Brum

Story

Brum is a children’s television series set in Birmingham about a radio controlled vintage 1920’s Austin 7 Chummy convertible. Every week Brum escapes from the Motor Museum where he lives and ventures out into the Big Town when his owner isn’t looking. He can express himself by opening and closing his doors, bobbing his suspension and flashing his lights. The actors do not speak but the series has an off-screen narrator.

Why we chose it

The little yellow car is fondly remembered by those who grew up with him in the 1990s.

Where it came from

Brum was created by Anne Wood and Frank Beattie as a children’s television programme. The car itself was built by Rex Garrod and is a half size replica of the original Austin 7 Chummy convertible.

Where it went next

Brum was broadcast primarily in the UK, USA and Australia, as well as Germany, the Netherlands, Sinagpore, Brunei, Indonesia, New Zealand and parts of Africa. A new CGI-animated series was produced in 2016. The car can now be seen at the Cotswold Motoring Museum in Bourton-on-the-Water. There is also a coin operated children’s ride of Brum, sometimes found in supermarkets.

Associated stories

The last series of Brum was made in 2002 but it was still repeated on CBeebies up to 2010 and is available on Amazon Prime