Mister Maker is a British children's television series produced by RDF Media (series 1)/The Foundation (series 2–3) for CBeebies. The series aired from 17 September 2007 until 12 April 2009.

The series was presented by Phil Gallagher in the title role. The series was followed by the four spin-offs: Mister Maker Comes to Town, Mister Maker Around the World, Mister Maker's Arty Party (also on BBC iPlayer for over a year) and Mister Maker at Home, which began airing in 2010, 2013, 2015 and 2020, respectively.

Plot

Mister Maker, created and performed by Phil Gallagher, presents the show (Gallagher also created the series concept). Each episode features seven different sequences:

  • Creative Idea – Mister Maker shows off a make involving several different arty materials particularly suitable for young children.
  • The Shapes Dance (or "I Am A Shape") – The Shapes dance to their own song – "I Am A Shape" -, followed by one of them presenting a shape puzzle. At the end, the Shapes go to sleep.
  • Make It in a Minute – Tocky the Bird (who, starting with season 2, is much less feathered) informs Mister Maker when this segment starts. When he does, Mister Maker makes a simple make in a minute, similar to the "1 Minute Finger Tips" segment (from fellow-Foundation production Finger Tips).
  • The Colour Kids – Various children wearing different coloured clothes create a picture using different motions of their body.
  • Frame-It! – A more relaxing segment put over a frame. This segment is narrated over by Mister Maker. This time, only the opening is seen, followed by the "Random Picture" segment below.
  • Random Picture – A segment that has been seen after the "Frame-It!" opening. The segment is a video montage compiling only photos of either a messy picture or pictures made by objects (depending on each episode). Like the "Frame-It!" opening, this segment is narrated over by Mister Maker.
  • Another Creative Idea – Mister Maker shows off another make in a very similar form to the first make.

At the end of each episode, Tocky pops out, saying "Time to go!" and reminds Mister Maker that it's time to go. Mister Maker says "That's it for now. My making time's over, but yours is just beginning!", and after that, he says "It's time to put all this stuff back in its box!", and the set quickly changes back into small objects in the progress.

Development and broadcast

Mister Maker was commissioned by Michael Carrington at the BBC for CBeebies. The series launched in September 2007 and also aired on BBC One and BBC Two. It still currently airs on CBeebies, usually during weekdays. In Latin America the series was broadcast on the Discovery Kids and Discovery Familia networks, dubbed in Spanish and in Portuguese in Brazil. In Canada, the series aired on Treehouse TV from 2008 to 2012 and TVOKids from 2013 to 2021. The Foundation (part of RDF Media) commissioned the series for three seasons. The series comprises a mixture of animation, CGI and live-action.

Episodes

Series 1 (2007)

