The Canadian Encyclopedia — neutral, cited, updated
July 26, 2026Sources cited
Canadianwire.
Canada’s encyclopedia & explainer
Home›Entertainment›Television›In the Night Garden
Entertainment • Television

In the Night Garden

In the Night Garden...

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

In the Night Garden... is a British preschool children's television series created, written and composed by Andrew Davenport for CBeebies and BBC Two. It follows a magical garden world populated by costumed and animated characters, and is aimed at children aged one to six. The series originally aired from 2007 to 2009.

Premise

The series is set in a dreamy garden-like world that exists between waking and sleeping. Episodes present simple, repetitive stories intended to be soothing for preschool viewers.

Production

In the Night Garden... was created by Andrew Davenport and produced by Ragdoll Worldwide, a joint venture of Ragdoll Productions and BBC Worldwide. The show uses a mix of live action, costumes, puppetry, stop-motion and CGI.

Broadcast history

The programme first aired on CBeebies in 2007 and also appeared on BBC Two. Two series were produced, and later episode guides state that the BBC did not commission a third series.

Characters and style

The show features a distinctive cast of whimsical characters with unusual names, set in a brightly coloured woodland environment. Its visual style and music are designed to create a gentle, bedtime-friendly atmosphere.

Key facts

  • The series was created for BBC children's television by Andrew Davenport, who also wrote and composed it.
  • It combines live action, costume performance, stop-motion, puppetry, and CGI animation.
  • The programme is narrated by Derek Jacobi.
  • It is set in a fantasy garden world with characters such as Igglepiggle, Upsy Daisy, and Makka Pakka.
  • The show was designed as a calming bedtime programme for young children.

Frequently asked questions

What is In the Night Garden?
It is a British preschool television series about a magical garden world between waking and sleeping.
Who created In the Night Garden?
It was created, written and composed by Andrew Davenport.
Who narrates the series?
The series is narrated by Derek Jacobi.
When did it first air?
The first episode was broadcast in 2007.
What age group is it for?
It was aimed at children aged one to six.
What kind of animation does it use?
It combines live action, costume performance, stop-motion, puppetry and CGI animation.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Night_Garden...
    Supports: Created by Andrew Davenport, narrated by Derek Jacobi, target audience, production format, and general premise.
  2. In the Night Garden (official website) — https://www.inthenightgarden.co.uk/about-the-show
    Supports: Official premise, bedtime focus, woodland setting, and creators Anne Wood and Andy Davenport.
  3. BBC — https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b0070m7p/in-the-night-garden
    Supports: Official programme description and bedtime-oriented framing.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0896228/
    Supports: Series dates and genre description.
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_In_the_Night_Garden..._episodes
    Supports: Broadcast dates and note that the BBC did not commission a third series.