Michael Cole (writer)

Michael Cole
Michael Cole (writer-TV producer)
Born	(1933-03-17)17 March 1933 Willesden, London, England
Died	4 August 2001(2001-08-04) (aged 68)
Occupation	Writer / TV producer
Nationality	British
Genre	Children's TV and books
Notable works	Bod, Fingerbobs, Ragtime
Notable awards	1973 BAFTA Best Children's Programme
Spouse	Joanne Cole

Michael Cole (17 March 1933 – 4 August 2001) created a number of children's programmes from the 70s to the 90s, including Alphabet Castle, Heads and Tails and Ragtime, for which he won a Society of Film and Television Award (later known as a BAFTA) for Best Children's Programme. Together with his wife Joanne Cole, he created Bod, originally published as four books in 1965 and made into a TV show in the 70s, as well as Fingerbobs and Gran.

Michael Cole was born in Willesden, London on 17 March 1933. During the war he and his family were evacuated to Cheltenham where after junior school he went to Cheltenham College. He trained as an intelligence officer during national service in the army and was sent to Cambridge University to learn Russian. In 1959, he collaborated with Halas and Batchelor writing for two series of animated shorts (Habatales) for ABC TV, including The Cultured Ape which was awarded best film in its category at the 1959 Venice Film Festival.

In 1964 Cole moved with his wife and 2 children to South of France where they created the first Bod books which were published by Metheun in 1965. Two years later, and now with four children, Cole began working for BBC children's television, initially writing and directing for Play School. and Play Away. In 1972 Michael and Joanne Cole created Fingerbobs, songs and stories with simple paper puppets and artwork by Joanne Cole. The show starred Rick Jones and was shown on BBC until 1984. In 1972, Cole wrote and directed Ragtime a BBC studio programme with songs and sketches, featuring puppets by Joanne Cole, illustrations by Quentin Blake and music by Peter Gosling. The programme won a Society of Film and Television Award (later known as a BAFTA) in 1973 for Best Children's Programme and was followed by a second series.