Episodes
| Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Salt | 20081222 | Magical folk tales from Russia by Arthur Ransome, as told by Old Peter the forester to his grandchildren Vanya and Maroosia. Ivan the Ninny, the youngest and least successful of three brothers, builds his fortune on the rare commodity of salt, winning the love of a princess and suffering the jealous rage of his brothers. Old Peter/Sailor - Trevor Cooper Vanya/Sailor - Harry Hughes Maroosia/Sailor/Chef - Megan Williams Ivan - Nyasha Hatendi Tsar - Stephen Critchlow Princess - Helen Longworth Father - John Rowe Old Salt/Brother/Voice 1 - Dan Starkey Giant/Cook - Ben Crowe. Ivan the Ninny builds his fortune on salt, but suffers the jealous rage of his brothers. |
| 02 | Fish Tales | 20081223 | Magical folk tales from Russia by Arthur Ransome, as told by Old Peter the forester to his grandchildren Vanya and Maroosia. An old fisherman's kindness to a golden fish is repaid almost endlessly when his shrewish wife starts making ever-increasing demands. Old Peter/ Golden Fish - Trevor Cooper Vanya/Roach - Harry Hughes Maroosia/Ersh - Megan Williams Gudgeon - Ben Crowe Perch - Liz Sutherland Old Man - John Rowe Wife - Helen Longworth. |
| 03 | Prince Ivan | 20081224 | Magical folk tales from Russia by Arthur Ransome, as told by Old Peter the forester to his grandchildren Vanya and Maroosia. A kingdom and the fortunes of a young prince are thrown into disarray when a new baby is born in the palace with iron teeth, knock-knees and an uncanny resemblance to the most terrifying witch in all Russia, the Baba-Yaga. Old Peter/Groom - Trevor Cooper Vanya/Ivan - Harry Hughes Maroosia/Sunsister - Megan Williams Tsar - John Rowe Baba-Yaga - Helen Longworth Treepuller - Nyasha Hatendi Mountain Thrower - Stephen Critchlow Gran - Joan Walker. A kingdom and the fortunes of a young prince are thrown into disarray when a baby is born. |
| 04 | The Stolen Turnips | 20081225 | Magical folk tales from Russia by Arthur Ransome, as told by Old Peter the forester to his grandchildren Vanya and Maroosia. Broad and Long share a meagre existence until their turnips are stolen by a troupe of magical forest-dwelling children. Old Peter - Trevor Cooper Vanya/Child - Harry Hughes Maroosia/Child - Megan Williams Broad - Dan Starkey Long - Chris Pavlo. |
| 05 | Frost | 20081226 | Magical folk tales from Russia by Arthur Ransome, as told by Old Peter the forester to his grandchildren Vanya and Maroosia. Martha is the youngest of three sisters, the elder two of whom make her life a misery. When her stepmother decides to marry her to Frost himself, her father fears for her life, but her politeness and sweet nature bring her all that she deserves. Old Peter/Old Man ....... Trevor Cooper Vanya - Harry Hughes Maroosia/Martha - Megan Williams Old Woman - Joan Walker Frost - Stephen Critchlow Sour Sister 1 - Helen Longworth Sour Sister 2 - Liz Sutherland. When Martha's stepmother decides to marry her to Frost himself, her father fears for her. |