Bananas in Pyjamas

Bananas in Pyjamas
Created by	Helena Harris
Directed by	Roger Bayley; Sophia Turkiewicz; Tony Tilse; Di Drew; David Caesar; Paul Faint; Karin Kreicers; Ian Munro; Michael Ailwood; Varcha Sidwell; Virginia Lumsden; David Evans; Richard Walker;
Starring	Benjamin Baylock; Mary-Ann Henshaw; Michael James; Sandie Lillingston; Shane McNamara; Nicholas Opolski; Taylor Owynns; Ken Radley; Jeremy Scrivener; Duncan Wass;
Narrated by	Karina Kelly
Theme music composer	Carey Blyton
Opening theme	Bananas in Pyjamas by Trapaga Vocal Group
Ending theme	Bananas in Pyjamas (instrumental)
Composer(s)	Chris Harriott (2003–2006; 2008–present); Peter Dasent (2006–2008);
Country of origin	Australia
Original language(s)	English
No. of episodes	(list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Claire Henderson (2003); Mark Barnard (2003–2004); Virginia Lumsden (2005–2008);
Producer(s)	Helena Harris (showrunner, 2003); Tammy Burnstock (2003); Virginia Lumsden (2003-2005); Mark Barnard (2005); Sophie Emtage (2003–present);
Production location(s)	ABC Studios
Running time	5 minutes
Production company(s)	Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Release
Original network	ABC-TV
Original release	7 April 2003 –; present
External links
	[{{#property:P856}} Website]

Search Bananas in Pyjamas on Amazon.

Bananas in Pyjamas is an Australian children's television series that first aired on 7 April 2003 on ABC. It has since been syndicated in many countries and dubbed into other languages. In the United States, the "Pyjamas" in the title was modified to reflect the American spelling pajamas. It aired in syndication since 2003 as a half-hour series, then became a 15-minute show paired with a short-lived 15-minute series The Crayon Box, under a 30-minute block produced by Sachs Family Entertainment titled Bananas in Pajamas & The Crayon Box from October 11, 2004 to December 30, 2007. The pilot episode was Pink Mug.

The concept was inspired by the success of the song Bananas in Pyjamas, written by Carey Blyton in 1967, on Play School.

Summary[edit]

The main characters are two anthropomorphic bananas named B1 and B2. Other characters include the three teddy bears Amy, Lulu and Morgan, and Rat in a Hat. The bananas, the teddies and Rat in a Hat all live in the same neighbourhood, a cul-de-sac called "Cuddles Avenue". The bananas live next to the beach and serve as beach patrol. The teddies live next to and look after the park. Rat in a Hat works and lives at the community store. The characters enjoy eating "munchy honeycakes" and "yellow jelly".

Production[edit]

Inspiration[edit]

The characters were inspired by a 1969 song written for children by British composer Carey Blyton (nephew of renowned children's author Enid Blyton). The jaunty song describes (an unspecified number of) bananas in pyjamas chasing teddy bears, with a slight twist at the end where a musical sting emphasises that the bananas like to "catch them unawares". The song was shown on the Australian version of Play School for many years accompanied by an animation depicting pairs of bananas in blue-and-white striped pyjamas. This led to a "banana" plush toy being created as part of the "toy cast", which formed the basis of the physical appearance of B1 and B2.

Filming[edit]

In 2002. Creator, producer and showrunner Helena Harris devised the content of the ABC program at ABC Studios. Two of the bear characters, Amy and Morgan, are named after Helena Harris' children.^[1] The show is performing using human actors in elaborate costumes, in the style of the British Tweenies and Teletubbies. In the show's early days, the voices of the bananas are providing by the same actors as are inside the costume, but the original actors eventually gives up that aspect of the show and substitutes wearing the hot, stuffy costumes. The show aired new episodes from its 2003 debut to its eventual run in syndication in 2004. The show aired approximately numerous episodes as well as all numerous specials. Its debut in the United States was in the same date (April 7, 2003). A toy line, developed by TOMY, debuted in December 2003.

