Until an hour before I began writing this post, I was planning to induct another TV couple in keeping with the Gemini theme. However, I realized that this couple was so iconic that they deserved to be the monthly showcase when they are inducted.
Good Lord willing, you’ll see them as the inductee for the month of June 2021.
Instead, we’re going with another puppet and again from overseas.
EDD THE DUCK
From Wikipedia:
Edd the Duck (originally Ed the Duck) is a puppet duck which appeared on the CBBC interstitial programme ‘The Broom Cupboard’ alongside presenters Andy Crane and Andi Peters. His movements were performed by Christina Mackay-Robinson, an assistant producer employed by the BBC. He also had a severe allergy to ham.
He made his debut in late 1988, originally with a bald head until Mackay-Robinson added a green woollen mohawk, salvaged from an old Blue Peter 'Punk Teddy'. His co-star and enemy was Wilson the Butler, a character who was off screen apart from his arm visible to the viewers.
Edd the Duck starred in a number of pantomimes and short films alongside actors including Bill Oddie and Gorden Kaye.
Edd made a guest appearance on the CBBC Channel on Easter Monday 2009 alongside Ed Petrie. In 2014 Edd made an appearance on ‘Celebrity Juice: The Big Reunion’ special which also included Andi Peters in the Broom Cupboard.
Edd the Duck released a single, "Awesome Dood!", in 1990.
Edd was the official UK Olympic team mascot at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.
In 2015, Edd along with Andi Peters appeared on Hacker's Birthday Bash to mark 30 years of CBBC.
From the CBBC Wiki:
Edd the Duck is a puppet who appeared in the interstitial programmed ‘The Broom Cupboard’, alongside presenters Andy Crane and Andi Peters, between 1988 and 1992. His movements were performed by assistant producer Christina Mackay-Robinson.
Edd is a tiny duck with a bright green mohawk, which was salvaged from an old teddy bear. His co-star and rival was Wilson the Butler, who apart from his arms is never seen on screen.
Along with Gordon the Gopher, Edd was an extremely popular figure in the late 80s and early 90s, with lots of merchandise released during that period. He also makes reappearances to anniversary events and in 1992 was the UK mascot for the Barcelona Olympics.
Edd the Duck is a multiversal. Beside his Toobworld appearances, he made live appearances, was featured in two video games (both poorly received), on records, and in children's books.
If I’m not mistaken, this induction marks the most puppets entered in the TVXOHOF in any given year. (Fozzie Bear was the April showcase and Roland Rat was inducted two weeks ago as the June 2020 showcase. We have another inductee scheduled for October who might be considered a puppet.)
Welcome to the Television Crossover Hall of Fame, Edd, you awesome dood! You should find it slightly more roomy than the Broom Cupboard. (And best of all, Wilson the Butler is nowhere to be found here.)
2 comments:
Toby,
Both Edd the Duck and Roland Rat from earlier in the month are part of a Comic Relief single from 1991 called "Helping Hand" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTMvhl0Kyd4&t=90s). This video brings together *many* of the most iconic puppets from British TV, but it also featured Bean Bunny from Tale of the Bunny Picnic (part of the Muppet franchise) and characters from Fraggle Rock (linked to the Muppets but also its own JHC brand, which recently had sequel shorts and soon will have a continuation series on Apple TV+). I include the single in my Crossover History of the Muppets.
I copy my notes here:
From “Helping Hand” Video:
Note: For Comic Relief (UK) in 1991, a charity single of “Helping Hand” was released. Its video featured Fraggle Rock’s Uncle Travelling Matt, Red Fraggle, and Sprocket, along with
Tale of the Bunny Picnic’s Bean Bunny. The video featured several famous puppets,
including:
The Adventures of Rupert Bear
Rupert (1985-1988 & 1991-1997)
Rupert Bear, Follow the Magic...
Andy Pandy
Andy Pandy (2002)
For the Children/Watch with Mother (parent series)
CITV/Children’s ITV (Scally the Dog)
Dizzy Heights/Dizzy Heights Hotel
Meet the Gristles
The House of Gristle
Dooby Duck’s Disco Bus
Dooby Duck’s Euro Tour
Dooby’s Duck Truck
Edd the Duck
The Broom Cupboard/Children’s BBC
Emu
Emu’s All Live Pink Windmill Show
Emu’s Broadcasting Company
Emu’s Wide World
Emu’s World
EMU-TV
Grotbags
The Rod & Emu Show
Rod & Emu’s Saturday Specials
Ron ’n’ Emu
Flower Pot Men
Bill and Ben (reboot)
Watch with Mother (original parent series)
Get Fresh
Get Fresh Sunday
Gilbert’s Fridge
Gilbert’s Late
Gophers!
Gordon the Gopher
The Broom Cupboard/Children’s BBC
It Started with Swap Shop
Going Live!
The Keith Harris Show (Puddles the Duck & Orville the Monkey)
N.B.: Ventriloquist Harris performed his characters on many variety and talk shows; Harris & Puddles had appearances on both Little Britain and Ashes to Ashes (sequel to Life on Mars).
Now with Nookie (ventriloquist Roger De Courcey performed Nookie on many variety, talk, and panel shows)
Playdays (nee Playbus; Lizzy)
Radio Roo (Clive the Kangaroo)
Rainbow
Cockleshell Bay
Rainbow (1994)
Rainbow Days
Take a Chance
Roland Rat
Roland Rat: The Series
Ratman
Tales of the Rodent Sherlock Holmes
Roland’s Rat Race
L.A. Rat
Round the Bend!
The Satellite Show
The Sooty Show
Learn with Sooty
Sooty (2001-2004 & 2011- )
Sooty & Co.
Sooty Heights
The Sooty Show
Sooty’s Amazing Adventures
Sooty’s Magic
N.B.: Sooty appeared in crossovers on Spitting Image & Rainbow, as well as one episode of The Goodies.
Spitting Image (UK series; there was also an American Spitting Image from the same company, using the same style puppets)
Thunderbirds
Thunderbirds Are Go
N.B.: The Supermarionation shows are often suggested to share a universe, linking Thunderbirds with Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons (followed by The New Captain Scarlet), Fireball XL5, Four Feather Falls, Joe 90, The Secret Service, Stingray, and Supercar.
You and Me (Cosmo & Dibs appear)
I see it didn't hold format or spacing--I can send it to you if that would be easier to read
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