No.BroadcastMakes
117 September 2007Creative Idea – Junk Picture The Shapes – Castle (Square) Make It in a Minute – Snake Pot The Colour Kids – Rocket Frame-It! – Tropical Island Messy Paint Picture – Bee Another Creative Idea – Baked Beans on Toast; Note: First appearance of Phil Gallagher (as Mister Maker)
218 September 2007Creative Idea – Stone Footprint Picture The Shapes – House (Rectangle) Make It in a Minute – Torch Projector The Colour Kids – Snail Frame-It! – Fireworks Another Creative Idea – Ship in a Jar
319 September 2007Creative Idea – Mini Twig Picture The Shapes – Elephant (Square) Make It in a Minute – Alien Eyes The Colour Kids – Island Frame-It! – Treasure Map Sweet Picture – Merry-Go-Round Another Creative Idea – Train Pencil Pot
420 September 2007Creative Idea – Spots and Stripes Picture The Shapes – Rabbit (Square) Make It in a Minute – Pencil Pet The Colour Kids – Windmill Frame-It! – Photo Characters Moving Pencil Picture – Boy on a Bike Another Creative Idea – Pasta Robot
521 September 2007Creative Idea – Seashell Picture The Shapes – Underwater Diver (Circle) Make It in a Minute – Pop-Up Card The Colour Kids – A Can of Paint Frame-It! – Wizard in the Night Sky Nut Picture – Squirrel Another Creative Idea – Bouncy Bat
624 September 2007Creative Idea – Pressed Clay Picture The Shapes – Zebra (Triangle) Make It in a Minute – Elephant Peg Holder The Colour Kids – Crab Frame-It! – Drawn Paint House Picture Messy Paint Picture – Digger Another Creative Idea – Bug-in-a-Box
725 September 2007Creative Idea – Blow Picture The Shapes – Chicken and Chick (Circle) Make It in a Minute – Bug-in-a-Jar The Colour Kids – Fish Frame-It! – Wool Doodle Button Picture – Bus Another Creative Idea – Crown
826 September 2007Creative Idea – Cardboard Coin The Shapes – Circus (Triangle) Make It in a Minute – Splat Monster Pen Pal The Colour Kids – Butterfly Frame-It! – Pasta Hair Picture Footprint Picture – Dragon Another Creative Idea – Floating Foam Boat
927 September 2007Creative Idea – Wool Tree Picture The Shapes – Balloon Scene (Circle) Make It in a Minute – Straw Pan Pipes The Colour Kids – Duck Frame-It! – Colour Diamond Pattern Moving Pencil Picture – Footballer Another Creative Idea – Crazy Cotton Bud Creature
1028 September 2007Creative Idea – Cobweb Marble Picture The Shapes – Scarecrow (Rectangle) Make It in a Minute – Rubbish Picture The Colour Kids – Boat Frame-It! – Busy City Picture Rubbers Picture – Kangaroo Another Creative Idea – Tissue Paper Bird
111 October 2007Creative Idea – Printing With Hands The Shapes – Teddy Bear (Circle) Make It in a Minute – Cork Boat The Colour Kids – Bat Frame-It! – Space Picture Random Picture – Swan and Baby Another Creative Idea – Sandcastle
122 October 2007Creative Idea – Gloopy Glue Patterns The Shapes – Rocks & Pebbles (Rectangle) Make It in a Minute – A Mouse Finger Puppet The Colour Kids – Birthday Cake Frame-It! – Fishtank Picture Another Creative Idea – Head with Grass Hairdo
133 October 2007Creative Idea – Splat Picture The Shapes – Woman Singing (Circle) Make It in a Minute – Pebble Dog The Colour Kids – A Bowl of Ice Cream Frame-It! – Sky & Rolling Hills Picture Messy Paint Picture – Truck Another Creative Idea – Lolly Stick House Picture
144 October 2007Creative Idea – Snowflake Patterns The Shapes – Peacock (Triangle) Make It in a Minute – Handy Pot The Colour Kids – A Worm Eating an Apple Frame-It! – Cuddly Toy Picture Random Picture – Shells Another Creative Idea – Giant Mister Ant
155 October 2007Creative Idea – Springing Picture The Shapes – Dinosaur (Square) Make It in a Minute – Pet Bug The Colour Kids – A World Frame-It! – Starfish Picture Another Creative Idea – Crisp Tube Totem Pole
168 October 2007Creative Idea – Torn Paper Road The Shapes – Giraffe (Rectangle) Make It in a Minute – Butterfly The Colour Kids – A Bowl of Ice Cream Frame-It! – Octopus Picture Random Picture – A Cat on a Moonlit Fence Another Creative Idea – Space Age City
179 October 2007Creative Idea – Splat Monsters The Shapes – Eagle (Triangle) Make It in a Minute – Pom Pom Acrobat The Colour Kids – Flower Frame-It! – Owl Wallpaper Picture Moving Pencil Picture – Tennis Player Another Creative Idea – Paper Plate Dragon
1810 October 2007Creative Idea – Modelling Clay Picture The Shapes – Guitar (Triangle) Make It in a Minute – Spoon Bug The Colour Kids – A Train Frame-It! – Dinosaur Picture Another Creative Idea – Bottle Monster Skittle Game
1911 October 2007Creative Idea – Cardboard Cactus The Shapes – Dog (Rectangle) Make It in a Minute – Piece of Art The Colour Kids – A Clown Frame-It! – Sheep Picture Random Picture – Spider Another Creative Idea – Alien
2012 October 2007Creative Idea – Masking Tape Patterns The Shapes – Fox (Triangle) Make It in a Minute – Jellyfish The Colour Kids – Submarine Frame-It! – Invisible Farmyard Scene Random Picture – City at Night Another Creative Idea – Magnetic Worm Game

