Noddy was the brainchild of Enid Blyton, who in 1949 authored the children's book Noddy Goes to Toyland. That was just the beginning of a long and prosperous journey.
In 1975 Brian Cosgrove and Mark Hall worked out of Stop Frame Productions to create stop-action animated shorts surrounding Britain's storybook legend Noddy, the central figure in Toyland. He was a character of boundless spirit, one who never left Cosgrove-Hall Productions or the devoted fans.
Before the age of 50 (theoretically), Noddy had earned worldwide fame. Only one land eluded him: America.
The Noddy guide at TV.com is devoted to the 1998-99 North American "expanded" version of the newer Noddy animations produced by Brian Cosgrove and Mark Hall. These larger programs were set in a toy store called the NODDY Shop. Noah, a former old salt, ran the store and gave his young friends full writ to play with his favorite toys. None was more beloved than Noddy. When the kids pretended, action shifted to the Cosgrove-Hall production, with soundtracks rerecorded in North American dialects and speech habits.
This particular Noddy series began airing on selected PBS affiliates August 31, 1998. A more nationwide audience was realized September 28, as Noddy was given the task of replacing The Magic School Bus.
PBS affiliates ran Noddy through 65 half-hour programs and one 60-minute Christmas special. Then, on September 1, 2000, some PBS stations jilted Noddy because production had stopped. PBS was more interested in cashing in on Clifford the Big Red Dog.
Reruns of this Noddy series continued until Setpember 13, 2002, with the last airing on WNYE in Brooklyn.
But, just like Thomas the Tank Engine, nothing can keep Noddy down. PBS cemented a deal to broadcast Make Way for Noddy in the U.S. for the first time in 2005.