Fraggle Rock (UK)

Fraggle Rock
A Fraggle Rock co-production
Country	UK
First aired	January 7, 1984
Last aired
Network	ITV
Seasons	7

The Captain building a model in 'The Garden Plot'

Fraggle Rock UK open

UK opening sequence for 2-3

Fraggle Rock's first produced international co-production was the English UK version, though the French and German versions began airing sooner. The segments within the Muppet world of Fraggle Rock are identical to the American version, however the segments from outer space (i.e. the Doc & Sprocket and Traveling Matt segments) were changed to fit the UK audience.

Fraggle Rock was located on a rock headland or island on a sea coast. There is a lighthouse on the island. The lighthouse was the home of the Captain, a retired sailor and the UK version of the Doc character, played by Fulton MacKay. Sprocket was still his companion, however.

Due to MacKay's death in 1987, the Captain was replaced in the fourth UK season by a younger character known as P.K. (Principal Keeper, the Captain's nephew), played by John Gordon Sinclair and again in the sixth UK season by another character, B.J. (the Captain's son), played by Simon O'Brien.

The episode order and Captain story-lines were different than the original North American version. One particular difference is that the Captain is a little more harsh towards Sprocket than Doc is.

The UK co-production was the only one to take the series through to the end. France and Germany ended before episode 96.

A selection of episodes was released on VHS. A petition to have Fraggle Rock released on DVD was run on the web for many years; until 2004 the only DVD release had been in the UK, a "best of" collection of 12 episodes in a grainy transfer from the VHS release. TVS, the original broadcasters, has passed through several owners since 1992 and of the 96 episodes, only 12 master copies were known to still be in existence. HIT Entertainment has tried unsuccessfully to locate the missing episodes, including extensive enquiries with The Jim Henson Company both in the UK and the US. (For a detailed list of UK video and DVD releases, see Fraggle Rock UK Videography.)

An effort by fan Alex Taylor to track down the episodes in whatever format is available has confirmed that at least 29 episodes exist in broadcast quality, with 83 episodes existing in some form. Thirteen episodes are unaccounted for in any format.

When UK television channels wish to broadcast the show, they are forced to use US versions; such was the case with Cartoon Network in 2004.

During March 1985 Uncle Travelling Matt did one month of live presentation for CITV, the children's afternoon programming block on ITV. A Live-Hand Muppet version of Matt, performed by Dave Goelz, was used for these appearances, which were broadcast from Central House, the home of Central Independent Television, the successor to ATV, in Birmingham. Matt would announce all the children's programming, except Fraggle Rock itself. Each Wednesday afternoon just before the show was broadcast, Matt would somehow be distracted and remain unaware his fellow Fraggles were on TV.

Cast

• The Captain: Fulton MacKay (season 1-3)
• P.K.: John Gordon Sinclair (season 4-5)
• B.J.: Simon O'Brien (season 6-7)
• Sprocket: Dave Barclay

Assistant: Mike Quinn (season 1-4), Geoff Felix (season 4-5)

• Uncle Traveling Matt: Dave Barclay (puppeteer), Mike Quinn (puppeteer season 2-5)
• Gobo: Louise Gold (puppeteer season 1), Mike Quinn (puppeteer season 2-4), Geoff Felix (season 5)

