Sara And Hoppity Episode Guide The first televised order differs slightly from the official order (owing to seasonal dictates - e.g. episode 12 Sara And Father Christmas was held back until December) though all official documentation refers to the episodes by the numbers on the promotional brochure. This number is given after each title. Notes with some subsequent purchases of the series indicate that episodes 34 (Sara Is Naughty), 25 (A Birthday Cake For Daddy) and 30 (The Snowman, naturally) feature snow, while episode 52 (Washing Day) is for pre-Easter, hence it being brought forward to being the eighth story to be televised, in April. Reproduced here for the first time are the complete synopses for each episode of Sara And Hoppity, from the Associated-Rediffusion archives. Alternative titles have been included, with variations noted in the Look Westward listings (LW) and Associated-Rediffusion documentation (AR). Sara And Hoppity (1) February 27 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated February 23 1965 Sara Brown lives in a toy hospital and one day an old man brings in a broken toy. Sara buys him and Mummy and Daddy mend him. His name is Hoppity and he was found in a goblin ring - which means he is very naughty. Sara is given spinach for lunch and she does not want to eat it. Hoppity has an idea and poor Sara listens to him and gets into trouble. (Note: This episode is loosely based on the first Sara and Hoppity book). A pilot version of this episode is one of only two complete episodes of Sara and Hoppity known to still exist, and was recently released as an extra on the Space Patrol Complete Series DVD Set. Read a full review of here) Hoppity Is Stolen (2) March 6 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated March 2 1965 The children from the school next door start throwing their rubbish over the garden wall, and Hoppity tells Sara to make them stop it. She goes to the school where one of the boys steals Hoppity. But Jimmy finds him and brings him back to Sara and Sara says that Jimmy can be her best friend. (Note: This episode is loosely based on part of Sara and Hoppity Make New Friends) Sara And Hoppity Bake A Cake (3) - aka The Strange Cake (LW) March 13 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated March 9 1965 Aunt Mathilda is coming to tea and Mummy decides to bake her a currant cake. Sara and Hoppity help her, and a very peculiar cake it turns out to be! (Note: This episode would appear to be loosely based on a story in Meet Sara and Hoppity, and bears similarities to a picture story in The Big Book of Sara and Hoppity) Sara And Hoppity And Shaggy Dog (4) March 20 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated March 16 1965 A big dog comes into the garden and runs away with Hoppity. Sara follows him, and she and Shaggy soon make friends. The dog won't leave Sara and Daddy agrees that if nobody claims him she can keep him for her very own.. (Note: The idea of a dog running off with Hoppity forms the start of the book Sara and Hoppity Get Lost) Sara's Friend Has An Accident (5) March 27 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated March 23 1965 Jimmy comes to play in the garden, but in climbing a tree to rescue a kitten, he falls and breaks his leg. Sara and Mummy go to visit him in hospital, and when he unwraps the present Sara has brought, Jimmy finds he has an unexpected visitor!. (Note: This episode is loosely based on part of Sara and Hoppity Make New Friends) Shaggy Is Taught Some Tricks (6) - aka Sara Teaches Shaggy Some Tricks (LW) April 3 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated March 30 1965 Sara teaches Shaggy to bring the ball back in his mouth when she throws it to him. The dog is so pleased with his new trick that when he sees Aunt Mathida in the street, he runs home with the meat from her shopping basket. But all is forgiven when Shaggy finds Aunt Mathilda's lost gloves. Sara And Hoppity Go Skating (7) April 10 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated April 6 1965 The pond is frozen over, and Daddy takes Sara along to teach her to skate. Hoppity wants to join in, but when he tries to skate he falls into a hole in the ice! Daddy runs home for his fishing net and the naughty toy is brought safely to land. Washing Day (52) April 17 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated February 15 1966 Hoppity dances into a pillow