Fans help Sooty celebrate his 60th

8:02pm Sunday 20th July 2008

For many people, a 60th birthday celebration is something to shout about, but when famous glove puppet Sooty reached his three score years milestone he remained forever silent.

However, he wasn't alone in his celebrations, as children at Brean Leisure Park in Somerset drew pictures to give the yellow bear, while his friends gave him special presents to mark the occasion.

His puppeteer and owner, Richard Cadell, said Sooty's panda girlfriend Soo baked him a cake, while his friend Sweep gave him one of his favourite bones.

"It's been a great day," Cadell, who appears on CITV with Sooty, said. "Sooty has had a fantastic day meeting lots of fans, including children from the Sooty Club."

Sooty was also given a birthday card by his former master Matthew Corbett, the son of Harry Corbett, who discovered the glove puppet in a magician's store in Blackpool in 1948.

As part of his celebrations, Sooty returned to his roots on Thursday with a trip to the seaside resort's North Pier, where he was reunited with Bill Lamb, who sold the original puppet to Harry Corbett for the grand sum of seven shillings and six pence (37.5p).

The silent bear first found fame in 1952 featuring on BBC television. When Harry Corbett retired in 1976, Sooty was passed down to his son, Matthew.

The original bear was completely yellow but Harry Corbett decided to sew on a black nose and mouth and colour his ears in black soot - hence the name Sooty - so that he stood out on black and white television.

The mischievous bear, who has appeared with a number of friends over the years, is renowned for his slapstick comedy, water pistols and his spell: "Izzy wizzy, let's get busy".

Entertainer Cadell recently bought the rights to the bear and is now hoping to revive the classic children's puppet for the next generation of young children.

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