First broadcast: 2002
Stars: The voices of Ant & Dec
Writer: Bridget Appleby
The lowdown: This animated pre-school hit about engine doctor Engie Benjy is brought to life by the voices of top TV duo Ant and Dec. In Engie’s world, boats catch the sea sneezes, tractors struggle to sow cupcake seeds and aeroplanes decide they’d like to be buses instead. With the help of the kids at home watching, Engie (voiced by Declan Donnelly) revs up to the challenge of fixing his friends by summonsing his team – Dan the Van and Jollop the Dog (Ant McPartlin) – with the catchphrase, “So! What do we do, Dan?”
Memorable moments: The imaginative array of problems to solve. On one occasion, nobody understands why it’s raining doughnuts, until Engie catches Plane dropping them from the sky. There’s weird and wonderful weather to contend with too, ranging from treacherous cotton candy fog to the fruity fizz cloud that waters Farmer Fred’s cupcake and ice lolly fields.
Trivia: Engie’s interaction with viewers was a first for stop-motion animation, and his antics can now be seen in over 60 territories around the globe.
The show’s theme tune was composed and sung by Clint Boon from 1980s/1990s indie band the Inspiral Carpets.
Engie Benjy is the latest show made by legendary animation company Cosgrove Hall, also behind other ITV children’s classics such as Chorlton and The Wheelies, Cockleshell Bay and DangerMouse.
