Sooty (2001-04)

As Neil says above, it was from January 1981 - actually Matthew’s fifth series. That was when the familiar 80s opening theme was introduced.

Series 4, from early 1980, was the one where each episode ended with “Sooty’s Disco”. The Christmas Pantomime, first shown in December 1980 but repeated until
at least 1982, was the last audience-based show.

There's a straight to VHS show with an audience from 1982 which I had as a kid. Notably it's got an anamatronic Soo with a different voice.

Once again Lisa Glitters comes to the rescue but she's disabled embedding...

https://youtu.be/qXUJFBaltGE

"Tempo Video", that brings back memories of the crap I used to watch as a kid.

Interestingly that video follows the old format of having an audience but uses the theme tune.

Produced independently of Thames though, hence the very dodgy Soo.

I’m surprised that they didn’t use Thames for that release, considering by 1982 Thames Video was established, but a few years away from Thames Video Collection being a thing. Interesting that at the end of the video Matthew mentions that you may see us on TV or stage, maybe this was a video version of the stage show. I’m assuming that the stage show had nothing to do with Thames at any point.

I have a funny feeling that video is from 1980 and was repackage in 1982?

You know, I think you're right - as Brenda Longman was the regular Soo by this point.