Sheeep
Sheeep is an obscure British children's animated television series that aired on CBBC in the United Kingdom and was produced by Grand Slamm Children's Films and HIT Entertainment. It is based on the book Sheep in Wolves' Clothing by Japanese author Satoshi Kitamura, the illustrator of Angry Arthur. It is one of the few HIT Entertainment shows to air on CBBC as an individual network after 2002, when CBBC and CBeebies became separate networks along with Collingwood O'Hare's Dennis the Menace. The show followed the adventures of three sheep called Georgina, Gogol, and Hubert who often end up thwarting the scheme of three wolves called Moze, Spike, and Gotcha (who are often accompanied by a friendly lollipop-loving wolf cub named Kid) or even when Moze's companions mess them up. The first 12 episodes of the show were dubbed for home media in Japan.
Sheeep | |
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Genre | Animation Comedy Children's |
Created by | Satoshi Kitamura (Original concept) Ginger Gibbons |
Based on | Sheep in Wolves' Clothing by Satoshi Kitamura |
Written by | Joe Boyle Naomi Cassman Paul Fraser Jan Page Mark Holloway Andy Bernhardt (credited as Andrew Bernhardt) Hiawyn Oram Dave Ingham |
Directed by | Ginger Gibbons John Perkins |
Voices of | Julia Sawalha Enn Reitel David Holt Jimmy Hibbert (Possibly; Season 1 Episode 5 (Broadcast order)/Episode 1 (Production order) only) |
Opening theme | Sheeep theme tune by Bob Heatlie |
Ending theme | Sheeep theme tune by Bob Heatlie (reprise) |
Composer | Bob Heatlie |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 26 (Episode 26 (broadcast order)/Episode 18 (production order) partially found) |
Production | |
Executive producers | Theresa Plummer-Andrews Kate Fawkes |
Producer | Ginger Gibbons |
Running time | 10 minutes per episode (approx.) |
Production companies | HIT Entertainment Grand Slamm Children's Films Varga Studio (Overseas Animation) |
Release | |
Original network | BBC One, BBC Two, and BBC Choice (CBBC) CBBC Nick Jr. UK |
Picture format | PAL 4:3 |
Original release | 7 April 2000 – 29 May 2001 |
Characters
Main
- Georgina Sheep (voiced by Julia Sawalha) - A female sheep who has a rather bossy, domineering personality. She sometimes appears to be the self-elected leader of the trio and is often too keen to put her opinions forward. Also, she mistrusts wolves more than anyone. She leads a flock of sheep in (fictional) "Green Meadow". In the Japanese dub, she is called "Jun-Chan". She speaks with a London accent.
- Gogol Sheep (voiced by Enn Reitel and originally/possibly Jimmy Hibbert or David Holt at one point in "Hubert's Surprise" (Heard specifically, when he says "You take this end and I'll take the other.")) - The intellectual of the trio and seems to be the only main sheep who spends most of his time in the city. He drives a car (most likely based on a Beauford Open Tourer), owns a house and has a job as a photographer for the town's newspaper, The Daily Fleece. In the Japanese dub, he is called "Goro-Chan". He has minor appearances in "The Stamp" and "Housesitting". He speaks with a Lancashire accent.
- Hubert Sheep (voiced by David Holt) - The quietest and most modest of the flock; he seldom speaks and lives in "Green Meadow" with his sister (as mentioned by Penny from "Georgina's Sleepover"), Georgina. In the Japanese dub, he is called "Hide-Chan". He speaks with a Yorkshire accent.
Villains
- Moze Wolfgang (voiced by Enn Reitel) - The devious planner of bad schemes for the wolves' benefit. Wears a black-and-red-striped necktie and round sunglasses. His interests are stealing, money, and playing golf. He lives in an old shop (which was a wool shop in the original book) and drives a van (based heavily on a Bedford CF2 and a Ford Transit Mark II) (In the original book, Moze drove a green saloon car with a number plate saying WOLF 1 (based on a Saab 93), which possibly might have belonged to the waistcoat wearing wolf from the book, meaning he took it with him when Kid started living with Moze, Spike, and Gotcha). In the Japanese dub, he is called "Mods". He speaks with an American accent. It is possible that he is referred to by name in the original book.
