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.
Panto Credits
A selection of Richards and Sootys Pantos
1987: Aladdin
Harlequin Theatre, Redhill
1991: Aladdin
Barnsley Civic
1995: Sleeping Beauty
Theatre Royal Bath
1996: Aladdin
White Rock Theatre Hastings
1997: Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Birmingham Hippodrome
1998: Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Southampton Mayflower
1999: Aladdin
Ashcroft Theatre Croydon
1999: Aladdin
New Victoria Theatre Woking
1999: Aladdin
Venue Cymru
2000: Aladdin
Alhambra Bradford
2000: Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Milton Keynes Theatre
2001: Aladdin
Theatre Royal Nottingham
2001: Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Wolverhampton Grand
2001: Snow White
New Theatre Cardiff
2002: Cinderella
Grand Opera House Belfast
2002: Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Cliffs Pavilion Southend
2002: Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Swansea Grand
2002: Snow White
Theatre Royal Darlington
2003: Aladdin
Wycombe Swan in High Wycombe
2003: Snow White
Regent Theatre Stoke on Trent
2004: Aladdin
Embassy Centre Skegness
2004: Jack and the Beanstalk
Theatre Royal Windsor
2005: Cinderella
Deco Northamapton
2006: Snow White
Ipswich Regent Theatre
2008: Snow White
Grove Theatre Dunstable
2009: Snow White
Ashcroft Theatre in Croydon
2009
Snow White
Ferneham Hall in Fareham
2010: Aladdin
Grove Theatre Dunstable
2018: Sleeping Beauty
Wolverhamptom Grand
2019: Cinderella
Theatre Royal Nottingham
2020: No panto due to Covid-19
2021: Cinderella
Southampton Mayflower
2022: Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Southampton Mayflower
2023: Jack and the Beanstalk
Middleton Arena
2024: Sleeping Beauty
New Victoria Theatre, Woking