The series was originally announced under the working title "Plugg" (an early name for the character of Tubb).[6] BBC started commissioning the show in 2002 after two lost pilots were made: "Plugg" from 1999 and "Splish Splash Splosh!" from 2001. Hasbro licensed Rubbadubbers for producing a toy line to promote the series.[7] However, it is unknown if these pilots even exist, but an animator did say they did some test animations.
Plot
Seven anthropomorphic, friendly British bath toys called the Rubbadubbers live a peaceful life in the bathroom of a house somewhere in England. The toys belong to two children who live at the house named Benjie and Sis (however, they are never seen or heard by viewers). Whenever the children or anyone else are not present, the Rubbadubbers begin a fun activity.
But in every episode, one of the toys become dissatisfied with the way the activity or situation goes. they then wish for it to go as planned by beginning the wish with 'if only-' . Suddenly, they begin dreaming about an alternate reality where the wish comes true and they say 'I said, if only!'. Some of the other Rubbadubbers appear in their dream world as well, where they play different versions of their regular selves in order to either assist or hinder the character that made the wish.
It always turns out that the wish goes wrong in the dream world, much to the chosen Rubbadubber's disappointment. They then complain again with another 'if only-', wish which automatically stops the dream. From the dream said rubbadubber says 'oh, I'm back!' and they learn to be careful with what they wish for, and then decide that instead of changing the real-world situation to their will, they should simply leave it as it was and find a way to have fun with it. All the Rubbadubbers are then happy again. Every episode ends with Reg the robot, one of the Rubbadubbers, announcing to the others that Benjie and Sis are arriving for their bath. The toys then excitedly prepare themselves for it.
Characters
Rubbadubbers
The main characters from the show excluding Winona. From left to right: Sploshy, Terence, Reg, Tubb, Amelia, and Finbar. Please note that Tubb has an earlier design.
Tubb the Frog (voiced by John Gordon Sinclair) is a male Scottish rubber frog sporting a yellow, green and red t shirt and patterned shorts. he is the Ringleader of the Rubbadubbers and is admired by everyone for his cool attitude and enjoys cleaning anything with his cotton bud and floating on a greenlilypad. his catchphrase is 'swiiiiiiimmin'!'
Sploshy the Starfish (voiced by Maria Darling) is the Rubbadubbers' silly mischief-maker. She has suction cups behind every one of her 5 arms, is dark reddish-pink at the front and yellow at the back, speaks with a childish English accent, is energetic (she is often seen cartwheeling) and is known to have a hot and short temper. Sploshy's catchphrase is "Splish, Splash, Splosh!"
Finbar the great Mighty Shark (voiced by Sean Hughes) is self-centred and arrogant. He often calls himself in third-person as above, while often playing games involving pretend hunting and scaring. He also frequently uses the word 'mighty' in place of 'very' to describe things. In the dream worlds, he usually plays roles that rival the character that made the wish (such as robbers, monsters and even his regular self). Finbar's pirate-like catchphrase is 'ar-ar-ar!' (one which he uses countless times).
Terence the Bubble-Bath Crocodile (voiced by John Gordon Sinclair) is Amelia's closest friend who can blow bubbles through his nostrils and dislikes getting splashed, often avoiding liquids and water altogether. He has a favourite, red toothbrush for cleaning his singular tooth. Terence also has several, dark green spots on his back. His catchphrase, though not one that's used often, is 'On my tooth!'
Winona the Whale (vocal effects performed by Maria Darling) is the only Rubbadubber who cannot speak as well as cannot at all make 'If Only-' wishes, but she can still make squeaking sounds in order to communicate with the other Rubbadubbers in a similar way to Sweep from The Sooty Show. She can also squirt water from her small blowhole.
