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{{short description|British animated children's television series}}
]
{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
'''''Fireman Sam''''' ({{lang-cy|Sam Tân}}) is a ] ] ] programme about a fireman called Sam, his fellow firefighters, and other townspeople in the Welsh town of Pontypandy (a mix of two actual places, ] and ], in the ]). The original idea for Fireman Sam came from two ex-firemen from ]. They took their idea to ] who saw the potential in the series and commissioned it.
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Fireman Sam logo.png
| image_size = 250
| genre =
| creator = {{plainlist|
* Dave Gingell
* Dave Jones
* Rob Lee
}}
| writer = Laura Beaumont<br />Paul Larson (2012-present)
| director = Jerry Hibbert<br />Gary Andrews<br />Cam Lizotte<br />Greg Richardson<br />Katrina Hadley<br />Jennifer Guglielmucci<br />Oskar Nilsson<br />William Gordon<br />Connor Ferguson
| voices = {{plainlist|
* ] (series 1–4)
* ] (2005 era)
* ] (2005 era)
* ] (2005 era)
* Steven Kynman
* David Carling
* Su Douglas
* Tegwen Tucker
* Ifan Huw Dafydd
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
}}
| narrated = ] (1987–1994)
| country = United Kingdom
| language = {{plainlist|
* Welsh (series 1–4)
* English
}}
| num_series = 15
| num_episodes = 304
| list_episodes = List of Fireman Sam episodes
| producer = Various
| runtime = {{plainlist|
* 10 minutes (series)
* 20 minutes ("Snow Business" only)
}}
| company = {{plainlist|
* ] (1987–1994)
* ] (2003–2017)
* ] (2017–present)
}}
| network = {{plainlist|
* ] (Welsh version)
* ] on ] (series 1–4)
* ] (series 5)
* ] (series 6–present)
* ] (series 8–present)
}}
| first_aired = {{Start date|1987|11|17|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{End date|1994|11|17|df=y}}
| first_aired2 = {{Start date|2005|04|04|df=y}}
| last_aired2 = {{End date|2005|12|26|df=y}}
| first_aired3 = {{Start date|2008|11|24|df=y}}
| last_aired3 = {{End date|present|df=y}}
| music = {{plainlist|
* Ben Heneghan (from 1987 to 2005)
* Ian Lawson (from 1987 to 2005)
* David Pickvance (from 2008 to 2019)
* Blain Morris (from 2020 onwards)
* Mike Shields (from 2021 onwards)
* Amanda Cawley (from 2021 onwards)
}}
}}
'''''Fireman Sam''''' ({{langx|cy|Sam Tân}}) is a British animated ] about a fireman named Sam, his fellow ]s, and other residents in the fictional ] rural village of Pontypandy (a ] of two real towns, ] and ]). It was broadcast for the first time in November 1987 on Welsh TV channel ] and is shown in more than 155 countries across the world.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-20 |title='No stereotype problem' in Fireman Sam |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-47629489 |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-41762714|title=Happy 30th birthday Fireman Sam|first=Peter|last=Shuttleworth|work=BBC News|date=17 November 2017}}</ref>


==History==
Fireman Sam first appeared on ] television and S4C television between ] and ] and remains popular to this day. Fireman Sam has been sold to over 40 countries, from ] to ] and is used across the ] to promote fire safety.
''Fireman Sam'' first appeared on ] on 1 November 1987,<ref>Regional Television Variations. Date: Saturday, Oct. 31, 1987 Publication: The Times (London, England) Sunday: 1st 7.20. {{lang|cy|Sam Tân}}</ref> and a few weeks later on ] on 17 November. The original series finished in 1994, and a new series that expanded the character cast commenced in 2003. The series was also shown as ''{{lang|gd|Sam Smalaidh}}'' in ] in Scotland. The series was sold to over 40 countries and has been used across the United Kingdom to promote ].


