A Big Hand for Sooty - ITVs 1998 Documentary for Sootys 50th Anniversary

A host of stars feature in this special documentary, celebrating 50 years of the now golden bear. Sooty is the longest ever running children's show on British television, and viewers from every generation will have memories of him and his friends. The original yellow bear glove puppet was bought for 7s 6d by Harry Corbett from the end of Blackpool Pier in 1948. He made his TV debut in 1952 when his ears were blackened with chimney soot, & his name changed from Teddy to Sooty. The rest is history. MATTHEW CORBETT tries to explain Sooty's timeless popularity "People know what to expect with Sooty. He's gentle fun", but entertainer MATTHEW KELLY asks: "How can an inanimate object that doesn't speak or make a noise become an icon?!". Guests on the programme include: ANT McPARTLIN & DEC DONNELLY, SPIKE MILLIGAN, MATTHEW KELLY, ALVIN STARDUST, GABRIEL YORITH, JOHN PEEL, BARRY CRYER, DAPHNE SHADWELL, TREVOR HILL, STUART HALL, CONNIE CREIGHTON, MURIEL CORBETT and LESLIE CORBETT

[@Sol-Cutta]

Ant and Dec quote - I hope someone remembers me in 50yrs time... 50yrs time...Ant+Dec still hosting I'm a celeb...lol

[@Dim4323]

Matthew corbert will always be my favourite

[@HorrorPrincess]

rest in peace Harry Corbett. It's good to see that Richard is trying to keep Harry's spirit alive, by reminding the children of Sooty's true creator. My mum grew up with Sooty, I grew up with Sooty and I can assure you that when I have children, they will grow up with Sooty.

[@greenkitty82]

LittleCookie Monster fantastic, keep the fun of sooty going! Much better entertainment than the stuff kids have today. I think we were all lucky watching the stuff we did! It was a delight growing up with sooty!

[@Megancookie640]

It’s still going on.years later with he’s new friend Richard bty the grl is gone and some of his other are friends gone too soo it’s just better also they have a theme park now in :2023 and. They is a new song and tv show coming soon

[@JamesVlogsHomeBeyond]

This goes to show that Harry Corbett's material is absolutely timeless, no matter how old you are it's still funny to this very day.

[@bollywayne14]

Many thanks for putting this on KZbin. As a life long fan of Sweep (then Sooty) I never really knew his story. And what it took to bring it to our screens.

[@TheConsettonian1987]

I can't believe Sooty will be 70 years old next year.

[@Classictv90s]

Matthew Corbett is also 70 next year as well.

[@darkwoods1954]

I recorded this at the time it aired but haven't seen it for years. Great re-watching it thanks. Can't believe it was almost 25 years ago!

[@BB-923]

I Absolutely love Sooty and i still do too this day that little yellow bear will always have a place in my heart

[@JamesStanfordAK]

Thank you for a lovely trip down memory lane, I remember my mother recording this to VHS for me when it first aired. For some reason it just popped into my head tonight and I'm so glad I took the chance at looking it up on here.

[@sdugwad]

This documentary is what got me into Sooty!

[@aliorr9356]

I used to watch Sooty, my dad used to watch Sooty in the 1950's and now my four year old son is obsessed with Sooty. What a remarkable little bear.

[@lukegreen5341]

Awesome Behind The Scenes Look About The Sooty Show The Original Series. Thanks Mate. X

[@tommybakes5972]

Hard to believe Sooty's nearly 75

[@robmortimer4150]

My son loves all three generations of Sooty, I hope it keeps going and going.

[@Inactive157]

Harry Corbett was a great man who made sooty possible

[@Inactive157]

46:22 The End Of An Era...😔😔

[@JamesVlogsHomeBeyond]

I've been growing up with both Matthew Corbett and Richard Cadell when I was younger and are true inspirations to me.

[@pickaxe137]

Fun Fact: Peter Jones (1920-2000) voiced Wallace in a 1994 fire safety video.

[@jennynott3841]

What does this have to do with sooty?

