Sooty (2001-04)

I think its plausible it would still be running in more or less the same format, after all it lasted the entire length of Thames' franchise period, 25 years, and it was still popular enough for Sooty & Co to run another 5 years. In the meanetime Richard Caddell has tried to an extent to take it back to Sooty Show days with some success and avoiding the CGI trend.

If The Sooty Show was still on air today in its original format it would be both the the longest running children's show, predating Blue Peter by about three years, and the second longest running UK TV show ever, after Panorama.

Didn't Richard get a much forgotten animated series destroyed when he bought the rights?

What so wrong with the series: ...................... Never mind..................

It was so clearly a grab for an international audience so that they could add value to the brand.

This was made in 1996, before Matthew had sold it so why did he agree to it?

It should be charming but giving Sweep the voice of Bungle kills it stone dead.

Is Scampi still around?

I had it in my head Sooty talked in that, but I'm clearly misremembering. He's the only one who doesn't, though.

Matthew sold Sooty in 1996 around the same time this was in the works. Useful for inflating the brand value by showing it wasn't just a one trick pony.

why are they all talking

He appeared briefly in at least a couple of the 2011/2013 series episodes along with the likes of Butch and Ramsbottom. He was a wedding guest in one episode, part of a band in another. A prime example of how the 'history' of the show has been worked into the more modern version of Sooty, that has gone back to the core trio of Sooty/Sweep/Soo.

Can't remember if Scampi appeared in any of the six new episodes last year though

The puppets look a bit off in this promo for the 2018 series:



This is what I'd consider to be 'my era':



They looked more plush, and the faces somehow had a bit of warmth and life to them. I can imagine they were a lot more expensive to build though.

The latest puppets seem a bit dead behind the eyes.

Richard seems to have develop a fuller head of hair though.

Was that episode shown on the CITV Old Skool Weekend? I'm sure I have a memory of it, even though I can only really remember Sooty & Co.