case and gives Georgie a nasty fright. Mummy makes some chocolate Easter eggs and Daddy makes an ENORMOUS wooden one. Georgie is asked to choose an egg for himself, and, of course, he picks the big one, though Mummy gives him a chocolate one too! Sara And The Broken Toys (8) April 24 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated April 13 1965 When Sara and Hoppity go shopping in the big store with Mummy, they find a cellar full of broken toys. The Manager allows Sara to have them, and when Daddy and Mummy have mended them, they go with Sara to the hospital to give the toys to Jimmy and the other sick children. (Note: This episode is loosely based on part of Sara and Hoppity Make New Friends) Shaggy In Trouble (9) May 1 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated April 20 1965 Mummy is going to paint the kitchen cupboard and says Sara can help her. Shaggy knocks over a tin of paint with his tail and Mummy has to give him a bath. Again Shaggy gets covered with paint and runs away to hide until Sara tempts him out with a juicy bone. (Note: A loose strip adaptation of this episode appears in The Big Book of Sara and Hoppity) A Present For Miss Julie (10) - aka Sara Buys A Present (AR) May 8 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated April 27 1965 Mummy and Sara go along to the pet shop to choose a present for Miss Julie's birthday. While Sara is looking at the pets Hoppity falls in the fish tank and has to be rescued. Sara decides to buy goldfish for Miss Julie and the old lady is delighted with her present. Gorgey Georgie Comes To Stay (11) May 15 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated May 4 1965 Mrs. Guzzler's uncle is ill, and Mummy agrees to look after Georgie while she is away. The fat boy eats too much and is so sick he has to go to bed. He decides to spend the rest of the week there, but Hoppity spoils his plans and Georgie is packed off to school. (Note: A loose strip adaptation of this episode appears in The Big Book of Sara and Hoppity) Aunt Mathilda's New Dress (13) May 22 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated May 18 1965 Aunt Mathilda comes to tea wearing a new dress that she has knitted herself. She is very proud of it and won't sit in the kitchen lest she makes it dirty. She has a rest in the dining room and while she is asleep Hoppity gets his little wodden arm tangled up in Aunt Mathilda's skirt. Something terrible happens and poor Sara gets the blame. Gorgey Georgie Is Naughty Again (14) May 29 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated May 25 1965 Georgie treats his toys very badly and one day he brings a stuffed dog to the Toy Hospital to be mended. Sara decides to teach him a lesson, and when he comes to collect his toy, Shaggy is witing there instead. Georgie gets a nasty fright when the dog gives him a push! Sara And Hoppity Get Lost (15) June 5 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated June 1 1965 Mummy goes to the big store to buy herself a dress. Hoppity hides among the dresses, and while Sara is looking for him the store is locked up and everybody goes home. But clever Hoppity dances over to the telephone and Sara's call for help brings Daddy to the rescue. (Note: This episode bears no connection to the book of the same name.) Sara's Birthday (16) June 12 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated June 8 1965 It is Sara's birthday, and Mummy takes her to the theatre to see a variety show. Hoppity goes too, but when he sees a clever seal doing tricks he goes up on the stage (right) to show what he can do - and gets into trouble as usual. Sara Does The Spring Cleaning (17) June 19 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated June 15 1965 When Sara tries to help Mummy with the spring cleaning something always goes wrong. Sara tries to clean the glass and then she tries to stop Mummy's rubber gloves from being slippery. Of course Hoppity has lots of ideas too, but he doesn't help Mummy much either. Gorgey Georgie Comes To Tea (18) June 26 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated June 22 1965 Georgie and Mrs. Guzzler are coming to tea, and Mummy has a special treat - strawberries and cream. While Sara is whipping the cream, Daddy comes into the kitchen to shave. Hoppity dances on the tube of shaving cream, which falls on the plate of strawberries meant for greedy Georgie. Sara And The