- Spike (voiced by David Holt) - One of Moze's sidekicks. He wears a green bow tie and rectangular sunglasses. His eyes are also tiny black dots, but are drawn big in the original book (shown when the trio, Uncle Elliott, and the quartet of cats enter Moze's shop). He speaks with a Brooklyn accent. It is unknown if he is referred to by name in the original book.
- Gotcha (voiced by David Holt and possibly Enn Reitel at one point in "Queen Georgina") - Moze's other sidekick who wears a blue bandana. He is more dim-witted compared to Spike. His catchphrase is "Gotcha!" (hence his name). He speaks with a Brooklyn accent. It is unknown if he is referred to by name in the original book.
Recurring
- Kid (additional noises by Julia Sawalha) - Gotcha's little sister (according to the back covers of the Australian VHSs and DVDs by Magna Pacific and HIT Entertainment). She says nothing, she just always licks a lollipop and doesn't at all involve herself in the wolves' schemes. Kid wears a green-and-blue-striped skirt and hair bow. In the original book, her position is used by an older wolf wearing a green waistcoat. In the Japanese dub, she is called "Chibi". She does not appear in "Tango Tangle" and has minor appearances in "The Stamp", "Stormy Weather", "Scoop", and "The Talent Contest". A picture of her when she was younger (shown wearing a striped jumper) can be seen on the wall of Moze's shop.
- Mrs Wolfgang (voiced by Enn Reitel) - Moze's mother, who was seen in "Housesitting" and "Georgina's Sleepover". A picture of her can be seen on the wall of Moze's shop, albeit in two pieces.
- Captain Bleat (voiced by David Holt) - Hubert's Sailor friend, who lives on a boat and enjoys telling stories about his past. He speaks with a West Country accent.
- Elliott Baa (voiced by Enn Reitel) - Hubert and Georgina's uncle (who was their cousin in the original book) who works at an office, collecting stamps and working on The Daily Fleece. His office is located near Moze's shop. One of his most notable appearances is near the end of the intro, where he is seen at his desk looking at a picture of Moze. He is mentioned in "Say Cheese" (The first episode in production order) and "Scoop" (both lines where he is mentioned were said by Gogol). He speaks with an American accent.
- P. C. Butt (voiced by David Holt) - A police officer who investigates the wolves' crimes and, at times, can be oblivious of various situations. He is mentioned in "The Big Freeze" and "Georgina's Sleepover" (Both lines where he is mentioned were said by Georgina). He speaks with a Bristolian accent. It is unclear whether or not if he appeared in the original book.
- White Dog (voiced by David Holt) - An unnamed White Dog who runs various events. He speaks with a Yorkshire accent.
- Edna Cow (voiced by Julia Sawalha) - A Cow who lives at Green Meadow with Hubert and Georgina and dances with other Cows. Her first name is revealed in "Umbrella Racing", an old flash game on HIT's website based loosely on "The Flood". She can switch between mooing and speaking in a posh English accent.
- Hubert and Georgina's Flock - The other sheep who live at Green Meadow with Hubert and Georgina.
- Dancing Cows (voiced by Julia Sawalha) - The other cows that Edna dances with, who were seen in "Scoop" and "The Talent Contest".
One-off
- The Horse - A horse who lives at Green Meadow with Hubert, Georgina, and Edna the cow. Seen in "The Flat Tyre".
- Jaunita Luftfita (voiced by Julia Sawalha) - A ballroom dancer, that Gogol has a crush on. She drives a pink cabriolet coupe (based on a Triumph Herald) and speaks with a Russian accent. Seen in "Tango Tangle" and on a poster in Moze's shop in "Stormy Weather".
- Other Wolves - A bunch of wolves, who came to see Gogol and Georgina play music, only for Hubert and Captain Bleat to interrupt the concert with a fake thunderstorm. Seen in "Stormy Weather".
