Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures brought to life two Quentin Blake stories, Snuff and Mrs Armitage on Wheels in an animated version this Easter that starred Alison Steadman, Simon Pegg and Adrian Lester.
The animated boxset of hand-picked specials was based on six iconic best-selling books (Jack and Nancy, Zagazoo, Snuff, Mrs Armitage on Wheels, Loveykins, and Angel Pavement) by one of Britain’s much loved authors, Quentin Blake.
Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures was created with traditional hand-drawn animation techniques to capture the famous illustrations of Quentin Blake’s stories and also featured an original score crafted for each episode that was performed by the BBC Philharmonic orchestra.
Sir Quentin Blake said: “It’s wonderful to see the characters that I’ve known for such a long time suddenly moving across the screen in front of me. The BBC and Eagle Eye have brought them to life beautifully and I’m so grateful."
Here's everything we know about Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures...
Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures where to watch
Snuff and Mrs Armitage on Wheels launched Easter weekend on CBBC, BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
Snuff aired on CBBC and BBC iPlayer on Saturday, March 30 at 8:30am and on BBC One on Sunday, March 31 at 2:15pm.
Mrs Armitage on Wheels aired on BBC iPlayer and CBBC on Sunday, March 31 at 8:30am and on BBC One on Monday, April 1 at 1:30pm.
Snuff and Mrs Armitage on Wheels, as well as Quentin Blake's other stories, Zagazoo and Jack and Nancy are all available to watch now as part of Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures collection on BBC iPlayer.
Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures stories
Snuff and Mrs Armitage on Wheels were the next instalments to the Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures collection.
Snuff told the story of Sir Thomas Magpie, the village knight who was well-known for both his generosity and love of flamboyant hats. He despaired that his clumsy page Snuff, who can’t horse-ride, duel, or even dance would ever learn the tricky skills he needed to one day be a knight himself. But when four bad thieves threatened to raid a local bootmaker’s shop, Snuff had a clever idea to outfox the villains and save the day. His reward? His very own horse and fancy hat, just like a proper knight!
Mrs Armitage on Wheels followed inventor extraordinaire Mrs Armitage and faithful dog Breakspear, who loved adventurous hobbies like skydiving until an accident dented Mrs Armitage’s confidence. Recovered, she planned a short cycling trip, but kept putting it off adapting her bike with horns, a tool kit, and even a sail! The "land yacht" eventually launched, but a further accident left Mrs Armitage doubly nervous. Luckily, her Uncle Cosmo came to the rescue, gifting Mrs Armitage his old car and getting her finally back on the road!
Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures cast
Simon Pegg, who has starred in Mission Impossible, Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead, voiced Sir Thomas Magpie in Snuff. Simon returned to the series, after featuring in Zagazoo, and will also be in the upcoming Angel Pavement installment.
Simon said: “Snuff is a story about overcoming odds, seizing opportunities and finding your own path to greatness. Plus, who doesn’t love a story with flamboyant hats and daring escapades? It’s great to be part of bringing one of Quentin Blake’s illustrious tales to life.”
Gavin and Stacey legend Alison Steadman starred as the voice of inventor extraordinaire Mrs Armitage in Mrs Armitage on Wheels.
Alison revealed: “Being part of Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures this Easter has been an absolute delight. These heartwarming tales are a testament to the timeless magic of storytelling. I’m thrilled to bring Mrs Armitage to life and share her whimsical adventures with family audiences!”
The entire series was narrated by Adrian Lester and also featured Nina Sosanya.
Is there a trailer for Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures?
There was no trailer out for Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures.
