Sooty,
Richard Cadell
& Friends

2023

winner

"Richard Cadell and Sooty win us over right left and centre throughout the ‘Izzy Whizzy – Let’s Get Busy’ whole pantomime".

Sooty is a British children's television media franchise created by Harry Corbett incorporating primarily television and stage shows. The franchise originated with his fictional glove puppet character introduced to television in 1955, with the franchises focused around the adventures of the character – a mute yellow bear with black ears and nose, who is kind-hearted but also cheeky, performs magic tricks and practical jokes, and squirts his handler and other people with his water pistol, including on other television programmes the guest stars on. The franchise itself also includes several other puppet characters who were created for television, some of whom became the backbone to performances, and features additional elements including an animated series, two spin-off series for the direct-to-video market, and a selection of toy merchandising.

The franchise remained in the ownership of Corbett until his retirement in 1976, before being passed on to his son Matthew. The rights to the franchise were placed on sale and sold in 1996 to a development firm who formed a holding company for the property, with Matthew later retiring and handing over control of the puppet characters to Richard Cadell in 1998. After initial ownership changes from Gullane Entertainment to HIT Entertainment the franchise suffered some setbacks in 2004 and eventually Cadell bought the rights in June 2008. He has since focused on ensuring the survival of the brand with new stage shows and television programmes.

A NOTE FROM GARY L JOHNSON

Sooty, Sweep and Sue have always been a highlight of my life. When I was younger

I used to love watching them on TV with Matthew and I even went to ITV studios to see

"Sooty home". I also remember going to see Sooty on Blackpool promenade when I was

little - they used to be a show next to the swimming pool. Anyway enough about my

childhood - since my earlier year's I've kept an eye on Sooty and now the amazing Richard and

heard nothing but good things about them both in panto. If you look below at there panto credits - he's been around a bit. 2023 marks Sooty's 75th Anniversary and what better why to help celebrate than adding Sooty, Richard and friends to the PANTO HALL OF FAME. I know from experience and reading from others (old and young) about how Sooty still makes people smile - and in my opinion that's what panto is all about. Congratulations and welcome to the PANTO HALL OF FAME.