Bagpuss rag doll called Madeleine. The wooden woodpecker bookend became the drily academic Professor Yaffle (based on the philosopher Bertrand Russell, whom Postgate had once met), while the mice carved on the side of the "mouse organ" (a small mechanical pipe organ that played rolls of music) woke up and scurried around, singing in high-pitched voices. Sandra Kerr and John Faulkner provided the voices of Madeleine and Gabriel respectively, and put together and performed all the folk songs. All the other voices (including the narrator and one out-of-tune mouse) were provided by Postgate, who also wrote the stories. The toys discussed
A Show Called Fred Canadian star Patti Lewis had a singing spot about the middle of the show, and Max Geldray a music spot later on. There were few taboos, with sketches showing people in various states of undress, cameramen, behind the scenes workers and the studios. The "Ying Tong" song was sung for no apparent reason at various times. The series was written by Spike Milligan and produced and directed by Richard Lester. It was followed by "Son of Fred" later in 1956. A half-hour special, "Best of Fred", was broadcast on 18 September 1963 combining surviving sketches from "A Show Called Fred"