April 19, 1987 (1987-04-19) – March 22, 1993 (1993-03-22)
The Shoe People is an animatedtelevision series which was first broadcast in the UK in April 1987 on TV-am. It went on to be broadcast in 62 countries around the world.
It was the first series from the West to be shown in the former Soviet Union and became so popular there that it sold over 25 million Shoe People books.[1]
The Shoe People was created by James Driscoll, who got the inspiration for the show from noticing that the style and appearance of people's shoes revealed things about their owners' personalities. He then wondered what stories these shoes could tell about themselves when they were new and when they had gradually worn out.
In a shoe repair shop, a shoe mender tries to repair all the shoes he gets, but sometimes he cannot repair them all. He does not throw away these shoes; he puts them in the back room of the shop.
These join the other shoes and boots he could not bear to throw away and the ones where their owners never came back for them. This room has a secret. Every night when the shoe mender locks up the shop, he makes sure the back room door is shut. This door does not shut very easily and when he slams it shut, the strangest thing happens. A large cloud of dust from the room fills the air and when it settles, the shoes come to life and the back wall disappears and Shoe Town appears.
Just below Toecap Hill is Shoe Town, where all the shoes and boots live.
The characters were voiced by Philip Whitchurch and Jo Wyatt (Olwen Rees in Welsh). Jo does the female voices in the sequel, The New Adventures of the Shoe People, while Phillip does all the male voices. Jo's father Martin also produced a vinyl record of the series as well as owning Bright Music, the company that produces the music for the series.
Characters
Original characters
P.C. Boot – he is the policeman of Shoe Town and lives in 'Shoe Street Police Station'. Like any good policeman, he is dedicated to his duty of maintaining law and order. He is very formal and likes to over-explain things, to the annoyance of others. He talks with a little bit of a lisp. He is voiced by Philip Whitchurch.
Charlie – on the corner of Shoe Street lives Charlie, a clown. He lives in a circus tent called 'The Little Big Top'. He likes to perform magic tricks and juggling, but best of all, he likes to make people laugh. The Shoe People have to be careful when talking to him, as he either pulls a face, or squirts water at them through his fake flower. He seems to have many unusual ideas that are useful for helping others in Shoe Town. He is voiced by Philip Whitchurch.
Trampy – he is a worn out Irish boot that has a hole in its toecap and he is a bit scruffy. He lives next door to Charlie in a house, with a crooked chimney, called 'Tumbledown House', which has not been painted or maintained in years and the garden is overgrown. He loves to relax and enjoy his natural garden. He is good-natured and friendly and likes to keep the peace between the other inhabitants of Shoe Town. He likes to go on walks in the country with Margot and Baby Bootee and tell them stories. Plus he likes his friends from the countryside to come for tea. He has had a soft spot for Margot, ever since he laid eyes on her. It has been speculated that Trampy – being Irish and dishevelled – is actually a gypsy or traveller who has left his travelling roots behind. He is voiced by Philip Whitchurch.
Sergeant Major – he lives in 'Drill Hall' and still thinks he is in the army; he was in the Foot Regiment. He likes everything to be neat and tidy and shouts a lot. The grass in his garden is mown in perfect lines, he even measures the width of them, and all the plants stand to attention. The trouble is, he lives next door to Trampy, and gets very cross when the overgrown garden next door grows into his garden. At least once a day he complains to Trampy about it, but never takes any real action. He often calls Charlie "Stupid Clown", but he always comes to watch his circus act. He hates being called Sarge. Despite his grumpy, bossy manner, he does have a soft side which he rarely shows. He is voiced by Philip Whitchurch.
Margot – she is a ballerina who lives in Swan Lake Cottage and she loves to dance. She looks after Baby Bootee. When she first arrived at the Shoe Repair Shop, she had a big tear in her side and she thought she would never dance again. Luckily for her the Shoe Repairer had other ideas and he fixed her. She was then put back into the window of the shop to wait for the little girl who brought her in, to collect her, but she never came back. Now she has a new life in Shoe Town and she loves to put on shows for everyone. She is voiced by Philip Whitchurch in the 1987 series and Jo Wyatt in the 1992 series.
