Pressing paws...
No strings attached... MARION McMULLEN looks at the end of the original Sooty Show 30 years ago
THREE decades ago viewers said farewell to a shy little bear who never spoke a word aloud.
Glove puppet Sooty was discovered by magician Harry Corbett in a shop on Blackpool’s North Pier in 1948 and cost all of seven shillings and six pence – the equivalent of 37p.
Harry originally bought Sooty as a toy for his baby son Matthew, but the lovable bear soon became part of his stage act and quickly proved popular with youngsters.
The Sooty Show first began life on the BBC in 1955, with Sweep joining in 1957 and Soo – Sooty’s panda girlfriend – in 1964.
Bradford-born Harry was keen to launch a female puppet on the children’s TV show but the move was deemed so controversial that the BBC’s director-general had to announce a “no touch” rule.
Producer Trevor Hill had dismissed the idea on the grounds that “sex would be creeping into the programme,” but BBC directorgeneral Hugh Carleton Greene intervened to allow Soo on.
The Sooty Show moved to ITV in 1968 and the half-hour programme ran until November 30, 1992. Puppeteer and TV presenter Richard Cadell later bought the rights in 2008 and brought Sooty back to the screen.
The only miniature OBE award ever made was specially manufactured for Sooty when Harry took the little bear to Buckingham Palace when he was awarded his own normal-sized OBE in 1976.
At the investiture, Sooty got out his water pistol and shot Prince Philip with it. The Queen is said to have found it very funny. Harry retired in 1976 after suffering a heart attack. His son Matthew was working on ITV show Rainbow, but left to take over as full-time handler and presenter of The Sooty Show. Matthew still has Sooty’s miniature OBE.