Series 2 (2008)

No.BroadcastMakes
213 February 2008Creative Idea – Tennis Ball Picture The Shapes – Camel (Triangle) Make It in a Minute – Hilarious Hairband The Colour Kids – Caterpillar Frame-It! – Seaside Picture Peg Picture – Balloons Another Creative Idea – String Spaghetti Dinner
224 February 2008Creative Idea – Bubble Paint Picture The Shapes – Horse (Rectangle) Make It in a Minute – Cake Case Rosette The Colour Kids – Fire Engine Frame-It! – Shiny Fish Picture Car Picture – Ambulance Another Creative Idea – Spaceman Skittle Game
235 February 2008Creative Idea – Ancient Picture The Shapes – Deer (Circle) Make It in a Minute – One Eyed Monster The Colour Kids – Parrot Frame-It! – Finger Paint Jungle Picture Moving Pencil Picture – Ice Skater Another Creative Idea – Shower Bottle Sign
246 February 2008Creative Idea – Splattered Space Picture The Shapes – Dinosaur (Square) Make It in a Minute – Coin Clackers The Colour Kids – Pencil Frame-It! – Bonfire Picture Another Creative Idea – Worms in a Can
2510 February 2008Creative Idea – Surprising Picture The Shapes – Saxophone (Circle) Make It in a Minute – Wobbly Clown The Colour Kids – Lion Frame-It! – Creepy Cauldron Picture Messy Paint Picture – Snail Another Creative Idea – Bubble Wrap Cactus
2611 February 2008Creative Idea – Egg Shell Picture The Shapes – Wizard (Triangle) Make It in a Minute – Bookworm The Colour Kids – Pizza Frame-It! – Countryside Scene Another Creative Idea – Creepy Castle
2712 February 2008Creative Idea – Torn Paper City Picture The Shapes – Merry-Go-Round (Rectangle) Make It in a Minute – Fancy Dress Headdress The Colour Kids – Dragon Frame-It! – Ink Pattern Picture Lolly Stick Picture – Grasshopper Another Creative Idea – Shell Grotto
2813 February 2008Creative Idea – Leaf Printing Hedgehog The Shapes – Bridge (Rectangle) Make It in a Minute – Springy Eye The Colour Kids – Helicopter Frame-It! – Robot Picture Moving Pencil Picture – Skier Another Creative Idea – Gruesome Jar
2917 February 2008Creative Idea – Paper Plate Picture The Shapes – Parrot (Triangle) Make It in a Minute – Cotton Bud Sheep The Colour Kids – Tractor Frame-It! – Winter Picture Footprint Picture – Owl Another Creative Idea – Submarine Pencil Case
3018 February 2008Creative Idea – Drip Picture The Shapes – Roller Coaster (Square) Make It in a Minute – Ear Card The Colour Kids – Motorbike Frame-It! – Ghostly Picture Pom Pom Picture – Toadstool Another Creative Idea – Book & Secret Safe
3119 February 2008Creative Idea – Bubble Wrap Octopus Picture The Shapes – Plane (Rectangle) Make It in a Minute – Straw Rocket The Colour Kids – Ladybird Frame-It! – Sunset Picture Cotton Reel Picture – Rocking Horse Another Creative Idea – Carnival Shaker
3220 February 2008Creative Idea – Tissue Paper Pattern The Shapes – Hedgehog (Triangle) Make It in a Minute – Jazzy Pot The Colour Kids – Octopus Frame-It! – Astronaut in Space Picture Messy Paint Picture – Frog Another Creative Idea – Bowl of Fake Ice Cream
3324 February 2008Creative Idea – Torn Paper Pattern The Shapes – Mouse (Circle) Make It in a Minute – Pencil Bug The Colour Kids – Crown Frame-It! – Rainbow Picture Moving Pencil Picture – Cowboy Another Creative Idea – Lighthouse
3425 February 2008Creative Idea – Cotton Bud Picture The Shapes – Beach (Square) Make It in a Minute – Pine Cone Creature The Colour Kids – Alien in a Spaceship Frame-It! – Underwater Paint Picture Liquorice Sweet Picture – Zebra Another Creative Idea – Tin Foil Treasure
3526 February 2008Creative Idea – Sliding Eyes Picture The Shapes – Robot (Rectangle) Make It in a Minute – Lolly Stick Lizard The Colour Kids – Car Frame-It! – Cake Picture Footprint Picture – Flamingo Another Creative Idea – Pirate Treasure Chest
3627 February 2008Creative Idea – Pop-Up Picture The Shapes – Squirrel (Square) Make It in a Minute – Key Ring Charm The Colour Kids – Kite Frame-It! – Rubbed Out City at Night Another Creative Idea – Mini Fish Tank
373 March 2008Creative Idea – Sponge Building Picture The Shapes – Tiger (Rectangle) Make It in a Minute – Springy Puppet The Colour Kids – Ship Frame-It! – Windy Picture Bead Picture – Truck Another Creative Idea – Glowing Firefly
384 March 2008Creative Idea – Sticky Back Plastic Pattern The Shapes – Shark (Triangle) Make It in a Minute – Jazzy Spinner The Colour Kids – Roller Skate Frame-It! – Lorry in the Rain Another Creative Idea – Box Puppet
395 March 2008Creative Idea – Stretchy Lorry The Shapes – Frog (Triangle) Make It in a Minute – Paper Pet Fish Tank The Colour Kids – Bucket & Spade Frame-It! – Dinosaur Skeleton Picture Another Creative Idea – Sticky Scouring Pad Picture
406 March 2008Creative Idea – Scrunched Up Picture The Shapes – Dog (Circle) Make It in a Minute – Surprise Spring Bug The Colour Kids – Rainbow Frame-It! – Snake Picture Another Creative Idea – Monster Head Mask

