Clangers co-creator Peter Firmin dies elderly 89

Clangers co-creator Peter Firmin dies aged 89

Image caption In 1999 Bagpuss was voted the most popular BBC children's programme ever made

Peter Firmin, the co-creator of Clangers, Bagpuss and Basil Brush, has died at the age of 89, it has been confirmed.

Mr Firmin also helped create other classic children's shows such as Ivor the Engine and Noggin the Nog.

He died at his home in Kent after a short illness, Clangers production company Coolabi said.

Mr Firmin received the Bafta Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014.

He leaves behind his wife Joan, six daughters and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

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Media captionPeter Firmin spoke to the BBC in 2016 about the creation of Bagpuss

A statement from Coolabi said: "During a career spanning over six decades Peter worked with great skill in a remarkably wide variety of creative disciplines as a fine artist, craftsman and author.

"Of all his work he will probably be most fondly remembered for the characters he co-created and made."

Mr Firmin worked with Ivan Owen to create Basil Brush; and Oliver Postgate on Bagpuss, Clangers, Ivor the Engine, Noggin the Nog and Pogles Wood.

Skip Twitter post by @OfficialBagpuss

In loving memory of Peter Firmin.
11 December 1928 - 1 July 2018 pic.twitter.com/TK3aOQeDgf

— Bagpuss (@OfficialBagpuss) July 1, 2018

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End of Twitter post by @OfficialBagpuss

In 1999, Bagpuss was voted the most popular BBC children's programme ever made.

The Coolabi statement said: "Peter continued to work with great enthusiasm on creative projects right up until the beginning of 2018, most notably on a new series of Clangers, which won a Bafta in 2015."

Image caption Peter Firmin (left) and Oliver Postgate created numerous much-loved characters through their production company Smallfilms

Fans of his work have been paying tribute on Twitter.

Robert Hanks said: "Is there anybody in Britain whose childhood wasn't improved by Peter Firmin?"

Andrew Douglas said Mr Firmin and his collaborators "defined a generation" with their programmes while Tim Chipping said the artist was a "most magical man".

John Terry said Mr Firmin was a "bringer of joy" while Pam Slingsby called him: "A little known hero who filled my childhood with wonder."

Walter Dunlop said the Mr Firmin and Mr Postgate were a "little oasis of kindness", adding: "Whenever I feel lost, scared or just in need of a little escape for a few minutes, their work will usually do it for me."

Original Article

Entertainment

December 30, 2018