Mouse and Mole

Mouse and Mole is a 1996 British television series devised by Joy Whitby's Grasshopper Productions. It was based on the series of children's books written by Joyce Dunbar and illustrated by James Mayhew which were first published in 1993 by Transworld, and later by Graffeg Ltd. Originally envisaged as 26 x 5 minute episodes, only 19 were ever finished, although the soundtracks for the remaining seven episodes, created by Ben Baird at Aquarium Studios are still in existence.

The series focuses on the mishap adventures and everyday life of two lifelong old friends who share the same house with a garden and orchard, Mouse and Mole. Mouse is considered wise, longsuffering, encouraging, and kind-hearted, whereas Mole can be simpleminded, childish and oftentimes selfish. The Characters of Mouse and Mole were played by Richard Briers and Alan Bennett respectively. The character of Mole was originally to be played by Stephen Fry, but shortly before the recording session, Fry became unavailable, and Alan Bennett stepped in on the proviso that he would step aside should Fry become available.

Some would say Mouse and Mole are a knockoff to Rat and Mole from the 1908 novel by Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows, since Rat is a water vole and has an appearance similar to that of Mouse. Ironically, Alan Bennett who played Mole played Mole in the 1995 adaptation of The Wind in the Willows, while Richard Briers who did Mouse played Rat in the Martin Gates adaptation that came out the same year, both a year before Mouse and Mole aired, and at the same time as the former's sequel, The Willows in Winter.

In 2013 Grasshopper Productions in partnership with Baird TV and Clive Juster and Associates, created a 28-minute Christmas Special entitled "Mouse and Mole at Christmas Time". Richard Briers and Alan Bennett reprised their roles of Mouse and Mole, as well as the minor characters, but were also joined by Imelda Staunton for this one-off 'special' as Shrew and her babies. It was aired in December 2013 on Cbeebies.