Emily Firmin, who played the saggy old cloth cat’s owner, is now 48 – but is recognisable as the same little girl who appeared in the sepia photographs at the start of every episode.
Despite the original Bagpuss now being a firm fixture in Canterbury Heritage Museum, curators have allowed the famous pink and white cat a cuddle with his old friend Photo: Caters NewsBy News agencies 9:07AM GMT 11 Feb 2014
Kid’s TV favourite Bagpuss has finally been reunited with owner Emily – to celebrate the programme’s 40th birthday.
Emily Firmin, who played the saggy old cloth cat’s owner, is now 48 – but is recognisable as the same little girl who appeared in the sepia photographs at the start of every episode.
Despite the original Bagpuss now being a firm fixture in Canterbury Heritage Museum, curators have allowed the famous pink and white cat a cuddle with his old friend.
Ms Firmin, who now works as an artist, said: “It’s lovely to be reunited with Bagpuss after all these years.
“I can barely believe it’s been 40 years since I sat in that old Victorian outfit and posed with him for the show’s opening sequence.
“I’m delighted that he is still as popular today as he ever was, even after such a long time.
“He’s still the same saggy old cloth cat – but I think I’ve aged more than him over the last 40 years.”
Ms Firmin, from Canterbury, Kent, is the daughter of the show’s creator, Peter Firmin – and was persuaded to take on the role of Bagpuss’s owner for an afternoon in exchange for a bag of sweets.
The scenes were filmed in the window of the family’s dining room – which doubled for Emily’s ‘shop’ – where she and Bagpuss displayed things people had lost.
But the original toys – Bagpuss, Madeline the ragdoll, Gabriel the toad, pompous professor Yaffle and the mice – are now exhibits in the museum.
Ms Firmin added: “I grew to love all of the characters, but of course, Bagpuss was my favourite.
“I do have a Bagpuss stuffed toy at home, but it’s nice to see the real one again.
“It’s lovely to meet people who remember the programme fondly.
“Often, they’re actually surprised that I’m not older than I am. Because the programme credits were designed to look as though they were filmed at the turn of the century, people don’t realise they were actually from 1974.
“Some fans have even told me they’re shocked I’m still alive.
“Once people know who I am they usually tell me I still look the same though.”
Ms Firmin’s father, Peter Firmin, 86, created the show with friend Oliver Postgate, along with dozens of others, including Ivor the Engine, Basil Brush and the Clangers – all in the family’s farmhouse.
Although only 13 episodes of the animated programme were ever made, they were repeated for 13 years, and became staple viewing for children of the 1970s and 80s.
She said: “My dad is really proud of Bagpuss, and although he created dozens of characters, I know the saggy old cloth cat holds a special place in his heart.
“We do a lot of charity work together in the name of Bagpuss, with two great charities, Spana, an animal protection charity, and Hospices of Hope, which help terminally ill children around the world – there’s even a Bagpuss wing of a hospital in Bulgaria.”
Who remembers the good ol’ favourite – Bagpuss? The saggy ol’ cloth cat was out on TVs back 40 years ago and Emily Firmin was his owner!
