The concept of the show originally formed the basis of one of the most famous episodes of The Twilight Zone, entitled "A Kind of a Stopwatch", first broadcast in 1963.

It was written by Norriss,[1] who also wrote the book "Bernard's Watch", a novelisation based on the first three series, which was published in 1999 by Puffin.

Three years after its original run, the show was revived for two more series and included a change to the format and new cast and filming location.

The second of the new series, and the seventh and final of the show overall, was renamed Bernard, produced by Granada Yorkshire and aired from 6 January to 31 March 2005.

The first run told of a young boy called Bernard, played by David Peachey, from Oakwood, Nottinghamshire, who was always late, until a postman gave him a "magic watch" which could stop time.

Ill at various points throughout the book, Bernard's aunt dies in the penultimate chapter, but her spirit appears to him after her death to tell him that the true purpose of the watch is for 'learning'.