The 1980s animated adaptation of Wind in the Willows, produced by Cosgrove Hall, has been added to Amazon Prime in the UK. The series is also available to stream on PLEX and ITVX.
What is The Wind in the Willows?
The Wind in the Willows was written by Kenneth Grahame, and first published in 1908. The Cosgrove Hall film adaptation was made for Thames Television, first airing in 1983; It won a Bafta and an International Emmy. The film starred David Jason, Richard Pearson, Ian Carmichael and Michael Hordern as Toad, Mole, Rat and Badger, respectively.
Set along an English riverbank, Wind in the Willows follows the adventures of the gentle Mole, wise Rat, loyal Badger, and the eccentric and ever-impulsive Mr. Toad.
A sequel TV series began airing in 1984, retaining the stop-motion animation technique of the original film. Most of the main cast returned to reprise their roles, with Ian Carmichael serving as the narrator and Peter Sallis taking over the role of Rat. The series ran for a total of 52 episodes across four seasons, followed by a 13-episode fifth series titled “Oh Mr. Toad.” The series concluded in 1990.
Classic Cosgrove Hall Series on Amazon Prime UK and Elsewhere
This addition isn’t the first Cosgrove Hall series to land on Amazon Prime UK. Several Thames-era series are available to watch as part of an Amazon Prime subscription. Titles include Jamie and the Magic Torch and Chorlton and the Wheelies. We will endeavour to update you when further titles are announced.
These titles and a few more, all owned by Boat Rocker Media, are also available to stream as part of the ITVX streaming; Select titles can be viewed for free with ads!
Jamie’s Reaction
This is a series that has stuck with me for many years. I saw a random episode at the end of a compilation VHS back in the ’90s, and the animation style is very striking. It starts with an eery feel but gets better as it goes along. The voice cast in this series is exceptional, all of whom are household names from that era!
I’m delighted to witness the options of viewing this series expand over the last few years. Audiences being able to access it is key to it finding a new audience, and this is one that definitely should not be overlooked! Now I’m off to Toad Hall! Cheerio!
Wind in the Willows on Amazon Prime UK!
The Cosgrove Hall series of Wind in the Willows is available to stream on Amazon Prime UK. A subscription is required to view the content. Please note that the content could be removed without notice at any time.