Junk Man (19) July 3 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated June 29 1965 Mummy says she is tired of dusting the pictures and vases, so while Mummy and Daddy are away, Sara sells them all to the junk man for ten shillings. But Daddy manages to get them all back and everything ends happily. Sara And Hoppity Help Mummy (20) July 10 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated July 6 1965 Mummy has to stay in bed with a cold and Miss Julie has to do the shopping. It is too heavy for her to carry it all but clever Hoppity finds a horse and cart to help her. Hoppity Does Something Wrong (21) July 17 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated July 13 1965 It is washing day and Mummy is starching the clothes. She is called down to the shop and while she is away Hoppity knocks the packet of starch into the water. When Daddy goes to fetch in the clothes he simply cannot believe his eyes! A New Hat For Mummy (22) - aka Mummy's New Hat (AR) July 24 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated July 20 1965 The Brown family are invited to a wedding and Mummy buys herself a lovely new hat. Sara has hidden Shaggy's ball and reaching up to get it, he falls on the hat and ruins it. But Hoppity tells Sara to make Mummy wear a lampshade and the new 'hat' is a great success. A New Kite (23) July 31 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated July 27 1965 Jimmy is coming to play with Sara and Daddy makes a new kite for the children. While they are having their tea, Hoppity climbs inside the kite and is carried up ino the air. Sara is very upset, but Hoppity falls down Aunt Mathilda's chimney and all ends happily. Fun On The Sands (24) August 7 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated August 3 1965 Mummy takes Sara and Jimmy to the seaside for the day. Jimmy buys some balloons and they tie them to Hoppity to stop them from blowing away. The wind lifts Hoppity into the sky and there seems no way of saving him till Jimmy thinks of bursting the balloons with his new catapult, A Present For Jimmy (26) August 14 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated August 17 1965 Mummy takes Sara along to the store to buy her a pair of wellingtons. A tramp is stealing some toys whe he sees a wellington walking towards him - with Hoppity inside! - and runs off in fright. The Manager is so pleased he gives Sara a beautiful train set for Jimmy. Shaggy And The Flowers (27) August 21 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated August 24 1965 Shaggy ruins Daddy's flowers by trampling on them. Later Aunt Mathilda comes to tea wearing a lovely flowered hat. But when she gets up to go it is nowhere to be found, for the naughty dog has buried it in the flowerbed to make Daddy think his flowers are still there. (Note: A loose strip adaptation of this episode appears in The Big Book of Sara and Hoppity) Sara And Hoppity Clean The Shop (28) August 28 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated August 31 1965 Georgie has broken all his toys and Daddy is kept busy mending them. Mummy scrubs out the shop and when she goes upstairs to get lunch, Hoppity dances on the soap and makes the floor very slippery. Naughty Georgie creeps back to take some toys and gets a nasty surprise. Sara And Hoppity Do The Wallpapering (29) September 4 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated September 7 1965 Daddy decides to wallpaper the dining room and Sara is allowed to help. Hoppity gets in the way as usual and ends up by falling into a bucket of paste. All his paint washes off but Mummy and Daddy soon put him to rights and everything ends happily. Pancake Day (31) September 11 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated September 21 1965 Mummy is making pancakes when the shop bell rings, but she finds nobody there. While she is away Sara puts some raising powder in the mixture and the pancakes start floating up in the air. One of them sails through the window and lands on Georgie who is hiding behind the door. Aunt Mathilda's Hat (32) September 18 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated September 28 1965 Sara cuts the flowers off Aunt Mathilda's hat to make the table look pretty for tea (Hoppity's idea, of course!). Aunt Mathilda is furious, but she forgives Sara when, at tea next day, she is given a beautiful new hat bought by Sara and Miss