Basil Brush in the 1970s

Basil Brush is an anthropomorphic fox most well known for his British television work. Brush is primarily portrayed by a glove puppet (see picture) but has also been depicted in animated cartoon shorts. He has featured on children's (and later adult) television from the 1960s to the present day. He was designed and made by Peter Firmin and originally operated and voiced by Ivan Owen, who died in 2000. He is known for his catch phrase, "Boom! Boom!", and his 'posh' accent. His most prized possession is his tail, which he insists is called a "brush". He dislikes puppets and claims to be a "feller". Image File history File links Basilbrush. ... Image File history File links Basilbrush. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, also called The Seventies. ... A hand munger is a type of puppet that is primarily controlled by a hand that occupies the interior of the puppet. ... An animated cartoon is a short, hand-drawn (or made with computers to look similar to something hand-drawn) film for the cinema, television or computer screen, featuring some kind of story or plot (even if it is a very short one). ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ... A catch phrase is a phrase or expression that is popularized, usually through repeated use, by a real person or fictional character. ... Look up Posh in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

Basil's persona (and gap-toothed look) was based on actor Terry-Thomas. Terry-Thomas (left) and Clive Morton in a scene from Lucky Jim (1957) Terry-Thomas (Thomas Terence Hoare-Stephens) (14 July 1911 - 8 January 1990) was a distinctive British comic actor of the 1950s and 1960s. ...

This character was created in 1963 by Peter Firmin for The Three Scampies children's show but his main popularity was achieved due to appearances on "The Nixon Line" with magician David Nixon and subsequently The Basil Brush Show, which premiered in 1968. For other uses, see 1963 (disambiguation). ... Peter Firmin was the founder of Smallfilms, along with Oliver Postgate. ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Basil Brush Show

Throughout the shows 12-year run Basil was always accompanied by an actor, initially Rodney Bewes — aka Mr Rodney — better known as one half of The Likely Lads. Rodney Bewes (born 27 November 1938 born in Bingley, West Yorkshire) is a British TV actor probably best known for playing the lovable Bob Ferris in the classic BBC sitcoms The Likely Lads and Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? Bewes was RADA trained and got his break in the... The Likely Lads was a hit British sitcom created and written by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais. ...

Bewes was replaced by Mr Derek — Derek Fowlds of Yes Minister fame and the TV show Heartbeat — who was the stooge for Basil's quips between 1969 and 1973. The subsequent presenters were Mr Roy (Roy North, 1973-1977), Mr Howard (Howard Williams), 1977-1979), and Mr Billy (Billy Boyle, 1979-1980). Derek Fowlds (born 2 September 1937 in Balham, London) is an English actor. ... Yes Minister is a satirical British sitcom written by Antony Jay and Jonathan Lynn that was first transmitted by BBC television and radio between 1980 and 1984, split over three seven-episode series. ... Heartbeat is a long-running British TV police drama series set in 1960s Yorkshire. ... Also: 1969 (number) 1969 (movie) 1969 (Stargate SG-1) episode. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... Roy North played in Basil Brush as Mr Roy. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ...

Basil was in three more shows in the 1980s: the educational programme Let's Read... With Basil Brush (ITV, 1982-1983), Crackerjack (BBC), and Basil's Joke Machine (ITV, 1986).[1] The 1980s refers to the years from 1980 to 1989. ... Independent Television (generally known as ITV, but also as ITV Network) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters, set up under the Independent Television Authority (ITA) to provide competition to the BBC. ITV is the oldest commercial television network in the UK. Since 1990 and the Broadcasting... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... Crackerjack winners receive prizes, late 1950s Crackerjack was a British childrens comedy/variety BBC television series. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... Independent Television (generally known as ITV, but also as ITV Network) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters, set up under the Independent Television Authority (ITA) to provide competition to the BBC. ITV is the oldest commercial television network in the UK. Since 1990 and the Broadcasting... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ...

Basil recorded two albums (both with the same title), Boom! Boom! It's Basil Brush in 1970 and 1977. His adventures also appeared on the pages of TV Comic during the peak of his popularity. Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... TV Comic was a British comic book published weekly between November 9, 1951 and June 22, 1984 for 1696 issues. ...