- Penny (voiced by Julia Sawalha) - Georgina's girly cousin (although not mentioned as such), who gave her a makeover at a clothing shop and was ignorant when Moze stole her normal outfit to give to his mother, thinking the bag it was in contained a hat Penny decided not to buy earlier. In one scene, she is shown to drive a blue cabriolet coupe (based on an Alfa Romeo Giulietta Spider). She is never seen interacting with Hubert or Gogol and her house is shown on screen as just her bedroom. She speaks with a Bristolian accent. Seen in "Georgina's Sleepover".
- Duncan Shears (voiced by David Holt) - An announcer who worked at a talent contest the trio took part in. His outfit loosely resembles the zoot suit Gogol wore in "Stormy Weather", but with a darker colour. He speaks with a Tennessee accent. Seen in "The Talent Contest".
- Princess Grazelightly (voiced by Julia Sawalha) - a celebrity who befriended Georgina after her coat accidentally got turned pink at the laundrette. She travels in a limousine (based slightly on a Vauxhall Senator B) and speaks with a Hollywood accent. Seen in "Georgina and the Princess".
Episodes
Series | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
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First aired | Last aired | |||
1 | 13 | 7 April 2000 | 28 July 2000 | |
2 | 13 | 2 January 2001 | 29 May 2001 |
Unaired Pilot (1998)
No. | Title | Written by | Original air date | |
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0 | "Unaired Pilot" | Satoshi Kitamura | 24 September 1998 (Cartoon Forum in Syros, Greece) | |
Uncle Elliott helps the trio after the wolves steal their coats and turn them into jumpers. Trivia:
|
Season 1 (2000)
No. | Title | Written by | Original air date | |
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1 (Broadcast) 4 (Produced) | "Say Cheese" | Joe Boyle | 7 April 2000 | |
Gogol takes Georgina and Hubert to do some photography of the new angel statue at the park, while the wolves try to steal some yellowberry pie from a baker's van, only to be caught by PC Butt, after accidentally blaming the trio for breaking the statue. | ||||
2 (Broadcast) 3 (Produced) | "Queen Georgina" | Joe Boyle | 14 April 2000 | |
Today, at the Green Meadow Festival, Georgina is to attend a traditional coronation, which Moze intends to intercept, by trapping her and Kid inside a cage, but it is cut short when he blunders. | ||||
3 (Broadcast) 7 (Produced) | "The Stamp" | Naomi Cassman and Joe Boyle | 28 April 2000 | |
Georgina and Hubert take care of Uncle Elliott's office, whilst he's away on an assignment with Gogol. Meanwhile, The wolves sneak in to swipe Elliott's valuable stamp collection with the help of a hoover and Kid's lollipop. Trivia:
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4 (Broadcast) 5 (Produced) | "Gogol the Champion" | Paul Fraser | 5 May 2000 | |
Gogol goes through Georgina's tiring exercises to prepare for the gate jumping event. The wolves meanwhile enter Kid in the event with spring-powered shoes, but things go awry when she bounces too far. Trivia:
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5 (Broadcast) 1 (Produced) | "Hubert's Surprise" | Joe Boyle | 12 May 2000 | |
Today is Hubert's birthday and Gogol and Georgina have prepared a party, but the wolves greedily gorge on the party food. | ||||
6 (Broadcast) 2 (Produced) | "Gogol's Sofa" | Joe Boyle | 19 May 2000 | |
Moze tries to sell Gogol a new sofa with stolen newspapers for the stuffing, but Georgina's Uncle Elliott has followed their trail. Trivia:
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7 (Broadcast) 8 (Produced) | "The Flat Tyre" | Joe Boyle | 26 May 2000 | |
The wolves have created a hole in the road outside Green Meadow with Captain Bleat's stolen anchor, causing Moze's van to lose its rear doors and Gogol's car to have a couple of punctures. Will the wolves get caught by PC Butt when Moze, Spike and Gotcha take the car for their own joyride while it's at the garage? Trivia:
