Take Off With T. Bag Episode 1: Many Happy Returns

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Episode 1Many Happy Returns
Episode 2Thief Of Baghdad
Episode 3Bagsy Malone
Episode 4Curse Of The Mummy
Episode 5Doctor Strangebag
Episode 6Antony and Cleopatra
Episode 7Phantom Of The Opera
Episode 8Bin Bag
Episode 9The Red Shoes
Episode 10Shangri-La

UK Air Date08/09/1992, 4.15pm
Repeat ScreeningN/A
Copyright Year1992
VTR Dateunknown
Fremantle Archive Ref56887 (series ref)
Consecutive Episode Number85
IMDB LinkEpisode page

T. Bag (Tabatha Bag)Georgina Hale
T. ShirtJohn Hasler
Tow-Ling ShirtBea Julakasiun
Granny BagDenise Coffey

Make UpChristine Morrell
CostumeJo Allman
Stage ManagerBobby Webber
Lighting DirectorPeter Bower
Production AssistantGill Thomas
Video Tape EditorGrant Goodwin
Production DesignerAlex Clarke
ProducerCharles Warren
DirectorNeville Green
Written ByLee Pressman
Grant Cathro

It’s nearly T-Bag’s birthday and when T-Shirt leaves her to stay with Granny Bag she blows up Granny Bag’s house to get him back. When T-Bag gets a golden envelope with space co-ordinates to find ‘the greatest gift of all’ she sets out to find her gift with T-Shirt and Tow-Ling.
The High-T Website synopsis

Flight

Cuckoo Clock

Tow-Ling & T. Shirt

T. Bag

For more images see the Image Galleries

If you would like to contribute your favourite/funniest etc quotes from this episode please contact me.

The day before my big day

T-Bag: But nothing you two…
Granny Bag: Ooh.
T-Bag: … do will affect...
T-Shirt: Ooh.
T-Bag: ... me on the day before my big day. Make me a cup of tea, be an angel.
T-Shirt: Make it yourself Blondie.
T-Bag: What?
Granny Bag: T-Shirt, shame on you, you shouldn't call her Blondie.
T-Bag: Thank you Granny.
Granny Bag: Especially now she's going grey.
(Granny and T-Shirt laugh).
Granny Bag: Bung us a nut cluster sunshine.
T-Bag: That's right.
Granny Bag: Ough, ough.
T-Bag: I'm deeply non-plussed, My plus as seldom been nonner.
Granny Bag: What are you babbling about girl?
T-Bag: It's you, you're a bad influence on Shirty.
Granny Bag: Aaarrgghhhh, ooohh.
T-Bag: Well enough's enough. I want you to leave him alone. Do you hear? He's mine.
Granny Bag: Woo-uhh.
T-Bag: Oh
Granny Bag: Urggghhh.
T-Bag: Get out.
T-Shirt: Oi, that's no way to treat a fifteen thousand year old woman.
Granny Bag: Do you very much mind, fifteen thousand and six.
T-Bag: I mean it Granny, you are persona non grata at Chateau Bag.
Granny Bag: Alright. What's that in English?
T-Bag: Shove off.
Granny Bag: Urrrhhhhhhhhhhhh.
T-Bag: Right Mr Megalip, my tea.
T-Shirt: I can't believe you just did that.
T-Bag: What do you want? A slow motion replay? My tea.
T-Shirt: Forget it, get it? Forget it.
T-Bag: Oh stop making them frog impressions. Stick that kettle on.
T-Shirt: You're not hearing me nag bag. This caddy has dunked his final leaf.
T-Bag: Huhhh.
T-Shirt: I've had it up to here. I'm fed up playing second banana to a flaming fruit cake. From now on you can make your own rotten tea. And choke on it. Goodbye.
(T-Shirt leaves).
T-Bag: He'll be back. Idiiiiiooooooot!

