The Herbs is a television series for young children made for the BBC by Graham Clutterbuck's FilmFair company. It was written by Michael Bond, directed by Ivor Wood using 3D stop motion model animation and first transmitted from 12 February 1968 in the BBC1 Watch with Mother timeslot. There were 13 episodes in the series, each one 15 minutes long.
A spin-off series entitled The Adventures of Parsley was transmitted from 6 April 1970 in the 5-minute period between the end of children's TV and the BBC Evening News. This had 32 episodes, some of which were released on VHS as Parsley the Lion and Friends.
The Herbs consisted of a fantasy mix of human and animal characters inhabiting the magical walled garden of a country estate. At the beginning of each episode, the narrator spoke the magic word, "Herbidacious", which caused the garden gate to open.
As with The Magic Roundabout, the sophisticated writing style and narrative delivery of The Herbs meant that the appeal was somewhat broader than was originally intended, and much of Parsley's droll humour undoubtedly went over the heads of the age group that was its main target. Consequently, it still retains a following among those who watched it when it was first broadcast.
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Best Episodes of The Herbs
Pashana Bedhi the Snake Charmer
S1 Ep6
8.0
18th Mar 1968
Pashna lives at the back of the Herb garden. He is showing Parsley how to charm his snakes, although he is now very tired. During one of his show, he falls asleep just as the snake comes out. The snake escapes into the Herb garden. Confusion reigns supreme as a very fierce Parsley thinks Bayleaf's hose pipe is the missing snake.
Worst Episodes of The Herbs
Parsley's Tail
S1 Ep1
1.0
12th Feb 1968
Parsley is wandering around the garden minding his own business when he decides to surprise Sir Basil...disaster...Sir Basil is so startled by Parsley's roar that he falls back and fires his gun accidentally shooting his tail off. Poor Parsley does not know that he has lost his tail and pretends to be hurt. Sir Basil panics and calls for his wife Lady Rosemary. She realizes Parsley is acting but soon everyone realizes that Parsley's tail has indeed been lost. All the Herbs (Sir Basil, Lady Rosemary, Dill and Bayleaf try and help poor, poor Parsley but Sage (the wise owl) comes to the rescue. All's well that ends well, alas for poor Sage this is not true.
The Herbs Episode Guide
Parsley's Tail
S1 Ep1
1.0
12th Feb 1968
Parsley is wandering around the garden minding his own business when he decides to surprise Sir Basil...disaster...Sir Basil is so startled by Parsley's roar that he falls back and fires his gun accidentally shooting his tail off. Poor Parsley does not know that he has lost his tail and pretends to be hurt. Sir Basil panics and calls for his wife Lady Rosemary. She realizes Parsley is acting but soon everyone realizes that Parsley's tail has indeed been lost. All the Herbs (Sir Basil, Lady Rosemary, Dill and Bayleaf try and help poor, poor Parsley but Sage (the wise owl) comes to the rescue. All's well that ends well, alas for poor Sage this is not true.
Sage's Nest Blows Down
S1 Ep2
19th Feb 1968
After the missing tail episode, Sage finds that his nest has fallen out of the tree. Sage is not very impressed at all, in fact he is very very angry especially as it is now starting to rain. All the other Herbs come up with ideas to get the nest back in the tree again. Here we meet one of the rarer Herbs - Pashana Bedhi. Parsley believes an Indian herb may hold the key to the problem. In the end Parsley is correct and returns the favour (remember - Sage helped Parsley when his tail had been shot off), by helping sort the problem using Pashana's tricks.
Belladonna the Witch
S1 Ep3
8.0
26th Feb 1968
The evil Bella Donna turns up in the garden and fairly soon she has most of the Herbs under her scheming spell. She casts a spell turning herself into a harmless little old lady (amazing how you can change your appearance by placing a scarf over your head). Only Parsley and Dill the Dog can save the day provided Dill wakes up from dreaming about bones - Wake up Dill.
Tarragon and the Eggs
S1 Ep4
4th Mar 1968
Another rare sighting in the Herb garden was Tarragon the Dragon. He turns up in this story after Bayleaf accidentally spills some super fertilizer on the ground which causes a giant beanstalk to appear. The top of it vanishes into the clouds and it is up to brave Parsley to climb the beanstalk to discover what is at the top. After falling down the stalk he places a bucket on his head and climbs again. At the top he discovers a large egg which he brings down. When it hatches, out pops Tarragon the Dragon.
The Chives Catch Cold
S1 Ep5
11th Mar 1968
Parsley rings the School bell. It is time for the chives to go to school. Whilst doing their sums they all start sneezing and coughing. The Chives have caught a cold. Parsley rings the bell for Aunt Mint to come. Aunt Mint think Parsley has messed up the knitting wool when really it was Dill the Dog. Aunt Mint though saves the day by knitting the small chives jumpers to keep them warm.
Pashana Bedhi the Snake Charmer
S1 Ep6
8.0
18th Mar 1968
Pashna lives at the back of the Herb garden. He is showing Parsley how to charm his snakes, although he is now very tired. During one of his show, he falls asleep just as the snake comes out. The snake escapes into the Herb garden. Confusion reigns supreme as a very fierce Parsley thinks Bayleaf's hose pipe is the missing snake.
Miss Jessop Tidies Up
S1 Ep7
25th Mar 1968
Miss Jessop is staying with Sir Basil and Lady Rosemary. She is soon out and about cleaning and tidying. She is appalled by the state of the garden (all the flowers are in need of a good dusting) and the even more so when she sees what a mess Parsley is in. She sends him back to his den until he cleans himself up. She spies Dill and sends him away to clean his paws. What can the Herbs do to get rid of her.
Parsley and the Circus Lion
S1 Ep8
1st Apr 1968
Parsley is behaving strangely. Dill gets a fright. Sir Basil upsets the newcomer to the garden but is saved from Lady Rosemary who realises that the new Parsley is not really Parsley at all but an escaped circus lion. Constable Knapweed is chasing the wrong lion in the garden. Which one is the escaped lion ?
Sage's Singing Lesson
S1 Ep9
8th Apr 1968
Sage cannot sing to save his life. His screeching attempts are driving all the other Herbs mad. Sir Basil actually believes that a wild Hyena is loose in the garden. Send for Signor Solidago the music teacher, maybe he can help poor Sage. In the end though he cannot and so admits defeat. It is left up to Bedi to solve the problem by giving Sage a magic potion. Will the Herbs ever recover.
Strawberry Picking
S1 Ep10
15th Apr 1968
Bayleaf the gardener (for Sir Basil and Lady Rosemary) is losing things, first to go is the wheelbarrow, then the strawberries also disappear. Parsley the lion is blamed but Parsley is good and friendly lion and wouldn't do such a thing. Who is the mysterious strawberry thief ?
Sir Basil's Fishing Expedition
S1 Ep11
22nd Apr 1968
Sir Basil likes hunting and shooting but most of all he likes fishing. Unfortunately for Sir Basil his only catch of the day happens to be poor Sage's nest. The nest falls apart when it gets dragged out of the tree. Poor Sage has nowhere to live. Parsley and Dill the Dog come to the rescue.
The Show
S1 Ep12
29th Apr 1968
All the garden Herbs decide to put on a show but as usual things do not go as planned.
