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Duration 01:00

Charley – Strangers

In 1973 the incomprehensible pronouncements from a ginger cat named Charley warned children against strangers, matches, water safety and other everyday perils.

The quirky ‘Charley Says’ animated series, with the warning growls ‘voiced’ by the late Kenny Everett, delivered often-stark messages in a darkly comic way. Created by Richard Taylor Cartoons, the garbled meows of the ginger cat were later sampled by UK dance act The Prodigy for the 1991 Top 10 hit Charly.

Further credence was given to the Charley series in 2005 when it was voted 95th on the Channel 4 TV special 100 Greatest Cartoons.

In recent poll conducted by the BBC News Website in association with The National Archives and The Central Office of Information (COI), the Charley cartoons were voted The Nation’s Favourite Public Information Film.

Transcription

Charley and I were in the park.

Then this man came up and said would I like to see some puppies.

And I said yes.

And I was going to go when Charley stopped me.

Charley’s reminded me my mum says I shouldn’t go off with people I don’t know.

Then the man went away.

We went and told mummy and she said we had been very good. I got an apple and Charley got something he likes.

He says never go anywhere with men or ladies you don’t know.