Added: 04/04/2024

Thomas Shirt, your new life begins here

Granny Bag: Oi Doggy Bag, grubs up.
(Doggy Bag eats the grub, throws it out and burps).
Granny Bag: Oi, oi, Doggy Bag, you're getting to be a regular little crouch potato, you know that. Yes you are, yes you are, yes you are.
T-Shirt (Yodelling): You're the lady who.
Granny Bag: I'm the lady who what? What? What? What?
T-Shirt: You're the lady who's going to put me up cause I've left home.
Granny Bag: You haven't?
T-Shirt: I have. I told the old bootlace to get knotted.
Granny Bag: You didn't?
T-Shirt: I did. I'm never going to speak to that woman again as long as I live.
Granny Bag: You won't.
T-Shirt: I will. I mean...
Granny Bag: (laughs) Gotcha (laughs).
T-Shirt: Granny is it alright if I stay?
Granny Bag: Yes, course it is Shirty old son, plenty a' room, come on Doggy Bag, shove up we've got guests.
T-Shirt: Very funny.
Granny Bag: Oh, you, you're welcome any old time Shirty, yeah, glad of the company. Now, come on bump, dump your bag inside and, and lets get down to some serious fun, yeah, yeah.
T-Shirt: Ahh, Thomas Shirt, your new life begins here. Yodel-ay-di-hoo.
Granny Bag: You the little boy you, come on.

Added: 04/04/2016

Genuine Swiss cuckoo clock

T-Bag: Here it is you’re very own top of the range, authentic, hand craft, genuine Swiss cuckoo clock made in Taiwan.
Granny Bag: Cor blimey, what a cracker.

Did you get the ball back?

(Granny Bag’s house has just been blown up, she stands there coughing, T-Shirt rushes in).
T-Shirt: Granny.
Granny Bag: Oh dear, oh dear. Urghh, ohh, oh. Eurh, uh, uh. Oh I've got just one question for you. Did you get the ball back?
T-Shirt: Oh never mind the flipping ball. What happened to your house?
Granny Bag: Well I, I was just wondering that myself. It, it sort of went, cuckoo (she imitates the sound of an explosion, she then hears Doggy Bag yelping). Oh DB. Oh no, DB, oh, oh, DB. Ah, oh. DB, DB, are you alright DB? Ah, huh. (Doggy Bag throws a wet sponge out). Oh sorry, didn't know you were in the bath. Oh, huh, uh, ha, he's ok.
T-Shirt: He's ok but what about us? It's going to be dark soon. Where are we going to sleep tonight?

Added: 04/04/2022

Tabatha's Birthday Blues

T-Bag: You do know what today is don’t you?
T-Shirt: Thursday.
T-Bag: Yes, and… very special day.
Granny Bag: Oh belt up you two, I’m trying to sleep here.
T-Bag: Ohhh, get up and tell this idiot what day it is.
Granny Bag: Well it’s Thursday in’t it?
T-Bag: Yes and...
Granny Bag: What do you mean yes and...
T-Bag: and, and...
Granny Bag: and...
T-Bag: and...
T-Shirt: and Granny do you want some cornflakes?
Granny Bag: Oh yeah, have you got any puffed wheat popsicles?
T-Bag: Yes it’s a very special Thursday and something very important happens today.
Granny Bag: Of course yes it’s bin day, right they can have this at kick-off it leaked all over my Daffy Duck jim jams.
T-Bag: Oh for crying out loud. Do I have to spell it out for you? It begins with a B.
Granny Bag: Honey.
T-Bag: B...I.
T-Shirt: Bin Day. That’s what she said.
T-Bag: No. B...I...R
Granny Bag: Bir… mingham, you're going to Birmingham.
T-Bag: No, I'm not going to Birmingham, why do I want to go to Birmingham for?
Granny Bag: For the cheese, oh no that’s Holland. Sorry.
T-Bag: It’s my B...I...R...T...H...D...A...Y.
Granny Bag: B...Y.
T-Bag: My Birthday!

