FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR IVOR COMEBACK
HE was the little green locomotive that entertained us with his charming adventures when we were children.
And the 60th anniversary of Ivor the Engine is now being celebrated with plans to bring him out of retirement.
Ivor the Engine captured the hearts of the British public in black and white in the 1950s and 1960s, and again in colour in the 1970s, through a series of animated films screened by the BBC.
His adventures, along the fictional Merioneth and Llantisilly Rail Traction Company Limited railway, were born of the imaginings of Oliver Postgate, who holidayed on occasions in north Wales.
And now it could be making a return to the big screen.
Oliver’s son Daniel Postgate told the BBC: “I’d love to make a live-action version of Ivor. The beautiful storytelling means it’s as enjoyable for children now as it was then.
“Dad’s first programme was made for ITV and was inspired by the love of Under Milk Wood, Dylan Thomas and the magic of Wales.
“He also wanted to animate without too many characters that could walk because it was difficult to animate – so he came up with a steam locomotive who wanted to sing in a Welsh choir and that was the starting point which led to everything.
“He then surrounded Ivor with charmingly eccentric people. It doesn’t matter how technically dazzling an animation is, if the story is not good then it is soon forgotten.”
And nothing would make Daniel more chuffed than following the Clangers’ comeback and getting Ivor back on track.
“I’ve written some film ideas that could work as a live-action and family film,” said Daniel.
“There have been plays and musicals and it’d be good to bring back Ivor in a different way, not as an animation as that has already been done. And something to showcase the beautiful Welsh countryside and wealth of acting talent Wales has to offer. There’s every chance it will happen – I’m on the case.”