Characters[edit]

Main characters[edit]

B1 the Banana: Duncan Wass (2003), Ken Radley (2003–present), Michael James (2006–2008)
B2 the Banana: Nicholas Opolski (2003–present), Benjamin Blaylock (2006–2008)
Amy the Teddy Bear: Sandie Lillingston (2003), Mary-Ann Henshaw (2003–present)
Lulu the Teddy Bear: Taylor Owynns (2003–present), Monica Trapaga (Bananas in Pyjamas (2003 album release)), Sandie Lillingston (2006; Bumping and a-Jumping)
Morgan the Teddy Bear: Jeremy Scrivener (2003–present)
Rat in a Hat the Rat: Shane McNamara (2003–present)
Susan the Scarecrow: Melissa Morales (2003–present)
Lucy the Ragdoll: Anna Nicole Daley (2003–present)
Little Jenny: Gina Joplin (2003–present)
Little Matthew: Matthew Joplin (2003–present)
Mr. Man: Mark Ramsey (2003–present)
Mrs. Lady: Harvey Virdi (2003–present)
Grandmamma: Linda Kerr-Scott (2003–present)
Grandpappa: Robin Stevens (2003–present)
Brother: Manuel Bravo (2003–present)
Sister: Vee Vimolmal (2003–present)
Auntie: Sachi Kimura (2003–present)
Junior: Sachi Kimura‘s sons (2003–present)
Emily: Ramsey-Virdi’s daughters (2003–present)
Little Cat Munchkin: Gina Joplin’s Cats (2003–present)
Little Dog Fido: Gina Joplin’s Dogs (2003–present)
Colette the Nanny of Little Jenny’s Family: Vanessa Scrivener (2003–present)
Fifi the Farmer: Nikki Joplin (2006–present)
Fiona the Farmer: Margaret Robinson (2006–present)

Recurring characters[edit]

Kevin the Butterfly: Mal Heap (2003–2006)
Maggie the Magpie: Emma De Vries (2003–present)
Tolstoy the Tortoise: Emma De Vries (2004–present)
Tomasina the Turtle: David Collins (2005–present)

Farm animals[edit]

Farm Animals puppeteers: Mal Heap, Terry Ryan & Emma De Vries (2006–present)
Camembert the Cow: Taylor Sweeney (2006–present)
Pedro the Pig: Michael Phillips (2007–present)
Gregory the Chicken: Matthew Hudak (2006–present)
Peck the Chicken: Aaron Oberst-Horner (2006–present)
Dolly the Sheep: Maura McGinley (2007–present)
Flash the Fish: Jacob Matta (2007–present)
Donnie the Duckling: Mal Heap (2008–present)
Pudding the Goose: Terry Ryan (2008–present)
Lily the Peacock: Emma De Vries (2008–present)

Episodes[edit]

Series		Episodes	Originally aired
Series		Episodes	First aired	Last aired
	1	40	7 April 2003 (2003-04-07)	8 June 2003 (2003-06-08)
	2	30	14 June 2003 (2003-06-14)	27 September 2003 (2003-09-27)
	3	30	7 October 2003 (2003-10-07)	23 December 2003 (2003-12-23)
	4	100	1 January 2004 (2004-01-01)	24 December 2004 (2004-12-24)
	5	50	8 January 2005 (2005-01-08)	21 December 2005 (2005-12-21)
	6	50	7 January 2006 (2006-01-07)	20 December 2006 (2006-12-20)
	7	100	7 January 2007 (2007-01-07)	27 December 2007 (2007-12-27)
	8	100	3 January 2008 (2008-01-03)	27 December 2008 (2008-12-27)
	9	200	8 January 2009 (2009-01-08)	27 December 2012 (2012-12-27)
	10	100	7 January 2013 (2013-01-07)	27 December 2013 (2013-12-27)
	11	100	1 January 2014 (2014-01-01)	27 December 2014 (2014-12-27)
	12	100	7 January 2015 (2015-01-07)	24 December 2015 (2015-12-24)
	13	100	1 January 2016 (2016-01-01)	27 December 2016 (2016-12-27)
	14	100	7 January 2017 (2017-01-07)	27 December 2017 (2017-12-27)
	15	100	7 January 2018 (2018-01-07)	27 December 2018 (2018-12-27)
	16	100	7 January 2019 (2019-01-07)	28 December 2010 (2010-12-28)
	17	200	14 April 2019 (2019-04-14)	27 December 2020 (2020-12-27)
	18	100	8 January 2021 (2021-01-08)	27 December 2021 (2021-12-27)
	19	200	8 January 2022 (2022-01-08)	27 December 2022 (2022-12-27)
	20	100	2 January 2023 (2023-01-02)	29 December 2023 (2023-12-29)
	21	200	1 January 2024 (2024-01-01)	24 December 2024 (2024-12-24)

