Bungle (Rainbow) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bungle |
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| Rainbow character | |
Bungle (far right) appearing on the TV show Rainbow
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| Portrayed by | John Leeson (1972) Stanley Bates (1973-1989) Malcolm Lord (1989-1992) Richard Robinson (1994-1995) Paul Cullinan (1996-1997) |
| Information | |
| Species | Bear |
Bungle is a well-known character from the British children's TV show Rainbow. He is a big, friendly brown bear who was brought to life by several actors over the years, most notably Stanley Bates. Bungle is always curious and loves to explore, but he can also be a bit clumsy. In most episodes, you'd see Bungle having funny arguments with the other puppet characters, Zippy and George. Their human friend, Geoffrey Hayes, would often help them sort things out. Bungle usually appears without clothes during the day, but he wears pyjamas for bedtime and a towel after a bath.
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Who is Bungle?
Bungle is one of the main characters in Rainbow, a popular children's show that aired for many years. He is a large, brown, furry bear. Unlike some of the other characters, Bungle is played by an actor inside a full-body costume. This means someone is actually wearing the Bungle suit and moving around.
Bungle's Personality
Bungle is known for being very inquisitive. This means he loves to ask questions and learn new things. However, he is also quite clumsy, which often leads to funny situations. His clumsiness often causes playful arguments with Zippy and George, the other puppet characters. These disagreements are usually lighthearted and are resolved by Geoffrey Hayes, the human presenter of the show.
Bungle's Look
Bungle's appearance is quite unique. He is a large, brown bear. During the day, he doesn't wear clothes, which is normal for a bear character. But when it's time for bed, he puts on pyjamas. After taking a bath, he wraps a towel around his waist. These small details make Bungle feel more like a real friend to the young viewers.
How Bungle Changed Over Time
When Rainbow first started, Bungle looked a bit different. His face stuck out more, and his belly was white. He also looked more like a realistic bear.
Why Bungle's Appearance Changed
From the second series of Rainbow onwards, the show's creators decided to change Bungle's look. They made him appear more like a cartoon character. The reason for this change was that some of the younger viewers were a little scared by his very realistic bear appearance. To make him friendlier, they changed his fur to a more orange-brown color. They also made his head bigger and his face less pointy. These changes helped Bungle become a more comforting and fun character for children.
Actors Who Played Bungle
Many talented actors have played Bungle over the years. The first actor was John Leeson in 1972. After that, Stanley Bates played Bungle for a long time, from 1973 to 1989. Other actors who took on the role include Malcolm Lord, Richard Robinson, and Paul Cullinan. Each actor helped bring Bungle's curious and clumsy personality to life.
A Story About an Actor
There's a well-known story about one of the actors who played Bungle. Some people thought that an actor, possibly Stanley Bates, left the show because of an incident during a live performance. However, Malcolm Lord, who also worked on Rainbow, explained the real reason. He said that Stanley Bates chose to leave before the live shows began. Bates wanted to focus more on writing scripts for the show. This gave Malcolm Lord the chance to play Bungle himself.
