Belle and Sebastian (French TV series)

Belle and Sebastian
Genre	Children
Created by	Cécile Aubry
Starring	Mehdi El Glaoui
Country of origin	France
Original language(s)	French
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	13
Production
Running time	26 minutes
Release
Original network	ORTF
Original release	26 September 1965

Belle and Sebastian was a popular TV children's TV serial based on the novel Belle et Sébastien by Cécile Aubry.

It was about a young boy Sebastian and a Pyrenean mountain dog Belle set in the French Alps.

It was filmed as a live action show in black-and-white in France under its original name in 1965. In 1967, it was dubbed and the title was anglicized and first appeared on British television's BBC1 on Monday afternoons, running from October 2, 1967 to January 1, 1968. Shown in the time slot after Blue Peter, it was repeated several times and became an important ingredient of school holiday television. Filmed in and around the village of Belvédère in Alpes-Maritimes, its authentic locations, sensitive writing, and winning performances by the actors, makes it an enduring classic. Its deep theme is the power and importance of love. The part of Sebastian was played by Mehdi El Glaoui, Cécile Aubry's son from her marriage to a Moroccan man. Mehdi also sings the final song, L'Oiseau.

The serial spawned two further 13 part colour film sequels 'Sébastien parmi les hommes' (Sebastian Among Men) (1968) retitled 'Belle, Sebastian and the Horses' by the BBC and 'Sébastien et la Mary-Morgane' (Sebastian and the Mary Morgan) (1970) which was not broadcast by the BBC.

The Scottish indie pop band Belle & Sebastian took their name from the TV series.

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