Sooty (2001-04)

I think that actually only happened last year!

It did and were none the wiser if it did included the back catalogue or just the current productions.

Wouldn't be suprised if they kept it, there's a lot of money to be made from them. The old Cosgrove Hall archive especially.

Speaking of that, Thames/Fremantle kept hold of the Cosgrove Hall archive after CH went to Anglia in the mid-90s. I've noticed Cosgrove's Hall's first show after Thames lost their licence was Avenger Penguins, which has a Granada copyright and originally went out with a Granada endcap, though it looks like Thames/Pearson/Fremantle held on to the rights to the show.

There was also a slow version of the Sooty & Co theme occasionally used.

Do you mean this one Si? It's on a handful of the eps that are on Youtube if you search by name (Matthew's Car, Connie Comes to Tea etc.) - though some of the uploads loop back to the beginning of the ep, so the closing credits will sometimes be 5 mins or more before the end of the actual video (the one below is OK).

The Sooty & Co slow theme is of a similar vein. It's used in at the end of this episode:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27Ga7cJZpBo
(embedding prohibited)

Coincidentally (or not) both episodes end in the bedroom. Maybe it was the more sleepy, end of story theme, whereas the other theme was used when the episode ended whilst still in the thick of the action.

Phwoar, I never remembered Sooty being that kinky.

I had no idea Rod, Jane and Freddy were still active into the Sooty and Co. era! A huge, huge, huge part of my childhood via Rainbow and later on their own programme. I assumed they disbanded after Thames lost their franchise and both shows were axed, that was that.

Lisa's channel is an amazing resource for all things RJF by the way.

They remained active until around 1996, touring theatres and appearing in pantomimes each year. They were good friends with Matthew (the trio having been Rod, Matt & Jane in the 70s) and I expect they were grateful for the exposure of their Sooty & Co appearance. Of course, Jane & Freddy are unlikely to disband having recently got married after 30 years together.

They were one of several acts that were huge in the 80s but seemed consigned to history in the new franchise period:

http://www.mikefenton.net/userimages/Rainbow22.jpg

Just seen this post, Dan. Yes - that’s the theme I meant! It was only used for two series as far as I know - both made in 1981. The first episode of the 1983 series used this theme, but from episode two it was replaced with the Sooty the Magical Bear instrumental, which stuck around for the rest of the Thames run, I think.

That slow theme was rarely played in full - I think you’ve found one of the ones that did use the full thing!!

Though speaking of the bedroom, the first ep of the Autumn 1981 series (three eps before the one I previously posted) had this song and 'sleepy' end theme with an all-too-familiar tune...

(song starts at 17:25, end theme at 19:45)

That's officially called Soo's Song.