammy Hamster's Adventures On the Riverbank) launched in 1972. The BBC
had introduced a policy of not using human voices for live animals and so this series was shown in the UK by ITV. In Australia the show aired on ABC TV through the '70s as Adventures on the River Bank.
A further series, from 1995 to 1998, was produced for YTV and Channel 4; 65 episodes of that series were made. It is ranked 79th in the UK Channel 4's 2001 poll of the 100 Greatest Kids' TV shows. In the United States, Once Upon A Hamster was broadcast in a late-night slot, which helped the programme transcend its intended audience and develop a cult status among American viewers.
Dave Ellison has recently launched his own website to regularly update information about Hammy Hamster and his friends. He has also been involved with optimising the TV series, last shown on Channel 4, for release on DVD. The first nine episodes are now readily available.
Three children's books were published by Scholastic Publications Ltd in 1993 based on the series and illustrated by Pauline Hazelwood.
Main characters
In the later series the list of characters was expanded from the original first three listed below.
Character
Description
Hammy Hamster The series' main protagonist and best-known character. He is curious and kind and lives in an old boot on the Riverbank. He became GP's co-pilot in the episode The
Aeroplane Ride.
Roderick the Water Rat Hammy's best friend. He is cautious, resourceful and owns a small motorboat. In the Canadian and U.S. versions of the series, this character was Matty or
Martha Mouse (although the "mouse" is really a rat). In Australia, the character was known as Matthew.
G. P. the Guinea Pig Boastful and creative, he is the Riverbank's resident inventor. His creations included a "winch-a-ma-bob" and a "recyclamobile". He lived in a wooden house with a
prominent water wheel at the front. He had a small plane, which he flew in several episodes, and spoke in a voice that sounded rather like W. C. Fields (in the BBC version, he speaks with a strong Yorkshire accent).
Turtle A slow and plodding character. He teaches his friends the importance of patience.
Wise Old Frog A grouchy but clever frog. His wise advice is often sought by the other characters.
Granny Rabbit Acts as a grandmother to the whole community. She is fond of baking, singing and story-telling.
Berti and Herbi Roderick's sneaky hamster nephews, who have no relation to Hammy. Appear in Bubbles.
The Owl Always on a tree branch, the only word it ever says is "who".
Feature film
A feature-length film, also Tales of the Riverbank, was released in September 2008 directly to DVD.
It used a mix of puppets, live action, and special effects. Directed by John
Henderson, produced by Handmade Pictures and starring Stephen Fry as Owl, Ardal O’Hanlon as Hammy, Steve Coogan as Roderick and Jim Broadbent as G. P., the story follows three
friends who live in a riverbank. After being swept away from their homes by a storm, they embark on an adventure to find their home and save it from the danger of the Fat Cats’
factory.
Environmental impact
The series was filmed at Cothy Butts near Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight. At the end of filming in 1973, the animals were released into the wild at this site. The rats, hamsters and
cavies died not long after release, but the Mongolian Gerbils survived for at least three years, the colony reaching c. 100 individuals by this time.
