''Happy Families'' is a British children's television series made in the late 1980s based on the ''

Happy Families Happy Families is a traditional British card game usually with a specially made set of picture cards, featuring illustrations of fictional families of four, most often based on occupation types. The object of the game is to collect complete fami ...

'' series of books by

Janet and Allan Ahlberg Janet Ahlberg (21 October 1944 – 15 November 1994; née Hall) and Allan Ahlberg (born 5 June 1938) were a British married couple who created many children's books, including picture books that regularly appear at the top of "most popular" lis ...

. ''Happy Families'' ran for two series, 24 episodes in all (since each story was split over two episodes), and was shown on Children's BBC in 1989 and 1990.

Synopsis

Each tale is about a family of characters – typically father, mother, son and daughter, but this varies. The cast played several different characters throughout the series with many recurring roles for the main cast including Milton Johns, Annette Badland and Elizabeth Estensen.

Cast

Milton Johns John Robert Milton (born 13 March 1938), known professionally as Milton Johns, is an English character actor who has worked almost continuously throughout his career. A versatile talent, he specialises in sinister or obsequious roles and has f ...

– Mr Clarence Creep, Mr Ding, Mr Cross the Inspector, Mr Alphonso *

Annette Badland Annette Badland (born 26 August 1950) is an English actress known for a wide range of roles on television, radio, stage, and film. She is best known for her roles as Margaret Blaine in the BBC science fiction series ''Doctor Who'', Mrs. Glen ...

– Mrs Wobble the Waitress, Mrs Plug the Plumber, Mrs Lather *

Elizabeth Estensen Elizabeth Estensen (born 10 August 1949) is an English actress, known for portraying the role of Diane Sugden on the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'' from 1999 to 2021, with a guest stint in 2022. She has also made appearances in various British te ...

– Mrs Clara Creep, Mrs Tick the Teacher, Miss Trump * Richard Hope – Mr Tick, PC Arntby, Mr Bun, Mr Plug, Mr Harry Hay, Captain Salt, Mr. Cash, Mr. Jump *

Tamsin Heatley Tamsin Heatley is a British actress. She has appeared on television programmes such as The Bill, The Young Ones (TV series), The Young Ones, Horrid Henry, Fimbles, Tweenies, Big & Small and various other children's television shows. Her father wa ...

– Mrs Jump, Mrs Bop, Mrs Brick, Mrs Salt, Mrs Hay, Mrs Bun Martyn Ellis-Mr Biff, Mr Money, Blackbeard, Teddy the Chef, Sailor. Martyn also wrote original songs for the show. * London Kim – Master Money, Master Salt, Teddy Tick * Ben Thomas – Mr Wobble, Mr Brick, Mr Bop, Mr Toad, Mr Wallis the Warder https://showreel.thetvroom.com/talent-profiles/3705/thomas-ben/

Episodes

Series One (1989)

* "Mrs Wobble the Waitress" * "Mr Tick the Teacher" * "Mr Creep the Crook" * "Master Bun the Baker's Boy" * "Mrs Plug the Plumber" * "Mr and Mrs Hay the Horse"

Series Two (1990)

* "Mrs Lather's Laundry" * "Master Salt the Sailors' Son" * "Miss Brick the Builders' Baby" * "Master Money the Millionaire" * "Mr Biff the Boxer" * "Miss Jump the Jockey"

External links

*{{IMDb title, 0802549, Happy Families
''Happy Families'' page at classickidstv.co.uk
BBC children's television shows British television shows based on children's books 1980s British children's television series 1990s British children's television series 1989 British television series debuts 1990 British television series endings