The Saga of Noggin the Nog first aired on 11 September 1959. Peter Firmin was inspired to create the characters by the 12th century Norse chess pieces - discovered on the Isle of Lewis - that he saw in the British Museum. The cartoon was written and produced by Oliver Postgate, who was also the narrator with Ronnie Stevens.
Noggin was King of the Nogs, son of King Knut and Queen Grunhilda. His Queen was Nooka Princess of the Nooks, and their son was Prince Knut. The gentle Noggin was aided by his warrior captain Thor Nogson, by the inventor Olaf the Lofty, and the bird Graculus from the Hot-Water Valley. During the sagas Noggin encountered others including Groliffe the Ice Dragon, Ronf, and the Omruds.
Opposition to Noggin came from his uncle, Nogbad the Bad, who coveted Noggin's throne. When Nogbad was thwarted, he would sometimes retreat over the mountains to visit his granny in Finland.
The cartoon ran until 1965 and then returned in colour in 1979. As production company Smallfilms, Firmin and Postgate produced many greatly loved children's programmes for the 大象传媒, including Pogles' Wood, Ivor the Engine, Bagpuss and the Clangers. Postgate died in 2008 and Firmin in 2018.
September anniversaries
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Close down of Television service for the duration of the War
1 September 1939 -
The Morecambe and Wise Show
2 September 1968 -
Chamberlain announces Britain is at war with Germany
3 September 1939 -
Start of first series of Porridge
5 September 1974 -
Droitwich transmitter becomes operational
6 September 1934 -
The News Quiz
6 September 1977 -
Casualty
6 September 1986 -
Only Fools and Horses
8 September 1981 -
The Woodentops
9 September 1955 -
First live Children's 大象传媒 from 'the Broom Cupboard'
9 September 1985 -
The Saga of Noggin the Nog first transmitted
11 September 1959 -
Crackerjack
14 September 1955 -
The Royle Family
14 September 1998 -
Opening of 大象传媒 Bristol
18 September 1934 -
First episode of Fawlty Towers
19 September 1975 -
First episode of I, Claudius
20 September 1976 -
The Old Grey Whistle Test
21 September 1971 -
The Shock of the New
21 September 1980 -
CEEFAX: world's first teletext service
23 September 1974 -
Pride and Prejudice
24 September 1995 -
大象传媒 Television for Schools begins
24 September 1957 -
Question Time
25 September 1979 -
The Epilogue
26 September 1926 -
Start of 大象传媒 European Service, News in French, German and Italian
27 September 1938 -
大象传媒 Singers
28 September 1924 -
The beginning of The Third Programme
29 September 1946 -
Have I Got News For You
28 September 1990 -
War and Peace
28 September 1972 -
First episode of Come Dancing
29 September 1950 -
Start of Radios 1, 2, 3 and 4
30 September 1967 -
Chamberlain returns from Munich
30 September 1938