Wellington – he loves being wet and lives in 'Puddle Villa'. He loves water so much that he has drilled holes in the guttering of his house and stands underneath it when it rains. He hates being called a Welly. He is voiced by Philip Whitchurch.
Baby Bootee – she is looked after by Margot at Swan Lake Cottage. She does not do much else, apart from loving the Teddy that Charlie won for her at the fair. She is voiced by Philip Whitchurch in the 1987 series and Jo Wyatt in the 1992 series.
Sneaker – he likes to sneak around and he takes things without asking people, hence why he looks like a burglar and talks a sneaky tone of voice. He also likes to do odd jobs for people. There is a wanted poster of him on the outside of 'Shoe Street Police Station'. He has his own yard and his catchphrase is, "Sneaker by name, sneaker by nature!" He is voiced by Philip Whitchurch.
Gilda Van Der Clog – she is a Dutch clog who lives in a windmill and needed Charlie and P.C. Boot's help to remove the nest from her windmill sails, and then made a picnic for all the shoes after their mystery tour. She is voiced by Philip Whitchurch in the 1987 series and Jo Wyatt in the 1992 series.
Flip Flop – a flip-flop that went to the seaside with Trampy, Sergeant Major, Baby Bootee and Charlie. When she got swept away by the tide, Charlie (with his shoelace) and Trampy pulled her to safety on the rocks. She is voiced by Philip Whitchurch in the 1987 series and Jo Wyatt in the 1992 series.
Mr Potter – the station master of The Shoe Town Railway Station who rang up P.C. Boot to warn him about a tree fallen along the railway tracks and nearly cancelled the trip before cheeky Charlie bought an elephant called Bertha to help remove the tree. He is the only original character who doesn't make any appearances in The New Adventures of the Shoe People. He is voiced by Philip Whitchurch.
Sid Slipper – the elderly slipper who sometimes went to the park with The Shoe People like on that day when Baby Bootee crawls off to the flying kites whilst he was snoozing away under a tree and Margot was getting ice cream. In The New Adventures of the Shoe People, he owns his own garden and vegetable garden. He is voiced by Philip Whitchurch.
Marshall – a cowboy who loves country and western music, loves Wild West films and does a safekeeping around Shoetown. He is voiced by Philip Whitchurch.
New characters
Beverley – she comes all the way from LA to Shoetown that she is an American beauty. Beverley likes cheerleading and wears a gorgeous blonde ponytail in her hair and earrings on her sides. She is voiced by Jo Wyatt.
Bebop and Alula – the 1950s couple who loves to dance to rock 'n' roll music. Bebop has his hair like Elvis Presley and Alula has her hair up in a ponytail. They appeared in the old series but weren't named until The New Adventures of the Shoe People. They are a bit like Danny and Sandy from a musical Grease. Bebop is voiced by Philip Whitchurch and Alula is voiced by Jo Wyatt.
Morris is a miner who works in the underground in Shoetown. He loves digging and even has a light on his hard hat. He is voiced by Philip Whitchurch.
Toby is the world's best actor and loves theatrical stuff. He always has a good personality about performs works of Shakespeare. He is voiced by Philip Whitchurch.
Dr. Merryweather is a doctor in Shoetown who takes care of the residents in Shoetown and make them feel better. He is voiced by Philip Whitchurch.
Sacha – a Russian boot comes all the way from Russia. He is voiced by Philip Whitchurch.
Farmer Fred – a farmer who works on the farm. He is voiced by Philip Whitchurch.
Coach – he likes sport like baseball. He is voiced by Philip Whitchurch.
Officer Malone – a cop from New York City who works with P.C. Boot. When he first arrived in Shoe Town he arrested most of the Shoe People for what he thought were trouble making however he let them go after P.C. Boot told him that the real trouble makers were the Boot Boys. He is voiced by Philip Whitchurch.
