Topsy and Tim is a series of children's books written by Jean Adamson and Gareth Adamson about twins and their adventures with their new friends. They were first published by Blackie in 1960; Topsy and Tim were relaunched in new editions in 1990, 2003 and 2009.[1] . In 2020, Topsy and Tim "On the Farm" was reprinted to celebrate 60-years since the first publication.
Since 1960 more than 130 Topsy and Tim titles have been published with sales of more than 21 million. Since first broadcasting on Cbeebies in 2013, the live-action production of Topsy and Tim has received over 250 million views online.
Origin edit
In an interview with The Guardian,[2] Jean Adamson said that she and her future husband had been trained as book illustrators at Goldsmiths College. They decided to get married and quit their jobs in order to write and illustrate their own children's books. Their approach was shaped by a visit to a children's bookshop in Newcastle where they realised that there were few books depicting actual contemporary children. She explained that the books were also influenced by the post-war mood:
- At that time, not so terribly long after the end of the war, England was just waking up, bright colours were coming in, there was a lovely optimistic feeling in the air. So I said "Why don't we do books with real live little children in, with the little adventures and so on that they have in the house?"[2]
Television series edit
The books have been adapted for television twice; first, in collaboration with Video Collection International in 1996 and, second, in collaboration with Darrall MacQueen Limited for the 2013 live-action production, first aired on Cbeebies, now available online and on DVD.
Bevanfield Films edit
Firstly by Bevanfield Films for BBC Studios Home Entertainment, 60 episode 5 minute animated series narrated by Roger Blake and was shown on ITV.
CBeebies edit
In 2013, a 13-minute live-action series was made for CBeebies, with 3 series produced and 71 episodes made. Further details can be seen here: List of Topsy and Tim episodes. No further episodes have been planned as of 2024. The series was produced by Darrall Macqueen and distributed globally by WildBrain. Series 1 and 2 were filmed from March to October 2013, the Christmas Special was filmed in December 2013 and Series 3 was filmed from June to August 2015.
Characters edit
| Actor | Character | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||
| Jocelyn MacNab | Topsy | Main | ||
| Joshua Lester | Timothy "Tim" | Main | ||
| Anna Acton | Joy | Main | ||
| Chris Hannon | Brian | Main | ||
| Suzy Aitchison | Grandma | Main | ||
| Natahlia Colbourne | Kerry | Recurring | ||
| Tom Hibberd | Tony | Recurring | ||
| Nicole Davis | Dominique | Recurring | ||
| Iain Campbell | Carson | Recurring | Guest | |
| Emily Butterfield | Elaine | Recurring | Guest | |
| Barry McCarthy | Mr Fishwick | Recurring | — | |
| Kayleigh Burke | Vinda | Recurring | ||
| Natalya Hibberd | Josie | — | Recurring | |
| Jon Rummey | Mr. Rosen | Recurring | ||
| Tim Hibberd | Mr. Fen | — | Recurring | Guest |
| Joshua Levin | Stephen "Stevie" Dunton | — | Recurring | |
| Kemaal Deen-Ellis | Rai | Recurring | Guest | — |
| Tom Price | Paul | — | Recurring | |
| Bobby Smalldridge | Andrew | — | Recurring | |
| Emma Kershaw | Dr. Walton | — | Recurring | |
| India Brown | Molly | — | Recurring | |
| Eva Alexander | Miss Terry | — | Recurring | — |
| June Whitfield | Mrs Higley-Pigley | — | Guest | — |
| James Wooldridge | Mr. Morris | — | Recurring | |
| Glen Davies | DIY Derek | Recurring | Guest | Recurring |
| Jake Unsworth | Kevin | — | Guest | — |
List of books edit
- Topsy and Tim's ABC Book (1960)
- Topsy and Tim's Counting Book (1961)
- Topsy and Tim's Monday Book (1962)
- Topsy and Tim's Tuesday Book (1963)
- Topsy and Tim's Wednesday Book (1964)
- Topsy and Tim's Thursday Book (1965)
- Topsy and Tim's Friday Book (1966)
- Topsy and Tim's Saturday Book (1967)
- Topsy and Tim's Sunday Book (1968)
- Topsy and Tim go in an Aeroplane (1969)
- Topsy and Tim Meet the Babysitter (1970)
- Topsy and Tim at the Bank (1971)
- Topsy and Tim have a Barbecue (1972)
- Topsy and Tim in Belgium (1973)
- Topsy and Tim's Birthday Party (1974)
- Topsy and Tim at the Biscuit Factory (1975)
- Topsy and Tim go to the Doctor (1975)
- Topsy and Tim's Bonfire Night (1976)
- Topsy and Tim's New Brother (1977)
- Topsy and Tim go Camping (1978)
- Topsy and Tim's Caravan Holiday (1979)
- Topsy and Tim's Chocolate Cook Book (1980)
- Topsy and Tim at the Circus (1981)
- Topsy and Tim's Coach Journey (1982)
- Topsy and Tim can Cook (1983)
- Topsy and Tim Cross the Channel (1984)
- Topsy and Tim go to the Dentist (1985)
- Topsy and Tim Help the Dustmen (1987)
- Topsy and Tim have their Eyes Tested (1988)
