Fingermouse

{{more citations needed|date=September 2019}} {{Use British English|date=September 2019}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox television | genre = Live-action/Puppet TV series | creator = Joanne Cole<br>Michael Cole | presenter = Iain Lauchlan | theme_music_composer = Michael Jessett | composer = Richard Brown | country = United Kingdom | language = English | num_seasons = 1 | num_episodes = 13 | producer = Q3 London | runtime = 15 minutes | network = BBC1 | first_aired = {{start date|1985|9|25|df=y}} | last_aired = {{end date|1985|12|18|df=y}} | related = Fingerbobs }}

'''''Fingermouse''''' is a British children's television programme created by Michael Cole for the BBC in 1985. It is a spin-off of the earlier series ''Fingerbobs''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1338439/Michael-Cole.html|title=Michael Cole|date=24 August 2001|accessdate=20 August 2018|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> The first episode was broadcast on 25 September 1985 on BBC1. The eponymous star was a paper finger puppet in the form of a mouse, who would play various musical instruments with the help of Music Man, played by Iain Lauchlan. Fingermouse also went adventuring outside, interacting with other paper puppets made by artist Joanne Cole. The episodes were repeated frequently between 1986 and 1994. The series was also shown as part of the CBBC On Choice strand in 2000. For the 2000 repeats, the address to receive an instruction sheet (make your own Fingermouse) was removed.

==Episodes==

{{Episode table |total_width= |background=#FFD700 |overall=10 |title=60 |airdate=30 |episodes={{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=1 |Title=String |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|09|25|df=y}} |ShortSummary=Music Man brings Fingermouse to life and discovers that playing the strings of a violin makes a ball of string come to life, and leads Fingermouse a dance that lasts through the night. |LineColor=FFD700 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=2 |Title=Gong |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|10|02|df=y}} |ShortSummary=Music Man strikes a gong and everything gets going, including the boat on a willow-pattern plate. Fingermouse is the boat's captain and Drat the Rat is his first mate. |LineColor=FFD700 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=3 |Title=Drum |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|10|09|df=y}} |ShortSummary=Tom-toms beating makes a feather-duster in Music Man's house think it's a parrot and fly off to the jungle. Fingermouse follows the feather-duster and encounters snakes, tigers, crocodiles and a mouse-eating plant. |LineColor=FFD700 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=4 |Title=Wand |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|10|16|df=y}} |ShortSummary=Music Man shows Fingermouse how to use a conductor's baton, which is like a magic wand that can conjure up music. |LineColor=FFD700 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=5 |Title=Harp |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|10|23|df=y}} |ShortSummary=When Music Man shows Fingermouse how to play the harp it reminds him of drops of water falling to make a river. But when he finds a golden drop he is given a crown to play the part of King Midas, who turns everything he touches into gold. |LineColor=FFD700 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=6 |Title=Concertina |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|10|30|df=y}} |ShortSummary=Music Man shows Fingermouse how to play the concertina, and a folding concertina of frogs goes croaking off into the countryside. While searching for them, Fingermouse meets the Kingfisher and his Queen. |LineColor=FFD700 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=7 |Title=Blow |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|11|06|df=y}} |ShortSummary=Music Man shows Fingermouse how to play the flute. Straws dance out of the house to its sound and twirl and spin in the wind down to the river where they meet the Suckermonster. |LineColor=FFD700 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=8 |Title=Guitar |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|11|13|df=y}} |ShortSummary=Music from a bouzouki from Greece, a guitar from Spain and a balalaika from Russia makes Fingermouse dance. He meets Drat the Rat outside in the snow and they have a race to the top of the slippery snowman. |LineColor=FFD700 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=9 |Title=Cello |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|11|20|df=y}} |ShortSummary=Cello music makes Drat the Rat yawn, but Fingermouse finds ways to wake him up. |LineColor=FFD700 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=10 |Title=Jazz |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|11|27|df=y}} |ShortSummary=Fingermouse learns to play the piano and is rudely interrupted by Drat the Rat. Drat wants to sing too, but Fingermouse decides to look for a better singer among his riverbank friends. |LineColor=FFD700 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=11 |Title=Percussion |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|12|04|df=y}} |ShortSummary=Music Man shows Fingermouse percussion instruments, and the triangle is his favourite. Drat steals the beater and can't get a sound out of it. |LineColor=FFD700 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=12 |Title=Sitar |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|12|11|df=y}} |ShortSummary=The day dawns to sitar music. Drat decides to be nice for once and tells Fingermouse the story of the mouse and the lion. |LineColor=FFD700 }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber=13 |Title=Trumpet |OriginalAirDate={{Start date|1985|12|18|df=y}} |ShortSummary=The trumpet plays a jazz tune, causing everything in Music Man's cupboard to dance. A sack of potatoes dances out of the house and Fingermouse tries to get them back. |LineColor=FFD700 }} }}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060907162004/http://www.memorabletv.com/kidstvf.htm Fingermouse @ Memorable TV ]

Category:BBC children's television shows Category:British television shows featuring puppetry Category:1985 British television series debuts Category:1985 British television series endings Category:1980s British children's television series Category:1980s preschool education television series Category:British preschool education television series Category:CBeebies Category:British television spinoffs Category:Music education in the United Kingdom Category:Television series about mice and rats Category:Television series by BBC Studios