Joshua Jones (TV series)

Joshua Jones was a Welsh stop-motion children's drama television series, made by Bumper Films (the creators of Rocky Hollow and Fireman Sam).

The series was about a cheerful fellow named Joshua Jones who lives on a canal boat with his canine companion Fairport. They take trips up and down Clearwater Canal, delivering items and carrying out tasks for the folks at Biggott's Wharf and generally having a fun time on the water.

Joshua's bosses are Bapu Karia, a retired Indian Admirable, Dakasha "Datsa" Karia, Mr Cashmore's co-worker and Bapu's daughter-in-law, and the get-rich-quick Wilton Cashmore.

Joshua's friends are Joe Laski, the Hungarian farmer who owns a horse named Trojan, Ravi Karia, Mrs. Karia's son (Admirable's grandson) and Fiona, Mr. Cashmore's not-so-money-hungry daughter.

His co-workers are: Sharon, a dizzy blonde girl who owns a catering van, Spanner, Sharon's lazy boyfriend and Daphne Peacock, the vet who takes care of sick and injured animals.

Characters

Adults

• Joshua Jones - A young man who lives in the Karia's Residence and travels by his canal boat with his dog Fairport. His main job is to transport goods along the canals but he is more than willing to utilize his boat to help out others in a crisis.
• Admirable Bapu Karia - A retired Indian admirable who served in the Royal Navy and is always putting his experience to good use in everyday tasks. He is Datsa's father-in-law and Ravi's grandfather.
• Dakasha "Datsa" Karia - Admirable's daughter-in-law and Ravi's mother. She is a very cheerful woman and her first name is only mentioned in the episodes "Tortoise" and "Boomer". Ravi's father never appears, implying that Datsa may be divorced or a widow.
• Joe Laski - A Hungarian-born farmer who lives on a farm on a hill near the tunnel and he takes care of his horse Trojan.
• Daphne Peacock - The local vetarinian who is often called in to take care of sick animals and she is the only character who is seen to drive a car.
• Wilton Cashmore - A local rich busybee who likes to boss his staff around, especially Spanner. He goes to great lengths to try to impress his own boss, the unseen Mr. Biggott. He is a very nasty person sometimes especially in episode The Silver Key when he didn't get his delivery speedboat engine delivered by Joshua, Sometimes when Spanner has some lunch at Sharon's Café when Cashmore spots him Spanner sometimes says Here Comes Trouble. He is the father of Fiona, but his wife and Fiona's mother is never seen or mentioned on the show, implying that Mr. Cashmore may be a widower or divorced.
• Mr. Biggott - Wilton's boss. Although he never appears, Mr. Cashmore speaks to him on the phone in almost every episode. The closet we get to seeing the Biggotts is in the episode "Haywire".
• Mrs. Biggott - Mr. Biggott's wife and like her husband, she never appears. She is only mentioned in the episode "Haywire".

Teenagers

• Sharon Cope - A dizzy blonde girl who sells food from her bistro wagon by the canal.
• Spanner Wilkins - Sharon's boyfriend; an 18-year-old lazy accident-prone orange-haired chap who does odd-jobs for Cashmore and various other characters. He often skives off work to go and eat at Sharon's cafe.

Children

• Ravi Karia - An eight-year-old boy, Datsa's son and Admirable's grandson.
• Fiona Cashmore - An eight-year-old girl, Wilton Cashmore's daughter.

Animals

• Fairport - A Terrier crossbreed dog, Joshua's faithful animal friend.
• Trojan - Joe's brown horse.
• Boomer - A colourful parrot who was once loaned to Admirable.
• Tearaway Trevor - Ravi's pet tortoise.