Episode Guide

Picture	Episode	Summary
File:Fraggleuk.jpg	Beginnings	A clip from this episode is shown on the "Down at Fraggle Rock" documentary.
	Episode 109: The Terrible Tunnel	Sprocket returns from the beach with a horseshoe, which the Captain assumes will bring good luck. Uncle Matt's postcard is the same as in the US version.
	Episode 110: Don't Cry Over Spilt Milk	Like the U.S. version, Gobo accidentally gets himself trapped in Outer Space when the Captain decides to board up the Fraggle hole. Meanwhile, Uncle Matt comes across a big red postbox, which he assumes to be a "paper-eater". He then proceeds to "feed" it with his postcard to Gobo.
	The Bells of Fraggle Rock (Christmas special)	Sprocket and the Captain anxiously wait for the arrival of their special Christmas dinner during a storm on Christmas Eve.
	Episode 201: Capture the Moon	Sprocket has insomnia and cannot stop howling at the full moon. Meanwhile, Matt thinks tea drinking is the Silly Creatures' way of bathing their upper-lips.
	Episode 202: Marooned	The Captain and Sprocket are snowed in, and Sprocket refuses to let Fluffinella into the lighthouse for shelter. Meanwhile, Uncle Matt encounters the "lair of the long red giants" (double decker buses).
	Episode 203: The Minstrels	Sprocket thinks he has musical talent, but the Captain begs to differ. Uncle Traveling Matt is horrified at the sight of a Scotsman playing a bagpipe, thinking the bagpipe is a monster which the Silly Creature is strangling.
	Episode 204: The Great Radish Famine	Sprocket has fleas, and The Captain gets rid of them using a concoction of stale radishes and kipper oil.
	Episode 207: Gobo's Discovery	The Captain cheers for a fellow voyager returning from his journey on the sea. Uncle Matt's postcard is the same as in the US version.
	Episode 208: Mokey's Funeral	Sprocket is upset when the Captain accuses him of eating the bread that he left out for the seagulls. The dog decides to run away at first, until the Captain realizes he forgot to put the bread out and apologizes. Uncle Matt "gathers" radishes from a produce stand, and is pursued by "Gorgs" (angry Silly Creatures, actually).
	Episode 209: The Beast of Blue Rock	Sprocket is afraid to see the vet when he gets sick.
	Episode 219: A Friend in Need	Like the U.S. version, Sprocket gets stuck in the Fraggle hole and Gobo tries to help free him, while the Captain tries to remove a tight ring from his finger. Meanwhile, Uncle Matt visits a great race (actually a Selfridges department store sale).
	Episode 222: Red's Club	The Captain tries to form a birdwatchers' club, but only Sprocket will join. Uncle Traveling Matt discovers a way to control a species of big yellow creatures: just yell "Taxi!" and they'll stop.
	Episode 401: Born to Wander	Sprocket meets his new owner, PK, the Captain's nephew, but the two don't seem to get along.
	Episode 411: Pebble Pox Blues	Sprocket catches a cold and is made fun of by PK, who boasts that his exercising prevents him from getting sick. In the end, Sprocket recovers, but now PK ends up with the flu. Uncle Matt's postcard is the same as in the US version.
	Episode 511: Wembley and the Mean Genie	PK practices magic tricks with Sprocket for a Christmas party. Uncle Matt's postcard is the same as in the US version.
	Episode 601: Gone, But Not Forgotten	Sprocket has a hard time adjusting to change when his new owner, BJ arrives at the lighthouse.
	Episode 712: Change of Address	The plot is nearly the same as the original U.S. version, except that the lighthouse is being automated by electronic machines, which means that there is no longer a need for a keeper. After BJ and Sprocket leave, Gobo leads his friends to the lighthouse where the other Fraggle four unsuccessfully try to communicate with the new machines. Gobo then finds a note from BJ simply saying his last goodbye. Meanwhile, BJ takes up a job as caretaker at a castle, which is where he and Sprocket discover the second Fraggle hole.

Openings

This Fraggle Rock co-production opening has a longer opening, mostly involving the shot of the lighthouse. Because of the change in actor, there were three different opening titles produced. The first three series had two different openings with the Captain, while the rest of the show's run had one opening per keeper. There were also two alternate openings, including one with Sprocket alone in the lighthouse, as seen in "Born to Wander" The first half of the opening from the second and third series (ending after the Fraggles' first verse) was included at the end of the Fraggle Rock Season Two DVD Interviews segment titled "Docs And Sprockets".

Series 1 and 2

"The Bells of Fraggle Rock"

Series 2 and 3

"Born to Wander"

Series 4 and 5

Series 6 and 7

Credits

Fraggle Rock UK Crew Shirt

• Executive Producer: Anna Home
• Producers: Duncan Kenworthy, Lawrence S. Mirkin
• Writer (new segments): Victor Pemberton
• Director: Nick Abson
• Designer: Malcolm Stone
• The Captain's Costume: Terry Parker
• The Captain's Make-up: Jill Gray

UK airdates

The Doozer ring from 'A Friend In Need'

Series 1

• Beginnings - January 7, 1984
• Wembley and the Gorgs - January 14, 1984
• The Lost Treasure of the Fraggles - January 21, 1984
• Let the Water Run - January 28, 1984
• You Can't Do That Without a Hat - February 4, 1984
• The Thirty-Minute Work Week - February 11, 1984
• The Preachification of Convincing John - February 18, 1984
• I Want to Be You - February 25, 1984
• The Terrible Tunnel - March 3, 1984
• Don't Cry Over Spilt Milk - March 10, 1984
• Catch the Tail by the Tiger - March 17, 1984
• The Finger of Light - March 24, 1984
• We Love You, Wembley - March 31, 1984
• The Challenge - April 7, 1984
• I Don't Care - April 14, 1984