The Boot Boys are a trio of roller skates sometimes referred to as The Rollerskate Gang. The Boot Boys are Spike the leader, Ace the silly one, and Rowdy the dopey one. They love to cause trouble in Shoetown and are always up to no good. They are voiced by Philip Whitchurch.
Original episodes
The first series consisted of 26 episodes which were broadcast on TV-am as part of its 'Wide Awake Club' from April 1987.
#
Title
Summary
Air Date
1
Can You Keep a Secret?
The introduction of the Shoe People and their places in their world of Shoe Town.
19 April 1987
2
Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major has a penchant for smartness and drill practice, and has a trouble with his neighbour, Trampy.
26 April 1987
3
A Day at the Seaside
Some of the Shoe People take a trip to the seaside, but Flip Flop gets washed out to sea and Charlie and Trampy must rescue her.
3 May 1987
4
Trampy
Trampy is kind and generous, but he has an untidy lifestyle.
10 May 1987
5
Trampy's Birthday Surprise
17 May 1987
6
Margot
Margot is the ballerina at Swan Lake Cottage, and performs a garden ballet for her friends.
24 May 1987
7
Charlie
Charlie is the clown who lives at the Little Big Top. It also turns out that Sergeant Major wants a word with Charlie, who apparently squirted him with his flower once too often.
31 May 1987
8
A Rainy Day Problem
7 June 1987
9
Tea at the Little Big Top
14 June 1987
10
Fun and Games in the Park
21 June 1987
11
Charlie's Car
28 June 1987
12
P.C. Boot to the Rescue
5 July 1987
13
Trampy's Dream
12 July 1987
14
The Fair Comes to Shoetown
19 July 1987
15
Delay at Shoetown Railway Station
A tree falls across the track at the railway station, and Mr Potter, the station master, calls on the help of PC Boot and Sergeant Major. In the end, however, it is Charlie who comes up with the right solution.
26 July 1987
16
Sneaker
A simple job for Margot by Sneaker (that is clearing off the leaves on Margot's thatch roof with Charlie's tightrope and Trampy's ladder) brings a warning from P.C Boot.
2 August 1987
17
The Windmill Has Stopped
A nest is on the windmill. It's down to PC Boot and Charlie to find a solution for the sails to be moving again.
9 August 1987
18
A Job for Wellington
After a burst pipe in Shoetown Police Station, there is only one person fit enough to fix the leak and help PC Boot escape.
16 August 1987
19
Margot's Mirror
On a surprise visit to Margot's house, Charlie breaks a mirror by accident. The only way to replace it is to find one of his own mirrors from the circus, which does not have the normal "mirror" effect.
23 August 1987
20
The Missing Jumble
Trampy's Jumble has been stolen or has it? Watch out for Sneaker
30 August 1987
21
The Paper Chase
After laying a paper trail for P.C Boot, Margot, Charlie and Baby Bootie, Trampy settles down for an afternoon nap. However Sergeant Major interrupts the trail mistaking the paper for litter, until he finds Trampy who explains about the trail.
6 September 1987
22
Where's Baby Bootee
13 September 1987
23
Trampy Mows the Lawn
Trampy offers to mow Sergeant Major's lawn but all does not go to plan, which leaves the lawn looking like a pile of spaghetti. Charlie has an ingenious plan to help Trampy cover up the mistake.
20 September 1987
24
The Great Sledge Race
The residents of Shoe Town gather on the hill for the Annual Great Sledge Race. With a number of different sledges, the competition is as close as it's ever been, but one resident doesn't have a sledge at all.
27 September 1987
25
The Mystery Tour
4 October 1987
26
Our Very Own Circus
11 October 1987
The New Adventures of the Shoe People
A second series, The New Adventures of the Shoe People, showcasing many of the new characters, was broadcast on TVAM in 1992.
Episode No.
