The new Basil Brush puppet from the 2002 show

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Basil Brush

Basil Brush is a reddish-brown fox glove puppet who has appeared in British children's (and later adult) television programmes from the 1960s to the present day. His show was on CBBC. He was originally voiced by Ivan Owen who died in 2000. more...

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He is noted for his catchphrase Boom! Boom!, and famously spoke with a 'posh' accent. His most prized possession is his brush (tail).

He was created in 1963 by Peter Firmin for The Three Scampies children's show but he became really popular following The Basil Brush show. In 1968 Basil was given his own television series.

The Basil Brush Show

Throughout the show's 12-year run Basil was always accompanied by a straight man, initially Rodney Bewes - aka Mr Rodney - better known as one half of The Likely Lads.

Bewes was replaced by Mr Derek - Derek Fowlds of Yes Minister fame - who was the stooge for Basil's quips between 1969 and 1973. The subsequent presenters were Mr Roy - Roy North ('73-'77), Mr Howard - Howard Williams ('77-'79), and Mr Billy - Billy Boyle ('79-'80).

Basil was in three more shows in the 1980s - the educational programme Let's Read... With Basil Brush (ITV, 1982-83), Crackerjack (BBC), and Basil's Joke Machine (ITV, 1986).

Basil recorded two albums (both with the same title): Boom! Boom! It's Basil Brush (1970) and Boom! Boom! It's Basil Brush (1977). His adventures also appeared on the pages of TV Comic during the peak of his popularity.

Basil Brush Show Comeback (2002)

In 2002, Basil made a comeback in a new children's BBC sitcom, again named The Basil Brush Show, in which his new comic foil, Mr Stephen, was played by Christopher Pizzey. Georgina Leonidas and Michael Hayes also appear on the show. No-one is directly credited as playing Basil on this show, although it is possibly Michael Winsor, who is credited as either Basil's fitness instructor or his personal assistant.

Other appearances

Basil appeared on French & Saunders in 2004.

He also briefly appeared as a presenter for several Friday episodes of the popular British children's tv programme Blue Peter in 2003 in which he had his own joke segment.

Basil played Dobby the house-elf in the French & Saunders sketch "Harry Potter And The Secret Chamberpot Of Azerbaijan" for Comic Relief Red Nose Day 2003.

On 10 December 2005, Basil appeared on The Weakest Link and won the show, receiving £10,900 for his chosen charity, the Blue Peter 2005 charity appeal, "Treasure Trail" (in aid of Childline). This makes him the first (and at the time of writing, only) puppet to win The Weakest link (Roland Rat had previously appeared as a puppet contestant, but did not win). Basil returned to Weakest Link as one of the contestants on the show's 1000th UK edition, recorded on 1 November 2006 and due for transmission on BBC television on 18 December 2006.