Latest news with #HackerTDog
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Stop it, Zippy. Why we all love a naughty puppet
Last week came the news that Hacker T Dog is to join the presenting team of Blue Peter. Hacker, for those of you unfamiliar with CBBC fare, is a gruff but extremely adorable puppet canine, given to dropping outspoken comments and mugging significantly to camera. He is making history as the first non-human host of Blue Peter, though some had doubts about Anthea Turner. Hacker's increased profile can only be a good thing. The splintered mirror of modern television has seen every factional taste and genre siloed off into its own isolated shard – including children's programmes, which not so very long ago were part of the cultural glue that bound the nation together. And puppets have started to disappear. It was once impossible to avoid them, from Muffin the Mule in the 1950s to Gordon the Gopher in the 1990s. Although nearly always aimed at children, they delighted us all. And Hacker continues the grand tradition of the best TV puppets: that they are naughty. Often, puppets were employed as tools for the socialisation of younger children, object lessons in how to go so far, and no further; Sooty and chums, and the Rainbow gang, fit this classic template. In both, we met three distinct characters: the good puppet (Soo the panda; George the hippo), the naughty puppet (Sweep the dog; and whatever Zippy was meant to be) and the median, well-adjusted puppet (Sooty and Bungle, both bears). The situation always turned on misbehaviour. So, for example, pushy Zippy would try to eat all the biscuits, doormat George wouldn't get his pink finger on a single biscuit, then Bungle would distribute the biscuits fairly. The guard rails were provided by the hapless human adult, Geoffrey, who ensured the return to social order. This was drama reduced in function to its barest Aristotelian bones. But whatever the moral lesson, the naughty puppet was always the most fun, and always the break-out star. My personal favourite of the era was Hartley Hare, of the 1973-81 ATV show Pipkins. How to capture him in words? He combined the manners of David Starkey and the looks of an item of roadkill, a fortnight since it had met its untimely end. Indeed, Hartley swaggered with a vanity perhaps unusual in such a flea-bitten and bedraggled article. A clip of Hartley sometimes goes viral on social media; when young people see him, they are terrified. Hartley had his own 'Geoffrey', in the form of Johnny, played by Wayne Laryea, who trailed in the hare's destructive wake, alternately apologising and affirming like a long-suffering wife. Basil Brush had a whole string of such enablers, and Rod Hull was literally inseparable from his Emu. As a child, I longed to be one of these puppet wranglers. It was my dream job. I even stage-doored Sooty's Matthew Corbett for career advice, and he was infinitely patient and kind to the small, voluble creature I was aged seven. But then, he'd had a lot of practice. Some naughty puppets made it out of children's TV and into the sphere of family entertainment. These characters tended to be naughtier in a different way. Basil Brush expressed carnal desire for star guests such as Clodagh Rodgers and Lulu, shuddering from his ears to the tip of his tail while emitting a full-throated 'phwoarr'. This only sowed confusion in infant minds. What exactly was his aim? How would such a congress be achieved? But the crown of puppet bawdry must go to Miss Piggy, and 1982's ABC special The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show, easily locatable on YouTube, catches her devilry at its height. Miss Piggy behaves spectacularly badly in this spectacular. Guest star John Ritter lusts after her. She spurns him – but, in turn, Piggy herself pants for an uninterested George Hamilton, pinning him down on her chat-show sofa. But this is merely a cover to spur Kermit's jealousy. We live today in an age when the lightest of confections, from sci-fi to comedy, often come carrying a freight of significance, and often collapse laughably under that load. The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show is one of those rare fripperies that, by accident, genuinely does contain wisdom for the ages, addressing the human foibles of love, jealousy and sex – flesh and blood reflected back through foam and latex. The show culminates in its star discovering that this is only a special, and not the first episode of a series – at which point she proceeds to karate chop the head of the network, and brings the set crashing down. This is the apex of Miss Piggy's misconduct, and goes entirely unpunished. In the last few precious years before the culture wars kicked off, naughty puppets made a bit of a comeback, and even took a leap into adult entertainment. The comedian and ventriloquist Nina Conti; the hit Broadway musical Avenue Q; and BBC Three's scabrously adolescent Mongrels: all took the unruliness of the naughty puppet and amplified it to comic effect. All used puppets to broach icky subjects, in ways that would be unthinkable today. One of Avenue Q's hit tunes is a toe-tapper with the lyric: 'Everyone's a little bit racist sometimes. / Doesn't mean we go around committing hate crimes.' I hope that Hacker's elevation is a sign that misbehaving marionettes are on their way back again, for children and for adults. Television and puppets go hand in glove.