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8 (Broadcast) 6 (Produced) | "Gogol Learns Golf" | Jan Page | 2 June 2000 | |
Hubert becomes Gogol's caddy, then various golf equipment is stolen by the wolves, but Georgina finds an orange golf ball in her paint pot and reveals their theft. | ||||
9 | "Stuck in the Mud" | Mark Holloway | 9 June 2000 | |
Hubert assists Captain Bleat to guard his beach mat cargo. The wolves trap the boat in a muddy bank to get the beach mats by blocking the river with sticks and Kid's lost lollipop, but their plan backfires when the river bed traps them. Meanwhile, Georgina tries to cure Gogol of the hiccups. | ||||
10 | "Sheeep Showers" | Paul Fraser | 16 June 2000 | |
Georgina, Hubert and Gogol have a game of volleyball on the beach but when Kid plays, it exposes the wolves' handbag stealing. | ||||
11 | "Tango Tangle" | Andy Bernhardt | 14 July 2000 | |
Due to a problem with ballroom dancer and the ewe of Gogol's dreams, Jaunita Luftfita's resignation, Moze has Spike impersonate her for the grand tango performance, but Georgina and PC Butt soon catch them. | ||||
12 | "Housesitting" | Hiawyn Oram | 21 July 2000 | |
While Gogol is away, Georgina and Hubert take care of his house. However Moze tries to occupy the house with a visit from his mother, after seeing Gogol's holiday as an opportunity to lie to her. Trivia:
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13 | "Treasure Treats" | Jan Page | 28 July 2000 | |
Georgina, Hubert, and Gogol join in a treasure hunt event, which Captain Bleat, Uncle Elliott and PC Butt also decide to take part in. The wolves follow them, but are cut off by a deep hole Gotcha dug. Trivia:
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Season 2 (2001)
No. | Title | Written by | Original air date | |
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14 1 | "The Big Freeze" | Jan Page | 2 January 2001 | |
One snowy day, the wolves make their move to steal some firewood from the sheep, who are preparing dinner at Gogol's house, but Captain Bleat and Uncle Elliott catch them. Trivia:
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15 2 | "Stormy Weather" | Andy Bernhardt | 9 January 2001 | |
Georgina and Gogol get caught in Moze's concert after Gogol signs a strict contract, but after Hubert becomes disinterested in the concert, Captain Bleat and Hubert devise a plan to get out of it with a sprinkler and some fireworks. Trivia:
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16 3 | "Scoop" | Dave Ingham | 16 January 2001 | |
Moze takes over Gogol's newspaper photography job by stealing his camera, but his latest attempt for a scoop about a fake shark attack backfires and forces Gogol to come to the rescue. | ||||
17 (Broadcast) 19 (Produced) 4 (Broadcast) 6 (Produced) | "Georgina's Sleepover" | Jan Page | 23 January 2001 | |
Things don't turn out well for Georgina when she has a sleepover with her prissy cousin, Penny, while Moze tries to get a present for his mother. Meanwhile, Hubert and Gogol play cricket. | ||||
18 (Broadcast) 20 (Produced) 5 (Broadcast) 7 (Produced) | "Say it with Flowers" | Joe Boyle | 30 January 2001 | |
As Georgina, Hubert, and Gogol attend Gogol's garden, the wolves try to steal what they think is a valuable plant and Kid helps it grow. | ||||
19 (Broadcast) 17 (Produced) 6 (Broadcast) 4 (Produced) | "The Bank Robbery" | Jan Page | 13 February 2001 | |
Georgina, Hubert, and Gogol participate in a jumble sale where the wolves get some disguises to rob a bank, but Hubert and Georgina blow their cover and Gogol summons PC Butt. | ||||
20 (Broadcast) 22 (Produced) 7 (Broadcast) 9 (Produced) | "The Flood" | Joe Boyle | 20 February 2001 | |
While Green Meadow holds back the flood waters, Gogol buys many umbrellas. After the wolves fail to steal the umbrellas, Kid puts them to good use after Moze's van falls in the water. Trivia:
