Pinky and Perky

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Pinky and Perky
Pinky and Perky original appearances.jpg
Pinky and Perky as they appeared on their original BBC TV show
Genre Children's television series
Created by
Presented by
  • Jan Dalibor
  • Vlasta Dalibor
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
Production
Production company Thames Television (1970–71)
Original release
Network BBC1 (1957–68)
ITV (1970–71)
Release1957 (1957) 
1971 (1971)

Pinky and Perky is a children's television series first broadcast by BBC TV in 1957, and revived in 2008 as an animated adaptation.

Contents

Original series

The title characters are a pair of anthropomorphic puppet pigs, named Pinky and Perky, who were originally going to be named Pinky and Porky but there was a problem registering Porky as a character name. This was solved by Margaret Potter, the wife of their producer, Trevor Hill, who also discovered them, when she woke him up one night announcing "I've got it! Pinky and Perky!"[ This quote needs a citation ] They were created by Czechoslovakian immigrants Jan and Vlasta Dalibor who moved to the village of Houndhill, leaving the pigs under the cupboard in The Bungalow.[ clarification needed ] The characters of pigs were chosen because the pig is seen as a symbol of good luck in the former Czechoslovakia.[ citation needed ] The puppets, who had only very limited movements, looked very alike. Pinky wore red clothes and Perky wore blue, but this distinction was of little use on monochrome TV, so Perky often wore a hat.

Pinky and Perky spoke and sang in high-pitched voices, created by re-playing original voice recordings at twice the original recorded speed; the vocals were sung by Mike Sammes [1] while the backing track was played at half normal speed (Sammes did the same job for Ken Dodd's Diddymen, as Ross Bagdasarian did for the original Chipmunks in the early 1960s)—hence the expression "Pinky and Perky speed", when an LP record is played at 45 rpm or 78 rpm instead of the correct 3313 rpm. Pinky and Perky would often sing cover versions of popular songs, but also had their own theme song, "We Belong Together".

They had their own fictional TV station "PPC TV" (a play on "BBC"). They also performed comedy sketches - usually with a human foil (in the same way as puppet fox Basil Brush). Actor John Slater worked with them as a straight man for many years, enduring soakings from water pistols and similar pranks. Other human companions included Roger Moffat, Jimmy Thompson, Bryan Burdon and Fred Emney.

Their show included other puppets such as the Beakles (an avian parody of the Beatles), Topo Gigio, a mouse puppet from Italy created in 1958 by Maria Perego, which appeared in many later episodes, as well as a female pig. Other puppets included Ambrose Cat, Basil Bloodhound, Bertie Bonkers the baby elephant, Conchita the Cow, Horace Hare and Vera Vixen.

Pinky and Perky also performed guest slots on other shows, including several appearances on Sunday Night at the London Palladium . [2]

The puppets also appeared on TV in the United States on a number of episodes of The Ed Sullivan Show : 532 (14 September 1958), 548 (4 January 1959), 573 (5 July 1959), 740 (10 March 1963), 780 (23 February 1964, where they shared the bill with the Beatles and Morecambe and Wise) and 908 (26 February 1967).

The pigs featured in series, such as Pinky and Perky's Pop Parade and Pinky and Perky's Island, for 11 years until 1968 on the BBC before transferring to ITV until 1972. There were no real people, sketches or stories in the shows at all. Instead, the puppets would be seen lip-synching and dancing to songs by the likes of Petula Clark. In this incarnation, each episode would end with the characters singing the Scaffold's hit "Thank U Very Much". At this point, there would be the only piece of spoken dialogue, which went along these lines:

