Parkinson, David (13 August 2008). "Ask Parky: As if by magic, will Mr Benn appear?". The Guardian . Retrieved 27 October 2014.

Although Smasher Lagru features in The Gladiator, he does not appear in The Clown as the book in which he made his debut, 123456789Benn, was not adapted for television – thus it would have been strange that he and Mr Benn already knew each other. The Hunter was also slightly altered; the book Big Game Benn features several hunters, but only one appears in the television episode. Mr Benn is asked by a Queen to change her husband's appearance, feeling he is not kingly enough. However, the spells cast by Mr Benn do not turn out as expected, and Mr Benn eventually convinces the Queen that how the King looks is not important.IBBY Announces the Winners of the Hans Christian Andersen Awards 2006". International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). Press release 27 March 2006. Bletchly, Rachael (1 October 2019). "Elmer the Elephant believes Brexit or no Brexit that we need each other". The Mirror . Retrieved 24 February 2021. Bridgewater, Daisy (4 June 2011). "Mr Benn live on stage - Telegraph". Telegraph . Retrieved 28 May 2020. Wilson, Laura (22 December 2017). "The Insurance Emporium in York cast Mr Benn in national advertising campaign". The Northern Echo. Dodd, Vikram (18 March 2000). "Mr Benn dresses for his biggest adventure". The Guardian . Retrieved 22 September 2018.

Mr Benn's adventures are available to buy in book-form: four were published originally, and further books in the 1990s were based on the television series. The original four books were: Mr Benn – Red Knight, Big Game Benn, 123456789 Benn, and Big Top Benn. There were six original books planned, but the fifth and sixth were never published. The fifth was called Mr Benn Rides Again, the story of which was used to make the television episode The Cowboy. The sixth, never completed, was Superbenn, in which the superhero Mr Benn sets out on an environmental adventure. [4] Toynbee, Polly (20 December 2013). "Charity is a fine thing, but it can't justify the wealth of the 1%". The Guardian . Retrieved 9 April 2022.

The only character who appears several times, apart from Mr Benn and the shopkeeper, is Smasher Lagru. Smasher first appears as an inmate in 123456789 Benn, and then after his release in Big-Top Benn and the new Mr Benn – Gladiator.

Mr Duncan Lamont on Score Exchange". Score Exchange. Archived from the original on 30 June 2014 . Retrieved 22 October 2015. There is one book for which no corresponding television episode has (yet [update]) been made. 123456789 Benn was published in 1970 ( ISBN 0-234-77361-8) and tells the story of Mr Benn as a convict (hence the number) inspiring his jail-mates to brighten up their cells. This was after the BBC – who screened the television series – felt that the story was too mature for a children's series. [5]Mr Benn helps the animals in the zoo to improve their accommodation by making the townsfolk see that the cages are too small. King Rollo Films has produced many other animations, including Spot the Dog and the animated stories within the BBC's children's programme Fimbles. [ citation needed] Personal life and honours [ edit ] A stone-age community live right next to a dusty and dangerous road, frequented by dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals, but want to live in the fresh green countryside. There is just one problem: there are no caves. Mr Benn has the answer; they can build stone huts.

For his contribution as a children's illustrator, he was UK nominee for the biennial international Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2006. [3] Early life [ edit ]Little Princess Annabella refuses to eat. Mr Benn realises she is lonely, and helps her find her appetite by inviting all the city's poor, hungry children to the Palace for a feast.