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21 8 | "The Talent Contest" | Dave Ingham | 27 February 2001 | |
The town holds a talent contest. The sneaky wolves attempt to get their paws on the trophy, but Georgina cannot take her eyes off the host, Duncan Shears. Trivia:
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22 (Broadcast) 23 (Produced) 9 (Broadcast) 10 (Produced) | "Keep Fit" | Joe Boyle | 6 March 2001 | |
Moze puts some stolen cans of beans to use for a fitness gym, converted from his shop, but Georgina, Hubert, and Gogol play his own game against him by sabotaging the machine powered by the gym equipment. | ||||
23 (Broadcast) 24 (Produced) 10 (Broadcast) 11 (Produced) | "Sea Tales" | Jan Page | 13 March 2001 | |
Hubert does photography for Gogol who is currently sick with Georgina looking after him, but leaks a story of sunken treasure which greatly interests the wolves, who soon rival against Hubert and Captain Bleat in an attempt to get the treasure. | ||||
24 (Broadcast) 25 (Produced) 11 (Broadcast) 12 (Produced) | "Georgina and the Princess" | Dave Ingham | 20 March 2001 | |
Georgina, Hubert, and Gogol ready themselves for celebrity, Princess Grazelightly's opening of a new supermarket, but after an accident with a mud puddle, Gogol makes Georgina's fleece pink, making her embarrassed, until she meets the guest of honour. Meanwhile, The wolves have trouble with a rope at the top of a tall building. Trivia:
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25 (Broadcast) 26 (Produced) 12 (Broadcast) 13 (Produced) | "Snow Business" | Andy Bernhardt | 27 March 2001 | |
The wolves create snow drifts to charge fees for snow cleanup. Hubert's giant snowball stops their ruse altogether. | ||||
26 (Broadcast) 18 (Produced) 13 (Broadcast) 5 (Produced) | "Hubert Goes Green (The partially found episode)" | Hiawyn Oram | 29 May 2001 | |
Hubert has caught a case of the measles. Georgina and Gogol cure Hubert, and then Georgina gets ill and Hubert finds himself in The wolves' shop, after ending up in the town's recycled goods collection. Trivia:
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Trivia
- In the unaired pilot episode, Georgina is depicted with more eyelashes, similar to how she was drawn in the original book.
- The front cover of the original book appears as a poster in Nicholas' room in one of Satoshi Kitamura's other books, Me and My Cat?.
- Magna Pacific, who worked with HIT to release the Australian VHSs and DVDs of the show also released the Australian home media releases for various other HIT Entertainment shows that weren't released by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- Some merchandise of the show (notably the four Japanese VHSs and DVDs) has a tagline saying "Based on the books by Satoshi Kitamura", despite Sheep in Wolves' Clothing being one book.
- It is obvious that Wallace and Gromit was one of the influences for the original book and the show, due to the comedic and action heavy humour.
- Despite the show mostly having the 1995-2001 HIT Entertainment logo,[4] the 2001-2007 logo[5] has appeared on "The Flat Tyre" on Children's Favourites Bumper Special and on "Sheeep Showers", "Housesitting", and "Treasure Treats" on Volume 2 (Released in Australia).
- In the end credits of the Japanese dub, Julia Sawalha's name is misspelt as "Julia Saealha" in the original UK English cast section.
- The back cover of the Australian Volume 3 VHS/DVD features an unspecified shot of Georgina looking confused on the back cover, which is most likely from the partially found episode, Hubert Goes Green.[6]
Home Video Releases
UK
- Children's Favourites 2 (2001) (HIT Entertainment) (VHS) - Hubert's Surprise[7]