"Who's going to say it?"
"Oh, let me!"
"No! I want to!"
"All right, then, let's do it together! Ready—MUCH!"
DayDateRepeatSeriesTitlePresenterCharacterTime
Sun20/10/1957Pinky & Perky17:25
Sun06/03/1960Pop ParadeRoger Moffat16:00
Sun13/03/1960Pop ParadeRoger Moffat15:55
Sun20/03/1960Pop ParadeRoger Moffat16:00
Sun27/03/1960Pop ParadeRoger Moffat16:05
Sun03/04/1960Pop ParadeRoger Moffat15:35
Sun10/04/1960Pop ParadeRoger Moffat16:00
Sun24/04/1960Pop ParadeRoger Moffat15:55
Sun01/05/1960Pop ParadeRoger Moffat16:05
Sun08/05/1960Pop ParadeRoger Moffat16:00
Sun15/05/1960Pop ParadeRoger Moffat16:05
Sun22/05/1960Pop ParadeFinal editionRoger Moffat16:05
Sun18/11/1962The Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi16:45
Sun25/11/1962The Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi16:45
Sun02/12/1962The Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi16:45
Sun09/12/1962The Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi16:45
Sun16/12/1962The Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi16:45
Sun23/12/1962The Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi16:45
Sun30/12/1962The Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi16:45
Sun06/01/1963The Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi16:45
Sun13/01/1963The Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi16:45
Sun20/01/1963The Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi16:40
Sun27/01/1963The Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi16:45
Sun03/02/1963The Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi16:40
Thu13/06/1963RThe Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi17:10
Thu20/06/1963RThe Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi17:10
Thu27/06/1963RThe Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi17:10
Thu04/07/1963RThe Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi17:10
Thu11/07/1963RThe Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi17:10
Thu18/07/1963RThe Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi17:10
Thu25/07/1963RThe Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi17:00
Thu01/08/1963RThe Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi17:00
Thu08/08/1963RThe Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi17:00
Thu15/08/1963RThe Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi17:00
Thu28/08/1963RThe Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi17:00
Thu29/08/1963RThe Pop InJohn SlaterPoppa Luigi17:10
Thu05/09/1963American Journey(1) Caribbean GardensNone17:00
Thu12/09/1963American Journey(2) Aqua BaticsNone17:00
Thu19/09/1963American Journey(3) Cypress SwamplandsNone17:00
Sun03/11/1963Pinky & PerkyAll AboardJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle16:45
Sun10/11/1963Pinky & PerkyAll at SeaJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle16:45
Sun17/11/1963Pinky & PerkyAll AshoreJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle16:45
Sun24/11/1963Pinky & PerkyStormy WeatherJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle16:40
Sun01/12/1963Pinky & PerkySaludos AmigosJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle16:45
Sun08/12/1963Pinky & PerkyCoasting AlongJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle16:45
Sun15/12/1963Pinky & PerkyFun in 'FriscoJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle16:40
Sun23/12/1963Pinky & PerkyBuried TreasureJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle16:45
Sun21/01/1964Pinky & PerkyGoing Down UnderJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle16:40
Sun02/02/1964Pinky & PerkyUp the CreekJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle16:40
Sun09/02/1964Pinky & PerkyThe CastawaysJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle16:40
Sun16/02/1964Pinky & PerkyOn SafariJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle16:40
Sun23/02/1964Pinky & PerkyAboard AgainJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle16:40
Sun01/03/1964Pinky & PerkySudden SquallsJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle16:40
Sun08/03/1964Pinky & PerkyGoing DutchJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle16:45
Sun15/03/1964Pinky & PerkyHomeward BoundJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle16:40
Thu02/07/1964RPinky & PerkyAll AboardJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle17:30
Thu09/07/1964RPinky & PerkyStormy WeatherJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle17:40
Thu16/07/1964RPinky & PerkyFun in 'FriscoJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle17:40
Thu23/07/1964RPinky & PerkyBuried TreasureJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle17:40
Thu30/07/1964RPinky & PerkyGoing Down UnderJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle17:40
Thu06/08/1964RPinky & PerkyUp the CreekJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle17:40
Thu13/08/1964RPinky & PerkyThe CastawaysJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle17:40
Thu20/08/1964RPinky & PerkySudden SquallsJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle17:40
Thu27/08/1964RPinky & PerkyGoing DutchJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle17:40
Thu03/09/1964RPinky & PerkySaludos AmigosJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle17:40
Thu10/09/1964RPinky & PerkySudden SquallsJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle17:40
Thu17/09/1964RPinky & PerkyGoing DutchJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle17:40
Thu24/09/1964RPinky & PerkyHomeward BoundJohn SlaterCaptain Zachary Scuttle17:40
Sun27/09/1964PPCtvYour Life in their trottersJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:55
Sun04/10/1964PPCtvThe day the drains came downJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:55
