I'm surprised his death has not been mentioned here. I loved this man. The Pogles and Ivor The Engine were my favourites. Oliver had his own website

www.oliverpostgate.co.uk

A very intelligent man with some very profound views on politics and the state of children's TV.

In 1987 Postgate was told by the BBC his services were no longer required... He was told

"The children of today are more used to the up-market, faster-moving things" and that "in today's hugely competitive schedule we are up against about another twelve to fourteen children's channels and we have got to stand out."
As a policy that is, in my considered view, almost criminally preposterous.

Firstly because it isn't true. There is no such thing as 'the children of today'. Children are not 'of today'. They come afresh into this world in a steady stream and, apart from a few in-built instincts, they are blank pages happily waiting to be written on.
Secondly because it simply isn't true that children have to have what they are 'used to'. They do want programmes that are new to them, programmes that are original and mind-stretching. They just aren't being offered them.
Oliver Postgate 2005.


RIP Oliver.

My wife and I watched a few episodes of Bagpuss last night in his memory... one of the most poignant moments came with references to "Watch With Mother". Nowadays I suppose "watch with mother" would include Loose Women and Jeremy Kyle. And we wonder why kids today have problems. A look into a much gentler age, when TV didn't just mean confrontation, humiliation and the glee of watching other people fail. Lost forever, I fear.

I certainly agree with his "children of today" sentiments particularly as I just read an interview with one of The Wiggles who have made an extraordinary fortune entertaining children for the past 15 years.
o doun
As he said..the audience re-invents itself with each new batch of 5 year olds and they barely have to change a thing in their shows..just a bit of updating.

No doubt a BBC 'focus group' decided he was too old fashioned.

Looking at Oliver Postagate's website reveals a pretty interesting bloke.