I hope I’m not infringing any copyright, so I don’t tell Paul Pascoe – Edmonds’ business partner at Unique Television, which owns the Blobby copyright – what I’m up to, beyond tallying outfits. The famous character who brought chaos and amusement to Saturday night tv throughout the nineties can now be present at your event thanks to our TV show costumes (although you may want to avoid his trademark clumsiness. For example, Gold was sent to present increasingly bizarre TV pilots (“One was like It’s a Knockout meets a quizshow”) to see if they would fly.

I wouldn’t get too excited: it was probably thrown away like that picture of Mr Blobby in a skip when the BBC sold Television Centre in 2013. Now pull your legs into the costume and tighten the elastics around your ankles so minimal air escapes.Mrs Blobby may have ditched her pearls, while someone could have easily fished that one out of the skip. As head of BBC light entertainment from 1994 to 1999, Leggo created House Party with Edmonds, and he was producer/director/executive producer up to the last series. Leggo, who now works as a freelance executive producer and director, has since written his first novel, (Not) on My Island. Noel is brilliant at what he does, way beyond the gimmicks,” says Ray Gold, 66, whom I meet outside BBC Broadcasting House in central London.

Originally, it was Edmonds inside Blobby, recorded for the notorious “gotcha” segments in which, presaging MTV’s Punk’d, Edmonds would stitch up celebrities. They damaged the first, then they got axed after six episodes, so the replacement Blobby was never sent. Father's Day is just around the corner, providing the perfect opportunity to express gratitude and honor the father figures in our lives. Put the fan on the inside with the fan sticking out the hole and twist on the orange circle to secure the fan to the Blobby costume so it can suck in air. Blobby and I have met three times,” says Zippy, or rather Ronnie Le Drew, who has played Zippy since 1973.You got delicious dramatic irony, because the audience knew something the celebrity didn’t,” namely that Edmonds was inside, says Leggo. I was Mr Blobby’s intellectual-property guardian and had to approve T-shirts, mugs and umbrellas,” he says. I just doodled a pear-shaped character in mauve felt-tip pen on a piece of A5 lined paper, handed it to the costume designer and said: ‘Can you make something like this? The rugby player Will Carling, the dancer Wayne Sleep and the pundit Garth Crooks were duped into thinking they were teaching Blobby rugby, ballet and football, respectively, for an imaginary children’s programme. After a busy day as Blobby, I’m seeing polka dots, so it’s a relief to finally sit on my Crinkley Bottom.

When Blobby appeared in panto in Peter Pan in Milton Keynes in 2021 (played by a variety of actors, but not Killerby), Unique made two new costumes, which Pascoe confirms they still own, along with a “battered, old” original Blobby.There’s something disconcerting about how mine keeps deflating of its own accord right at the moment when the Guardian photographer Linda is trying to get the money shot. Pascoe says he’s not surprised Edmonds has retired to New Zealand “after everything he’s been through”, referring to Unique Television falling victim to huge bank fraud in 2017. I’m under the radar because, as the bids got higher, the messages became increasingly fractious and insulting. In spite of my best efforts, I fail to track him down to get him to ’fess up to me that he has listed his outfit for a quick Blobby buck.

With Inflatable Pink and yellow spot suit and matching gloves, this will be hilarious at a 1990s party or any other fancy dress party. I can appreciate why Mr Blobby doesn’t do more than wave his arms about: there’s not much more you can do. Cheap Fancy Dress is a trading name of Gifts and Pressies Ltd, 14 Meaders Road Road, Ryde, Isle of Wight PO33 1HR. Recommended for UK islands ie Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Shetlands, Isle of Wight and Scottish Islands including the Highlands.Killerby has never spoken to the press and has only one professional appearance listed in the past 20 years – on a Big Fat Quiz of the Year 90s special in 2012. Back in the 90s and 00s, I was responsible for selling BBC formats around the world: Strictly, Antiques Roadshow, The Weakest Link,” he says, confirming my suspicions I’m on the phone to an ex-BBC employee. Independence Day is a time to gather with friends and family, proudly displaying your patriotism and celebrating the spirit of freedom.