Reg the Robot (voiced by John Gordon Sinclair) is the Sentry of the Rubbadubbers who speaks with a distinctive stammer where he cannot finish saying a word and says a similar word to that instead. Just like Terence, he avoids water, as simply getting splashed makes him short-circuit. He plays with the others but is always on the lookout for Benjie and Sis' presence in order to make the Rubbadubbers prepare themselves for bath time. At the end of every episode, he announces their arrival with his catchphrase: 'Rubbadubbers! Rubba-dubbers! Benjie and Sis/the children are coming! It's Bathtime scramble!'
Amelia the Submarine (voiced by Maria Darling) is very athletic and has a large, red pair of retractable wings. Likely named after Amelia Earhart, she and the Rubbadubbers often call her 'the flying submarine'. She is very energetic (like Sploshy),rarely seen with a frown, loves to try new things, and takes great pleasure in flying around the bathroom and performing tricks.
Others
Lawrence (voiced by John Gordon Sinclair) is Terence's imaginary friend in the 2nd episode of the series. He is exactly identical to Terence, only he has 2 teeth and a blue tie. In the 'if only-' sequence, he demonstrated that he was better that Terence in every way possible.
Benjie and Sis are the two young owners of the Rubbadubbers that are never seen or heard on-screen. They are two human siblings that are presumably British. Whenever they need to use the bathroom, Reg the robot alerts the Rubbadubbers to prepare for their arrival. They also leave things in the bathroom that prompt the Rubbadubbers to start playing a game.
Episodes
Series 1 (2002)
"Tubb the Pirate" (2 September 2002) – After getting scared by a pirate's hat, Tubb wishes to become a pirate so he can never be scared. In his dream, he becomes the captain of a pirate ship. However, when he and his crew arrive on an island, they are shooed off by two pirates called Rusty Reg and Terrible Terrence. When they begin to shoot cannonballs at them, they have to rely on bravery to save themselves.
"Terence's Double Trouble" (4 September 2002) – Terence wishes to have a friend just like him after the Rubbadubbers do not want to play with him. In his dream, he meets Lawrence, a character who looks and acts the same as him. They instantly become friends, but when Lawrence starts to impress the Rubbadubbers with his tricks as well as getting all the attention, thus overshadowing Terence.
"Reg the Monster" (7 September 2002) – Reg wants to finish his jigsaw puzzle in peace, so he becomes the "Leave Me Alone Monster" in his 'If Only-' sequence.
"Sploshy's Tail" (9 September 2002) – Sploshy wants to do tail tricks like Winona, so she gets herself a weird-shaped tail.
"Tubb the Magician" (12 September 2002) – Tubb sees Benjie's magic wand and wants to make things disappear for good, but it never works. Wishing that he was a magician, Tubb becomes just that in his dream. When he accidentally makes all his friends disappear, including Terence and Winona, he doesn't know how to get them back again. Luckily, Witch Sploshy saves the day after Tubb gives her the wand.
"Deep Sea Reg" (14 September 2002) – Reg wishes he could have fun in the water with the others without malfunctioning, so in his dream, he is tasked with guarding the royal treasure of King Tubb and Queen Sploshy of the deep ocean. When they leave, Reg accidentally lets in Finbar the thief and allows him to steal the treasure. When he gets away, Reg has to chase him down before it's too late.
"Scary Finbar" (17 September 2002) – After Finbar fails to scare any of his six friends, he wishes that he could scare them for real. When he dreams of becoming an even scarier version of himself, the others are just too scared to be with him, much to his disappointment.
"Train Driver Tubb" (19 September 2002) – When the Rubbadubbers find Benjie and Sis’ homemade model train lying about on the bathroom floor, they begin playing on it, with everyone playing a different role. But Tubb starts to do everything himself, which upsets the others. Wishing he was allowed to do so, in his dream, Tubb becomes the driver of a train carrying passengers and real gold in the safe. When the Mighty Train Robbers hijack the train, however, they take Tubb and his passengers as prisoners and tie them up, but when the speed lever breaks and the train goes full speed, Tubb has to stop the train from derailing.
"Sploshy of the Arctic" (21 September 2002) – Sploshy transports herself to the Arctic after not wanting to cool off on a hot day.
