The Adventures of Portland Bill

The Adventures of Portland Bill

1983 - United Kingdom

Portland Bill is the keeper of the Trinity House lighthouse, on Guillermot Rock. Accompanied by Ross and Cromarty and his faithful pet pooch Dogger, Bill is the head lighthouseman who busies himself with keeping the shipping lanes safe, running maintenance repairs and keeping thing generally tidy. He often pops ashore in his old rowboat, The Puffin, to the local village of McGuillycuddy in order to pick up provisions from Edward Stones' Emporium shop. Eddy is also the town's electrician, water board inspector, postman, milkman, policeman and mayor. Here Bill catches up on the local gossip from Grandma Tiree, the crofter Finisterre, Fastnet-the village fisherman and old Mrs Lundy. 

All the characters take their names from shipping forecasts, sea regions and nautical terms. The series was devised and scripted by John Grace and the voices were supplied by Norman Rossington. The Adventures of Portland Bill was filmed in stop-motion animation and ran for approximately 11-minutes each. 

Published on November 26th, 2018. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

A Hard Day's Night

Bursting onto cinema screens in 1964 with the same energy that propelled them to global fame, A Hard Day’s Night isn’t just a film—it’s a riotous, sharp-witted snapshot of The Beatles and the madness of Beatlemania at full tilt

Also starring Norman Rossington

Cloppa Castle

Animated pre-school fun from two of Gerry Anderson's former employees, Cloppa Castle ran for 52 episodes over two series

Also tagged Stop Motion Animation

The Nation's Health drama

Drama filmed in a documentary style to show the many problems within a typical NHS hospital.

Also released in 1983

The Singing Ringing Tree

To win the love of a beautiful but conceited princess, the prince sets out to search for the Singing Ringing Tree which she deeply craves.

Also tagged Childrens Series

Hallelujah TV series

For over forty years, Salvation Army Captain Emily Ridley has fought the Devil. But after a series of mishaps, her superiors have decide to move her to the quiet little Yorkshire town of Brigthorpe...

Also released in 1983

My Cousin Rachel

Based on Daphne du Maurier’s gothic novel of suspicion, mistrust and murder.

Also released in 1983

Cuffy TV series

Bernard Cribbins as a scruffy rather mischievous tinker who lives in a shabby caravan and has a tendency to get into all sorts of trouble

Also released in 1983

The Mating Machine

A series of seven stand-alone comedies featuring some of Britain's best sitcom writers and performers. The Mating Machine is united by a single theme - computer dating.

Also starring Norman Rossington