David Bowie's son Duncan Jones creates new version of his dad's Snowman intro - watch

Featuring THAT scarf

David Bowie and his son Duncan Jones
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 19th Dec 2022
Last updated 19th Dec 2022

David Bowie’s son Duncan Jones has created a poignant new version of his dad’s iconic introduction for festive classic The Snowman featuring THAT scarf.

Based on Raymond Briggs’ best-selling book of the same name, animated Christmas TV institution The Snowman initially premiered on Boxing Day 1982, and featured an intro from Briggs himself.

In 1984, music legend David Bowie, who was a huge fan of Briggs’ apocalyptic book When the Wind Blows (and later recorded the title track for the animation), was drafted in to record a new Snowman introduction.

It features Bowie walking into the attic of his supposed childhood home and discovering a scarf that strongly resembles the one given to the boy towards the end of The Snowman.

On 23rd December 2020, acclaimed director, producer and screenwriter Duncan Jones revealed that he had stumbled across his dad’s iconic scarf in a storage box.

The 51-year-old tweeted: “Went looking for sock monkeys in the storage boxes and FOUND THE SCARF!!! YAY!”

Two years on, Jones has now paid brilliant homage to the famous introduction by creating his own version that references his late-great dad.

Walking into a highly festive room while clutching a box, Jones tells the camera: “When I was a little lad, my dad used to tell me a story about when he was little, he had a friend who was a snowman. He was such a good friend that one day he gave him a gift.

“I always thought that that story was made up but then one day when I got a bit older my dad gave me that gift and it was a beautiful blue scarf. And now I wonder if maybe the story was true? Merry Christmas everyone.”

Watch Duncan Jones’ version of The Snowman intro:

Responding to Jones’ original scarf tweet in 2020, Snowman producer Brian Harding revealed that Bowie requested that his only fee for recording the intro was to keep the blue scarf.

“Hi Duncan! I am Brian Harding, who produced the filming of your father’s introduction to The Snowman,” he tweeted.

“You may not remember the history. The Scarf was knitted by the lady in the accounts department of TVC, the production company who made the animation.

“She came onto the set and presented it to David. When filming was over, David asked very politely if he could keep the scarf to give to his son, Zowie (Duncan Jones).”

Harding continued: “This was the only fee he charged for the filming, and I believe he offered his services for personal reasons.

“He was charming throughout and totally professional. I am glad that the scarf found its way to the destination he intended: from the dude to another dude.”

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