Sooty (2001 TV series)

Last updated

Sooty
Genre Comedy
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series3
No. of episodes32
Production
Running time20 Minutes (series 1)
15 Minutes (series 2–3)
Production companies Sooty Limited (Gullane Entertainment/HIT Entertainment)
Granada Kids
Original release
Network ITV (CITV)
Release5 November 2001 (2001-11-05) 
6 January 2004 (2004-01-06)
Related

Sooty is a British children's television series, created and presented by Richard Cadell, and premiered on CITV on 5 November 2001, running for three series. The programme is the fourth programme in the franchise of the same name, and replaced Sooty Heights , with Cadell supported by co-presenter Vicki Lee Taylor, and Brenda Longman during the first series, and Sheila Clark for the remaining series. [1] [2] The programme focuses on the exploits of the titular character and his puppet friends in their running of the hotel, and features many elements used in previous programmes. The show saw the return of a puppet character from the franchise, as well as the creation of a new character.

Contents

The programme was originally produced by Gullane Entertainment, before the production company was bought up by HIT Entertainment following the first series. HIT's decision to cut costs and make changes to the programme, including using new puppets, and the replacement of Soo's long term voice artist Brenda Longman, resulted in several members of production leaving the programme, including Vicki Lee Taylor and Sooty being eventually cancelled in January 2004 for many reason's including falling viewing figures. In conclusion, Cadell eventually brought the rights to Sooty and it's franchise and Longman was immediately asked back to continue her role as Soo. After a new pilot aired in 2009, a new series was commissioned in 2011 under the same name, Sooty . This time, Richard, Sooty, Sweep and Soo quit running the hotel and began running a holiday park instead.

Premise

Sooty focuses on the misadventures of the titular character of the programme and his friends – Sweep, Soo, and Little Cousin Scampi – managing a hotel alongside their close friends Richard Cadell and Vicki Lee Taylor. Along with them, the group are also joined by Butch – another dog whom the group have been with before, who attempts various jobs that the group find themselves assigning to him – and Miki – a Brazilian cat who joins the hotel as its chef. The programme functions on the same format as Sooty Heights and previous programmes in the Sooty franchise, including slapstick humour, guest stars, and music and songs.

Cast

Episodes

Series 1 (2001)

  1. "All New Sooty" (5 November 2001)
  2. "A New Arrival" (6 November 2001)
  3. "Sci Fi Sooty" (7 November 2001)
  4. "It's My Party" (8 November 2001)
  5. "Sweep Asleep" (9 November 2001)
  6. "Sad Sad Sooty" (12 November 2001)
  7. "It's a Dog's Life" (13 November 2001)
  8. "Practice Makes Perfect" (14 November 2001)
  9. "Night of a Thousand Bears" (15 November 2001)
  10. "You Don't Scare Me" (16 November 2001)
  11. "A Cat and Dog Thing" (19 November 2001)
  12. "Favourite Things" (20 November 2001)
  13. "Santa's Back" (21 November 2001)

Source: [3]

Series 2 (2002)

  1. "Robo Richard" (15 October 2002)
  2. "The Mysterious Visitor" (22 October 2002)
  3. "Sooty's Pet" - (29 October 2002)
  4. "Superheroes" (5 November 2002)
  5. "Sooty in Charge" (12 November 2002)
  6. "Sooty's Magic Garden" (19 November 2002)
  7. "The New Gang" (26 November 2002)
  8. "The Little Big People" (3 December 2002)
  9. "Digging for Dinosaurs" (10 December 2002)
  10. "Best Friends" (17 December 2002)

Series 3 (2003–2004)

All episodes were filmed and produced in 2002.

  1. "Sooty's Baby" (27 October 2003)
  2. "Double Trouble" (28 October 2003)
  3. "Flying Fun" (29 October 2003)
  4. "Sooty at the Seaside" (30 October 2003)
  5. "Treasure Hunt" (31 October 2003)
  6. "Water, Water Everywhere" (7 November 2003)
  7. "Sooty's Ghost" (10 November 2003)
  8. "Let's Get Camping" (17 November 2003)
  9. "Sooty the Scientist" (28 November 2003)
  10. "Keep Fit Sooty" (6 January 2004)

Related Research Articles

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Gullane Entertainment PLC was a British independent production company which produced children's programming, including Thomas & Friends (1984–2021), Shining Time Station (1989–1995), and The Magic Adventures of Mumfie (1994–1998). The company was purchased by HIT Entertainment in 2003, and went defunct within the same year. As of today, most of Gullane's library is currently owned by toy company Mattel as a result of their subsequent acquisition of HIT Entertainment.

<i>The Sooty Show</i> British childrens television series (1955–1992)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">CITV</span> British free-to-air TV channel for children

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Sooty Heights is a British children's television series, created and presented by Richard Cadell, co-stars Liana Bridges and Brenda Longman, produced by Granada Television, and aired on the CITV block of ITV from 27 September 1999 to 11 December 2000. It is the successor to the children's series Sooty & Co and the first programme to feature Cadell as Sooty's right-hand man, following the retirement of Matthew Corbett in 1998. The show focuses on Sooty, Sweep, Soo, Scampi, Richard, and Liana running their new home and business place, the Sooty Heights hotel. The programme operated on the same sitcom format first used by The Sooty Show, and retained some elements from the previous show such as Sooty's camper van and the characters' bedroom.

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References

  1. "Sooty - TV on Google Play". play.google.com. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  2. Guide, British Comedy (20 June 2022). "Sooty Land: Interview with Sooty's right hand man Richard Cadell". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  3. From PC Sweep blog: http://members.tripod.com/sweeps_friend/page4.htm