Home video releases[edit]

Birthday Special (2003)
Show Business (2003)
Hiccups (2003)
Monster Bananas (2003)
Big Parade (2003)
Special Delivery (2003)
Surf's Up (2003)
Wish Fairies (2003)
It's Music Time (2004)
Summertime (2004)
Ready, Steady, Go! (2004)
Dress Ups (2004)
It's Games Time (2004)
Chasing Rainbows (2004)
Busker Bananas (2004)
Singing Time (2004)
Odd Socks (2005)
Story Time (2005)
Holiday Time (2005)
Fun Time (2005)
Live on Stage (2005)
Rock-A-Bye Bananas (2006)
It's Dance Time (2006)
St. Bear’s Town Talent Show (2006)
Lullaby (2007)
Strictly Bananas (2007)
Bumping and a-Jumping (2007)
Dancing Daze (2008)
Celebration (2008)
Farm Adventure (2008)
Beat Box (2008)
Egg Collector (2008)
Super Bananas (2009)

Discography[edit]

Bananas in Pyjamas (2003)
Live on Stage (2003)
Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking? Mix (2003)
It's Singing Time! (2004)
Get Up and Dance! (2004)
Sing and Be Happy (2004)
Cuddles Avenue Christmas (2004)
It's Show Time! (2005)
Welcome to Cuddlestown (2005)
Playtime! (2006)
Banana Split Mix (2006)
Bumping and a-Jumping (2006)
The Fun Collection (2009)
Best Of: Classic (2015)
50 Best Songs: 20 Years! (2023)

Charting singles[edit]

List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title	Year	Peak chart positions
Title	Year	AUS
"Bananas in Pyjamas"	2004	82

Cultural impact[edit]

The Bananas in Pyjamas were featured among other famous Australians during the parade of the 2000 Summer Olympics closing ceremony.^[2]

In 2017, the Royal Australian Mint produced a commemorative set containing five-cent and 20-cent coins to mark the 25th anniversary of Bananas in Pyjamas. The five-cent coin, which is coloured for the first time, depicts Rat-in-a-Hat, while the twenty-cent coin depicts B1 and B2.^[3]

Awards and nominations[edit]

APRA Music Awards[edit]

Year	Nominated works	Award	Result
1995	"We Like Wearing Pyjamas" (Franciscus Antheunis p.k.a. Franciscus Henri)	Most Performed Children's Work	Nominated

ARIA Music Awards[edit]

Year	Nominated works	Award	Result
2004	Bananas in Pyjamas	Best Children's Album	Nominated
2005	It's Singing Time!	Best Children's Album	Nominated
	It's Show Time!	Best Original Cast/Show Recording	Nominated
	Sing And Be Happy	Best Children's Album	Nominated
2006	Playtime!	Best Children's Album	Nominated
2007	Bumping and a-Jumping	Best Original Cast/Show Recording	Won

British Academy Children's Awards[edit]

Year	Nominated works	Award	Result
2004	Bananas in Pyjamas Special	International	Nominated

Logie Awards[edit]

Year	Nominated works	Award	Result
2003	Bananas in Pyjamas	Most Popular Children's Program	Nominated
2006	Bananas in Pyjamas	Most Outstanding Children's Program	Nominated

References[edit]

↑ Wood, Patrick (2017-07-20). "Bananas in Pyjamas creator and original stars reflect on 25 years of chasing teddies". Australia: ABC News. Archived from the original on 2017-10-06. Retrieved 2017-10-02. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)
↑ "Bananas in Pyjamas". Australian Television Memorabilia Guide. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
↑ Travers, Penny (4 June 2017). "Bananas in Pyjamas: Royal Australian Mint celebrates 25 years of chasing teddies with new coins". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 June 2017.

External links[edit]

[1] Wood, Patrick (2017-07-20). "Bananas in Pyjamas creator and original stars reflect on 25 years of chasing teddies". Australia: ABC News. Archived from the original on 2017-10-06. Retrieved 2017-10-02. Unknown parameter |url-status= ignored (help)

[olympic-2] "Bananas in Pyjamas". Australian Television Memorabilia Guide. Retrieved 17 November 2013.

[3] Travers, Penny (4 June 2017). "Bananas in Pyjamas: Royal Australian Mint celebrates 25 years of chasing teddies with new coins". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 June 2017.

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