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CBBC Puppets are makeshift sidekicks which are used as part of the presentation of children’s programmes on the BBC, and have been used since in-vision children's continuity began in 1985.
History
edit"Bobby the Banana", an inanimate plush banana toy, was the first puppet, joining presenter Phillip Schofield for many of the in-vision links. Bobby the Banana was generally phased out and made way for the more expressive Gordon the Gopher, a hand puppet gopher operated, from under Schofield's continuity desk, by Paul Smith.[1] As Gordon's personality - and costume, gaining a leather biker's jacket - grew, so did his popularity, leading to increasing screen time interactions and 'story lines' with Schofield, and proved so popular that the character was giving his own line of various merchandise, which was branded Gordon T. Gopher. When Schofield departed as host of The Broom Cupboard in 1987 to host the BBC's new Saturday morning programme Going Live!, Gordon the Gopher went with him to the new series.[2]
Schofield's replacement Andy Crane continued to host in much the same vein as Schofield and the format remaining unchanged. With Gordon the Gopher having left with Schofield, Crane quickly gained his own similarly mischievous side-kick in the form of Edd the Duck - a plush duck hand puppet, operated similarly from under the control desk, by assistant producer Christina Mackay-Robinson (now Brown).[3] Whereas Gordon the Gopher was mute, Edd communicated in quacks - of which Crane and guests seemed able to understand. Similarly to Gordon, Edd (originally spelled 'Ed')'s personality and costume swifty developed; originally appearing 'bald', several months in he gained a green woollen mohawk from a Blue Peter make, which became part of his trademark look; Edd's love for Blue Peter, supposed "love" for its co-presenter Yvette Fielding and longing to become a Blue Peter presenter, all became regular fixture. Introduced a few months later was Wilson the Butler, only visible to viewers as a pair of white gloved arms in a black water's jacket appearing from the side of the screen, who became Edd's co-star and nemesis. As with the popularity of Gordon the Gopher, Edd the Duck similarly received his own line of merchandise. Andy Crane vacated the presenter's chair in 1990, moving to host programmes from rival Children's ITV, and was replaced with Andi Peters who spent four years in the role, with Edd, Wilson and the overall Broom Cupboard format remaining identical.[4]
With Peters in turn departed in 1993, the role of central host was filled by Toby Anstis, who would remain with the Children's BBC strand after the Broom Cupboard setting was dropped as part of a significant shake-up of the format in 1996–7.
Since then, many different puppet sidekicks have been used and the list below details many of those who have appeared on screen, either in CBBC continuity or programmes, over the last 35 years.
Overview
editReferences
edit- ^ Pelley, Rich (2020-06-14). "Pulling the strings: meet the people who brought puppets to life". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
- ^ John Craven (2019). Headlines and Hedgerows. Penguin.
- ^ "Pulling the strings: meet the people who brought puppets to life". the Guardian. 2020-06-14. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
- ^ "CBBC presenters past and present celebrate 30th anniversary". BBC News. 2015-09-09. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ "CBBC HQ – You welcomed Bl1nk to CBBC HQ".