Title
Summary
Air Date
01
Charlie the Pilot
Charlie the Clown turns a load of Sneaker's old junk into a life-sized rubber band driven aeroplane. Unfortunately, his co-pilot, the hapless Wellington, winds the propeller the wrong way, and aerobatic mayhem ensues over the skies of Shoetown
21 September 1992
02
A Quiet Day in Shoetown
P.C. Boot has the day off, so the naughty Boot Boy Gang decide to create a little havoc in Shoetown. New York Cop stand-in, Officer Malone, manages to arrest everybody except the real culprits, leaving quite a big problem for P.C. Boot on his return.
28 September 1992
03
Injun Trouble
Smoke-signals have been spotted over Shoetown Wood, and so brave Marshal deputizes a reluctant Wellington and Charlie to go looking for Indians. Their quest is disrupted however, by Farmer Fred's missing turkeys and Sneaker's furtive activities.
5 October 1992
04
You're in the Army Now!
Responding to Sgt. Major's taunts. Margot and the Shoetown girls challenge the Shoetown boys to a race to sort out who is the best once and for all. Surprises are in store, however, as the route decided upon is the Army assault course!
12 October 1992
05
Ghosts in the Windmill
it is midnight in Gilda Van Der Clog's beloved Windmill and eerie sounds and spooky goings-on are in progress. summoning up all their courage. Shoetown Police Officers P.C. Boot and Officer Malone decide to investigate....
19 October 1992
06
Racing Uncertainties
The Shoe People and the Boot Boy Gang hold a cross-country race. which the cheating Rollerskates intend to win - more by foul means than fair. But then as if by some Strange coincidence, Farmer Fred's prize Bull joins the fray?.
26 October 1992
07
From Russia With Snow
In the midst of the hottest weather Shoetown has ever known, Newcomer Sasha longs for the coolness of his native Russia. Trampy and the other Shoe People try to cheer him up using of all things: a packet of Soap Flakes.
2 November 1992
08
Sid's Marrow
Every year Sid Slipper wins the Giant Marrow Competition at the Annual Shoetown Flower Show. But the greedy Boot Boys have their beady eyes on the prize also. Will they succeed in cheating their way to success or will Sid Slipper win the day again?
9 November 1992
09
Sergeant Major Loses His Voice
Poor Sgt. Major is distraught. He finds he can't officiate at his platoon's passing-out parade because he's lost his voice. Well-meaning Trampy And Wellington attempts to help him - with hilariously disastrous consequences.
16 November 1992
10
All At Sea
The Shoe People find themselves marooned on a lighthouse during a ferocious storm at sea. They find that the lighthouse is not working properly and other ships are in danger of crashing onto the rocks. All seems lost until Morris Miner finds a solution to the problem.
23 November 1992
11
Coconut Crazy
Things go astray in the mail from time to time - even in Shoetown. A package is wrongly delivered to the Bootboys' address, the contents of which helps them to concoct a mischievous scheme to win coconuts at the annual fair.
30 November 1992
12
Wellington On Ice
It is winter, and the Shoe People are happily skating on the frozen ice of Shoetown Lake - that is until poor Wellington falls through. But how can urn full of hot coffee possibly save him? Only Charlie the Clown and Margot the Ballet Slipper have the answer.
7 December 1992
13
Marshall's Round Up
Farmer Fred's pesky goats and sheep are causing much trouble in Shoetown. This presents Marshall with a golden opportunity to re-live the glory days of Wild West by organizing a rootin'-tootin' round-up
14 December 1992
14
The Show Must Go On
Everyone's favourite actor, Sir Toby Boot, puts on a prestigious production of Hamlet at Shoetown Theatre. Unfortunately he has made the grave mistake of putting Charlie the Clown in charge of special effects. The result: a rendering of Shakespeare that Shoetown's inhabitants will never forget
20 December 1992
15
Beehive Yourself
The meany-minded Bootboy Rollerskate gang hatch a plot to steal Sid Slipper's honey-laden beehive - and live to regret it?
4 January 1993
16
Back in the Old Ball Game
The crowds amass at the playing field for Shoetown's very first baseball game. The scheming skaters. The Bad Boot Boys have their eyes on the Grand Prize - even if they have to steal it to get it.
