BBC Teletubbies stars' lives - tragic death, eyebrow raising scene and alcoholism

Edinburgh Live

11-05-2025

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We all have memories of those four oversized, extraterrestrial-like figures scampering across our TV screens stirring up shenanigans when we were kids.
The Teletubbies are arguably among the UK's most iconic children's TV series, having first appeared in 1997. Their nonsensical chatter and distinctive antennas sprouting from their scalps render them unforgettable.
Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po composed the quartet of Teletubbies; under the watchful eyes of the Sun Baby and the Voice Trumpets, they spread giggles and mirth to viewers young and old. Notorious for stirring controversy, once an episode even got axed for being a bit too risqué.
Original broadcasts spanned from 1997 to 2001 on BBC, and there was also a revival from 2015 to 2018. Come November 2022, Netflix orchestrated a grand comeback.
But ever wonder what became of the original performers beneath those vivid suits?, reports the Mirror.
Tinky Winky.
(Image: BBC/Teletubbies Production LTD)
Tinky Winky, the biggest and eldest of the bunch, was portrayed by a trio: Dave Thompson, Simon Shelton, and Jeremiah Krage. Dave was the initial actor behind the purple behemoth but departed after controversy questioning Tinky Winky's sexual orientation bubbled up.
American conservative preacher Jerry Falwell once infamously criticised the character, decrying: "Tinky Winky is purple, the gay pride colour, and his antenna is shaped like a triangle: the gay pride symbol."
The official reason given for his exit was "creative differences", but reports later surfaced that the production company behind the show believed the actor had wrongly suggested Tinky Winky had a homosexual orientation.
"I am proud of my work for them. I was always the one to test out the limitations of the costume. I was the first to fall off my chair and roll over. I took all the risks," Dave commented on his time with the show. Post-departure, Dave ventured into standup comedy and in 2014, he performed with the Naked Balloon dance troupe.
Following Dave's exit, Simon, a ballet dancer and choreographer by trade, stepped into the Teletubbies' world as the show's fame soared both in the UK and across the pond. "We used to receive a lot of fan mail from kind and parents, I suppose we were a bit like The Beatles or Take That of children's television," Simon recalled.
Simon also addressed the speculation surrounding Tinky Winky's sexual orientation. "People always ask me if Tinky Winky is gay," he remarked.
"But the character is supposed to be a three-year-old so the question is really quite silly."
In a sad turn of events, Simon passed away due to hypothermia in Liverpool during January 2018 at the young age of 52. He was found with a high level of alcohol in his system and was known to have struggled with alcohol issues.
Dipsy.
Dipsy, often dubbed the coolest of the Teletubbies, was portrayed by stand-up comedian John Simmit. Delving into his influence on the character, John shared: "Dipsy would say, 'Papa Come Papa Come To Po', which was actually my take on a classic reggae rhythm track called The Whip.
"And I'd slip in Jamaican dance moves, a Bogle there and a Tatty here. People spotted my little wink to my culture and I'm proud of that."
John never shied away from discussing the gruelling and sweaty nature of working inside the voluminous costume. "We had to wear really ugly underwear like those old Western long johns, which was essentially a onesie, but it was so it could absorb the sweat," he revealed.
"When we were out of costume, you'd have to turn your face the other way and speak to us at a distance because we were reeking and so sweaty you could wring us out. Huge props to our dressers for putting up with us!".
After the show wrapped up its four-year run, John returned to his roots as a comic and toured across the country. He once admitted that he has never disclosed on stage that he was the man behind Dipsy, although he does tweet about his time on the show and responds to fans' messages.
"The stand-up circuit is pretty close-knit so people got to know that I was Dipsy - but I never mentioned it on stage," he previously stated.
Laa Laa.
The third Teletubby, Laa Laa, known for their curly antenna and being the kindest and most encouraging member of the troupe, was portrayed by professionally trained dancer Nikky Smedley. Now aged 53, Smedley landed the role after responding to a newspaper advert seeking an actor for a novel children's TV series, sticking with it throughout the original four-year stint.
Yet, as Nikky recalls, it wasn't all child's play; the weighty and stifling costumes were a challenge while filming sessions stretched to 11-hour marathons.
Post-Teletubbies, once its initial series concluded in 2001, Nikky continued her association with Ragdoll Productions, contributing to other projects. Among these, she choreographed the dance routines for another CBeebies hit, In The Night Garden - yet another children's programme populated with peculiar, vibrant beings.
Po
(Image: BBC)
As for Po, the pint-sized darling of the group was depicted by Po, the tiniest and arguably most adorable of them all. Known for their subdued voice, Po enchanted audiences, blowing bubbles through a circle-shaped aerial and zipping around Tubbyland on a scooter.
Pui Fan Lee embraced the part just after graduating drama school – captured in one particularly endearing photo snoozing while still partially suited up as Po.
Upon Teletubbies' finale, Pui stirred some whispers by engaging in explicit scenes in Channel 4's Metrosexuality. "Yes, I was Po, but I am an actress, and the role looked interesting. I didn't take the lesbian role to be deliberately controversial," the actress clarified.
Pui later made a comeback to children's television, becoming one of the first presenters on the CBeebies channel, alongside Chris Jarvis, with whom she also co-hosts Show Me Show Me. Additionally, the actress landed a minor role in Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason and made a guest appearance in EastEnders in 2019.
The Sun Baby.
(Image: Time4News/Youtube)
The lovable Sun Baby would appear at the start of each episode, waking the Teletubbies and signaling the end of the day. Jess Smith, the original Sun Baby from 1997 to 2001, is now in her 20s and was expecting her first child.
Interestingly, Jess was cast for the role while being weighed in hospital. Producers filmed her sitting in front of a mirror and camera, watching her dad play with toys, which made baby Jess laugh uncontrollably, instantly securing her the coveted BBC role.
In a 2017 interview with BBC South East, Jess recounted how she landed the role: "I was being weighed at the hospital. "My mum took me and it just happened to be the same time that the producer of the old series had come in and wanted the hospital to get in contact with them if they'd seen any smiley babies. "It was just a case of sitting in front of a mirror and a camera and my dad playing with toys and race cars and that sort of thing to try and get me to laugh at the camera."
When the show made its comeback in 2015, viewers were introduced to a new baby, Berry, who took up the mantle.
An adorable photo even surfaced showing Jess giving Berry a cuddle.