Rubbadubbers

Rubbadubbers is a 2002 British stop-motion children's television series produced by HIT Entertainment and Hot Animation. The series aired from 2002–2005 on BBC2 in the United Kingdom. Created by Peter Curtis, it features seven friendly tub toys who come to life and tell stories.

The series pilots were made before it was commissioned by the BBC in 2002: "Plugg" from 1999 and "Splish Splash Splosh!" from 2001.

Overview

Seven anthropomorphic, friendly British bath toys called the Rubbadubbers live a peaceful life in the bathroom of a house in the fictional Bathsville City. The toys belong to two children who live at the house named Benjie and Sis (however, they are never ever seen on-screen, not even their shadows). Whenever the children or anyone else are not present, the Rubbadubbers come to life and begin a fun activity.

But in every episode, one of the toys become dissatisfied with the way the activity or situation goes. He/she then wishes for it to go as planned by beginning the wish with 'if only...' . Suddenly, the Rubbadubber begins dreaming about an alternate reality where the wish comes true. Some of the other Rubbadubbers appear in the dream world as well, where they play different versions of their regular selves in order to either assist or hinder the character that made the wish. It always turns out that the wish goes wrong in the dream world, much to the character's disappointment.

Characters

Rubbadubbers

• Tubb the Frog (voiced by John Gordon Sinclair) is a male Scottish rubber frog and the leader of the Rubbadubbers.
• Sploshy the Starfish (voiced by Maria Darling) is the Rubbadubbers' mischief-maker. She has suction cups behind every one of her 5 arms, speaks with a childish English accent, is energetic.
• Finbar the Mighty Shark (voiced by Sean Hughes) is the bathroom's mischief-maker. He often calls himself in third-person 'the mighty, scary shark', while often playing games involving pretend hunting and scaring. He also frequently uses the word 'mighty' in place of 'very' to describe things.
• Terence the Bubble-Bath Crocodile (voiced by John Gordon Sinclair) is Amelia's closest friend who can blow bubbles through his nostrils and dislikes getting splashed, often avoiding liquid water altogether.
• Winona the Whale (vocal effects performed by Maria Darling) is the only Rubbadubber who cannot at all make "If Only" wishes, but she can still make squeaking sounds in order to communicate with the other Rubbadubbers.
• Reg the Robot (voiced by John Gordon Sinclair) is the supporting leader of the Rubbadubbers who speaks with a distinctive stammer. Just like Terence, he avoids water, as simply getting splashed makes him "short circuit". He also stutters rather often.
• Amelia the Submarine (voiced by Maria Darling) is the bathroom's first mate who has the nose of a clown. Likely named after Amelia Earhart, she and the Rubbadubbers often call her 'the flying submarine'.

Episodes

Series 1 (2002)

1. "Tubb the Pirate"
2. "Terence's Double Trouble"
3. "Reg the Monster"
4. "Sploshy's Tail"
5. "Tubb the Magician"
6. "Deep Sea Reg"
7. "Scary Finbar"
8. "Train Driver Tubb"
9. "Sploshy of the Arctic"
10. "Sploshybird"
11. "Terence Of Arabia"
12. "Speedy Terence"
13. "Amelia the Babysitter"

Series 2 (2003)

1. Princess Amelia
2. Rocket Sled Reg
3. Terence the Shop Keeper
4. Tubb the Frog Prince
5. Amelia and the Detectives
6. Footballer Tubb
7. Finbar the Star
8. Spaceman Reg
9. Doctor Terence
10. Super Amelia
11. Sploshy the Stoneseeker
12. Sheriff Terence
13. Tubb's Cake Mistake

Series 3 (2004)

1. Finbar's Rescuers"
2. Finbar and the Green Hat Gang
3. Terence the Spy
4. Finbar's Important Part
5. Reg's Game Plan
6. Farmer Sploshy
7. Little Red Riding Tubb
8. Silly Sploshy
9. Terence's Ties
10. Reg in Squareworld
11. Amelia the Diver

Series 4 (2005)

1. Finbar's Gift
2. Finbar and the Ghosts
3. Sploshy's Wishes
4. Sporty Reg
5. The House That Tubb Built
6. Terence the Monster Hunter
7. Reg and the Library
8. Tufty Tubb
9. Lighthouse Keeper Reg
10. Tubb's Towers
11. Messenger Terence.
12. Sky Painter Amelia
13. Finbar the Word Shark

Shorts

These shorts were never seen on television in the United Kingdom, but six of them were released on DVDs.

1. "Row, Row, Row"
2. "Steamy Mirror"
3. "On A Roll"
4. "Swimming Races"
5. "Hide And Seek"
6. "Great Skate"
7. "Swimmin'!"
8. "Drip"
9. "Being Choosey"
10. "All Wrapped Up"
11. "Something Sticky"
12. "Having A Ball"
13. "Can You Remember?"
14. "Floaty Feather"
15. "Clean and Groovy"

VHS and DVD Releases

• Rubbadubbers: Here Come the Rubbadubbers!
• Rubbadubbers: Splish! Splash! Splosh!
• Rubbadubbers: Bathtime Scramble