Series 3 (2009)

No.BroadcastMakes
4110 March 2009Creative Idea – Spray Paint Picture The Shapes – Farmyard (Triangle) Make It in a Minute – Cup Nose The Colour Kids – Chameleon Frame-It! – Hot Air Balloon Picture Whistle Picture – Football Another Creative Idea – Pencil Pencil Case
4211 March 2009Creative Idea – Cotton Wool Breakfast The Shapes – Trainer (Rectangle) Make It in a Minute – Spoon Alien The Colour Kids – Hummingbird Frame-It! – Underwater Sea Picture Another Creative Idea – Snappy Jungle Plant
4312 March 2009Creative Idea – Cereal Box Street The Shapes – Pelican (Triangle) Make It in a Minute – Ugly Rock The Colour Kids – Lifeboat Frame-It! – Sawdust Picture Jelly Sweet Picture – Cooked Breakfast Another Creative Idea – Fake Cake
4413 March 2009Creative Idea – Full-Sized Pirate The Shapes – Ring (Circle) Make It in a Minute – Flying Saucer The Colour Kids – Country Cottage Frame-It! – Dragon Picture Another Creative Idea – Cardboard Castle Keeper
4517 March 2009Creative Idea – Wobbly Picture The Shapes – Countryside (Square) Make It in a Minute – Sock Creature The Colour Kids – Pen Frame-It! – Watery Fish Picture Footprint Picture – Dinosaur Another Creative Idea – Fake Spilt Drink
4618 March 2009Creative Idea – Sand Tropical Picture The Shapes – Rhinoceros (Triangle) Make It in a Minute – Badge Card The Colour Kids – A Bowl of Fruit Frame-It! – Kite Picture Another Creative Idea – Pretend Pizza
4719 March 2009Creative Idea – Funny Monster Face The Shapes – Ice Cream (Circle) Make It in a Minute – Pipe Cleaner Mouse The Colour Kids – Police Car Frame-It! – African Sunset Picture Moving Pencil Picture – Weightlifter Another Creative Idea – Gloopy Splat Bug
4820 March 2009Creative Idea – Peeping Lid Picture The Shapes – Submarine (Square) Make It in a Minute – Toothbrush Holder Whale The Colour Kids – Watering Can Frame-It! – Tin Foil Crown Picture Another Creative Idea – Hilarious Spider
4924 March 2009Creative Idea – Prickly Spiky Paint Picture The Shapes – Forklift Truck (Rectangle) Make It in a Minute – Spongy Card The Colour Kids – Circus Tent Frame-It! – Washing Line Picture Another Creative Idea – Bowl Dinosaur
5025 March 2009Creative Idea – Triangle Stencil Pattern Picture The Shapes – Horse & Carriage (Circle) Make It in a Minute – Glittery Box The Colour Kids – Aeroplane Frame-It! – Lighthouse Picture Game Counter Picture – Unicorn Another Creative Idea – Monster Rubber Glove Hand
