First broadcast: 1952
Stars: Matthew Corbett, later Richard Cadell
Creator: Harry Corbett
The lowdown: Sooty is one of the best loved children's TV characters of all time: a mischievous little yellow bear with a penchant for playing the xylophone, squirting his pals with his water pistol and waving a wand to the catchphrase "Izzy wizzy, let's get busy". In this CITV series from the 1990s, Sooty is joined on his various adventures by a host of friends including squeaking dog Sweep, soft-voiced panda Soo and his naughty young cousin Scampi. Each story usually ends up with his puppeteer getting a good soaking from Sooty's water pistol.
Memorable moments: Any time Sooty "talks". The audience never hears the bear speak out loud, so relies on Matthew or Richard's humorous interpretations which often are full of feigned shock and disbelief. Also, the times when Matthew boasts to Sooty and co about his many talents - from cake-baking to kite-flying - but falls flat on his face each time he puts them into practice.
Trivia: Sooty is the longest running children's TV show in the UK, according The Guinness Book of Records.
The puppet got his name after creator Harry Corbett covered his nose and ears with soot, so he would stand out better on the black and white TV of the 1950s.
Meanwhile, before Matthew took over from his father Harry he was part of the kids' TV troupe Rod, Jane and Matthew, which then became Rod, Jane and Freddy when he left.
