Concept and creative process
‘Jackanory’ was a BBC Children’s Television series that ran to 3500 episodes from 1965 to 1996. It was a much-loved programme with a winning formula: a book narrated each week directly to camera by the finest British actors, accompanied by specially commissioned illustrations created by BBC and freelance artists. Bob Blagden’s animated titles for the 3000th edition featured many of the favourite characters whose stories had featured in the series over its long life. The special programmes featured an adaptation of JRR Tolkien's classic 'The Hobbit' retold by four storytellers.