Wicked Threads

It's the Mouseland fashion competition, and Missy D is working with the orphans to put together an award-winning outfit. But when items of clothing go missing all around the island, and Wensley Dale's presidential tie disappears, the Easy Crew are summoned to the Presidential Mansion. This is serious business - Wensley Dale can't conduct any official business without his official tie! The Easy Crew investigate, but when the trail goes cold, Scratchy puts a treasured item on the line to lure out a troubled fashion queen.

Rastamouse, Scratchy, Zoomer, Bandulu, Missy D, Wensley Dale, Rubba, Dub, Bagga T, Fats, Sol, Little Patch

Stop-motion series featuring crime-fighting special agents Rastamouse, Scratchy and Zoomer. They solve mysteries and have adventures. They're the best throughout the land, so cool and brave and funky, and they play in a reggae band.

Producer Greg Boardman encountered the Rastamouse characters when his son was given a copy of the book "Rastamouse & Da Bag-a Bling" in 2005. They were both "blown away by the story, language and energy."

The series' director, animator Derek Mogford, persuaded the "Rastamouse" books' authors, Genevieve Webster and Michael De Souza, to adapt them into a TV series. "Michael and Genevieve still needed convincing, so Derek went off and built the puppet himself," said Boardman. "He even got the hat knitted and sewed a little T-shirt. We all got together for a meeting, and Derek had the Rastamouse puppet under a white napkin, unveiled it, and everyone fell in love with it instantly."

Reggie Yates, who voices Rastamouse, is a Radio 1 DJ. Boardman said that some very well-known people auditioned for the role. "They came in desperate to pitch us their best Rastamouse voice, then Reggie came in and stole the day. He's now getting a lot of requests for Rastamouse impressions."

The series has become the most-watched CBeebies show on iPlayer.

The BBC received complaints from six viewers that the series stereotypes black people, while another 95 complained about the patois spoken by the animated characters. One complaint was about the program showing a "bastardized" version of the English language.

Some viewers alleged that "that the use of non-standard English grammar in the program sets a bad example to young children."

"CBeebies is very proud to be transmitting Rastamouse, which is a colourful new animation series about a crime-fighting mouse based on an acclaimed series of books by Michael De Souza and Genevieve Webster," said an official response from the broadcaste. "The Rastamouse books are written in Afro-Caribbean Patois rhyme, and this authentic voice has been transferred to the TV series to retain its heart, integrity and distinctive quality.

"CBeebies is dedicated to reflecting the lives of all children in this country, and Rastamouse will have a particular appeal to Afro-Caribbean children - an underrepresented part of our audience."

Added the BBC: "The series is highly enjoyable and inclusive, and its compelling stories, great music and positive messages are there to be enjoyed by all our viewers."

Boardman denies that the show reinforces negative stereotypes. "We're a strongly multicultural production company making a program about characters co-created by a Rastafarian," he said. "We think they're great models who use logic and problem-solving for the good of a positive, creative community."

Boardman added: "The show has a strong message: through love, understanding and respect, Rastamouse will make a bad thing good. The whole package - music, color, rhythm and rhyme of speech - engages kids and enables that message to be heard by a wider audience&. I heard yesterday about a boy who was being bullied by a classmate and told his teacher, 'I'm giving him time to make a bad ting good.'"