Gabriel

Gabriel is a toad with a banjo, one of the small company of odd creatures who live in the shop window and wake whenever Emily brings something new for Bagpuss to look at. He strums and sings, unhurried and cheerful, happy to turn whatever has turned up into a song.

There's real warmth in how modestly Gabriel is drawn — a toad who just likes to play music is somehow enough. John Faulkner's gentle, folksy voice and simple tunes give the show its unhurried, homemade charm, the sense that wonder here comes from small things sung about kindly rather than explained.