Richard Cadell brings classic Sooty to Horsham

Sooty reaches his 70th birthday next year. He will do so in the safe hands of Richard Cadell who has ensured Sooty's longevity'¦ after a wobble.
Soo, Sooty and SweepSoo, Sooty and Sweep
Soo, Sooty and Sweep

The show plays Horsham’s Capitol on Monday, April 17.

As Richard explains: “Sooty was discovered in 1948 by Harry Corbett on the north pier in Blackpool. It was a wet and windy day in Blackpool, and Harry bought him in a joke shop to entertain his young son. Harry was an amateur magician, and he was already doing magic tricks at children’s parties, and he bought this little puppet on a horrible day in Blackpool.

“He was on holiday with his young family, and he wanted something to amuse the children. This little puppet cost a lot of money, but after a conversation with his wife, he bought it. He then introduced it into his magic act, and Sooty took over.”

Richard Cadell with Sooty, Sweep and SooRichard Cadell with Sooty, Sweep and Soo
Richard Cadell with Sooty, Sweep and Soo
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One thing led to another. He entered a talent show. He was spotted by the BBC. Four years later, Sooty was on television.

“This was the infancy of children’s television. There was only Muffin the Mule! Harry came along, and it sounds crazy now, but Sooty was the first teddy bear on children’s TV.”

Richard took over 19 years ago from Harry’s son Matthew who had taken over from his dad. And Richard is delighted to have brought Sooty back to prominence as the most popular children’s show on ITV. There was a little detour first, though.

“Matthew sold the rights to the Sooty Show to an investment bank that really wanted to take Sooty out of Britain and make him a global star. They employed me. I had no creative control. They introduced new characters. They tried to make the same TV that worked so well in the UK work across an international platform. It didn’t work. It didn’t work in the UK because they messed about with the format, and it didn’t work abroad. There was a moment when Sooty was not on television…

Richard Cadell with Sooty, Sweep and SooRichard Cadell with Sooty, Sweep and Soo
Richard Cadell with Sooty, Sweep and Soo
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“In 2008 the people that bought the rights could not get back on TV, and they offered the rights for sale. Me and my brother bought the rights for the Sooty Show, and I went back to ITV and I said ‘I want to turn the clock back to before all these changes and get back to the old formula.’ I told them I didn’t want to conquer the world. I wanted just to make sure that the British public were allowed to go back to the Sooty they grew up with. I made a pilot, and it was commissioned for 52 episodes.”

And the success has been constant ever since.

“It has been hugely satisfying. Matthew is a personal friend of mine and was very supportive when I took it over. When they changed the format, he said ‘My father would be turning in his grave!’ And I was the guy on TV doing it. It made me very upset at the time that I was part of this new format that didn’t work. When I got the rights, it was not done for money. It was done for love. I knew I could change it back. It wasn’t so much for me. It was for everyone else, for all the generations that had grown up with Sooty and for Matthew… for all the people that wanted the Sooty that they remembered.”

The shows start at 11am and 2.30pm. Tickets cost £13. Call 01403 750220. Visit www.thecapitolhorsham.com.

Also at The Capitol

You Win Again, a tribute show celebrating the music of the Bee Gees, comes to the Horsham venue this Friday (April 14, 8pm).

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Prepare to experience the distinct sound of one the greatest bands to have graced the stage in an unforgettable concert spectacular.

Immerse yourself in the Gibb brothers’ music from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s – including hits of artists they wrote for such as Celine Dion, Diana Ross and Dolly Parton.

Tickets cost £24.

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