Wednesday Trivia Question

A young mouse named Matthias helps defend his home from invaders in what animated children’s series?

I was looking back over some of the series we’ve aired and noticed one I had all but forgotten. I know it had its fans (a friend once told me she loved the books on which it was based) so I thought I’d turn it into a trivia question.

The animated series in question was distributed by American Public Television in the early 2000s and we aired it on UNC-TV Sunday nights at 6pm. The show was later broadcast on our kids channel, UNC-KD (the precursor to Rootle.) It was a co-production of animation studios in Canada, France and Germany and based on books by Brian Jacques.

The setting was a sort of medieval fantasy world full of anthropomorphic animals (mice, rats, weasels, badgers, squirrels, et al). The hero, Matthias, was a mouse who was a novice monk at the abbey which took him in as an orphan. When an army of rats lead by Cluny the Scourge attacks the abbey, Matthias seeks the sword of legendary hero Martin the Warrior to defend the abbey.

The series ran for three seasons, each based on a Jacques’ book. Its cast of voice actors included Tim Curry, Alison Pill and Melissa McIntyre.

So what was it? What was the name of the animated series in which a mouse named Matthias defends his abbey home from invaders?

Where Do I Know That Actor?

MARYLAND, a three-part drama series, ended its run Sunday night on MASTERPIECE. The series centered on two estranged sisters who regain contact following the sudden death of their mother. It’s been called “a chill-inducing, moving portrait of sisterhood” and a “deeply moving, highly relatable love story of sorts between two sisters searching for answers on the Isle of Man.” If you watched, you most likely found it entertaining and maybe recognized some familiar faces. Let’s see who’s who…

The series stars Suranne Jones and Eve Best as sisters Becca and Rosaline, respectively. Jones may be best known for starring in the police drama Scott & Bailey as Rachel Bailey. She was also Ruth Slater in Unforgotten S1 and Sister Joanna Livesey in The Crimson Field. Best has been seen as Linda Philips in Prime Suspect: The Final Act and as Dolley Madison in a 2010 American Experience episode.

Monday Montage

What’s happening, what’s on and what’s interesting this week …

Revisit 1967 when inner cities across America erupted in violence and LBJ appointed the Kerner Commission to investigate. Don’t miss THE RIOT REPORT on AMERICAN EXPERIENCE – Tuesday night at 9 on PBS NC.

Kenneth Branagh (Wallander) will direct Jodie Comer (Remember Me) in the contemporary psychological thriller The Last Disturbance Of Madeline Hyde.

Hey, It’s Photo Friday!

Is it a stereotype if it’s true? Because the cliche that we give out a massive amount of tote bags may be just an exaggeration but I do spy a lot of them around the building. Here’s one hanging in a co-worker’s cubicle…

Flashback: May 2016

Here’s the cover of our monthly program guide Centerpiece from May 2016…

Sounds Familiar

Kryten (Robert Llewellyn): “I beg you to reconsider, Sir. Human history is resplendent with examples of such sacrifice. Remember Captain Oates: ‘I’m going out for a walk. I may be some time.'”

Rimmer (Chris Barrie): “Yes, but the thing is, about Captain Oates; the thing you have to remember about Captain Oates; Captain Oates… Captain Oates was a prat. If that’d been me, I’d’ve stayed in the tent, whacked Scott over the head with a frozen husky, and then eaten him.”

Lister (Craig Charles): “You would, too, wouldn’t you?”

Rimmer: “History, Lister, is written by the winners. How do we know that Oates went out for this legendary walk? From the only surviving document: Scott’s diary. And he’s hardly likely to have written down, ‘February the First, bludgeoned Oates to death while he slept, then scoffed him along with the last packet of instant mash.’ How’s that going to look when he gets rescued, eh? No, much better to say, ‘Oates made the supreme sacrifice,’ while you’re dabbing up his gravy with the last piece of crusty bread.”

• The Red Dwarf crew, discussing the nature of sacrifice, RED DWARF

Wednesday Trivia Question

What Dusty Springfield song did Martin play at Pauline Fowler’s funeral on EASTENDERS?

For decades, we aired the British soap opera EASTENDERS. It debuted in the UK in 1985 and PBS stations were offered the series a few years later. Many chose to air the popular serial, giving the BBC a nice little revenue stream for repeat episodes. In the time since that US debut, quite a few stations ceased airing the program, eventually giving the BBC a reason to stop offering the show. Sadly, this left US fans unable to watch their fave British import on their local PBS station. Luckily, there were ways for viewers to continue their EASTENDERS experience with streaming services and fan clubs filling in the gaps. So even though PBS NC stopped airing the series in December 2021, we still remember the long-running soap fondly.

So for the faithful EE fanbase, we have this week’s question: What Dusty Springfield song did Martin play at Pauline Fowler’s funeral?

As you may know, Pauline Fowler was played by Wendy Richard from 1985 to 2006. The character was one of the “original 23” and was considered to be the matriarchal stalwart of Albert Square. So it was a shock to many when she was killed off during the Christmas episodes of 2006 (UNC-TV aired that episode in June 2017). Richard herself passed away in 2009.

At Pauline’s funeral, her son Martin played a song he said was one his mum’s favorites. It was a 1966 Dusty Springfield hit that topped the charts in the UK and hit the Top Ten here in the states. Considering the character would have been about 21 when the song was released, it makes sense that Pauline would have taken a liking to it. Since Springfield had many hits, that doesn’t necessarily narrow it down but if you’re a true EASTENDERS fan you may have an inkling.

So what was it? What Dusty Springfield song did Martin Fowler play at his mother’s funeral on EASTENDERS?

Our Speaker Today: Hugh Bonneville

As graduation season begins, we’ll begin our annual dip into the commencement speech well. The great thing about these convocation addresses is they are often delivered by celebrities. Sometimes journalists, sometimes actors, sometimes respected stars in their respective fields, these celebrity speechmakers can deliver entertaining, heartfelt and amusing orations that attendees can remember for the rest of their lives.

This week, it’s Downton Abbey star Hugh Bonneville. In 2021, he was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and spoke at its graduation ceremony. Watch as Bonneville regales the crowd with memories of his training and career…

Monday Montage

What’s happening, what’s on and what’s interesting this week …

Photographer Corky Lee used his camera as a “weapon against injustice” and his images of Asian American life empowered generations. Meet the man behind the lens on PHOTOGRAPHIC JUSTICE: THE CORKY LEE STORY – tonight at 10 on PBS NC.

Check out a trailer for Treasure, the latest film starring Stephen Fry (Jeeves And Wooster).

Hey, It’s Photo Friday!

What’s our name? Currently, it is PBS North Carolina. Previously, we were known as UNC-TV. That identity lasted for decades. And if you visited our lobby in years gone past you may have seen this sign hanging…