Andy Pandy and Ben', all having a similar format-filmed marionettes, there was also an animated drawn character called 'Busy Lizzy' incorporated into the "Picture book" series. All the filmed black and white 1950s original transmissions were narrated by Maria Bird, who was to become a co-producer, with Freda Lingstrom, who worked for the BBC. Bird was a prolific writer of books for the very young, notably Andy Pandy, but it was for her distinct BBC English" enunciation that she is best remembered. A marionette who lived in a picnic basket, Andy was later joined by Teddy, a teddy bear, and Looby Loo,
Maria Bird she studied the Dalcroze Eurhythmics music and dance method under Émile Jaques-Dalcroze in Dessau. Maria Bird helped found BBC Children's Television with her collaborator and partner Freda Lingstrom with whom she set up Westerham Arts, the production company commissioned by the BBC to produce TV pieces including "The Woodentops" (1955), "Bill and Ben the Flower Pot Men" (1952) and "Andy Pandy" (1950). Westerham Arts was based in Chartwell Cottage (owned by Bird and Lingstom and subsequently bequeathed to the National Trust). It neighbours the Chartwell Estate. Maria and Freda built a shed in their garden where their puppet films were