In The Night Garden

About In The Night Garden

The programme features colourful characters: Upsy Daisy, Igglepiggle, Makka Pakka and three Tombliboos who live in a forest. As well as trees and tropical birds (Tittifers), the forest features a surprisingly large cast of other creatures for a programme aimed at toddlers. All of the characters have their own unique phrases which they repeat over and over. Little of what they say would make sense or seem logical to any adults watching but the repetition of sound associated with the characters builds up familiarity amongst the target audience. Like Teletubbyland, the forest is a surreal environment and this, along with the title of the programme and the opening sequence of the programme featuring a sleeping child, perhaps indicates the programme is intended to represent a child's dream.

Each episode ends with the characters inc Iggle Piggle going to sleep, with one character receiving a bedtime story (which is generated by the "Magic Roundabout" style gazebo that sits at the centre of the Night Garden). This story is a summary of the plot of the episode, just as in the Fimbles.

Because Igglepiggle is a visitor to the garden he does not go to sleep, and his goodbye sequence ("Igglepiggle's not in bed!" — "Squeak!" — "Don't worry, Igglepiggle, it's time to go.") rounds off the programme - the Night Garden retreats into the night sky and we see him asleep on his little boat as the programmes' closing titles roll.

In the Night Garden Toys Iggle Piggle