Andrew Davenport

Andrew Davenport (born 10 June 1965) is an English writer, puppeteer, producer, composer, and actor, specialising in creating television, music, and books for young children. He is known as co-creator and writer of Teletubbies and writer, voice artist and puppeteer of "Tiny" on Tots TV. He is also the creator, writer, and composer of both In the Night Garden... produced by Ragdoll Limited and Moon and Me.

Davenport co-created Teletubbies (first broadcast in the UK in 1997) with Anne Wood, and wrote all of the 365 episodes. (first broadcast in the UK in 2007), wrote all of the 100 episodes 30-minute episodes, In 2019, Davenport created Moon and Me.

Early life and education Andrew Davenport was born in Folkestone, Kent and grew up in Bromley. He went to Hayes School where, at the age of 13, Davenport was inspired by Sir Jonathan Miller's TV series "The Body in Question" to be the first in his family to go to university, and to look for a subject that combined arts and sciences. Originally intent on a career as a speech therapist, he studied BSc Speech Sciences (vocational training for speech therapists) at University College London 1983–87. Davenport was President of the UCL Drama Society in his final year, during which the society staged 32 productions in 30 term weeks. Stevens later (along with Tim Whitnall and Toyah Willcox) sang the theme song for Teletubbies.

Davenport also modelled for Gilbert & George's 1992 artwork Eyes. He was invited by Anne Wood to further develop the characters in response to an invitation from the BBC to pitch a new preschool show. Wood's invitation gave Davenport opportunity to draw heavily on the studies and theories of child development and language acquisition he was introduced to at UCL.

In the Night Garden (2007–2009) In the early 2000s, Davenport noticed that his friends' children had difficulty settling at bedtime.

Moon and Me (2019–2020) Based on his love of popular toy-house stories from the mid 20th century by Rumer Godden and Enid Blyton, Davenport decided to create his own contemporary toy-house story.

Influences and writing style Davenport's "absolute hero" and "big influence" is Oliver Postgate. At the beginning of every project, he re-watches DVDs of Postgate's programmes to connect himself to the mind of the child he was when he first saw them. after composing all music and lyrics for In the Night Garden... and Moon and Me,

His music has been performed by Michael Bublé (Davenport's "Silly Song" from Moon and Me) The theme for Moon and Me was also performed by the Chineke! Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall for the CBeebies Prom at the 2019 BBC Proms.

Davenport invited Bublé to perform the song after seeing him sing the Igglepiggle song from In the Night Garden... on BBC Breakfast.

Davenport has said "Music is an emotional entity. It can deepen the experience of the child watching." Royal Television Society Teletubbies – Best Pre-school and Infants Award 2000 BAFTA Teletubbies – Best Pre-school Programme 1998 24th Japan Prize International Contest Teletubbies – Grand Prize-winner, Pre-school Education Category 1997 Royal Television Society Teletubbies – Children's Entertainment Award 1997 BAFTA Tots TV – Best Pre-school Programme 1996 and 1997