[@JamesVlogsHomeBeyond]

It's because he's the commentator of this documentary 👍

[@JasmineSurrealVideos]

Fascinating Sootymentary! I think Harry's brother and wife aren't really fans of Matthews style in the Sooty Show, notice the comment when they were discussing his takeover, that its all about the Matthew show with Sooty, not the other way like with Harry. I like the producer of the Harrys Sooty Show, he was very funny and eccentric.

[@normallynormal3573]

The thing is, if Sooty had stayed with Harry's style of presenting Sooty then he probably wouldn't be as big as he was. TV was more adopting of proper TV shows and "The Sooty Show" was that. Harry's style was more a kin to bumpers that play between TV shows whereas Matthew and later on, Richard took that bumper-esc formula and turned it into a TV show that incorporated and developed the characters. In the Sooty Show Matthew was an whole other character, not just the interpreter and straight man to Sooty like Harry was (and that doesn't mean he was bad).

[@broken1394]

Thank you for sharing - this was magical viewing.

[@matthewhalloran5438]

This is such an interesting Documentary I like How it shows us Where Harry First sore Sooty

[@Inactive157]

31:59Evoution of Sooty' s Appearance.

[@albion.hlafweard]

This reminds me when I was little

[@Classictv90s]

+The Sooteries Channel Matthew Corbett officially retired on 16/07/1998 that was the date when Birthday Boy was recorded on.

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@cupcakefairy87]

1.52 - Jimmy Savile was on The Sooty Show?

[@Fitzwilliamdarcy1000]

I remember this

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday to you happy birthday to you happy birthday dear sooty happy birthday to you happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@Charlotte-Charly]

38:37 *D U M B O*

[@jennynott3841]

Is Christopher biggins in this program? Thank you

[@danwoodhouse9290]

so Sooty is even older than Blue Peter?

[@laurenjeffery340]

Yes😉

[@cupcakefairy87]

He's even older than the Eurovision Song Contest, The Archers and Coronation Street

[@smasherjosh5000]

@@cupcakefairy87 as well as Doctor Who, Wile E. Coyote, The Road Runner, Tasmanian Devil, Scooby Doo!, Speedy Gonzales and many more

[@Classictv90s]

Which puppet is Matthew operating in the photo at 23:01?

[@laurenjeffery340]

I think it's little cousin scampi without his outfit

[@DanielWhit]

@@laurenjeffery340 definitely isn't - Scampi was only created in 1990. No idea which character this was though.

[@laurenjeffery340]

@@DanielWhitprobably one of the old puppets from the old sooty's school set then

[@knkjchannel55]

Probably Kipper or Tigs

[@aceflashheart2523]

Sooty should have ended when Matthew left. The shows they made over the next 5 years were terrible! ITV must have thought Sooty was too important to lose.

[@minicle426]

Kind of a shame no one in the Corbett family wanted to carry it on.

[@bletheringfool]

I think the guy Richard Cadell is doing a good job of keeping the characters alive, he respects what the Corbetts have done and has invested a lot of time and money

[@stevenhibbert5565]

He has a good Botox surgeon

[@brendapenfold801]

Yes I agree great Botox, or maybe good fabric conditioner😳😆

[@lenamaria4able]

the old sooty was good but the new one ruined the franchise

[@calumlindsay1212]

Sooty was born in 2012 and he is 4 not 50

[@shifty2755]

you're incorrect my friend I'm afraid. he's older than me and I'm in my 30's!

[@InSnowSummer]

Sooty and Peter Pan both have two birthdays... they lived on for years and years but never get any older then 5.

[@theyoungmoviegoer5915]

RUBBER UNDIES my fat kat called jim loves you

[@Batt-dv5ng]

In the show he is 4 but he was created in 1948 (71 years ago)

[@caroline-janehall1984]

Your so very Wrong Sooty has two birthdays and always have from the start. his human equivalent birth year is 1948 which makes him technically 75 this year in human years, but in teddy years he is forever 5. Sooty 5, Sweep is 4, Soo is 6 and little cousin scampi is 3 in bear years.

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday to you happy birthday to you happy birthday dear sooty happy birthday to you happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty

[@johnnykennedy8551]

Happy birthday sooty