Astro Farm

Astro Farm is a British stop-motion animated children’s television series produced by FilmFair for ITV Central. First broadcast on CITV in 1992, the programme follows the daily adventures of the Foxwood family who live and work on a small asteroid devoted entirely to farming. Blending science-fiction settings with gentle rural themes, the series became a distinctive part of early 1990s British children’s broadcasting.

Background and Production

Created at a time when British children’s television was characterised by a mix of live action, puppetry and animation, Astro Farm represented FilmFair’s continued commitment to high-quality stop-motion programming. The series was animated using traditional model sets and puppets, giving it a textured, tactile appearance typical of FilmFair’s productions. The voice cast included Andy Ellis, David Yates and Richard Tate, who provided character voices across the series.
The programme was developed for preschool and early-years audiences, combining imaginative space-themed storylines with simple moral lessons, humour and adventure. Across its run from 1992 to 1996, Astro Farm maintained a consistent visual style and narrative tone, and it gained recognition for its unusual farm-in-space concept.

Setting and Main Characters

The action of the series is set on a farming asteroid where the Foxwood family manage crops, livestock and everyday rural tasks within a controlled artificial environment. The atmosphere of the asteroid is regulated through a weather machine located in the Foxwoods’ cottage, enabling sunny days, rainfall and other meteorological events to be generated on demand.
The principal characters include:

• Sam Foxwood, the head of the family and primary farmer.
• Lizzie Foxwood, Sam’s wife, contributing to domestic and farm duties.
• Tom, their young son, who often stumbles into curious adventures.
• Dinko, the family dog, energetic and mischievous.
• Daisy, a cow housed on a separate area of the farm.
• Clucks, a group of blue chickens that provide comic relief and occasional chaos.

Living on a neighbouring dark and damp asteroid known as Gorp Dale are the Gorups, featuring characters such as Splodger and Biff, two troublemakers who frequently interfere with life on Astro Farm, usually by stealing food or causing mischief.

Narrative Themes and Format

Episodes of Astro Farm revolve around domestic life, farm management and the challenges posed by mischievous creatures or unpredictable environmental conditions. Storylines often centre on:

• malfunctioning weather systems,
• crop-growing dilemmas,
• interactions with alien creatures,
• attempts by the Gorups to disrupt farm routines,
• Tom’s imaginative adventures.

The series follows a gentle episodic format, with each story concluding on a positive or humorous note. Its blend of science-fiction elements with pastoral themes made it distinctive among contemporary children’s programmes.

Episode Overview

Across five series broadcast between 1992 and 1996, Astro Farm aired a total of fifty-four episodes. Each series featured self-contained stories, typically around ten minutes in length.
Series 1 (1992) presented the foundations of the Astro Farm universe with episodes such as Wacky Weather, Moo Flu, Astro Dragon and The Tomato Competition.Series 2 (1993) expanded character roles and added episodes including Biff Builds a Rocket, Cluck Soup and Shrinking Machine.Series 3 (1994) introduced adventures such as All Aboard, Magic Onions and Super Tom.Series 4 (1995) included 1 2 3 Pull, Dragon Moon and Splodger the Spider.Series 5 (1996) concluded the run with episodes such as Lucky Dip, Pigs Might Fly, Splodgers About and Tom and the Beanstalk.
The variety of stories ranged from comedic misadventures to light science-fiction plots involving machines, space creatures and magical items.

Broadcast History and Re-airings

Astro Farm was broadcast originally on CITV from 1992 until 1996. Following its initial run, the programme was repeated on the same network for several years. In 1997, it aired on Nickelodeon UK and Ireland, although only the first series was televised. This limitation arose because Series 1 was the only instalment to be remastered after CINAR acquired FilmFair London and upgraded some of its back catalogue.
The series maintained a modest but enduring popularity, becoming a recognisable entry in British children’s television of the 1990s.

Home Media Releases

In the United Kingdom, Pickwick Video released two VHS tapes in 1992 featuring episodes from Series 1. These tapes were reissued in 1995 by Carlton Home Entertainment, continuing availability for home audiences in the pre-DVD era. The series has not been widely issued on modern digital platforms, contributing to its status as a nostalgic programme remembered largely by viewers who grew up during its original run.