WOKING.- Jackanory remains an iconic children’s TV series for those who grew up in the 1960s, ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. As well as the stories themselves, it was the memorable performances from actors like Rik Mayall, Bernard Cribbins, Margaret Rutherford, Victoria Wood, Judy Dench, Martin Jarvis and Kenneth Williams that enchanted viewers and drew them into reading.

Just as important were the storyboard illustrations that helped bring the tales alive across the thousands of episodes. Now Ewbank’s will sell more than 1200 of them during a timed auction finishing on August 22.

All of them come from the pen and brush of Gareth Floyd (b.1940), whose creations shed light on landmark books such as Stig of the Dump by Clive King, The Otterbury Incident by Poet Laureate Cecil Day Lewis, The Ghost of Tomas Kempe by Penelope Lively and Dunkirk The Dolphin Crossing by Jill Paton Walsh.

Each picture measures between 27 x 40cm and 40 x 55cm.

The stories would each have run over five days of broadcasting, requiring numerous illustrations to accompany the reader’s performance. For the most part Ewbank’s have lotted pictures from the same story together, dividing them into five lots, one for each broadcast day, with an average of ten to 15 pictures per lot, creating more than 100 lots. Most lots have been estimated at between £50 and £150.

Floyd himself has consigned the works, created in ink and watercolour on board during his 15 years working on the show.

All illustrations can be viewed online with bids being registered already.

“This is an unprecedented sale, with artwork from one of the most iconic children’s TV series ever broadcast,” said senior partner Chris Ewbank. “Each image is an impressive size and so would hang well on the wall. This provides a unique opportunity for fans to recapture a piece of their childhood by acquiring what are some very good illustrations from a truly talented artist.”