Fri11/10/1964PPCtvStew it yourselfJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:30
Sun18/10/1964PPCtvGunfight at Mattress SpringsJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:55
Sun25/10/1964PPCtvWhere there's life there's soapJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:55
Sun01/11/1964PPCtvPerky MasonJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:55
Sun08/11/1964PPCtvThe OlympigsJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:55
Sun11/11/1964PPCtvStew it yourselfJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:55
Sun15/11/1964PPCtvPerky Political BroadcastJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:55
Sun22/11/1964PPCtvPrizes, Prizes, Pigtime PrizesJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:55
Sun29/11/1964PPCtvOinks of ViewJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:55
Sun06/12/1964PPCtvZ PigsJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:55
Sun13/12/1964PPCtvThe Aunt of Monte ChristoJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:55
Sun20/12/1964PPCtvRobinson riding hood & his magic lampJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:55
Fri25/12/1964PPCtvChristmas Pig-TaleJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager14:20
Sun27/12/1964PPCtvThe Pig-Star showJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager16:45
Sun10/01/1965PPCtvGarden Secrets - not worth gardeningJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:55
Sun17/01/1965PPCtvA pig-nic at Sherwood ForestJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:55
Fri02/04/1965RPPCtvYour Life in their trottersJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:35
Fri09/04/1965RPPCtvThe day the drains came downJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:35
Fri16/04/1965RPPCtvGunfight at Mattress SpringsJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:35
Fri23/04/1965RPPCtvStew it yourselfJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:35
Fri30/04/1965RPPCtvRobinson riding hood & his magic lampJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:35
Fri07/05/1965RPPCtvGarden Secrets - not worth gardeningJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:35
Fri14/05/1965RPPCtvThe OlympigsJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:35
Fri21/05/1965RPPCtvPerky Political BroadcastJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:35
Fri28/05/1965RPPCtvPrizes, Prizes, Pigtime PrizesJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:35
Fri04/06/1965RPPCtvOinks of ViewJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:35
Fri11/06/1965RPPCtvZ PigsJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:35
Fri18/06/1965RPPCtvThe Aunt of Monte ChristoJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:35
Fri09/07/1965RPPCtvThe Pig-Star showJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:35
Fri16/07/1965RPPCtvPerky MasonJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:35
Fri23/07/1965RPPCtvA pig-nic at Sherwood ForestJimmy ThompsonAssistant Gen. Manager17:35
Sun16/01/1966You too can be....... be an archaelogistJimmy Thompson17:55
Sun23/01/1966You too can be....... a deep sea diverJimmy Thompson17:55
Sun30/01/1966You too can be....... a beefeaterJimmy Thompson17:55
Sun06/02/1966You too can be....... a mountaineerJimmy Thompson17:55
Sun13/02/1966You too can be....... a lordJimmy Thompson17:55
Sun20/02/1966You too can be....... an artistJimmy Thompson17:55
Sun27/02/1966You too can be....... a hairdresserJimmy Thompson17:55
Sun06/03/1966You too can be....... a disc jockeyJimmy Thompson17:55
Sun13/03/1966You too can be....... Prime MinisterJimmy Thompson17:55
Sun20/03/1966You too can be....... an entertainerJimmy Thompson17:55
Sun27/03/1966You too can be....... a highlanderJimmy Thompson17:55
Sun03/04/1966You too can be....... a scientistJimmy Thompson17:55
Sun10/04/1966You too can be....... a secret agentJimmy Thompson17:55
Sun17/04/1966You too can be....... an indian RajahJimmy Thompson17:55
Sun24/04/1966You too can be....... a detectiveJimmy Thompson17:55
Sun01/05/1966You too can be....... a spacemanJimmy Thompson17:55
Sun08/01/1967Pinky & Perkys Island01 All Hands on DiscBryan Burdon17:50
Sun15/01/1967Pinky & Perkys Island02 Map HappyBryan Burdon17:50
Sun22/01/1967Pinky & Perkys Island03 Danger StrangersBryan Burdon17:50
Sun29/01/1967Pinky & Perkys Island04 Current AffairsBryan Burdon17:50
Sun05/02/1967Pinky & Perkys Island05 Dishful ThinkingBryan Burdon17:50
Sun12/02/1967Pinky & Perkys Island06 Swapping SpreeBryan Burdon17:50
Sun19/02/1967Pinky & Perkys Island07 Fin SkiesBryan Burdon17:50
Sun26/02/1967Pinky & Perkys Island08 Up the PollBryan Burdon17:50
Sun05/03/1967Pinky & Perkys Island09 Riches to RagsBryan Burdon17:50
Sun12/03/1967Pinky & Perkys Island10 Mail TrailBryan Burdon17:50
Sun19/03/1967Pinky & Perkys Island11 Ten Past JanuaryBryan Burdon17:50
Sun26/03/1967Pinky & Perkys Island12 Deep SceneBryan Burdon17:50
Sun02/04/1967Pinky & Perkys Island13 Nuts' CasesBryan Burdon17:50
Sun14/01/1968Pinky & Perky Times01 Opening TimesFred Emney17:50
Sun21/01/1968Pinky & Perky Times02 Fate to FeteFred Emney17:50
Sun28/01/1968Pinky & Perky Times03 Drip ShapeFred Emney17:50
Sun04/02/1968Pinky & Perky Times04 Hard at ShirkFred Emney17:50
Sun11/02/1968Pinky & Perky Times05 Left at the postFred Emney17:50
Sun18/02/1968Pinky & Perky Times06 Taking NotesFred Emney17:50
Sun25/02/1968Pinky & Perky Times07 Scoop-de-gasFred Emney17:50
Sun03/03/1968Pinky & Perky Times08 Green TrottersFred Emney17:50
Sun10/03/1968Pinky & Perky Times09 Breaking into printFred Emney17:50
Sun17/03/1968Pinky & Perky Times10 Write on timeFred Emney17:50
Sun24/03/1968Pinky & Perky Times11: Wed LinesFred Emney17:50
Sun31/03/1968Pinky & Perky Times12 The Big SellFred Emney17:50
Sun07/04/1968Pinky & Perky Times13 Sky BirdsFred Emney17:50