Christmas Special

• The Bells of Fraggle Rock - December 22, 1984

Series Two

• Capture the Moon - February 27, 1985
• Marooned - March 6, 1985
• The Minstrels - March 13, 1985
• The Great Radish Famine - March 20, 1985
• The Garden Plot - March 27, 1985
• New Trash Heap in Town - April 3, 1985
• Gobo's Discovery - April 10, 1985
• Mokey's Funeral - April 17, 1985
• The Beast of Blue Rock April 24, 1985
• Wembley's Egg - May 1, 1985
• Boober Rock - May 8, 1985
• All Work and All Play - May 15, 1985
• Red's Sea Monster - May 29, 1985
• Uncle Matt Comes Home - June 5, 1985
• Boober's Dream - June 12, 1985
• Mokey and the Minstrels - June 19, 1985
• The Trash Heap Doesn't Live Here Anymore - June 26, 1985
• Sir Hubris and the Gorgs - July 3, 1985
• A Friend in Need - July 10, 1985
• The Wizard of Fraggle Rock - July 17, 1985
• Doozer Contest - July 24, 1985
• Red's Club - July 31, 1985
• The Secret of Convincing John - August 7, 1985

Series Three

• Junior Sells the Farm - November 30, 1986
• Fraggle Wars - December 7, 1986
• The Day the Music Died - December 14, 1986
• Doomsday Soup - January 4, 1987
• A Cave of One's Own - January 11, 1987
• Wembley And The Great Race - January 18, 1987
• Doozer Is As Doozer Does - January 25, 1987
• Boober's Quiet Day - February 1, 1987
• The Invasion of the Toe Ticklers - February 8, 1987

Series Four

• Born to Wander - January 10, 1988 (new lighthouse keeper: John Gordon-Sinclair as 'PK')
• Boober and the Glob - January 17, 1988
• A Brush with Jealousy - January 24, 1988
• Believe It or Not - January 31, 1988
• A Dark and Stormy Night - February 7, 1988
• The Beanbarrow, The Burden and the Bright Bouquet - February 14, 1988
• The Secret Society of Poobahs - February 21, 1988
• The Battle of Leaking Roof - February 28, 1988
• Red-Handed and the Invisible Thief - March 6, 1988
• The Incredible Shrinking Mokey - March 13, 1988
• Pebble Pox Blues - March 20, 1988
• Scared Silly - March 27, 1988
• Wembley's Wonderful Whoopie Water - April 3, 1988

Series Five

• The Great Radish Caper - September 4, 1988
• Home Is Where the Trash Is - September 11, 1988
• Sidebottom Blues - September 18, 1988
• Gobo's School for Explorers - October 9, 1988
• The Grapes of Generosity - October 16, 1988
• The Cavern of Lost Dreams - October 23, 1988
• Bored Stiff - October 30, 1988
• Playing Till It Hurts - November 6, 1988
• Blanket of Snow, Blanket of Woe - November 13, 1988
• Gunge the Great and Glorious - November 20, 1988
• Wembley and the Mean Genie - December 18, 1988

Series Six

• Gone, But Not Forgotten - January 7, 1989 (new lighthouse keeper: Simon O'Brien as 'BJ')
• Mokey Then and Now - January 15, 1989
• Junior Faces the Music - January 22, 1989
• Beyond the Pond - January 29, 1989
• Manny's Land of Carpets - February 5, 1989
• The Trial of Cotterpin Doozer - February 12, 1989
• The Voice Inside - February 19, 1989
• A Tune for Two - February 26, 1989
• Wembley's Flight - March 5, 1989
• Wonder Mountain - March 12, 1989
• Mirror, Mirror - March 19, 1989
• Boober Gorg - March 26, 1989

Series Seven

• Sprocket's Big Adventure - June 6, 1990
• Uncle Matt's Discovery - June 13, 1990
• Red's Blue Dragon - June 20, 1990
• Space Frog Follies - June 27, 1990
• Inspector Red - July 4, 1990
• Ring Around the Rock - July 11, 1990
• The Perfect Blue Rollie - July 18, 1990
• The Riddle of Rhyming Rock - July 25, 1990
• The Gorg Who Would Be King - August 1, 1990
• The River of Life - August 8, 1990
• The Honk of Honks - August 15, 1990
• Change of Address - August 22, 1990

External links

• Return to Fraggle Rock: Victor Pemberton Interview by Jonathan Melville (2008-06-01)
• The Muppet Cast - Show #47 (Victor Pemberton Interview begins at 18:50) (2008-03-02)