Idea & Help Wanted: 'Bob the Builder' - UK Preservation

Bob the Builder was a big part of my childhood and I have recently gotten interested in the original British version. I am wanting to watch each episode from the first 9 seasons in its original aspect ratio. Series 1 was in 4x3, while the following seasons were in 16x9. My problem is that some episodes, specifically from Series 5-9, are only available in the UK on VHS, which is automatically in 4x3. And so I am creating this topic dedicated to preserving all episodes in their original aspect ratio. I already have every episode from Series 1-4, as well as most of the episodes from Series 5. Now, I need help from all of you in order to preserve the original widescreen versions of the VHS-exclusive episodes. If any of you know where I can find those episodes in widescreen, then that would be very helpful. Thank you.

I am also wanting the shorts to be preserved, also in their original aspect ratio. If any of you know where I can find the original widescreen versions of those shorts, then that would also be very helpful.

I have looked, but it doesn’t seem like any of the DVD’s feature the episode “Inspector Spud” in its original widescreen version. However, I have found an Italian DVD on eBay that focuses on that very episode. I’m not sure whether it has the original widescreen version of the episode or not, but I plan on getting the DVD and find out. I also may have to remove the title card and replace it with an English one, as it might not contain the original English title card.

The Italian DVD is not in widescreen. Therefore, at this point, it’ll be impossible for any Bob the Builder material to become available in widescreen.

A very exciting update on this topic. Almost every episode of Bob the Builder (1998-2011) is available on CBS All Access in their original aspect ratio. The only exception is Series 1, which is cropped to widescreen. Unfortunately, the shorts are not included, so the shorts will be excluded from my preservation. This may cost me money to preserve one episode from Series 5, as well as every episode from the following series, but I’ll hold out somehow.

They have the UK titles, so I can only assume they’re the original British versions.