Me and My Monsters

Did You Know?

• Series 2 episodes 1–7 were broadcast in HD on BBC HD in Spring 2011.
• Series 1 episodes 1–4 aired on CBBC HD throughout December 2013.
• A DVD release in Australia contains only the first seven episodes.

Production

The series was announced on 27 August 2009, when The Jim Henson Company partnered with British production company Tiger Aspect Productions to produce a new drama series for the CBBC channel. Originally intended as an American/British co-production featuring an American family moving to a house in London, the series was created by former cartoonist Mark Grant. The Jim Henson Company would create the three puppet monster creatures via its Jim Henson's Creature Shop division in Los Angeles. One year later on 10 February 2010, the series was retooled into an Australian/British co-production, and the family was changed to an Australian one named the Carlsons. Australian broadcasters Nickelodeon and Network Ten and German broadcaster ZDF joined as co-commissioners with CBBC. Australian live-action and animation production studio Sticky Pictures, alongside producer and founder Donna Andrews, and British production outfit Baker/Coogan Productions joined as co-producers. Larry Rickard, George Sawyer, Tom Basden, Sam Leifer and James Bachman wrote episodes alongside creator Mark Grant. The series was filmed in Sydney with occasional guest writers. Sticky Pictures' head of Live-Action and former Buster Dandy Productions co-founder Justine Flynn became producer alongside Baker/Coogan Productions co-founder Pete Coogan. Donna Andrews served as executive producer. BBC's distribution arm BBC Worldwide handled international sales.

Characters

Eddie Carlson, portrayed by Macauley Keeper, is the closest human friend to the monsters and studies at Whitgift in Surrey. His older sister Angela, played by Ivy Latimer, dislikes the creatures. Their mother Kate, played by Lauren Clair, works as a self-employed cook and is referred to by the monsters as "human-mum-thingy-person." Father Nick, played by Felix Williamson, works in advertising and is called "human-dad-thingy-person." Haggis, performed by Don Austen, is a huge red and orange monster who often frightens himself and fails at being scary. Norman, performed by Matthew McCoy, is a purple oddball who cannot speak, only making strange noises that Fiend and Haggis understand. Fiend, performed by Heath McIvor and Alice Osborne, is a small green monster with multiple eyes who sees himself as the group's leader.

Books

Rory Growler wrote all four books based on episodes of the series. The first book, Monsters in the Basement, adapts series 1, episode 1. The second book, Monster Mess, adapts series 1, episode 10. A third book, also called Monster Mess, adapts series 1, episode 12. The fourth book, Monster School, adapts series 1, episode 2. Even though every book comes from series 1 episodes, the third and fourth books came out while series 2 was airing.