Debbie Gates is a UK television writer and producer. She specialised in

children's stories A child () is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The term may also refer to an unborn human being. In English-speaking countries, the legal definition of ''chi ...

told on location by actors taking the parts of various

characters Character or Characters may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''Character'' (novel), a 1936 Dutch novel by Ferdinand Bordewijk * ''Characters'' (Theophrastus), a classical Greek set of character sketches attributed to Theoph ...

without

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or props. She is best known for writing and producing '' Tales From Fat Tulip's Garden'', broadcast by ITV in May and June, 1985. This series won prizes at the Chicago International Festival of Children's Films and the Children's Program at the San Francisco International Film Festival. It was followed by the sequel ''Fat Tulip Too'' (thirteen episodes shown during the summer of 1987) and then a

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a Religion, religious and Culture, cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by coun ...

special on 25 December 1987. The ''Fat Tulip'' stories were told and co-written by

Tony Robinson Sir Anthony Robinson (born 15 August 1946) is an English actor, author, broadcaster, and political activist. He played Baldrick in the BBC television sitcom ''Blackadder'' and has presented many historical documentaries, including the Channel ...

and included characters such as Thin Tim, Fred the Baddy, Gilbert Harding Sheep, Bunting Tadpole, Anwar and Amita Rabbit, Tracey Bee, a cockle called Jim Morrison, and the Terrible Stinkers - Peter, Paul and Mary.

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books were also published in 1985: ''Meet a Dog Called Dorian'' and ''Never Eat a Tortoise'' in

picture book A picture book combines visual and verbal narratives in a book format, most often aimed at young children. With the narrative told primarily through text, they are distinct from comics, which do so primarily through sequential images. The ima ...

format, and ''Tales from Fat Tulip's Garden'' as a

paperback A paperback (softcover, softback) book is one with a thick paper or paperboard cover, also known as wrappers, and often held together with adhesive, glue rather than stitch (textile arts), stitches or Staple (fastener), staples. In contrast, ...

. Gates' other series included: *''Gum Tree'', cowritten and acted by Ben Keaton and broadcast in the spring of 1988 by

Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. It is state-owned enterprise, publicly owned but, unlike the BBC, it receives no public funding and is funded en ...

. The description for episode five: "In his new room at Gumtree House Mathew Milligan is searching for his socks. Unfortunately he opens the wrong box, and it contains Raj Mandi Gumbi Beans that are beginning to wake up..." *''Revolting Animals'', written and told by

Morwenna Banks Tamsin Morwenna Banks (born 20 September 1961) is a British actress, comedian, writer, and producer. She appeared in the Channel 4 comedy sketch show '' Absolutely'', and wrote, produced, and appeared in the British ensemble film ''The Announc ...

, Chris England, Andy Taylor and

Chris Lang Chris Lang is a British screenwriter, producer, and actor. Lang has written many British television series but is best known as the writer, creator, and executive producer of '' Unforgotten''. Early life and education Chris Lang was educated ...

. The program was shot on location at the

London Zoo London Zoo, previously known as ZSL London Zoo or London Zoological Gardens and sometimes called Regent's Park Zoo, is the world's oldest scientific zoo. It was opened in London on 27 April 1828 and was originally intended to be used as a colle ...

and shown in 1988. *''Jellyneck'', written and told by

, Chris England, Andy Taylor and

. The program was shot on location and shown in 1989. All these series were directed by

Jeremy McCracken ''Tales from Fat Tulip's Garden'' was a British children's TV programme in the mid-1980s, starring Tony Robinson. It was produced by Debbie Gates for Central Independent Television and was broadcast on the ITV network from 1985 to 1987, in a 4:00 ...

External links

*
About.com page on ''Tales From Fat Tulip's Garden''
Year of birth missing (living people) Living people British television writers British women television writers {{UK-tv-bio-stub