We have the Sooty van, which we take our theatre show around the country in. We can’t resist – on the passenger side, may I add – just bringing Sooty over to the window and waving and people nearly swerve off the road sometimes!’ On 3 May 1952, Harry Corbett first appeared on BBC TV’s Talent Night with his little pal and Sooty became a star! The Sooty Show began in 1955. And so began this television legend and icon! That’s why Sooty has worked because that’s pretty much it. And that’s why it’s been easily translated onto everybody’s hands who’s ever had a Sooty the puppet – because it ain’t that difficult to do!

The illusionist and screenwriter also jokes that the secret to Sooty looking so good at 75 is ‘very good fabric conditioner’. This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sourcesin this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Did you know? At well over 50 years and still on TV today, Sooty is the world’s longest running children’s television programme. Bobby Davro hosted a Sooty parody sketch called "Sooty in Soho" on his sketch show in 1989, which saw him doing an impression of Matthew and depicting Sooty and Sweep owning a brothel. The sketch was interrupted by the real Matthew Corbett showing up and assuring the audience that the Sooty which Davro had was an imposter. He then produced the real Sooty, who promptly squirted both Davro and Matthew with his water pistol.

At the north end of the Illuminations you’ll also see a tableau, installed in 2018, to celebrate his 70 th birthday.

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So, he’s been able to move from seamlessly from hand to hand over the generations and be exactly the same. He hasn’t changed – he looks the same, very similar to how you looked 75 years ago, and you’re still doing the same stuff.’ Sooty and Sweep had appeared as the Prime Minister and Home Secretary, respectively of the Puppet Government in The Goodies episode " The Goodies Rule – O.K.?". Soo and Kipper the Cat also made cameo appearances. For most years from 1957 to 1998, there was a Sooty Annual; no annual was published in 1987, 1988, or 1990. [19] The early annuals were published by the London Daily Mirror. Later annuals were published by Purnell and Sons. Television history [ edit ] Harry Corbett era [ edit ] Sweep made his debut in 1957 and has remained a part of the franchise since his first appearance. Edgecliffe-Johnson, Andrew (4 October 2007). "Hit Entertainment says 'bye-bye' to Sooty show". Financial Times.

In 1956, Philips Records released a 78 r.p.m. record P.B.528. It contains (side 1) "Sooty" (by Corbett) performed by Marie Benson and also featuring Harry Corbett and Sooty with instrumental accompaniment, and (side 2) "Mr Dumpling" (by Heathcote) performed by Marie Benson with instrumental accompaniment. Tryhorn, Chris (4 October 2007). "Hit Entertainment has put the rights to kids' TV puppet Sooty up for sale". The Guardian. During Matthew Corbett's reign, seven stage shows were performed repetitively. For the first half of the tours, Matthew and Connie Creighton would present, and during the second half, while Matthew was busy writing and filming the TV shows, Connie and Spencer K. Gibbens would present. Richard Cadell on saving Sooty, brand longevity and stage shows". Licensing.biz . Retrieved 5 April 2021. The chimney soot on his nose and ears were added to enhance his character, of course leading to the name ‘Sooty’.Richard Cadell is Sooty’s partner in puppetry. He said “Having seen how much people love the tableau, it seems only right to go one better and give Sooty pride of place on one of the most famous stretches of promenade in the world. BBC Radio 1 – The Chris Moyles Show, Friday – Chris' Birthday Show, Sooty and Sweep surprise Chris!". BBC. 18 February 2011. After the show, we always do a meet and greet, which is a very important part of it. And there are so many elderly people that come without kids because they want to relive a bit of their nostalgic youth. And that’s why we deliver the same show that they hoped [for], we don’t change anything, it’s the same format.