The theme song was performed by ] in a classic rock style from 1987 to 1994, then by a different singer, Cameron Stewart, in a 2000s alternative rock style since the 2003 new episode broadcasts.
==Original series==
The series comprised 32 10-minute episodes and a 20-minute Christmas special. The narration and character voices were done by ]


==Development==
Sam is the protagonist in the show, and interacts with both colleagues at the fire station and local townspeople.
The original idea came about from two ex-firemen from ], England – Dave Gingell and David Jones after ] a ] animation book by artist Anthony Miller. They approached ], creator of '']'', in ], Wales, and asked him to further develop their concept. The idea was then brought to S4C's Director of Animation, Chris Grace, who had previously commissioned ''SuperTed'', saw potential in the idea and commissioned the series. The characters and the storylines were created by Rob Lee, an illustrator from Cardiff, and the programme was made using ]. It could take up to four days to produce one minute of this form of puppet animation. ''Fireman Sam'' has to this day been translated into over 25 different languages including Mandarin.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.firemansamonline.com/uk/Parents/About_Sam/index.asp | title=About Sam | access-date=4 January 2011}}</ref>


In the original series, the Fire brigade staff had black clothes whereas in the 2003-05 series they are yellow and blue. In the original series, all the character voices were performed by ]. The later series used several actors' voices.


In 2021, Mike Young said that shows like ''Fireman Sam'' and ''SuperTed'' would not be able to exist without government subsidies to ].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-10-21 |title=TV: Fireman Sam and SuperTed 'wouldn't exist' without subsidies |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-58955393 |access-date=2023-12-13}}</ref>
===Firefighters===
*'''Fireman Sam''' is referred to as the "hero next door". He is the archetypal fireman, who remains composed in an emergency and unfailingly offers assistance to all those in need. Sam is not married, but maintains a close relationship with his nephew, James, and niece, Sarah. Sam's tragic flaw is a penchant for invention, which rarely results in a productive outcome, and can undermine his emphasis on fire safety.
*'''Elvis Cridlington''' provides a contrast to Sam in both competency and demeanour. Elvis is an exuberant ] fan and an appalling cook. He failed his 11+ exam at school.
*'''Station Officer Steele''' is the chief of Pontypandy Fire Station. As a former army officer, he insists upon a high standard of both hygiene and efficiency in the station.
*'''Penny Morris''' is the only female member of the Pontypandy fire brigade. She is originally from Newtown, and doubles as a mechanic.
*'''Trevor Evans''' is an auxiliary fireman with the brigade. His day job is as the town bus driver. He is known for his awkward manner, but nonetheless exhibits a great devotion to the welfare of others (especially Dilys).
*'''Jupiter''' is a bright red fire engine.


===Townspeople=== ==Episodes==
{{main|List of Fireman Sam episodes}}
*'''Dilys Price''' runs the town grocery store. She is a well known gossip, and has great affection for Trevor, the bus driver. Dilys is the mother of town mischief-maker Norman, but is frequently blind to her son's troublesome ways.
{{:List of Fireman Sam episodes}}
*'''"Naughty" Norman Price''' is a seven year old with a love of practical jokes and skateboarding. Unfortunately, Norman regularly fails to set appropriate limits on his own behaviour, and has been known to wreak havoc with the lives of Pontypandy residents. In one episode, one of Normans pranks causes Bella's cafe to be engulfed in flames, endangering the lives of many of the show's characters. At the end of the particular episode, it came with a strict warning to all children telling them not to play with fire. This episode was used as a promotional film shown in schools across the country.
*'''Sarah''' and '''James''' are the relatively well behaved niece and nephew of Fireman Sam.
*'''Bella Lasagne''' is the absent-minded town cafe owner, originally from Italy.
*'''Rosa''' is Bella's temperamental cat.


==Characters==
The firefighters attend to emergencies in their fire truck Jupiter and Penny drives Venus, the red rescue tender.
{{Main|List of Fireman Sam characters}}


==Spin-offs==
===Commercial Availability===
In 1996, there was a stage show that was later released on video, titled '']''. It was interspersed with scenes of children learning about fire safety with Gary Lewis, the actor playing Fireman Sam in the stage show.
Only one DVD has so far been released; Action Stations, containing what are believed to be some of the better episodes.
A further DVD of original series episodes was available from the newspaper ] in 2006, but only contained two episodes. However, a boxset of the first four series is due for release on 26th March 2007 in the UK, most likely to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the show.