Julie. (Note: This episode is loosely based on part of the first Sara and Hoppity book) but the story also forms part of the Sara and Hoppity pilot. A minute of silent footage from this episode was found to be held by the National Film Archive in 2002, by fan Jeremy Clark. Jimmy Comes To Tea (33) September 25 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated October 5 1965 Jimmy and Gergie are invited to tea, and Jimmy shows Sara how to play at pillow-fights. Sara's bedroom gets covered in feathers and Georgie runs to tell Mummy. But Shaggy helps to sweep up the mess with his tail and when Mummy comes the room is perfectly tidy. The Goldfish Pond (35) October 2 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated October 19 1965 Mummy takes Sara along to the pet shop to buy some goldfish for the pond. But they only buy two and Sara tells Shaggy she wants more fish. When Mummy goes to cook the cod for lunch she finds the silly dog has dropped all the pieces into the pond! The Coalman Comes To Call (36) October 9 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated October 26 1965 The cellar is empty and Daddy asks the coalman to call. Hoppity falls down the coal chute and gets buried under the coal. Sara canot find him anywhere, but when Daddy takes a bucket of coal up to Miss Julie, Hoppity is sitting in the middle of it. Mummy Loses Her Ring (37) October 16 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated August 24 1965 Mummy is making the Christmas puddings and Hoppity falls into the pudding mixture. Later Mummy drops her ring on the floor and it is sucked up by the vaccum cleaner. Hoppity knocks over the bag of dust and saves Mummy's ring from getting thrown away. (Note: This episode would appear to be very loosely based on a story in Meet Sara and Hoppity) A Visit To The Seaside (38) October 23 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated November 9 1965 Mummy and Daddy and Sara go away to the seaside for a holiday. Hoppity dances on to a li-lo and gets carried out to sea. Sara thinks her toy has gone for ever, but an old fisherman brings him safely to land - in his lobster pot! (Note: This episode would appear to be very loosely based on part of Sara and Hoppity Get Lost) Sara Goes To School (39) October 30 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated November 16 1965 Sara goes down to the school to meet Jimmy and naughty Hoppity dances right into the classroom. Sara is allowed to stay and she sees Georgie Guzzler teasing little Mary. Hoppity sees him too and he pays Georgie back by dancing on his exercise book with inky feet. A Day At The Beach (40) November 6 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated November 23 1965 The Browns' stay at the seaside is nearly over and Daddy and Sara have a last game of clock golf with Hoppity joining in. They picnic on the sands and then run catch the train which will take them back to the Toy Hospital, Miss Julie and Shaggy. The Lonely Junk Man (41) November 13 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated November 30 1965 The Junk Man takes a fancy to Hoppity and carries him off to the shack. He keeps the toy in a cage to dance and sing for him, but Daddy gets him back again and Sara gives the Junk Man a goldfish so that he won't be lonely any more. (Note: A loose adaptation of this episode appears in The Big Book of Sara and Hoppity) The Brass Band (42) November 20 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated December 7 1965 Daddy decides to form a brass band, and invites his friends over to play. Hoppity enjoys himself among the instruments, and when Dr. makewell starts to blow his tuba it makes a terrible noise, for the naughty toy has fallen inside. The Painting Competition (43) November 27 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated December 14 1965 The Mayor is holding a painting competition, and Mummy, Daddy and Miss Julie all decide to go in for it. But it is Hoppity who wins the prize with a very unusual sort of picture! A Day In Bed (44) December 4 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated December 21 1965 Sara is not feeling well and has to spend the day in bed. This time she is a good girl, but Hoppity is even naughtier than usual and upsets everybody in the Toy Hospital until Shaggy puts an end to his tricks. Sara And Father Christmas (12) December 11 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated