Here Comes Bod...

Bod Chronology

1963 Bod created by Michael and Joanne Cole for their children.

1966 publication of first Bod books:

Bod’s Apple
Bod’s Present
Bod’s Dream
Bod and the Cherry Tree

Written by Michael Cole, illustrated by Joanne Cole and published by Methuen

1967 First four books published by Follett in America.
French version of Bod’s Apple appears: La Pomme de Gus

Late 1960’s / early 1970’s Bod books read on BBC's Playschool and later Playdays.

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1974 13 five-minute animated films produced for transmission on BBC and for sale to ABC in Australia. Produced by Bodfilms Ltd (Michael and Joanne Cole /David Yates), animated by Alan Rogers.

1975 - 80 Bod films, together with additional material featuring Alberto Frog and his Amazing Animal Band, Bod 'Snap' game and Alberto's milkshakes, shown continually on the BBC in the Watch With Mother slot. Programmes written and produced by Michael Cole, story board artwork by Joanne Cole, narrated by John Le Mesurier, music by Derek Griffiths, voice Maggie Henderson.

1976 Bod series shown on TV in Australia, New Zealand, Holland, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Poland, and merchandise produced ranging from TV annuals to Bod soap.

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1975 - 1976 13 Bod books based on the films, including the four original titles, published as a paperback series by Methuen. Editions also published in Australia and New Zealand.

1977 - 1993 Bod shown on Israel’s Educational Channel.

1985 Joanne Cole, co-creator of Bod, dies.

1996 - 2004 Bod becomes a favourite character in student circles, a Bod bootleg 12" single appears as do a number of Bod fan-sites on the internet. Bod is released on video and later DVD by the Contender Entertainment Group, together with another Michael and Joanne creation, Fingerbobs, and a range of merchandise is produced, mainly for HMV and Virgin, to co-incide with the video's success.

2001 New Bod book, ‘The Tao of Bod,’ commissioned by the Contender Group. Following the death of Michael Cole in August the commission is transferred to his daughter and son, Alison and Lo Cole. All rights to Bod are assigned to Michael and Joanne’s four children, Alison, Lo, Kate and Sam.

2002 Bod is voted one of the top 100 children’s programmes in Channel 4 poll.

The Tao Of Bod is published as ‘Bod’s Way: The Meaning of Life’. The book sells out its first print-run and goes into second and then third reprint. National newspapers (Independent / Daily Telegraph / The Sun) herald the return of Bod.

Contender commission a second Bod book by Alison and Lo Cole.

2003 ‘Bod’s New Leaf’, published in October.

2004 Bod theme used in chart compilation by DJ TomMiddleton, released by Universal Records, and in a Kinder ad campaign (continuing from 2003).

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