- Hubert's Surprise and Other Stories (2001) (HIT Entertainment) (VHS) (NOTE: It is currently unknown if this VHS was released since most pictures that have surfaced online are of a high quality scan of the front cover)
- Children's Favourites 3 (2001) (HIT Entertainment) (VHS) - Gogol Learns Golf
- Children's Favourites Bumper Special (2003) (HIT Entertainment) (VHS/DVD) - The Flat Tyre
- Superstar Children's Favourites (2004) (HIT Entertainment) (VHS/DVD) - The Talent Contest
Japan
- Volume 1 (Hide-Chan's Birthday Party) (2001) (Sony Music Entertainment and HIT Entertainment) (VHS/DVD) - 1. Hubert's Surprise 2. Gogol's Sofa 3. Queen Georgina
- Volume 2 (Challenge The Jump Competition!) (2001) (Sony Music Entertainment and HIT Entertainment) (VHS/DVD) - 1. Say Cheese 2. Gogol the Champion 3. Gogol Learns Golf
- Volume 3 (Chasing A Missing Car) (2001) (Sony Music Entertainment and HIT Entertainment) (VHS/DVD) - 1. The Stamp 2.The Flat Tyre 3. Stuck in the Mud
- Volume 4 (Beware Of The Beach Showers!) (2001) (Sony Music Entertainment and HIT Entertainment) (VHS/DVD) - 1. Sheeep Showers 2. Tango Tangle 3. Housesitting
Australia
- Volume 1 (2004) (Magna Pacific and HIT Entertainment) (VHS/DVD) - 1. Say Cheese 2. Queen Georgina 3. The Stamp 4. Gogol the Champion 5. Hubert's Surprise 6. Gogol's Sofa 7. The Flat Tyre 8. Gogol Learns Golf
- Volume 2 (2004) (Magna Pacific and HIT Entertainment) (VHS/DVD) - 1. Stuck in the Mud 2. Sheep Showers 3. Tango Tangle 4. Housesitting 5. Treasure Treats 6. The Big Freeze 7. Stormy Weather 8. Scoop (NOTE: A screenshot from the partially found episode, Hubert Goes Green, when Spike and Gotcha find Hubert in the back of Moze's van can be seen inside the cover underneath the episode listing)[8]
- Volume 3 (2004) (Magna Pacific and HIT Entertainment) (VHS/DVD) - 1. Georgina's Sleepover 2. Say it with Flowers 3. The Bank Robbery 4. The Flood 5. The Talent Contest 6. Keep Fit 7. Sea Tales 8. Georgina and the Princess 9. Snow Business (NOTE: The partially found episode, Hubert Goes Green is left out for unknown reasons)
South Africa
- Hubert's Surprise and Other Stories (2006) (Next Video (?) and HIT Entertainment (?)) (DVD) - 1. Hubert's Surprise 2. Gogol's Sofa 3. Queen Georgina 4. Say Cheese 5. Gogol the Champion[9]
- Playing Around (2006) (Next Video (?) and HIT Entertainment (?)) (DVD) - 1. Gogol Learns Golf 2. The Stamp 3. The Flat Tyre 4. Stuck in the Mud 5. Sheeep Showers[10]
- Tango Tangle and Other Stories (2006) (Next Video (?) and HIT Entertainment (?)) (DVD) - 1. Tango Tangle 2. Housesitting (?) 3. Treasure Treats (?) 4. The Big Freeze (?) 5. Stormy Weather (?)
Norway
- Sheeep 1 (2007) (Scanbox and HIT Entertainment (?)) (DVD) - 1. Say Cheese 2. Queen Georgina 3. The Stamp 4. Gogol the Champion 5. Hubert's Surprise 6. Gogol's Sofa
- Sheeep 2 (2007) (Scanbox and HIT Entertainment (?)) (DVD) - 1. The Flat Tyre 2. Gogol Learns Golf 3. Stuck in the Mud 4. Sheeep Showers 5. Tango Tangle 6. Housesitting 7. Treasure Treats
References
- "CBBC channel error during "Gogol the Champion" (Recorded in 2002)". YouTube. 17 August 2009.
- ""The Big Freeze"'s premiere (2nd January 2001)". YouTube. 21 March 2010.
- "SHEEEP "Hubert Goes Green"". Vimeo. 30 June 2016.
- "The HIT Entertainment logo seen on most copies of the episodes". YouTube. 11 August 2022.
- "The HIT Entertainment logo used after the show ended". YouTube. 6 October 2019.
- "eBay listing for Volume 3 (Australia) (Features an unknown shot of Georgina)". eBay.
{{cite web}}
: Check|url=
value (help) - "Children's Favourites 2". YouTube. 3 October 2021.
- "eBay listing for Volume 2 (Australia) (Features a screenshot from "Hubert Goes Green")". eBay.
- "Sheeep: Hubert's Surprise". YouTube. 8 July 2022.
- "Sheeep: Playing Around". YouTube. 8 July 2022.
External links
- Official Website (NOTE: Does not work, due to the closure of Adobe Flash Player in 2020)
- Information about the show on Grand Slamm Children's Films' website (NOTE: Spike and Gotcha's names are switched)