Episode list

• 1. Horseplay (7 January 1992) (W:17 September 1991) - When Trojan the horse falls into the canal, Joshua Jones comes to the rescue.
• 2. Haywire (14 January 1992) (W:24 September 1991) - There's a storm brewing and Spanner is helping Joe Laski fetch his hay. Meanwhile, Mr Cashmore is organising a buffet for Mr Biggott.
• 3. Treasure (21 January 1992) (W:1 October 1991) - Spanner, Cashmore and Sharon go digging for treasure when they find a supposed "treasure map".
• 4. Boomer (28 January 1992) (W:8 October 1991) - Josh rescues Ravi and Fiona from the weir when they get lost while looking for Boomer the parrot, who has escaped.
• 5. Tortoise (4 February 1992) (W:15 October 1991) - One of Spanner's meat pies is mistaken for Ravi's tortoise.
• 6. Sting (11 February 1992) (W:22 October 1991) - When some chemicals infect Fairport's eyes, Josh organises a sponsored walk for the ointment his dog needs. Cashmore sponsors Spanner knowing he won't get far, but some treacle pudding and a swarm of wasps prove him wrong.
• 7. Spook (18 February 1992) (W:29 October 1991) - Ravi and Fiona believe there's a ghost in Joe's barn. Meanwhile, Wilton Cashmore's new burglar alarm is proving unpopular.
• 8. Plum Crazy (25 February 1992) (W:5 November 1991) - Admirable Karia needs to find an easy way to pick the plums from his plum tree.
• 9. Paperwork (3 March 1992) (W:12 November 1991) - After decorating her cafe van, Spanner takes Sharon on a picnic, but the wind teaches them not to throw litter around.
• 10. Photo Finish (10 March 1992) (W:19 November 1991) - Josh has made a raft for Ravi, but disaster strikes when Cashmore borrows it to fish out Mr Biggott's birthday present from the canal.
• 11. Snake Chase (17 March 1992) (W:26 November 1991) - Daphne Peacock is looking after a grass-snake but mayhem ensues when it meets Trojan the horse.
• 12. The Silver Key (24 March 1992) (W:3 December 1991) - Admirable Karia is determined to win "The Lock Competition". Meanwhile, Joshua and Joe have trouble with a runaway tyre.

UK VHS releases

The series had two videos from BBC in United Kingdom and three videos from Reel Entertainment in Australia.

DVD releases

• In 2005, Reel Entertainment in Australia released two (PAL Region 4) DVDs containing six episodes each. A two disc boxset was also released featuring all 12 episodes.

Books

Several paperback books were published by Heinemann Young Books in 1992. The stories were written by Mary Risk and illustrated by The County Studio.

• The C.C. Club
• Josh's Special Delivery (0434948454)
• Duck Tunnel (0434948438)
• Happy Birthday Josh! (0434948411)
• Out of Action (0434962252)
• The Lock Competition (0434962244)
• Vet's Order's
• Piggy In The Middle
• A Party For Bapu
• Heatwave

Eight numbered titles were published by Buzz Books in 1993. The stories were written by Olivia Madden (developed from scripts by Bob Wilson) and illustrated with stills taken from the TV series.

• 1. Horseplay (1855911396)
• 2. Going Haywire (1855911388)
• 3. A Parrot Called Boomer (185591137X)
• 4. Treasure Trove
• 5. Photo Finish (1855912333)
• 6. Snake Chase (1855912341)
• 7. Tortoise Trail (185591235X)
• 8. Night Watch (1855912368)

Trivia

• The show aired on ABC TV in Australia. (4 August 1993 – 23 January 1998)
• The show never made it to the United States.
• In the 2000s the show never made it to the UK CBeebies range of children's BBC TV shows.

Credits

• With the Voices of: Barbara Flynn and George Layton
• Originated & Designed by: Rob Lee
• Developed & Written by: Bob Wilson
• Model Makers: Brian Collins, Tania MacDonnell, Sean Millar, Andy O'Neil, John Parsons, Katharine Scott Kevin Simth
• Vehicles: Alun Jones, James Nevill
• Puppet Makers: Alison Fairholm, Ian Frampton, Cindy Friers, Alison Hall
• Engineering Consultant: Mel Grigg
• Set Design: Beverley Knowlden Janice Shakespeare Barry Zafar Peter Linz
• Music & Lyrics by: Ben Heneghan, Ian Lawson
• Sung by: Maldwyn Pope
• Sound/Firework Fx: John Cross, Tom Logan
• Edited by: William J. Oswald, Jane Murrell, Elen Lewis, Patrick McHugh
• Animated by: John Walker, Brian Anderson, Timon Dowdeswell
• Executive Producers: Christopher Grace, Theresa Plummer-Andrews
• Produced & Directed by: Ian Frampton, John Walker
• Produced by Bumper Films for S4C, BBC, Prism Art and Design
• © Rob Lee MCMLXXXIX
• © S4C MCMXCI

External links

• Toonhound
• Joshua Jones at the Internet Movie Database