- Topsy and Tim at the Fairground (1989)
- Topsy and Tim at the Farm (1990)
- Topsy and Tim in the Farmyard (1991)
- Topsy and Tim at the Fire Station (1992)
- Topsy and Tim go Fishing (1993)
- Topsy and Tim's Foggy Day (1994)
- Topsy and Tim at the Football Match (1995)
- Topsy and Tim's New Friends (1996)
- Topsy and Tim's Games Book (1997)
- Topsy and Tim's Garden (1998)
- Topsy and Tim in the Gym (1999)
- Topsy and Tim at the Hairdressers (2000)
- Topsy and Tim go Hill Walking (2001)
- Topsy and Tim go on Holiday
- Topsy and Tim go to Holland
- Topsy and Tim Learn to Horse Ride
- Topsy and Tim go to Hospital (1971)
- Topsy and Tim at the Jumble Sale
- Topsy and Tim in the Kitchen
- Topsy and Tim at the Library
- Topsy and Tim Meet the Monsters
- Topsy and Tim's Motorway Games / Car Games
- Topsy and Tim growing up stories
- Topsy and Tim Move House
- Topsy and Tim can make Music
- Topsy and Tim's Music Book
- Topsy and Tim's Paddling Pool
- Topsy and Tim's New Playground
- Topsy and Tim at the Pantomime
- Topsy and Tim can play Party Games
- Topsy and Tim can Look after Pets
- Topsy and Tim's Pet Show
- Topsy and Tim's Pets
- Topsy and Tim's Picnic
- Topsy and Tim's Playing Rhymes
- Topsy and Tim Visit the Police Station
- Topsy and Tim go Pony Trekking
- Topsy and Tim at the Post Office
- Topsy and Tim can Print in Colour
- Topsy and Tim go to Prison
- Topsy and Tim Choose a Puppy
- Topsy and Tim Ride their Bikes
- Topsy and Tim take no Risks
- Topsy and Tim at the Safari Park
- Topsy and Tim go Safely
- Topsy and Tim at School
- Topsy and Tim go to School
- Topsy and Tim's School Outing
- Topsy and Tim's School Play
- Topsy and Tim's New School
- Topsy and Tim at the Seaside
- Topsy and Tim's New Shoes
- Topsy and Tim go Shopping
- Topsy and Tim go Sailing
- Topsy and Tim can Sing and Play
- Topsy and Tim's Snowy Day
- Topsy and Tim's Sports Day
- Topsy and Tim at the Supermarket
- Topsy and Tim Learn to Swim
- Topsy and Tim Tell the Time
- Topsy and Tim Visit the Tower of London
- Topsy and Tim's Train Journey (1978)
- Topsy and Tim at the TV Studio
- Topsy and Tim at the Vet
- Topsy and Tim at the Wedding (1976)
- Topsy and Tim's Word Book
- Topsy and Tim at the Zoo
- Topsy and Tim go on an Aeroplane
- Topsy and Tim Have a Birthday Party
- Topsy And Tim The New Baby
- Topsy and Tim on the Farm
- Topsy and Tim Meet the Firefighters
- Topsy and Tim Play Football
- Topsy and Tim Make a New Friend
- Topsy and Tim Meet New Friends
- Topsy and Tim Visit the Dentist
- Topsy and Tim First French Words
- Topsy and Tim Little abc Library
- Topsy and Tim First Numbers
- Topsy and Tim A Special Visit
- Topsy and Tim and the new puppy
- Topsy and Tim Have Chickenpox
- Topsy and Tim Little Shoppers
- Topsy and Tim and the Bully
- Topsy and Tim Help a Friend
- Topsy and Tim The Big Surprise
- Topsy and Tim Old Shoes, New Shoes
- Topsy and Tim Buckets and Spades
- Topsy and Tim Go to the Park
- Topsy and Tim Go to the Zoo
- Topsy and Tim Go on a Train
- Surprises for Topsy and Tim
- Topsy and Tim Look After Their Pets
- Topsy and Tim Busy Builders
- Topsy and Tim First School Stories
- Topsy and Tim Start School
- Topsy and Tim Meet the Ambulance Crew
- Topsy and Tim Have Horse Riding Lessons
- Topsy and Tim at the School Fair
- Topsy and Tim Go Shopping
- Topsy and Tim Small Pets
- Topsy and Tim Have New Bikes
- Adventures of Topsy and Tim
- Topsy and Tim Red Boots, Yellow Boots
- Topsy and Tim Learn abc
- Topsy and Tim Meet the Police
- Topsy and Tim Little Lost Rabbit
- Topsy and Tim Have Itchy Heads
- Topsy and Tim First Words
- Topsy and Tim First Writing
- Topsy and Tim and Their New School Friend
- Topsy and Tim Go for Gold
- Topsy and Tim Visit London
- Topsy and Tim Meet Father Christmas
- Topsy and Tim The Big Race
- Topsy and Tim at Granny and Grandpa's
- Topsy and Tim Learn About Time
- Topsy and Tim Learn to Count
- Topsy and Tim New Lunchboxes[3]
- Topsy and Tim Learn Opposites
- Topsy and Tim Visit the Doctor
- Topsy and Tim at the Sea Life Centre (1997)
- Topsy and Tim Stay with a Friend (1987)
- Topsy and Tim Have Their Hair Cut
- Topsy and Tim at the Gym Club (1985)
- Topsy and Tim and the Dinosaurs (1995)
- Topsy and Tim visit Europe (1974)
- Topsy and Tim Go Green (2009)
- Topsy and Tim Safety First
- Topsy and Tim go out and about
- Topsy and Tim growing up stories
- Topsy and Tim Our Day
- Topsy and Tim Can Help Birds
- Happy Days with Topsy and Tim
- Topsy and Tim meet their brother
References edit
- ^ Rigby, Nic (22 January 2003). "Relaunch for Topsy and Tim". BBC News.
- ^ a b Pauli, Michelle; Nylind, Linda; Wyse, Pascal (2 November 2010). "Jean Adamson: Living with Topsy and Tim". The Guardian.
- ^ "Topsy and Tim: New Lunchboxes: Jean Adamson: 9781846461415".
