WHEN Harry Corbett spotted a yellow bear glove puppet on holiday in Blackpool in 1948, he bought it to entertain his young sons.
Guiseley-born Harry was already an entertainer, having played the piano in his uncle’s restaurant. That uncle was Harry Ramsden, founder of the legendary fish and chip chain.
When Harry brought his yellow bear puppet home from Blackpool, his children, David and Peter, called him Teddy.
As a child, Harry had practised his magic tricks in the flat where he grew up, above Springfield Fisheries, owned by his parents. With a little help from his yellow bear, Harry’s magic and puppetry skills earned him a place on BBC Television’s Talent Night and he was a hit with viewers, leading to a regular slot on children’s show Saturday Special in the 1950s. When the BBC offered Harry his own show, he re-designed Teddy so the bear stood out on black and white television screens. The process involved the use of black dust, or ‘soot’, on his ears and nose, so Harry changed his name to Sooty.
The rest is entertainment history. Sooty has been a firm favourite with young children for 75 years.
Now the nation’s favourite magic yellow bear has teamed up with Childline, the NSPCC’s children’s counselling service, to release his own Christmas single. Called The Most Magical Time of the Year, it’s available to download and stream now, with proceeds going to support Childline.
The single - accompanied by a video, featuring Sooty and pals Sweep and Soo, set against a snowy forest and festive funfair - marks the magic bear’s 75th birthday in 2023. Sooty is the longest running children’s TV show in the world, delighting generations of youngsters across the world. Live Sooty shows tour the UK - Sooty’s 75th Birthday Spectacular is at the Bradford Alhambra on October 21, 2023 - and this year saw the opening of Sooty Land, a theme park in Devon.
Now the bear who started life before most people even had a television set is going digital - with the launch of a ‘virtual’ Sooty. Downloading the Christmas single provides access to an online Sooty’s World, with a new ‘winter village’ for children to enjoy. Sooty’s World is a web-based gaming environment that’s safe, fun and packed with activities competitions and prizes; youngsters can walk around as a virtual Sooty avatar, build a snowman, decorate gingerbread cookies, play a game of Ice Bowls and take part in a daily advent calendar hunt.
This Christmas, Childline’s volunteer counsellors will provide an essential role helping children and young people deal with what can be a difficult time for some families. Says Childline founder Dame Esther Rantzen: “There are so many children for whom Christmas is not a joyful time of year, but a time when they are trapped in homes that are unsafe and they feel scared, isolated and alone.
“That’s why Childline will be open 24 hours a day, all over the festive period, to give children the help and support they need. And by buying Sooty’s first-ever Christmas single the public will help us continue to be here for all children this Christmas, and the next. We are incredibly grateful to Sooty and his crew for their wonderful support.”
Richard Cadell, presenter of The Sooty Show, said: “Sooty has been bringing magic into children’s lives for over seven decades. As Sooty’s owner and presenter of over 20 years, I have never been more proud of the little bear and this Christmas campaign.”
Dave John, executive producer, said: “It’s been an exciting journey to help create Sooty’s first-ever Christmas song. It’s been an exhausting but fun experience and it’s an honour to be part of Sooty’s history.”
The Sooty Show ran on BBC1 from 1955-1967, featuring the popular glove puppet getting into a series of scrapes, with magic tricks and songs included. Co-star Sweep was introduced in 1957, handled by Harry’s brother Leslie Corbett, and Soo in 1964, voiced by his wife, Marjorie. Sooty’s move to ITV brought more characters, including a dog called Butch, a dog and Ramsbottom, a snake.
In 1975 Harry handed over control of his puppets and the franchise to his son Peter, a children’s TV entertainer performing as Matthew Corbett. Harry received an OBE in 1976 - with Sooty given a special one alongside him art the ceremony - and he died, aged 71, in 1989.
Some Bradfordians will remember the World of Sooty Museum in Shipley, which opened in 1987 in the former Windhill Manor building. On display were Harry’s props from the TV shows of the 1950s and 60s.
Matthew Corbett took over The Sooty Show until 1981, when the comic sketches were replaced with a sitcom format.
When the show ended in 1992 Matthew created a sequel, Sooty & Co, and live shows toured the country.
An animation, Sooty’s Amazing Adventures, ran between 1997-98 and Matthew retired in 1998, bequeathing the puppets to Sooty fan and magician Richard Cadell, who owns and presents Sooty today.
* Sooty’s Christmas single is available for download (£4) at magicaltime.co.uk and to stream on music platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music, with all download and streaming proceeds donated to Childline.
To watch the video go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MJL30CbVf0
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