The late Radio 1 disc jockey John Peel was at a charity event in the '70's when he popped outside for a breath of air. There, before his eyes, was a sight guaranteed to startle the senses - Tony Blackburn in a speedboat being driven by a Womble! The decade's pop scene encapsulated in a single, memorable image.
But what were the Wombles? They were the creation of children's author Elisabeth Beresford. After one of her children was heard to mispronounce 'Wimbledon', she got the idea that there should be living in a secret burrow a race of furry creatures who came out when everyone had gone, collected whatever rubbish they could find and adapted it for their own use. There was 'Great Uncle Bulgaria', a wise old sage, 'Madame Cholet' the cook ( and the only female Womble it appeared - no dirty jokes please! ), studious 'Wellington', macho 'Tomsk', cute 'Orinoco', bowler-hatted 'Tobermory' amongst others.
In 1973 the Wombles landed their own television show - each episode exactly five minutes long - broadcast nightly on B.B.C.-1 between the children's' programmes and the evening news. The Wombles themselves were realised using stop-motion animation, and the stories charmingly narrated by Bernard Cribbins. So popular was it that a Wombles craze swept the nation. Yes, alongside Osmondmania and then Rollermania, there was Womblemania. In terms of merchandising, the Wombles was the Harry Potter of its day. Mike Batt's catchy theme tune made the charts, inspiring him to write other songs with the word 'Womble' in the title. For their live performances on 'Top Of The Pops' and elsewhere, the Wombles were played by men in costume. When they made a guest appearance on the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, they caused a sensation - mainly because our European partners had not a clue who or what they were. They also appeared in the 1975 classic 'Goodies Rule O.K.'.
Lionel Jeffries wrote and directed a live-action film featuring the lovable furry beasts - 1977's 'Wombling Free'. It flopped - Womblemania had ended by the time it went on release.
The B.B.C. got tremendous mileage out of the 60 episodes, repeating them over and over again, making people think there were more than there were.
In 1998, the Wombles came back to television - only this time on I.T.V. Mike Batt's theme was wisely retained, and the new show boasted the latest in computer animation, meaning the Wombles could do things they had never done before, such as fly aeroplanes and run. Alas an important ingredient was left out - Bernard Cribbins. Though technically superior to the old, the show completely lacked its charm. '90's kids preferred the 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'.
So what of the future? The Wombles seem to have gone quiet lately, with no signs of a new album or appearances on reality television. This does seem strange. In terms of musical and acting ability they were streets ahead of the Bay City Rollers.
It has just been announced that the '80's band 'Spandau Ballet' have reformed, and are set to tour. Surely the Wombles can be persuaded to come out of their burrow after all these years and show the likes of Westlife and Robbie Williams how it should be done?
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