11 January 1993
17
Wellington the Babysitter
Margot leaves Baby Bootee in the incapable hands of wacky Wellington while she pops off for the afternoon. If she only knew the mayhem they would create with a motorized skateboard while she's away. Maybe she'd stay in with Baby Bootee for ever?
18 January 1993
18
Sergeant Major's Spot of Bother
Sgt. Major is looking a little out of sorts today - he's developed a spotty disease which ha speckled him from head to toe. So it's off to the Shoetown surgery to see a baffled doctor Merryweather...but there's more to these spots than meets the eye?
25 January 1993
19
The Purple Ploople
A strange and unusual being from outer Space has invaded Shoetown, and terrifying the inhabitants...but appearances can be deceiving, as Sir Toby is about to find out.
1 February 1993
20
Ice Cream Sundae
Ever-resourceful Sneaker lashes up an impressive-looking ice-cream making machine out of bits and bobs lying around his cluttered yard. But he has reckoned without the Boot Boys intervention and as soon as he switches it on, Shoetown is in danger of literally drowning in vanilla-flavoured ice-cream.
8 February 1993
21
Marshall's Bar-B-Q
The selfish old Boot Boy gang haven't been invited to the Shoe People's barbecue. And so, with the aid of a book of magic spells they spitefully try to wreck the great occasion.
15 February 1993
22
Dr. Merryweather's Day Off
22 February 1993
23
Rock and Rolled
Shoetown's favourite gardener. Sid Slipper is having great trouble with moles in his garden. But Wellington is having even bigger trouble - with a runaway steamroller - much the consternation of rest of the Shoe People.
1 March 1993
24
Fools for Fitness
Margot decides that the Shoe People are all unfit. and should enroll immediately into a fitness class. Wellington and the other are not so sure if this such a good idea, especially when they discover that a grinning Sgt. Major is in charge?
8 March 1993
25
Shoes in Space
in their state of-the-art rocket ship. the Shoe People travel to the distant planet Blobboboloo in older to catch some Blobobolian space-fish. But instead of fish. it's a hard task put upon Wellington that almost ends up with the chips?
15 March 1993
26
Anchors Aweigh
The sun is Bright. the sky is blue. and the Shoe People have decided to take up yachting for the day. But. as they swiftly discover. sailing on any boat crewed by Charlie and Wellington is just asking for trouble.
22 March 1993
American dub
The Shoe People was broadcast in the United States on Nickelodeon as a segment on their television series for preschoolers Eureeka's Castle. The series was redubbed with American accents and a female narrator, and a female voice actress was added to the voice cast.
Changes by Nick Jr.
When all 26 episodes of The Shoe People in 1987 aired on Nick Jr. UK from 2001 to 2002, the Fairwater Films/The Shoe People Ltd copyright in 1987 was replaced by FilmFair Ltd, with the restoration handled by CiNAR Studios UK. FilmFair's copyright can be seen at the end of each episode on The Shoe People Complete Series DVD. The same FilmFair copyright screen can also be seen on the 1992 version of the said programme, also on Nick Jr. UK, when they aired the later series in spring 2002.
VHS releases
Since their broadcasts on TV-am in 1987, Tempo Video (with its 'Children's Stories' range of cartoon shows on video and distributed by M.S.D Video Ltd) released 24 of the 26 episodes on video, except for "The Mystery Tour" and "Our Very Own Circus" which went on a 30-minute video in 1988 (Cat No.V8805) with Sgt Major, Margot, Sneaker and Trampy's Dream.