"Sploshybird" (24 September 2002) – After disrupting the Rubbadubbers' quiet time, Sploshy becomes a bird who makes noise when she moves, but she is captured by 2 sound-seekers along with Tubb and Reg who are also noise-making birds.
"Terence Of Arabia" (26 September 2002) – After being splashed, Terence transports himself to a desert, where there is not much water and he must find an oasis for the other Rubbadubbers.
"Speedy Terence" (29 September 2002) – After losing a race thanks to being distracted, Terence wants to be fast, but he eventually realizes winning is not at all that important.
"Amelia the Babysitter" (2 October 2002) – Amelia wants to be in charge, all because she does not want to be told what to do. After babysitting the other Rubbadubbers in a cloud world, she learns that being in charge is too much responsibility and sings the song 'it's never ever easy'.
Series 2 (2003)
"Princess Amelia" (17 February 2003) – After bumping her nose, Amelia wants everyone to worry about her when they all worry about Reg instead, so she becomes a princess, with her servants, Tubb and Finbar, worrying about her and not ever letting her out of her bedroom, when she realizes everyone worrying about her is actually quite a bad thing.
"Rocket Sled Reg" (20 February 2003) – Reg wishes himself into having a faster sledge, but the sledge soon goes out of control in a crazy race.
"Terence the Shopkeeper" (22 February 2003) – Terence is being possessive of the new, fancy, bubble bath and soap bottles in the bathroom, and becomes even more possessive in his dream of being a shopkeeper.
"Tubb the Frog Prince" (25 February 2003) – After Tubb sees his friends read a fairy tale book, Tubb becomes a frog prince himself.
"Amelia and the Detectives" (27 February 2003) – Amelia needs a detective to help her find her missing sponge, not realizing she put it away in the first place.
"Footballer Tubb" (3 March 2003) – Tubb hates losing football games, so he wishes that he can win all the time.
"Finbar the Star" (5 March 2003) – Finbar becomes a movie star to get out of tidying up the bathroom.
"Spaceman Reg" (8 March 2003) – Reg wants to go to the Moon after not knowing about it, where he meets all the Rubbadubbers as aliens and helps them solve a low-gravity problem.
"Doctor Terence" (10 March 2003) – Terence becomes a doctor to cheer his friends up and make them better.
"Super Amelia" (13 March 2003) – After Amelia and Finbar try to outdoor each other, Amelia wishes herself into superhero training.
"Sploshy the Stoneseeker" (15 March 2003) – Sploshy wants to collect stones after not sharing any with her friends.
"Sheriff Terence" (18 March 2003) – Terence makes his own rules but runs into trouble when his own rules get the better of him in the wild, wild, west.
"Tubb's Cake Mistake" (20 March 2003) – Tubb dislikes the pretend cake at a tea party, so he is transported to a cake shop to try real cake, but accidentally eats a cake meant for a competition.
Series 3 (2004)
"Finbar's Rescuers" (3 May 2004) – Finbar does not want to be a rescuer in Sponge Rescue, so he wishes to be rescued instead.
"Finbar and the Green Hat Gang" (5 May 2004) – Finbar sets certain requirements for anyone who wants to be in his gang.
"Terence the Spy" (8 May 2004) – Terence wants to find out what his friends are planning for him, as it is a secret.
"Terence's Bubble Trouble" (10 May 2004) – Terence does not want to run out of bubbles, so he wishes that everything he touches turns into bubbles.
"Finbar's Important Part" (13 May 2004) – Finbar wants to join a band, but all the instruments are taken. But, he soon realizes something he has been taking for granted, that he can be the singing role.
"Copy Sploshy" (15 May 2004) – Sploshy wants everyone to copy her dance exactly, instead of adding their own moves, but when she wishes herself to Copyland, they soon start copying her even when she's not dancing!
"Reg's Game Plan" (18 May 2004) – Reg does not have any new games in his memory banks, so he wishes himself to Game Land to think of something new.