May 11 1965 Mummy takes Sara along to the big store to see Father Christmas. While no-one is looking, Hoppity falls into the sackful of presents and is given away to another little girl. But all is well when Mary calls at the Toy Hospital that afternoon with the missing toy. Father Christmas And The Presents (47) December 18 1962 - 4.45 pm. Repeated January 11 1966 (Originally scheduled December 21 1965) Sara gets Mummy to write her a letter to Father Christmas asking for a doll's pram and Daddy posts it in the fireplace. When the pram does not arrive Hoppity goes looking for the letter and gets stuck up the chimney. But he is rescued by the Junk Man and Sara gets her pram as well. A Birthday Cake For Daddy (25) January 1 1963 - 4.45 pm. Repeated August 10 1965 Mummy makes a special cake for Daddy's birthday, but Hoppity spills the icing sugar and she has to go out for some more. Sara 'ices' the cake with snow from the garden and soon it is swimming in a pool of water. Luckily Doctor Makewell arrives with another cake for Daddy. The Snowman (30) January 8 1963 - 4.45 pm. Repeated September 14 1965 Somebody is stealing Daddy's bulbs from the garden and he doesn't know what to do. Daddy and Sara build a snowman and Hoppity gets shut up inside it. That night a tramp creeps in to steal the bulbs, but he runs away in fright when the snowman comes to life. Sara And Hoppity Quarrel (45) January 15 1963 - 4.45 pm. Repeated December 28 1965 Sara is cross with Hoppity, so she leaves him behind in the kitchen. He dances into a box of rubbish and is carried away by the Junk Man. Daddy has to fetch him back once more and the quarrel is soon forgotten when Sara and her toy are together again. Gorgey Georgie Goes Visiting (46) - aka Georgie Goes Visiting January 22 1963 - 4.45 pm. Repeated January 4 1966 Sara hides Hoppity in the cupboard when she hears that Georgie is coming to tea, but Shaggy lets him out again. Georgie wants Hoppity to play with, so he makes him into a parcel and posts him to himself. Luckily the toy manages to wriggle free and dances back. (Note: The brochure and synopsis sheet give the title Georgie Goes Visiting, while the on-screen title is actually Gorgey Georgie Goes Visiting. Read a full review of this recently rediscovered episode) The Fancy Dress Party (51) January 29 1963 - 4.45 pm. Repeated February 8 1966 The Brown family receive an invitation to the Mayor's fancy dress party and are soon busy making costumes. Sara wants to take Hoppity along but Mummy says No. Miss Julie makes him a little jockey's outfit and he surprises everyone by turning up at the party riding on Shaggy's back. Sara Is Naughty (34) February 5 1963 - 4.45 pm. Repeated October 12 1965 Sara does not feel well and Mummy sends for Dr. Makewell. Sara hates taking medicine so she hides her pills in the cuckoo clock which Daddy has made for her. But Mummy finds out how naughty she has been when the clock strikes and all the pills fly out again. Hoppity And The Jelly (48) February 12 1963 - 4.45 pm. Repeated January 18 1966 Georgie and his mother are coming to tea, so Mummy makes an ENORMOUS jelly. Hoppity falls into the bowl and Miss Julie, who has lost her glasses, puts him in the refrigerator. Everybody gets a big surprise when the jelly is served up. The Grandfather Clock (49) February 19 1963 - 4.45 pm. Repeated January 25 1966 Mummy's alarm clock is broken, so she takes it along to the store to be mended. But they don't mend clocks and send her to see the Junk Man instead. Hoppity has an exciting afternoon inside a grandfather clock. The Windy Day (50) February 26 1963 - 4.45 pm. Repeated February 1 1966 Miss Julie's bonnet gets him blown away while she is out shopping, and she is very upset. Mrs. Grim finds it and takes it home to try it on, but Shaggy sniffs his way to the house and Miss Julie gets her bonnet back again. (Note: The character Mrs Grim also appears in Sara and Hoppity Get Lost, although this would appear to be a name for how Sara views a rather grim lady!) A Rediffusion Television Production - 52 x 15 minutes Transmission dates as Associated-Rediffusion/London region. With thanks to Simon Coward and Kaleidoscope.org, Jeremy Clark, the Associated-Rediffusion archives and the British Film Institute. Back to the Sara and Hoppity homepage The Sara and Hoppity Website would welcome any information on the series for future updates.