At the start of April 1997, Easter time, British television saw a revolutionary new force take to the airwaves. Its bright colours, fun outlook and happy stars constituted bold, modern ideas. A couple of months later, they were big news - so now you know I’m not talking about Channel 5 Why were thy big news?

Teletubbies is, as you almost certainly know, a BBC2 television programme for children. Small children. Pre-school children, in fact. It is called Teletubbies because each character has a small screen in their tummy which can show TV pictures. A Teletubby is a furry, rounded, primary-coloured creature with an aerial sticking out of its head, a face ranging from pale beige to dark beige, very big eyes, a twitchy nose and a happy smile. It has grey circular rubber grips on its feet. They are of a very sunny disposition, and are terribly likeable. They hold each other in very high regard (”Teletubbies love each other very much”, we were told once) but unlike some shows it isn’t rammed down our throats, which is appreciated.

The show has a structure along these lines:

* Intro song
* Windmill spins, Teletubbies run around madly
* Teletubbies say hello
* Short story/event
* Windmill spins, Teletubbies run around madly
* Teletubbies stand on a hill
* Each Teletubby in turn receives a small transmission flash on their tummy
* One Teletubby is honoured with the full transmission film and is very happy
* The (live action) film is shown - maybe a story, a song, or a film about a child
* When it is over, the Teletubbies say “Again, again!”
* The film is shown again
* Teletubbyland based story, usually with some vague moral
* If time allows, a vignette (signified by the windmill) happens - maybe the ships or the bear
* Windmill spins, Teletubbies run around madly
* Teletubbies stand behind hills, voice says goodbye to them, they say goodbye and duck down behind hills
* One Teletubby jumps up and says “Boo!”, others follow suit
* Voice says “Nooo” in a smiley voice, Teletubbies repeat
* Voice says goodbye again, Teletubbies say goodbye and duck down behind hills
* Sun sets (”The sun is setting in the sky, Teletubbies say goodbye”)
* In turn, Teletubbies say goodbye again, then jump into hole in roof of house
* Whichever Teletubby jumped up earlier pops out of the hole, waves and says “Bye bye!”

All that, in half an hour!

Check out this Teletubby imagery by graffiti artists in southern Italy:

Do you want Teletubbies on your desktop? If so then download this Teletubbie wallpaper in 800X600

Update: Just found this great little pic of Teletubbies in the wild!