The Lampies

Did You Know?

• The series ended production abruptly before the second season was completed due to financial issues.
• In 2003, the IP was bought from the receiver by the chairman of Darlington Football Club and businessman, George Houghton.
• TV distribution rights for Series One were sold into 33 countries.

Characters and Voice Cast

Burnout is the laid-back foreman of the Lampies, voiced by Jimmy Hibbert. He has green skin, white hair, and a white moustache, and he always wears a dark blue jumpsuit. His job is to run scheduled switches for the lamp light, and his catchphrase is "Jumping fuses!" Spotlight, voiced by Eve Karpf, works as the routine inspector and acts like a mother to the other Lampies. She has green skin, lavender hair, usually wears glasses, and wears a pink jumpsuit similar to Livewire's. Charge, voiced by Rob Rackstraw, is the clumsy, day-dreaming assistant worker with blue skin and blue hair. He is the most prone to problems and wears a yellow jumpsuit like Contact. A running gag has Charge falling into H032's control room through a circular hole in the ceiling. Contact, voiced by Susan Sheridan, is the serious and sensible computer operator with purple skin and red hair. She always has her young niece Livewire with her and wears a blue hat and a yellow jumpsuit. Livewire, also voiced by Susan Sheridan, is Contact's young niece with pale peach skin and pink hair. She speaks in a high-pitched voice, mostly wears a pink jumpsuit like Spotlight, and is often pushed around by the grown-ups but manages to save the day several times. She plays with her best friend Dustywugg whenever she can. Dustywugg the Dog, voiced by Jimmy Hibbert, is a furry sprite who serves as the Lampies' pet and mascot. He has orange fur, enjoys playing with his owner Livewire, and can be cheeky, but the grown-ups, including Contact, always understand. Captain Bright Light, voiced by Jimmy Hibbert, is the absent-minded captain and leader with pale skin and brown hair, wearing a dark green jumpsuit. He has an older brother named Flash Light who is bigger and stronger but not as brave. His catchphrase is "Shortened Circuits." The Roons, voiced by Jimmy Hibbert and Rob Rackstraw, are a large group of green-faced creatures with yellow eyes. They live in the dark sewer below the Lampies world, are absolutely afraid of light even from small torches, and constantly try to break all the streetlights around the network.

Releases

HIT Entertainment released a single UK-only VHS tape of the programme entitled "Captain Who and Other Stories" in 2001. The Lampies Plush Toys including Livewire, Dustywugg, Roon, and Charge were launched in October 2001. Two DVD releases intended to relaunch the series after its sale to LP Productions appeared in 2008: "Switch Onto the Lampies" on 7 April 2008, with £2 from each sale going to Save the Children, and "A Bit of a Jam and Other Stories" on 19 May 2008, containing the first half of the first series.