<P> The first British broadcasts were shown every weekday on BBC 1 at 17: 50, just before the early evening news at 17: 55 . Although the exact time of the early evening news varied over the years, The Magic Roundabout kept its slot before the early evening news for the duration of its original broadcasting, except for 16: 55 time slots during October to November 1966, and earlier times during parts of 1972 and 1973 . This was the first time an entertainment programme had been transmitted in this way in the UK . The original series, which was a serial, was made in black - and - white . From the second series onwards it was made in colour, although the series was still broadcast in black - and - white by the BBC; the first colour episode of the show was transmitted on 5 October 1970 . </P> <P> Fifty - two additional episodes, not previously broadcast, were shown in the United Kingdom during 1991 on Channel 4's News Daily . Thompson had died by this time, and the job of narrating them in a pastiche of Thompson's style went to actor Nigel Planer . </P> <P> The English version of Dougal was generally disparaging and had similarities with the television character of Tony Hancock, an actor and comedian . Ermintrude was rather matronly and fond of singing . Dylan was a hippy - like, guitar - playing rabbit, and rather dopey . Florence was portrayed as courteous and level - headed . Brian was unsophisticated but well - meaning . Zebedee had a red face and large upturned moustache, was dressed in a yellow jacket, and in the first episode was delivered to Mr Rusty in a box, from which he burst like a jack - in - the - box: hence the lower half of his body consisting entirely of a spring . In most episodes he appeared, usually summoned by Florence, with a loud "boing" sound, and he usually closed the show with the phrase "Time for bed". </P> <P> In the foreword to the recent re-release of the books, Thompson's daughter Emma explains that her father had felt that he was most like Brian of all the characters and that Ermintrude was in some respects based upon his wife, Phyllida Law . </P>

Who were the characters in the magic roundabout