"Farmer Sploshy" (20 May 2004) – Sploshy wants to live on a farm and drive around on a tractor all day, but she ends up neglecting all of her duties.
"Little Red Riding Tubb" (22 May 2004) – Tubb plays all the roles in a Little Red Riding Hood play, which leads to costume mishaps and stage hazards.
"Silly Sploshy" (25 May 2004) – Sploshy is in a silly mood, and wants all the other Rubbadubbers to clown around with her when they are supposed to be building a tower.
"Terence's Ties" (27 May 2004) – Terence wants new ties after Benjie and Sis rush off to buy new school uniforms.
"Reg in Squareworld" (30 May 2004) – After Reg cannot draw a sun properly, he wishes himself into a square world, where circles are illegal.
"Amelia the Diver" (1 June 2004) – Amelia has to dive to bring up Captain Terence's ship, the Jolly Bubble, from under the sea.
Series 4 (2005)
"Finbar's Gift" (15 January 2005) – When the Rubbadubbers give each other Christmas gifts, Finbar wishes that he has all the presents on his own special Day.
"Finbar and the Ghosts" (18 January 2005) – After Finbar is unable to scare his friends with a scary story, he wishes himself to a school of ghosts.
"Sploshy's Wishes" (20 January 2005) – After Sploshy's wish on a shooting star does not come true, she wishes for her own genie (that being Terence) to give her wishes in a dry, quiet oasis.
"Sporty Reg" (23 January 2005) – After not winning the bathroom games, Reg wishes himself into Sports World to find out his real strengths.
"The House That Tubb Built" (26 January 2005) – Tubb wants to build a house his way instead of following directions provided on a guide.
"Terence the Monster Hunter" (28 January 2005) – When Terence sees Finbar dress up like a monster in the bathroom, he wishes that everyone believed him in that it was a real monster.
"Reg and the Library" (31 January 2005) – Reg wants to read in peace, so he wishes himself to a library.
"Tufty Tubb" (2 February 2005) – Tubb wants to grow hair and styles it for a competition.
"Lighthouse Keeper Reg" (4 February 2005) – Reg does not want to take a break from keeping watch for Benjie and Sis, so he wishes for his own lighthouse.
"Tubb's Towers" (6 February 2005) – Tubb wants to run a hotel after trying and failing to read a letter from Benjie and Sis' grandmother in peace.
"Messenger Terence" (9 February 2005) – Terence wants to be first with the news, so he becomes a colonial explorer delivering news to a village on an island.
"Sky Painter Amelia" (11 February 2005) – Amelia wants to make pictures like her friends, but she cannot hold her paintbrush right due to not having arms.
"Finbar the Word Shark" (14 February 2005) – Finbar keeps losing a word game, so he wants to know all the words.
Shorts
These shorts were never seen on television in the United Kingdom, but six of them were released on DVDs.
"Row, Row, Row"
"Steamy Mirror"
"On A Roll"
"Swimming Races"
"Hide And Seek"
"Great Skate"
"Swimmin'!"
"Drip"
"Being Choosey"
"All Wrapped Up"
"Something Sticky"
"Having A Ball"
"Can You Remember?"
"Floaty Feather"
"Clean and Groovy"
VHS and DVD releases
United Kingdom
HIT Entertainment released three DVD and VHS releases of the series. "Here Come the Rubbadubbers" was released on May 12, 2003. "Splish! Splash! Splosh!" was released on September 1, 2003, and "Bathtime Scramble" was released on February 23, 2004. Each release contains four episodes, with the first two releases also containing some of the shorts. The three DVDs were reissued as part of a boxset on March 12, 2007, while an additional release - "Swimmin'", was released as a Carry Case DVD on April 9, 2007.
United States
HIT Entertainment released four DVD and VHS releases of the series, titled "Here Come the Rubbadubbers", "Tubb's Pirate Treasure", "High Noon in the Bathroom", and "Finbar, the Mighty Movie Star", released on January 27, March 16, July 13 and October 12 of 2004, respectively. Each release contained five episodes.