VHS video title
Year of release
Episodes
The Shoe People (V9026)
5 October 1987
"Can You Keep A Secret"
"Sergeant Major"
"A Day at the Seaside"
"Trampy"
"Trampy's Birthday Surprise"
"Margot"
"Charlie"
"A Rainy Day Problem"
The Shoe People - P.C. Boot to the Rescue (V9061)
1 February 1988
"Tea at the Little Big Top"
"Fun and Games in the Park"
"Charlie's New Car"
"P.C. Boot to the Rescue"
"Trampy's Dream"
"The Fair Comes To Shoe Town"
"Delay at Shoe Town Railway Station"
"Sneaker"
The Shoe People - Shoe Town Stories (V9114)
5 September 1988
"The Windmill Has Stopped"
"A Job for Wellington"
"Margot's Mirror"
"The Missing Jumble"
"The Paper Chase"
"Where's Baby Bootee?"
"The Great Sledge Race"
"Trampy Mows the Lawn"
Between 1989 and 1990 W.m. Collins Sons and Co.Ltd released a couple of special edition videos.
VHS video title
Year of release
Episodes
The Best of The Shoe People (92562)
4 September 1989
"Charlie's Car"
"Trampy's Dream"
"The Fair Comes to Shoe Town"
"Delay at Shoe Town Railway Station"
"Sneaker"
"Can You Keep A Secret"
"A Day At the Seaside"
"Margot"
"A Rainy Day Problem"
"Where's Baby Bootee?"
"The Great Sledge Race"
"Trampy Mows the Lawn"
The Shoe People Bumper Video (94012)
2 April 1990
"The Mystery Tour"
"Sneaker"
"Trampy Mows the Lawn"
"Margot's Mirror"
"Trampy's Birthday Surprise"
"Trampy's Dream"
"Sergeant Major"
"The Windmill Has Stopped"
"A Day at the Seaside"
"Charlie's Car"
"The Missing Jumble"
"Our Very Own Circus"
"Where's Baby Bootee?"
In late 1989, MSD Video Ltd released a single video containing eight stories from the series which was distributed by Wm. Collins for and on behalf of Avon Cosmetics.
VHS video title
Year of release
Episodes
The Shoe People: Favourite Stories (73832)
4 September 1989
"Can You Keep A Secret?"
"Sergeant Major"
"A Day at the Seaside"
"Trampy"
"The Windmill Has Stopped"
"A Job for Wellington"
"Margot's Mirror"
"The Missing Jumble"
On 5 November 1990, Wienerworld Presentations released two combined videos with 13 stories on each.
VHS video title
Year of release
Episodes
The Shoe People Bumper Special (WNR 2015)
5 November 1990
"Can you Keep a Secret?"
"Trampy"
"Trampy's Dream"
"Delay at Shoe Town Railway Station"
"PC Boot to the Rescue"
"The Mystery Tour"
"A Job for Wellington"
"Margot"
"a Rainy Day Problem"
"Charlie"
"Where's Baby Bootee?"
"Charlie's Car"
"The Fair comes to Shoe Town"
Great Adventures of the Shoe People (WNR 2016)
5 November 1990
"A Day at the Seaside"
"Sergeant Major"
"Trampy Mows the Lawn"
"Sneaker"
"The Missing Jumble"
"Trampy's Birthday Surprise"
"Margot's Mirror"
"The Paper Chase"
"Tea at the Little Big Top"
"The Great Sledge Race"
"Fun and Games in the Park"
"The Windmill has Stopped"
"Our Very Own Circus"
There were no video releases of The New Adventures of the Shoe People (1992 series). The first series is available on DVD. Other products included books and plush toys along with a special edition chocolate bar issued by Cadbury.
Title by country
English: The Shoe People (1987–1988)
Welsh: Pobl Tresgidie (1991)
Croatian: Cipelići (1993)
Russian: Город башмачков
Slovenian: Šolenčki
Icelandic: Skófólkið
International broadcast
CITV, The Children's Channel and S4C – United Kingdom
ABC, ABC Kids, Ten Network and Nickelodeon – Australia
TV2 – New Zealand
La Cinq – France
Computer game
A children's educational computer game, First Class with the Shoe People, was released for various platforms in 1991 by Gremlin Interactive.
References
^The Shoe People – The Complete Series DVD, The Shoe People Fact Files, Revelation Films Ltd., 2004