South Wales Guardian
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Hacker T Dog announced as new Blue Peter presenter
Hacker T Dog has been a CBBC favourite for more than 16 years and has previously appeared as a guest presenter on Blue Peter. From September, he will become a regular presence in the studio on the world's longest-running children's TV show. Hacker T Dog said: 'It's dead exciting. 'Thank you for letting me aboard the mighty ship Blue Peter. 'I am privileged, nay proud, to be involved in this fine institution and top-notch show. 'That's right folks, it's me Hacker The Dog, national treasure, and new Blue Peter presenter.' The BBC's senior head of children's commissioning for seven plus, Sarah Muller, said: 'Audiences already love Hacker's guest appearances on Blue Peter, and now he's officially joining the team this September as we unveil the show's fresh new look. 'Viewers can expect plenty of mischief from the one-and-only Hacker T Dog.' Hacker T Dog – with the help of puppeteer Phil Fletcher – will join current presenters Shini Muthukrishnan, Joel Mawhinney, Abby Cook, and Henry the dog in the Blue Peter studio from September 5. To mark his debut as the show's 44th presenter, Hacker T Dog will take viewers on a special tour of his home town, Wigan, highlighting its most important spots. Blue Peter will also be revealing a new look and format as it shifts to Campfield Facilities at Versa Studios in Manchester, while it has decided to stop future live episodes 'as viewing habits change'. The Blue Peter Garden in Media City, and the garden at RHS Bridgewater, will continue to be used for filming, and remain part of the Blue Peter output. The first ever episode was shown on October 16 1958, and the show became known for its intrepid presenters and characterful pets. During its more than 60-year history, the series has presented Blue Peter Badges to the King and Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, as well as actors Olivia Colman and David Tennant. Blue Peter airs on CBBC, BBC Two, Sign Zone and BBC iPlayer.
Leader Live
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Hacker T Dog announced as new Blue Peter presenter
Hacker T Dog has been a CBBC favourite for more than 16 years and has previously appeared as a guest presenter on Blue Peter. From September, he will become a regular presence in the studio on the world's longest-running children's TV show. Hacker T Dog said: 'It's dead exciting. 'Thank you for letting me aboard the mighty ship Blue Peter. 'I am privileged, nay proud, to be involved in this fine institution and top-notch show. 'That's right folks, it's me Hacker The Dog, national treasure, and new Blue Peter presenter.' The BBC's senior head of children's commissioning for seven plus, Sarah Muller, said: 'Audiences already love Hacker's guest appearances on Blue Peter, and now he's officially joining the team this September as we unveil the show's fresh new look. 'Viewers can expect plenty of mischief from the one-and-only Hacker T Dog.' Hacker T Dog – with the help of puppeteer Phil Fletcher – will join current presenters Shini Muthukrishnan, Joel Mawhinney, Abby Cook, and Henry the dog in the Blue Peter studio from September 5. To mark his debut as the show's 44th presenter, Hacker T Dog will take viewers on a special tour of his home town, Wigan, highlighting its most important spots. Blue Peter will also be revealing a new look and format as it shifts to Campfield Facilities at Versa Studios in Manchester, while it has decided to stop future live episodes 'as viewing habits change'. The Blue Peter Garden in Media City, and the garden at RHS Bridgewater, will continue to be used for filming, and remain part of the Blue Peter output. The first ever episode was shown on October 16 1958, and the show became known for its intrepid presenters and characterful pets. During its more than 60-year history, the series has presented Blue Peter Badges to the King and Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, as well as actors Olivia Colman and David Tennant. Blue Peter airs on CBBC, BBC Two, Sign Zone and BBC iPlayer.
The Independent
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
All the changes coming to Blue Peter in September
Hacker T Dog, a popular CBBC puppet for over 16 years, will join Blue Peter as a new presenter from September. He will become the 44th presenter of the world's longest-running children's TV show, appearing regularly in the studio. To mark his debut, Hacker T Dog will take viewers on a special tour of his hometown, Wigan. Blue Peter will also introduce a new look and format, relocating to Campfield Facilities at Versa Studios in Manchester. The show will cease future live episodes due to changing viewing habits, though the Blue Peter Garden and RHS Bridgewater garden will still be used for filming.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Hacker T Dog joins Blue Peter presenter line up
Blue Peter has had its fair share of famous animals over the years – but never has it had a dog as a lead presenter!That's all about to change as CBBC's Hacker T Dog will officially be joining the world's longest-running children's television show in meat paste-loving mutt will join presenters Abby Cook, Joel Mawhinney and Shini hope that Blue Peter dog Henry doesn't mind a bit of canine competition in the you have any advice for Hacker joining Blue Peter? Or a message of good luck? Leave your thoughts below. Hacker has been a regular face on CBBC for over 16 best known for his quickfire gags, being from Wigan and his love of meat paste. When asked about his new role, Hacker said: "It's dead exciting!""I am privileged, nay proud, to be involved in this fine institution and top-notch show. That's right folks, it's me Hacker The Dog, national treasure, and new Blue Peter presenter."You said it, Hacker. Hacker will officially become presenter number 44 in September, joining a long line of famous Blue Peter presenters including Matt Baker, Helen Skelton and John it won't be his first time presenting the Wigan wonder has already appeared on Blue Peter a number of times as a guest presenter. Viewers will be treated to a tour of his beloved Wigan as part of the new series' launch later this Muller, BBC Senior Head of Children's Commissioning 7+, says: "Viewers can expect plenty of mischief from the one-and-only Hacker T Dog."The new look Blue Peter will launch Friday 5 September on BBC Two, CBBC, Sign Zone and BBC iPlayer.
