Bagpuss, the saggy old cloth cat who starred in one of Britain’s most beloved children’s shows, is set to appear in a new film that will see the character awaken in the present day, producers announced.
The project, the first new Bagpuss production since the original 13-episode series in 1974, is in development and will combine live action and animation. Producers said the title character and his companions will “stir from their slumber to find themselves in contemporary Britain” and embark on a “modern-day quest,” with a story and animation techniques intended to remain true to the spirit of the classic series.
The film is being developed with the estates of Bagpuss’s original creators, Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin. Characters named in the announcement include Professor Yaffle, the wooden woodpecker, and Madeleine, the rag doll. The production is being led by Birmingham-based Threewise Entertainment, known as co-creators of Nickelodeon’s Rock Island Mysteries, and the company is aiming for a 2027 release date.
Emily Firmin, who was the young girl called Emily in the original series and is Peter Firmin's daughter, said returning the character to screens was deeply personal. “Bagpuss was an integral part of my childhood. To me he wasn't just a character on the screen, he was a friend who taught me about kindness, care, and imagination,” she said. “To see our most magical cat return now is incredibly moving and I'm thrilled that new fans will have the chance to discover him, and that his magic will live on and be shared with the next generation.”
The 1974 series introduced Bagpuss at the start of each episode as “the most important, the most beautiful, the most magical saggy old cloth cat in the whole wide world.” In the original programme the toy cat and other figures in a shop window would come to life when Emily brought lost and discarded items for them to identify. The show gained new audiences through frequent BBC repeats and has continued to feature in public polls of national affection: it was voted the nation’s favourite children’s show in a 1999 BBC poll and topped a later poll to find the nation’s favourite children’s television animal.
Producers said the film will honour the look and tone of the original while placing its characters in a contemporary setting. Further production details, including a director, cast, budget and distribution partners, have not been announced. The project remains in development as the team works with the creators’ estates on creative direction and rights.
Bagpuss’s return follows a wider trend of reviving classic children’s properties for new formats and audiences. For now, the announcement centres on preserving the original series’ gentle tone and imaginative approach while updating its setting for a new generation of viewers. The production team has indicated they will release additional information as development progresses toward the targeted 2027 release.