5126 March 2009Creative Idea – Woolly Bird's Nest Picture The Shapes – Train (Square) Make It in a Minute – Wobbly Bug The Colour Kids – Cement Lorry Frame-It! – Umbrella in a Rain Picture Another Creative Idea – Yogurt Pot Puppy Puppet
5227 March 2009Creative Idea – Burst Paper Picture The Shapes – Watch (Circle) Make It in a Minute – Crazy Peg Bug The Colour Kids – Crocodile Frame-It! – Iceberg Picture Another Creative Idea – Cereal Box Suitcase
5331 March 2009Creative Idea – Patchwork Pattern The Shapes – Washing Line (Rectangle) Make It in a Minute – Pencil Bug The Colour Kids – Cake Frame-It! – Nighttime Picture Another Creative Idea – Miniature Garden
544 April 2009Creative Idea – Wrapping Paper Picture The Shapes – Butterfly (Square) Make It in a Minute – Bugs on a Stick The Colour Kids – Canal Boat Frame-It! – Rubber Glove Seaside Picture Another Creative Idea – Funky Colour Bird's Nest
555 April 2009Creative Idea – Porthole Picture The Shapes – Spider (Triangle) Make It in a Minute – Lolly Stick Bookmark The Colour Kids – Snake Frame-It! – Road Paint Picture Jelly Sweet Picture – Jelly Another Creative Idea – Body Shaped Photo Frame
568 April 2009Creative Idea – Splatter Stencil Picture The Shapes – Monkey (Circle) Make It in a Minute – Ice Cream Cone Game The Colour Kids – Teddy Bear Frame-It! – Layered Boat Picture Another Creative Idea – Wobbly Egg
579 April 2009Creative Idea – Parachute Mobile The Shapes – Witch (Triangle) Make It in a Minute – Bubble Bag The Colour Kids – Go Kart Frame-It! – Tissue Paper Snail Picture Another Creative Idea – Twinkling Twigs
5810 April 2009Creative Idea – Polystyrene Plate Picture The Shapes – Crane (Rectangle) Make It in a Minute – Slot Plane The Colour Kids – Lollypop Frame-It! – Underwater Shark Picture Game Piece Picture – Corn on the Cob Another Creative Idea – Funny Face Magnet
5911 April 2009Creative Idea – Woolly Winding Picture The Shapes – Cockerel (Triangle) Make It is a Minute – Clacker Drum The Colour Kids – Koala Bear Frame-It! – Shiny Paper Paint Truck Picture Messy Paint Picture – Squirrel Another Creative Idea – Funny Face Gargoyle
6012 April 2009Creative Idea – Snipped Picture The Shapes – Tent (Triangle) Make It is a Minute – Easy Tambourine The Colour Kids – Iron Frame-It! – Woolly Plane Picture Pencil Sharpener Picture – Beatle Another Creative Idea – Funny Crazy Bird Hoop Game; Note: Final appearance of Phil Gallagher (as Mister Maker)

Awards and nominations

  • BAFTA: Nominated for Best Presenter (Phil Gallagher/Mister Maker)

DVD

Various DVDs of the series were released by 2entertain, and later Abbey Home Media.