The Basil Brush Show in 2002

The new Basil Brush puppet from the 2002 show

Main article: The Basil Brush Show (2002 TV series)

In 2002, Basil made a comeback in a new children's BBC sitcom, again named The Basil Brush Show, in which his new comic foil, Mr Stephen, was played by Christopher Pizzey. Georgina Leonidas and Michael Hayes also appear on the show, later replaced by a Mr Liam. Basil Brush is now shown to have a family, which includes his destructive, hyperactive but cute nephew Bingo, and his criminal cousin Mortimer. Other friends have been introduced as well, such as moneymaking business child Dave and sensible Molly. Where the original shows were taped before an audience of children, the new programme is shot in studio, and features a hysterical, post-production laugh track. In keeping with Basil's history, no-one is directly credited as being Basil's puppeteer on this show, although actor Michael Windsor is credited as either Basil's "fitness instructor" or his "personal assistant". Image File history File links Basilbrushv2. ... Image File history File links Basilbrushv2. ... The Basil Brush Show is a 2002-present remake of the 1960s-1980s comedy show starring Basil Brush, the famous glove puppet fox. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... A sitcom or situation comedy is a genre of comedy performance originally devised for radio but today typically found on television. ... Christopher Pizzey is a British actor born on the 23rd December 1976 in West London. ... Georgina Leonidas is a British actor known for playing Miss Molly in The Basil Brush Show. ...

The current puppet is clearly different in a number of respects from the original 1960s vintage. Interspersed with the main programme, there are now various animated shorts in which Basil and/or another character is seen making jokes.

Other appearances

Basil briefly appeared as a presenter for several Friday episodes of the popular British children's TV programme Blue Peter in 2003 in which he had his own joke segment. For other uses, see Blue Peter (disambiguation). ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Basil played Dobby the house-elf in the French & Saunders sketch "Harry Potter And The Secret Chamberpot Of Azerbaijan" for Comic Relief Red Nose Day 2003. Dobby is also a trade term used to refer to the strip of closely-woven material often seen on towels (and much less commonly on washcloths). ... Dobby House-elves are fictional magical creatures in the Harry Potter series of books written by J. K. Rowling. ... French & Saunders is a British sketch comedy television show written by and starring Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, and also the name by which the performers are known on the rare occasions when they appear elsewhere as a double act. ... This article is about the Harry Potter series of novels. ... For the origin of the term, see comic relief. ... For a description of the origin of the term comic relief see comic relief. ...

Basil appeared on French & Saunders in 2004. French & Saunders is a British sketch comedy television show written by and starring Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders, and also the name by which the performers are known on the rare occasions when they appear elsewhere as a double act. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On 10 December 2005, Basil appeared on The Weakest Link and won the show, receiving £10,900 for his chosen charity, the Blue Peter 2005 charity appeal, "Treasure Trail" (in aid of Childline). This makes him the first (and at the time of writing, only) puppet to win The Weakest link (Roland Rat had previously appeared as a puppet contestant, but did not win). Basil returned to Weakest Link as one of the contestants on the show's 1000th UK edition, recorded on 1 November 2006. It was shown on BBC Two on 18 December 2006. Although he made it to the final round, this time he failed to win. However, the winner still decided to share half of her winnings with Basil's chosen charity. is the 344th day of the year (345th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Weakest Link (known as Weakest Link in many countries) is a television game show which first appeared in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 14 August 2000. ... For other uses, see Blue Peter (disambiguation). ... ChildLine is a UK-based childrens helpline. ... Roland Rat (also Roland Rat Superstar) is a British television puppet character. ... Weakest Link (early episodes had the on-screen title The Weakest Link) is a television game show which first appeared in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 14 August 2000. ... is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For the BBC radio station, see BBC Radio 2. ... is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Basil Brush was mentioned briefly in the Black Books episode "Blood", wherein Manny (Bill Bailey) purchases a "large-print biography of Basil Brush", which he describes as "quite good." This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For other uses, see Bill Bailey (disambiguation). ...

See also

• CBBC Channel
• CBBC
• List of BBC children's television programmes

HarperCollins Publishers have recently signed a deal to publish a Basil Brush tv tie-in publishing programme for 2008. The CBBC Channel is a British television service aimed at 6 to 13 year olds produced by the BBC. It complements the CBBC programming that continues to air on BBC One and BBC Two. ... Current CBBC Logo CBBC - short for Childrens BBC - is the brand-name for the BBCs childrens television programmes aimed at children aged between 6 and 12 years old. ... This is a list of television programmes that are either currently being broadcast or have previously been broadcast on the childrens television strand of the BBC in the United Kingdom, which includes both CBBC and CBeebies. ...

External links

• Basil Brush at the Internet Movie Database
• Official Basil Brush website
• BBC website on Basil Brush
• British Film Institute Screen Online
• Ivan Owen Obituary - The Guardian