Time space co-ordinates

(The door bell rings).
T-Bag: Ohhhhh, ohhhhh, ohhhhhh, it's the postman, ohhhhhh for meeeeeee. Ohhh with a sack load full of cards and presents for me. You may have forgotten my birthday but nobody else has. Ok Postie, wheel 'em in.
(T-Bag opens the door).
Tow-Ling: Hello.
T-Bag: You're not the postman.
T-Shirt: Tow-Ling.
Tow-Ling: T-Shirt.
T-Shirt: It's great to see you, what a surprise, come on in. Granny, this is my cousin, Tow-Ling Shirt.
Granny Bag: Hello Duckie.
T-Bag: That's right, everyone forget me, on my birthday.
T-Shirt: What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the tea making academy?
Tow-Ling: I couldn't take it anymore T-Shirt, all the bullying. They're always pinching me and pushing me and sticking my head down the toilet.
Granny Bag: Ah well, boys will be boys.
Tow-Ling: It wasn't the boys, it, it was the teachers.
T-Bag: Excuse me, excuse me, would somebody please explain to me what this child is doing in my chateau?
Tow-Ling: I've run away, can I come and live with you T-Shirt, can I, please, can I?
Granny Bag: Yes, course you can sonny, bags of room.
T-Shirt: Make yourself at home.
Tow-Ling: Wicked.
Granny Bag: Yeah, you need popsicles (laughs).
(Granny Bag leaves the room).
T-Bag: Just a tea leaf picking minute, you, get back to Dr Barnardos, go on, sling your hook.
Tow-Ling: Oh.
T-Bag: Come on, back to school with you.
(Granny Bag rushes back into the room).
Granny Bag: Tabatha.
T-Bag: What?
Granny Bag: Look. It just came through the letterbox.
T-Bag: Oh-oh-ohhhh. Oh, it's for me, oh, yeah.
Granny Bag: Yeah.
T-Bag: It's for me, where's the rest?
Granny Bag: Well that's the lot.
T-Bag: Hurrgh, oh, oh, oh well, at least somebody remembered me. Expensive looking envelope.
Granny Bag: Hmm yeah.
T-Bag: Scented too.
T-Bag & Granny Bag: Ooooh.
T-Bag: Oh how exciting, I wonder who it's from.
Tow-Ling: Open it and see.
T-Bag: Oh thank you.
Granny Bag: Well come on girl don't keep us all in suspenders, who's it from?
T-Bag: How should I know?
T-Shirt: But what does it say?
T-Bag: For the greatest gift of all 07 081 4144 ohhh and a load of meaningless numbers, oh what a piece of pee pee piffle. Oh some birthday this has turned out to be (cries).
Tow-Ling: Excuse me, these numbers look like time space co-ordinates.
T-Bag: You still here?
Tow-Ling: Yes. Yes it is, look there's the date and that's the longitude and latitude, oh and those are the ordinate survey references.
T-Shirt: It's a code.
Granny Bag: Yeah, and I bet if you follow it, it'll lead you to the greatest gift of all.
T-Bag: Give me that. The greatest gift of all, now you're talking. What are we waiting for? Right T-Shirt, get that old flying saucer out the garage, we're offski.
T-Shirt: Offski where-ski?
T-Bag: Oh you idiot, where the numbers tell us. Right you are coming with us.
Tow-Ling: I am?
T-Bag: Yes, you're the only one out of this bunch with double figures in your brain.
Granny Bag: Oi come on Doggy Bag, you've never been in a flying saucer before have you?
T-Bag: Oh no you don't, I refuse to have nit-ridden monster-bonce flying in my lovely spaceship, that goes for your dog as well Granny, you're grounded.
Granny Bag: Charming as ever.

Added: 04/04/2015

Thoughts of her Birthday Surprise

T-Shirt: Right we’ll soon be on our way.
T-Bag: On our way where?
T-Shirt: To get your Birthday surprise.
Tow-Ling: The Greatest gift of all!
T-Bag: The Greatest gift of all! I wonder what it will be. The Pearls of Wisdom, no, The Rings of Olympus maybe.
T-Shirt: A Huxley Pig soap on a rope.

"The Unexplained (II)"
T-Bag is again alive and well after being trapped in the Montezuma Temple with Kit Bag from the previous series and again no reason is given for this.

"The Night Dress Mess (II)"
At the start of the episode T. Bag is wearing her stripy pyjamas but after giving Granny Bag the 'exploding' cuckoo clock she counts down to the explosion and she is wearing her 'Pearls Of Wisdom' night dress and for the rest of the episode until the scenes the next day. Was this intentional for T. Bag to have two 'night time' costumes or not?

"Daffy Duck Muck Up"
When T. Bag wakes Granny Bag up Franny says that the binmen can have her hot-water bottle as 'it leaked all over my Daffy Duck jim-jams'. Granny Bag's pyjamas do not have Daffy Duck on them, they have other animals on them (some of which are ducks - I think) but if they had to black out the 'Kelloggs' Crunchy Nut Cornflakes and call them puff wheat popsicles I would think that Daffy Duck jim-jams would have been a no-go.

"Percentage problems"
On the 'Planet diagnostic' screen when Tow-Ling is at the computer in the flying saucer the percentage of the gases are listed as: Oxygen 12%, Nitrogen 25%, Hydrogen 8%, Neon 5%, Helium 40%, Zeon 10%, Argon 2% and Dioxide 5%. Which in total is 107%, surely they should only add up to 100%.

