Bertha (Woodland Animations Limited, 1985 – 1986)

Bertha was a stop frame animation, made by Woodland Animations. It ran for a single series, totalling thirteen episodes.

ON THE AIR	1st April 1985 – 23rd April 1986
ORIGINAL CHANNEL	BBC 1
PRODUCTION COMPANY	Woodland Animations Limited
NUMBER OF EPISODES	13
PRODUCTION LOCATIONS
MISSING BELIEVED WIPED	n/a – all episodes survive
ARCHIVE HOLDER	Dreamworks Distribution Limited 1 Central St. Giles, St. Giles High Street, London, WC2H 8NU https://www.dreamworks.com/classics
THEME TUNE	OPENING Bertha, lovely Bertha, you are a lovely machine! And anyone who works with you, will know just what I mean. (woah!) Bertha, lovely Bertha, sometimes I think you’re a dream! When we work out what you have to do, you can always churn the goods out, always churn the goods out, we can depend upon you. Clicking in the day, flashing in the night, your computer is shining brightly. Some people say you’ve a mind of your own, and I think that’s very likely… likely! (oh!) Bertha, lovely Bertha, sometimes I think you’re a dream! When we work out what you have to do, you can always churn the goods out, always churn the goods out, we can depend upon you. CLOSING (oh!) Bertha, lovely Bertha, sometimes I think you’re a dream! When we work out what you have to do, you can always churn the goods out, always churn the goods out, we can depend upon you.
HELD IN THE BRITSET ARCHIVES	Episode #1.1 – The Great Painting Job (TX 1st April 1985) Episode #1.2 – The Windmills (TX 15th April 1985) Episode #1.3 – A Mouse in the Works (TX 22nd April 1985) Episode #1.4 – The Best Machine Competition (TX 29th April 1985)

Bertha was a stop frame animation about a machine who seemed to have a mind of her own. Bertha was located at the Spottiswood & Company factory and would turn out different items in each episode, depending on what it had been setup to do. What would often happen is that Bertha would help solve whatever issue was happening at the factory – although sometimes she would also be the cause of the issue.

The factory was owned by Mr Willmake who had inherited the company from his grandfather and Bertha was actually installed during his grandfather’s time at the factory. Willmake was assisted by his secretary Miss McClackerty and the tea-lady, Mrs. Tupp.

On the floor, the work was overseen by foreman (Mr Duncan), chief machine operator (Ted Turner) and assistant Roy Willing along with packer Nell and stacker Flo. There was also a fork lift driver called Panjit Singh who would end up having the odd accident.

Other characters in the factory included the chief designer – Mr. Sprott – and his assistant Tracy (who often had much better ideas then her boss) along with a robot called T.O.M. who would assist at different tasks such as decorating Mr. Willmake’s office.

The series was devised by Ivor Wood who also created Postman Pat

Thirteen episodes were made and were often repeated during the 1980s.

CAST

BERTHA [INTRO]

VIDEO CLIP

BERTHA [OUTRO]

VIDEO CLIP

EXTERNAL LINKS

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TV Tropes – Bertha

COPYRIGHT DETAILS

Bertha © Dreamworks Classics, LLC