Spin-offs

Several spin-offs of the series have been created. They all follow the same format.

  • Mister Maker Comes to Town (2010–2011)
  • Mister Maker Around the World (2013)
  • Mister Maker's Arty Party (2015)
  • Mister Maker at Home (2020–2021)

A YouTube spin-off titled Mister Maker's Mumfie Makes premiered on the show's official YouTube channel in April 2023. This spin-off was created as a tie-in with Zodiak Kids' reboot of Mumfie.

Mister Maker Comes to Town

Mister Maker Comes to Town is a spin-off commissioned by Michael Carrington at the BBC for CBeebies. The TV series launched in 2010 and ended in 2011.

At the start of every show, Mister Maker uses various objects to make a Makermobile. He shrinks himself, then the episode starts. Tocky, the cuckoo clock, gives Mister Maker a "mini maker message", a child who needs help from Mister Maker. The child tells Mister Maker what they would like to do or make something out of old things. This inspires him to do something related to them. He collects the essential items from the Doodle Drawers and makes them.

When Mister Maker can't find what he needs, he honks the horn, summoning Scrappz (a blue puppet with a scarf, a hat with straws and pipe cleaners on it, and googly eyes), who gives him what he wants. After they make it, a quartet of the shape mascots fly out and sing a silly song and dance, followed by a random shape (circle, triangle, square, or rectangle) to form a picture or find how many shapes there are.

Tocky then appears on the Makervideophone for Minute Make Time, and Mister Maker goes to a place where he can make something in a minute—usually completing it just before the timer stops. Then the Colour Kids ask Mister Maker from the videophone to guess what they would make with their colourful costumes.

It is followed by A Big Surprise, where Mister Maker sees some kids who were not expecting him. The kids tell Mister Maker what they would like to do. Mister Maker tells the kids what they will do, which will give him an idea of what to do next. In the middle of making it, he wonders why not make a (insert thing related to what the Mini Makers are making here). When the surprise is finished, they cheer and disappear from the scene, which comes to life.

The show ends with Tocky telling Mister Maker to go and then shows Mister Maker putting the Makermobile back in its box.

Around the World

Mister Maker Around the World (2013) is a spin-off commissioned by Michael Carrington at the BBC for CBeebies that focuses on making things around the world. In this series, children sometimes help Mister Maker, the opposite of Mister Maker Comes to Town.

Mister Maker's Arty Party (2015) is a spin-off commissioned by Michael Carrington at the BBC for CBeebies. The episodes are:

  1. The Sea
  2. Purple
  3. Drips and Drops
  4. Insects
  5. Buildings
  6. Swirls
  7. Animals
  8. Dots and Spots
  9. Blue
  10. Squares
  11. Doodles
  12. Sparkly
  13. Faces
  14. Birds
  15. Monsters
  16. Jungle
  17. Trees
  18. Fish
  19. Patterns
  20. Rubbish and Recycling
  21. Food
  22. Gold
  23. Transport
  24. Countryside
  25. Triangles
  26. Circles

At Home

Mister Maker at Home (2020–2021) is a spin-off commissioned by Michael Carrington at the BBC for CBeebies. This spin-off was created during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Live shows

  • Mister Maker Live (2014–2015)
  • Mister Maker and the Shapes Live (2014–2017)
  • Mister Maker Returns (2018–2019)
  • Mister Maker and Rebecca Keatley (2020–2021)
  • Mister Maker Live at Alton Towers (May Half Term 2024)

External links