It squeaks volumes...
Rodent power came to British telly 40 years ago. MARION McMULLEN looks at the rise and rise of Danger Mouse
HE’S the world’s greatest secret agent and has faced dastardly enemies and deadly missions,
Danger Mouse burst into action on ITV on September 28, 1981, with David Jason as the voice of the white rodent and comedy actor Terry Scott as his sidekick Penfold.
The pair of crime fighters lived in a post box outside the home of famous sleuth Sherlock Holmes at 221B Baker Street in London.
The cartoon adventures saw Danger Mouse and Penfold battling to save the world from the likes of the criminal mastermind Baron Silas Greenback and his fiendish henchman Stiletto. “Good grief,” Danger Mouse would utter whenever things started to go wrong.
Mark Hall and Brian Cosgrove created Danger Mouse for their production company, Cosgrove Hall Films, and said they were inspired by the 1960 action series Danger Man, starring Patrick McGoohan as unstoppable secret agent John Drake.
They made 90 episodes, until the original cartoons came to an end in 1992 after 11 years. It proved hugely popular overseas and was broadcast in more than 80 territories worldwide including Australia, Germany and France and it was the first UK cartoon to really break into the USA.
You cannot keep a superhero mouse down though, and Danger Mouse is now back again as a CBBC favourite and licensed to thrill a whole new generation.
Facing fear with a perfect karate chop and a slightly elevated eyebrow, there have been a few changes.
His distinguishing eye patch has been replaced by an “i-patch” with multiple technological functions.
Alexander Armstrong is the new voice of Danger Mouse, with Stephen Fry as his boss Colonel K. Alexander’s Pointless pal Richard Osman has also appeared in the show as genius jellyfish Professor Strontium Jellyfishowitz.
Brian Cosgrove said: “When I helped to create Danger Mouse I had no idea the show would be such a huge success both in the UK and overseas.”