"Zeon Gas"
On the 'Planet diagnostic' screen when Tow-Ling is at the computer in the flying saucer there is a gas called 'Zeon', a completely fictitious gaseous element.

"Birthday wishlist"
During this episode T-Bag excitedly lists all of the items that her birthday surprise could be. She includes "The Pearls of Wisdom", but this is odd given that the pearls possessed magical powers which could destroy her and she spent the last episode of the Pearls of Wisdom trying to destroy the pearls.

For more mistakes from other episodes, please see the Nitpicker's Guide

  • This episode was aired on my Birthday!
  • When aired in the UK, Children's ITV lost tranmission for a couple of minutes inbetween of Granny Bag saying 'Bir...' and 'cheese, oh no that’s Holland'. This was aired in Australia in it's entirety. To find out what happens inbetween see the quotes above.
  • This series was loosely based on The Amazing Adventures of T-Bag book that was released in 1990.
  • The characters of Granny Bag and Doggy Bag were first mentioned in The Amazing Adventures of T-Bag book released in 1990.
  • A 'back soon' trailer was made for this series featuring Tabatha Bag telling us she will be back on our screens shortly whilst popping several birthday balloons.
  • The painting in Chateau Bag of the green lady is called ‘Chinese Girl’ by the Russian-born South African artist Vladimir Tretchikoff.
  • Denise Coffey appeared in The Tomorrow People which was also written by Lee Pressman and Grant Cathro. Denise Coffey appeared in all five episodes of 'The Culex Experiment' as Aunt Ruth.
  • Denise Coffey appeared in Spatz which was also written by Lee Pressman and Grant Cathro. Denise Coffey appeared in the episodes 'Fire Alarm' (#2.5, 07/02/1991) and 'The Curse of Karen' (#3.5, 27/03/1992) as Mildred.
  • Denise Coffey, who played Granny Bag, sadly passed away on 24th March 2022, aged 85.

  • This episode (and the series) features Tabatha Bag's birthday, Tallulah Bag also had her birthday feature during an episode of T-Bag Bounces Back.
    (T-Bag Bounces Back, Episode 8: Max The Miller)
  • Aboard the flying saucer T-Bag wonders what her birthday surprise will be, mentioning the Pearls of Wisdom and the Rings of Olympus - the collectable objects from Tabatha Bag's earlier series.
    (T. Bag and The Pearls of Wisdom, Episode 1: Any Old Port)
    (T. Bag and The Rings of Olympus, Episode 1: The Rings Of Olympus)
  • The character of Granny Bag, played by Denise Coffey, appears again as the anchor character for this series after featuring in episodes from the previous two series.
    (T. Bag and The Rings of Olympus, Episode 5: Vampires)
    (T. Bag and The Sunstones of Montezuma, Episode 9: Y-Fronts)
  • Denise Coffey also appeared in an episode of T. Bag and The Revenge of the T. Set, playing The Queen. Including her two appearances in this series, Denise Coffey appears in five different episodes throughout the nine series.
    (T. Bag and The Revenge of the T. Set, Episode 9: The Bard)
  • This episode features a mention of a place in the UK which happens in several other episodes, this episode features Granny Bag and T-Bag mentioning Birmingham.
    (T. Bag and The Sunstones of Montezuma, Episode 1: In The Footsteps Of Kit Bag)
    (T. Bag and The Sunstones of Montezuma, Episode 7: One Million Years B.C.)
    (Take off with T. Bag, Episode 2: Thief Of Baghdad)
    (Take off with T. Bag, Episode 9: The Red Shoes)
    (Take off with T. Bag, Episode 10: Shangri-La)
  • T-Bag wears her purple night dress during this episode, this is seen in other episodes throughout Tabatha Bag's series.
    (T. Bag and The Pearls of Wisdom, Episode 5: Mutiny!)
    (T. Bag and The Pearls of Wisdom, Episode 6: The Ghost of Castle McCarr)
    (T. Bag and The Rings of Olympus, Episode 7: Rats)
    (T. Bag and The Sunstones of Montezuma, Episode 5: Hippies)
    (T. Bag and The Sunstones of Montezuma, Episode 9: Y-Fronts)
  • T-Bag wears her pink and white striped pyjamas during this episode, this is seen in other episodes.
    (T. Bag's Christmas Turkey)
    (T. Bag and The Sunstones of Montezuma, Episode 4: Gone Fishing)
    (Take off with T. Bag, Episode 4: Curse Of The Mummy)
    (Take off with T. Bag, Episode 9: The Red Shoes)