Arabel's Raven (Arabel and Mortimer Series)

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The shooting of the series took seven weeks: an exhausting business, especially for the puppeteers who had to stand with their arms in the air while doing all manner of manipulations which they couldn’t see except with the use of small monitors, all the while speaking lines, moving the puppets motions and trying not to get any parts of their bodies in shot! It was great fun, though a little fraught at times. In spite of the length of the enterprise we were all quite sad when the end finally arrived and we had to contemplate the thought of going on to other different projects. Mortimer meets Seleena, a singer from India, and disposes of a telephone box, whilst Mrs. Jones gets a job at the Town Hall. The first part of the second series was originally shown on both Mondays and Wednesdays at 4:20 pm between 3 October and 9 November 1994. The second series' final third was, again, shown on Mondays at 4:00 pm and Wednesdays at 3:55 pm, between 5 and 21 December 1994.

Joan Aiken was a much loved English writer who received the MBE for services to Children's Literature. She was known as a writer of wild fantasy, Gothic novels and short stories. The present from Pollyargos is a problem to parents in the park, and Mrs. Jones has problems with cacti.

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Mortimer is taken to the Town Hall for questioning after releasing some dogs and swallowing a tape. Arabel hears on the radio that Mortimer is at the police station. Mr. Bonny decides to buy Tower Heights, in spite of the bats. Mortimer is keen to practise hitting the Professor's sculpture. Post-production is now under way: editing the entire series, adding opening and closing titles and the specially commissioned music. The finished programmes will be shown on BBC-1 at 4.20 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays from 15th November to 22nd December. It is the big day for Mortimer and Arabel, but unexpected things happen when Seleena hits the high notes and Mortimer hits Pianono, Mr. Leggitt's pigeon. The Joneses' neighbours are up in arms about the damage done to their gardens. Mr. Leggitt suggests that Mortimer may be to blame.

Two years were indeed to elapse while budgets were drawn up and decisions made as to whether Mortimer and Arabel really was to go ahead. Finally we got the green light.

Finally, in mid-May, rehearsals began. During this period the technical equipment was moved into the studio and the first of the sets put up. Mortimer finds some carpet and meets the Professor from Pollyargos, and Mayor Cutlink meets Mr. Bonny, a millionaire.

Granny Jones does some Christmas baking, and Arabel and Mortimer make Christmas decorations for Mallards' Bank. Preparations for the song contest and Mr. Bonny's stunt with Tower Heights are underway. Arabel is convinced that Mortimer knows what has happened to Mr. Jones's taxi. Mortimer chases Mr. Leggitt and Cousin Perce Jones from Mallards' Bank. The ghost of Sir Humphrey Burbage leaves a farewell present for Mortimer and Arabel in the bank.She was born in Rye, East Sussex, into a family of writers, including her father, Conrad Aiken (who won a Pulitzer Prize for his poetry), and her sister, Jane Aiken Hodge. She worked for the United Nations Information Office during the second world war, and then as an editor and freelance on Argosy magazine before she started writing full time, mainly children's books and thrillers. For her books she received the Guardian Award (1969) and the Edgar Allan Poe Award (1972). Granny Jones arrives early in Rumbury. Mayor Cutlink takes her to the Town Hall and tells her she is to be May Queen. Mortimer is tired because he has been up all night guarding the Duke of Rumbury's ring and has shut Augustus, Granny Jones's cat, in a cupboard.