Other shows and appearances

In 1993, Pinky and Perky appeared regularly on The Pig Attraction, a CITV puppet-focused talk show, performing a song every week. The Pinky and Perky segments were made in collaboration with Jan and Vlasta Dalibor. [3] A collection of songs from the series, including Pinky and Perky's, was released on CD, cassette and vinyl the same year. [4]

The Pinky and Perky Show reappeared in an all-new animated television series on CBBC and France 3, beginning in November 2008 on BBC One. There are 52 episodes, each 13 minutes in length. Some of the old characters remained in the show, such as Vera Vixen (who often hatches schemes to try to get rid of the two pigs) and Morton Frog (who works in the production control room, usually running the end titles [or in "Cartoon Mash-Up", cueing the end music] at the end of an episode.). Alongside them, there were a host of new characters, such as K.T. the studio manager cat, Wilberforce the tortoise security guard (who comes up with impractical ideas for new acts or games for the show), and a pair of poodle receptionists called Tara and Tamara (who, in a recurring gag, often get Pinky and Perky's names wrong). There is also a steady stream of special 'celebrity' guests, many of which spoof better-known franchises, such as Doctor Who as "Dr. Roo" and Harry Potter as "Harry Trotter". The series was produced by Lupus Films, and line produced by Sally Marchant.

A DVD of the new look Pinky and Perky, featuring eight episodes from the new series, entitled Licence to Swill, was released in 2009. [5]

Comics

A comic strip based on the TV series was drawn by Jim Turnbull. [6]

Discography

Albums

EPs

EP cover of Children's Favourites with Pinky and Perky (1961 Columbia Graphophone Company) Pink-and-perky.jpg
EP cover of Children's Favourites with Pinky and Perky (1961 Columbia Graphophone Company)

Singles

All singles were released on 7" vinyl format unless otherwise stated.

Cultural references

References

  1. Spencer Leigh, Mike Sammes, obituary in The Independent on Sunday , 11 June 2001
  2. One episode, originally broadcast on 13 April 1958, was shown on Talking Pictures TV on 26 January 2020.
  3. "The Pig Attraction at curiousbritishtelly.com" . Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  4. "The Pig Attraction Starring Pinky and Perky at discogs.com". Discogs . Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  5. "PINKY & PERKY at televisionheaven.co.uk". Archived from the original on 29 June 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
  6. "Jim Turnbull". lambiek.net. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  7. Collins, Tim (2014). 100 WAYS TO CREATE A GREAT AD. Laurence King Publishing, London. p. 12. ISBN   978-1-78067-168-0.