In 2009, ''Fireman Sam'' appeared with other animated children's TV characters in the '']'' single '']''. The single was put together by ].
==New series==


''Fireman Sam'' was adapted into a live musical theatre show, which began touring the UK in June 2011.
]


In 2014, ] redubbed ''Fireman Sam'' using American voices instead of British voices for children in the United States. However, the characters of ], ] and ] have their regular, respective Australian, Canadian and Italian voices (instead of being dubbed with a US voice actor), due to their characters' accents. This cast includes the voices of Andrew Hodwitz, Jonah Ain, Chris D'Silva, Margaret Brock, Lily Cassano, Dave Pender Crichton, Jacob James, Scott Lancastle, Ashley Magwood, Michael Pongracz, Becky E. Shrimpton, Sarah Lynn Strange, Carter Treneer, Mark Ricci, Joe Marth (later replaced by Dave MacRae), Adam Turgeon and Christa Clahane.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}
A new series of Fireman Sam was produced between ] and ] by ] (now known as ]), comprising of 26x10 min episodes, using up to date puppet-making, mouth movement and stop-motion animation techniques. It features all the original characters, but adds some new characters:
*'''Tom Thomas''', the Australian pilot of Wallaby One, the rescue helicopter
*The '''Flood''' Family: Mike Flood (Pontypandy's odd job man), Nurse Flood (a nurse of Jamaican origin) and their daughter Mandy (a bit of a mischief maker, like Norman Price)
*'''Dusty''', a stray dog


==Reception==
Instead of having all of the voices done by one person, there were 3 voice artists now. Unfortunately, John Alderton was not one of them. The voice of Sam was provided by ]
The ] website said of the series, "All the characters blend together into an appealing mixture of fun and entertainment for children everywhere".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.abc.net.au/abckids/shows/prog64.htm | title=Fireman Sam at ABC | website=] | access-date=4 January 2011}}</ref>


] recommended the 2005 series for ages three and up, praising it for showing how to "stay calm in a crisis" and rely on a team to solve problems. The American website found that the "distinctly Welsh characters, community, accents, and expressions may pose some minor comprehension problems for kids on this side of the pond", but considered it a useful example of life in another part of the world.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/Fireman-Sam.html | title=Fireman Sam at commonsensemedia | date=16 October 2006 | access-date=4 January 2011}}</ref>
The new series has been broadcast and translated into several different languages, and is available on DVD.


In 2014, Dean Burnett wrote in '']'' calling Fireman Sam the "worst children's programme ever" due to its lack of realism.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Burnett |first=Dean |date=2014-02-07 |title=Fireman Sam: the worst children's programme ever? |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/brain-flapping/2014/feb/07/fireman-sam-the-worst-childrens-programme-ever |access-date=2023-12-13 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
==Theme Tune==
The series had a theme tune composed by Ben Heneghan and Ian Lawson. The lyrics were written by Robin Lyons, and sung by Maldwyn Pope. A full length version was also released.


==Controversies==
The new series theme tune followed a similar tune but slightly more funky, although the lyrics differed greatly, and it was now sung by Cameron Stewart, a maths teacher from South Wales.<ref>{{cite news | title = On track to indie fame | work = ] | date = June 16, 2005 | url = http://archive.penarthtimes.co.uk/2005/6/16/381.html | accessdate = December 19, 2006}}</ref> Some of the lyrics were originally used in the full length version of the original theme tune.
] appearing in ''Fireman Sam''.]]
In July 2016, it emerged that in Series 9, Episode 6 called "Troubled Waters" – in which Elvis slips on a piece of paper and falls into a stack of sheets of paper, causing them to fly everywhere – one of the flying pages that briefly came into view was identified as a page from the ]: "Surah ] (67), verses 13–26".<ref name="Quran">{{cite web|last1=Evans|first1=Patrick|title=Fireman Sam episode pulled amid Quran row|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36900310|publisher=BBC|access-date=30 July 2016|date=27 July 2016}}</ref> The production company Mattel apologised for this accident, removed the episode from broadcast, and ceased work with Xing Xing, the animation company responsible for the error. Mattel stated: "Someone from the production company thought they were just putting in random text.<ref name="Quran"/> We have no reason to believe it was done maliciously." It was at first thought that this episode would have to be removed from broadcast circulation, but instead was censored by having the scene edited to show Elvis just slipping on a blank piece of paper, so the television networks were still able to broadcast it.<ref name="Quran"/> The BBC received more than 1,000 complaints and forwarded them to ] as the BBC has not aired ''Fireman Sam'' since 2008.<ref name="Quran"/> Ofcom decided not to investigate the episode stating that even at the highest resolution it was impossible to tell if the text was from the Quran or not.<ref name=BBC>{{cite news |date=12 September 2016 |title=Fireman Sam 'Koran' scene cleared by Ofcom|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-37338265 |work=BBC News |location= |access-date=11 April 2024}}</ref>

