The Wind in the Willows: Winter has brought its usual spate of colds to the community, and Toad is among the sufferers. Examining the statues and portraits of his ancestors, he is shocked to learn that many of them died relatively young, and fears that he may be doomed to the same fate. Consulting what he believes to be medical publications in the library, he reads up on several fatal diseases and mistakenly believes that he is contracting some of the described symptoms. Thus, when the vigorously healthy Rat and Mole arrive to take Toad on a river outing, they are surprised to find that their friend has taken to a wheelchair in miserable resignation. Taking pity on Toad, Rat and Mole patiently wait on him for several days, and discover that his appetite, at least, is none the worse for his condition. Even when Toad's cold starts to lift, he remains convinced that the end is near. Rat and Mole eventually consult Badger, who examines the volumes in which Toad read up on his supposed illnesses. Badger gravely informs Toad of the only possible hope for sufferers of these scurges: the infected parts must be removed! This revelation works quicker than any medicine on Toad, and only then does Badger explain the real dangers of Toad's "illnesses"...

Starring:

Daphne Oxenford, David Jason, Ian Carmichael, Michael Hordern, Peter Sallis, Richard Pearson

Genre:

Animation, Family