Towser (1982)

"Towser is smart (but not too smart). Towser is brave (well, resourceful anyway)...". Towser is a sweet tenacious terrier created by prolific artist and author Tony Ross. He was brought into animated life with the help of the equally prolific David McKee and King Rollo Films - Mr McKee being the creator of Mr. Benn, of course. Towser dwelled in a semi-medieval world, where there were castles and all the expected chivalrous characters and furnishings yet there were also comfy armchairs and suitcases and modern accouterments. A seemingly odd mix then, but it all gels perfectly and each tiny tale features a little pinch of irony, a tiny twist to savour. Towser's close pals include a king known only as The King, a cat called Sadie and The Owl, and his esoteric adventures introduced us to the likes of The Terrible Thing, Dr. Smelly, Goblin Gobble, The Lion, Captain Rat, Sir Lance, The Witch, an alien, and most bizarrely of all, a strange blue beaky-bird called Nosey Parker. Towser is noticeable for having been narrated by the late actor Roy Kinnear.