{{Clear}}


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}}


==External links==
<references/>
{{Wikiquote}}

* {{BBC programme}}
== External Links ==
* *
* {{IMDb title|id=0329829|title=Fireman Sam}}
*
*{{imdb title|id=0329829|title=Fireman Sam}} {{Fireman Sam}}{{Media in Cardiff}}
{{Mattel}}
*{{ClassicKidsTV Link|Fireman_Sam|Fireman Sam}}
{{Portal bar|Wales|United Kingdom|Animation|Television}}
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Latest revision as of 12:39, 11 January 2025

British animated children's television series

Fireman Sam
Created by
  • Dave Gingell
  • Dave Jones
  • Rob Lee
Written byLaura Beaumont
Paul Larson (2012-present)
Directed byJerry Hibbert
Gary Andrews
Cam Lizotte
Greg Richardson
Katrina Hadley
Jennifer Guglielmucci
Oskar Nilsson
William Gordon
Connor Ferguson
Voices of
Narrated byJohn Alderton (1987–1994)
Music by
  • Ben Heneghan (from 1987 to 2005)
  • Ian Lawson (from 1987 to 2005)
  • David Pickvance (from 2008 to 2019)
  • Blain Morris (from 2020 onwards)
  • Mike Shields (from 2021 onwards)
  • Amanda Cawley (from 2021 onwards)
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languages
  • Welsh (series 1–4)
  • English
No. of series15
No. of episodes304 (list of episodes)
Production
ProducerVarious
Running time
  • 10 minutes (series)
  • 20 minutes ("Snow Business" only)
Production companies
Original release
Network
Release17 November 1987 (1987-11-17) –
17 November 1994 (1994-11-17)
Release4 April (2005-04-04) –
26 December 2005 (2005-12-26)
Release24 November 2008 (2008-11-24) –
present (present)

Fireman Sam (Welsh: Sam Tân) is a British animated children's television series about a fireman named Sam, his fellow firefighters, and other residents in the fictional Welsh rural village of Pontypandy (a portmanteau of two real towns, Pontypridd and Tonypandy). It was broadcast for the first time in November 1987 on Welsh TV channel S4C and is shown in more than 155 countries across the world.

History

Fireman Sam first appeared on S4C on 1 November 1987, and a few weeks later on BBC1 on 17 November. The original series finished in 1994, and a new series that expanded the character cast commenced in 2003. The series was also shown as Sam Smalaidh in Scottish Gaelic in Scotland. The series was sold to over 40 countries and has been used across the United Kingdom to promote fire safety.

The theme song was performed by Mal Pope in a classic rock style from 1987 to 1994, then by a different singer, Cameron Stewart, in a 2000s alternative rock style since the 2003 new episode broadcasts.

Development

The original idea came about from two ex-firemen from London, England – Dave Gingell and David Jones after purchasing a stop motion animation book by artist Anthony Miller. They approached Mike Young, creator of SuperTed, in Barry, Wales, and asked him to further develop their concept. The idea was then brought to S4C's Director of Animation, Chris Grace, who had previously commissioned SuperTed, saw potential in the idea and commissioned the series. The characters and the storylines were created by Rob Lee, an illustrator from Cardiff, and the programme was made using stop motion. It could take up to four days to produce one minute of this form of puppet animation. Fireman Sam has to this day been translated into over 25 different languages including Mandarin.

In the original series, all the character voices were performed by John Alderton. The later series used several actors' voices.

In 2021, Mike Young said that shows like Fireman Sam and SuperTed would not be able to exist without government subsidies to S4C.

Episodes

Main article: List of Fireman Sam episodes
SeriesEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
1817 November 1987 (1987-11-17)10 December 1987 (1987-12-10)
281 September 1988 (1988-09-01)22 December 1988 (1988-12-22)
3915 October 1990 (1990-10-15)10 December 1990 (1990-12-10)
4821 October 1994 (1994-10-21)17 November 1994 (1994-11-17)
5264 April 2005 (2005-04-04)25 December 2005 (2005-12-25)
62624 November 2008 (2008-11-24)27 February 2009 (2009-02-27)
7264 May 2009 (2009-05-04)19 July 2009 (2009-07-19)
8263 March 2012 (2012-03-03)10 November 2012 (2012-11-10)
9257 April 2014 (2014-04-07)3 September 2014 (2014-09-03)
102515 February 2016 (2016-02-15)26 August 2016 (2016-08-26)
111318 November 2017 (2017-11-18)9 May 2018 (2018-05-09)
121326 October 2020 (2020-10-26)17 February 2021 (2021-02-17)
13264 October 2021 (2021-10-04)7 October 2022 (2022-10-07)
14261 November 2022 (2022-11-01)7 July 2023 (2023-07-07)
152621 October 2023 (2023-10-21)TBA

