The series centres on three brothers, nicknamed Toughy, Smarty, and Mouse. Their real names are not revealed. Presumably orphaned, they have lived with a succession of different people – 'some nice and some nasty, but no-one who they liked in particular'. Being boisterous, adventurous and imaginative, they are regularly in trouble and consequently resent their situation. Eventually they decide to run away to sea. After escaping, they hitch a ride courtesy of the bizarre Elderly Boy in his converted lifeboat. They eventually arrive on an apparentlyuninhabited island, where the Elderly Boy abandons them, and they set up home. After a while they discover that the island is home to the eccentric grasshopper expert Cornelius Button and his feisty housekeeper Lupus. After making friends with their new neighbours, they join forces with them to defeat the unsavoury Doctor Hopper, who wants to destroy Button's reputation and seize Grasshopper Island. Afterwards, they decide to stay on Grasshopper Island permanently.
Characters
Smarty The cleverest of the three brothers, so named because 'he always had answers to all sorts of questions'. His elaborate plans are not always needed, as simpler ones are often pursued by the others. Toughy So-called because 'he wanted to be a soldier'. He is an avid reader and is very creative, being adept at painting and drawing. Mouse So-called because 'he liked cheese'. He loves hats, usually sporting more than one in each episode. Cornelius Button An eccentric grasshopper expert who has lived on Grasshopper Island for many years. He is presumably the island's tenant. He spends all his time obsessively studying the grasshoppers and trying to avoid being ordered around by Lupus. Many years ago, he discovered a rare grasshopper, which was named the Button's Blue in his honour, and now yearns to find another one. Button has a sister called Amelia who is the headmistress of a girls' school and sometimes visits him, though he dreads these occasions, and will do anything he can to prevent them. Lupus Cornelius Button's formidable housekeeper, who has lived with him for 20 years. Even though she is Button's employee, he is often intimidated by her into doing tasks such as taking out the rubbish. Despite this, her brisk manner hides a softer side, and she is genuinely fond of Button and the boys. Dr Hopper A longstanding professional enemy of Cornelius Button, who concocts a scheme to have him expelled from Grasshopper Island unless her finds another Button's Blue, the existence of which Hopper does not believe in. He drives a pedalo and arrives at the island in the last episode, although Toughy, Smarty and Mouse soon succeed in frightening him away. The Elderly Boy The owner of the converted lifeboat who gives the boys a lift to the island. He owns a pet dove called Cecil. He initially wants to stay with the boys, but soon leaves after finding the environment too hot and the terrain too taxing. The Voices of Authority A succession of overbearing characters known to Toughy, Smarty and Mouse before they leave home. They include a businessman who shouts at them for making too much noise, a matronly woman who forbids Toughy to talk with his mouth full, a barber who gives a reluctant Smarty a short back and sides because 'curls is for girls' and a grumpy taxi-driver who drives them to the docks.
Episodes
Availability
The series has been available on DVD by Grasshopper Productions since 2008.
Book
An adaptation of the serial by Whitby, illustrated by Carol Lawson, was released in 1971, originally published by HarperCollins as a hardback. It was reissued in 2017 by Grasshopper Productions as a paperback.
