The original puppets of Sooty and Sweep, used by the creator of the popular children’s television show, are predicted to sell for a high price at auction – likely thousands of pounds.
As a lifelong movie and TV fan, I always loved Sooty! The puppets you see today actually belong to Matthew Corbett, who took over from his dad, Harry Corbett. Harry created Sooty – can you believe it? – and hosted ‘The Sooty Show’ for twenty years. He was a real fixture in pretty much every British home back then, and I grew up watching him!
The auction features a complete set of Sooty, Sweep, and Soo puppets – one Sooty and two of each of the others – along with a special rod used to control the puppets, plus DVDs of the shows and other keepsakes.
The collection has been given a guide price £4,000 to £5,000 by Hansons Auctioneers.
I remember hearing that Sooty actually started as a simple gift! Back in 1948, Corbett was on holiday in Blackpool with his kids and bought a puppet just to keep them entertained. Little did he know it would become such a beloved character!
Sooty rose to fame four years later when Corbett introduced him on the BBC’s Talent Night in 1952.
In 1952, their performance evolved into a television show hosted by Corbett himself. He continued to present it until 1975, when his son, Matthew, took over the role and continued until 1992.
The Sooty Show started with only the puppet Sooty, but the character of Sweep, a squeaky dog, was added in 1957. Initially, Sweep’s voice was created by Corbett’s brother, Leslie, who used a saxophone to make the squeaking sounds.
In 1965, the female panda character Soo was introduced, and was initially voiced by Marjorie Corbett, the wife of the creator.
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When Corbett proposed adding a female character to The Sooty Show, it sparked concern at the BBC. The show’s producer, Trevor Hill, even wrote to Corbett, worried that this change could introduce inappropriate themes into the program.
Luckily, the BBC’s Director General, Hugh Carlton Greene, stepped in and let Corbett include Soo in the show, but he insisted they must never physically interact on screen.
Authors
Molly Moss writes about the newest happenings in television, movies, and other entertainment for TopMob. She has a master’s degree in journalism and has also contributed to major publications like The Guardian, The Times, and The Sun Online.
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2026-04-23 15:09