Characters

Main article: List of Fireman Sam characters

Spin-offs

In 1996, there was a stage show that was later released on video, titled Fireman Sam in Action. It was interspersed with scenes of children learning about fire safety with Gary Lewis, the actor playing Fireman Sam in the stage show.

In 2009, Fireman Sam appeared with other animated children's TV characters in the Children in Need single The Official BBC Children in Need Medley. The single was put together by Peter Kay.

Fireman Sam was adapted into a live musical theatre show, which began touring the UK in June 2011.

In 2014, Amazon Prime redubbed Fireman Sam using American voices instead of British voices for children in the United States. However, the characters of Tom Thomas, Moose Roberts and Bella Lasagne have their regular, respective Australian, Canadian and Italian voices (instead of being dubbed with a US voice actor), due to their characters' accents. This cast includes the voices of Andrew Hodwitz, Jonah Ain, Chris D'Silva, Margaret Brock, Lily Cassano, Dave Pender Crichton, Jacob James, Scott Lancastle, Ashley Magwood, Michael Pongracz, Becky E. Shrimpton, Sarah Lynn Strange, Carter Treneer, Mark Ricci, Joe Marth (later replaced by Dave MacRae), Adam Turgeon and Christa Clahane.

Reception

The ABC website said of the series, "All the characters blend together into an appealing mixture of fun and entertainment for children everywhere".

Common Sense Media recommended the 2005 series for ages three and up, praising it for showing how to "stay calm in a crisis" and rely on a team to solve problems. The American website found that the "distinctly Welsh characters, community, accents, and expressions may pose some minor comprehension problems for kids on this side of the pond", but considered it a useful example of life in another part of the world.

In 2014, Dean Burnett wrote in The Guardian calling Fireman Sam the "worst children's programme ever" due to its lack of realism.

Controversies

A page from the Quran appearing in Fireman Sam.

In July 2016, it emerged that in Series 9, Episode 6 called "Troubled Waters" – in which Elvis slips on a piece of paper and falls into a stack of sheets of paper, causing them to fly everywhere – one of the flying pages that briefly came into view was identified as a page from the Quran: "Surah Mulk (67), verses 13–26". The production company Mattel apologised for this accident, removed the episode from broadcast, and ceased work with Xing Xing, the animation company responsible for the error. Mattel stated: "Someone from the production company thought they were just putting in random text. We have no reason to believe it was done maliciously." It was at first thought that this episode would have to be removed from broadcast circulation, but instead was censored by having the scene edited to show Elvis just slipping on a blank piece of paper, so the television networks were still able to broadcast it. The BBC received more than 1,000 complaints and forwarded them to Channel 5 as the BBC has not aired Fireman Sam since 2008. Ofcom decided not to investigate the episode stating that even at the highest resolution it was impossible to tell if the text was from the Quran or not.

References

  1. "'No stereotype problem' in Fireman Sam". BBC News. 20 March 2019. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  2. Shuttleworth, Peter (17 November 2017). "Happy 30th birthday Fireman Sam". BBC News.
  3. Regional Television Variations. Date: Saturday, Oct. 31, 1987 Publication: The Times (London, England) Sunday: 1st 7.20. Sam Tân
  4. "About Sam". Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  5. "TV: Fireman Sam and SuperTed 'wouldn't exist' without subsidies". BBC News. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  6. "Fireman Sam at ABC". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  7. "Fireman Sam at commonsensemedia". 16 October 2006. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  8. Burnett, Dean (7 February 2014). "Fireman Sam: the worst children's programme ever?". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  9. ^ Evans, Patrick (27 July 2016). "Fireman Sam episode pulled amid Quran row". BBC. Retrieved 30 July 2016.
  10. "Fireman Sam 'Koran' scene cleared by Ofcom". BBC News. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 11 April 2024.

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