Grotbags of course spent most of the 80s trying to catch Emu and take him away from the Pink Windmill. That all ended in 1989 when EMU-TV finished, but a couple of years later she was back with her own spin-off series. So what's changed? Well, everything, really. Grotbags's motivation is now simply that she hates brats, and the action is confined to a few rooms in the grotto. Croc, Redford and Grovel are no more, having been replaced by Doris the Dodo, Colin the Bat (who did sort of appear in Emu's Wide World, but never as a fully-fledged character), and a few other puppets. The pace is a lot more pedestrian, but the scripts are strong and un-patronising (as kids' TV goes), with some genuinely funny set-ups, punchlines and visual gags. And, anyway, if it's got Carol Lee Scott in it, one can't help but crack a smile.
Although this episode was originally broadcast in late 1991, everything points to the date of this particular recording being 28th October 1992. Obviously it must have been repeated a year on. Also, look out for some CITV in-vision continuity provided by Tommy Boyd.
This recording comes courtesy of Jason - many, many thanks to him!
(Please remember that this is an off-air VHS recording, so don't go expecting 1080p HD quality. I'm fairly certain that this video isn't commercially available, and I've uploaded it for its historic interest only. That said, if you are a copyright holder and object, please don't hesitate to contact me.)
15 май 2013
