List of Zzzap! characters facts for kids

This article is about the fun characters from the TV show Zzzap!. This show was made for children who are hearing impaired. It was shown on ITV from 1993 to 2001. Zzzap! was special because it looked like a comic book that came to life on your screen!

Meet the Zzzap! Characters

Cuthbert Lilly: The Clumsy Hero

Cuthbert Lilly was a main character in Zzzap!. He was played by Richard Waites. Cuthbert was a kind person, but he was also very clumsy and often had funny accidents! His catchphrase was "He's Dead Silly."

Cuthbert always wore a bright pink suit, a yellow shirt, a red and white bow-tie, and red shoes. He had brown spiky hair. Cuthbert was in every single episode of Zzzap! from the very beginning to the end.

His comic sound effect bubbles were usually pink or lilac. Cuthbert's parts of the show were full of slapstick comedy. This means he would try to do simple things, but they would always go wrong in a funny way! He often had a rival called "Mr Snooty" and an "Old Lady" who would hit him with an umbrella.

Cuthbert's special move was putting his thumbs up, no matter what happened. He also had funny running gags, like trying to shake hands and getting his hand crunched. Sometimes, if he caused too much trouble, an angry person or a policeman would chase him. Before running away, he'd always give a thumbs-up to the camera!

Cuthbert was also friends with Smart Arty. He sometimes appeared in Smart Arty's sketches to help him with problems, like opening a paint pot or looking after a baby.

In one special episode called "Cuthbert's Diary," Cuthbert actually spoke full sentences! This was very rare for the show.

Smart Arty: The Creative Painter

Smart Arty was a fun French painter. He was played by Neil Buchanan, who also hosted Art Attack. Smart Arty was on the show from 1993 to 1998.

His special greeting was to blow kisses to the audience at the start and end of his segments. His comic sound effect bubbles were always dark pink.

Every Smart Arty sketch began with him painting a picture of himself. In the first series, he made big pictures using unusual objects. Later, he used a magic pen to bring his drawings to life! This was a bit like the cartoon Penny Crayon. His sketches always had the same classical music playing: Boccherini's Minuet.

Smart Arty was also friends with Cuthbert Lilly. He would sometimes pop up in Cuthbert's sketches to help him out.

To show how popular he was, a giant picture of Smart Arty was even made on the show Art Attack!

The Handymen: Masters of Creation

The Handymen were two gloved hands, one yellow and one blue. They were played by Sarah Pickthall. Just like Cuthbert Lilly, The Handymen appeared in every single episode of Zzzap!.

The Handymen didn't have any comic sound effect bubbles. Their sketches were like a mini-show on a stage, with an audience made entirely of other hands! The Handymen would either build something cool or perform a magic trick. They used cardboard signs on sticks to show instructions or describe what was happening.

A funny thing they often did was when a sign stayed too long, one of the hands would tap it to make it leave the scene.

Tricky Dicky: The Mysterious Spy

Tricky Dicky was a mysterious spy, also played by Richard Waites. He was only in the first series of Zzzap! in 1993. He always wore a black hat, a mask, a grey trench coat, and black shoes. Sometimes he wore Wellington boots if his mission was muddy!

Tricky Dicky had a very high and slightly spooky giggle. His eyes would only show at the beginning of his sketches. He was taken off the show after the first series because some people thought he was too scary for younger viewers.

His comic sound effect bubbles came in different colors like black, white, blue, and green. In his sketches, Tricky Dicky would be in his secret office. He would type out a challenge for a group of children to complete. The challenges sounded easy at first, but they always had a tricky twist! For example, pouring custard on a pudding might mean the custard was in a wheelbarrow and the pudding was at the end of an obstacle course!

If the children failed, Tricky Dicky would hold up a sign saying "Mission Impossible." If they succeeded, he'd show a sign saying "Mission Possible."

Daisy Dares You: The Cheeky Challenger

Daisy Dare joined Zzzap! in 1994 and stayed until the very end in 2001. She replaced Tricky Dicky. Daisy was played by Deborah McCallum for most of her time, and then by Claire Macaulay. She looked like a young, cheeky schoolgirl with freckles, wearing yellow and black checked dungarees. Her hair was always in two bunches with yellow bows. Her special way of walking was a playful skip.

Her comic sound effect bubbles were always bright yellow. Like Tricky Dicky, Daisy would set difficult challenges for groups of children from local schools. If even one child succeeded, Daisy would get upset and throw a tantrum! But if all the children failed, Daisy would laugh and celebrate her win.

From Series 8 onwards, if the children succeeded, Daisy had to do the challenge herself! This often meant she got covered in messy food or fell into a swimming pool. When she fell in, the kids would cheer and laugh!

In the last episode of each series, Daisy would set a challenge where the children got into trouble, like throwing food at a policeman. But usually, her plan would backfire, and Daisy would end up in trouble herself! Daisy also used a whistle to signal the children to start their challenge.

Daisy was friends with Minnie Magic and also appeared in sketches with Cuthbert Lilly and Smart Arty. She was one of the most popular characters on the show.

Minnie The Mini Magician: The Learner Magician

Minnie Magic joined Zzzap! in 1999 and was on the show until 2001. She replaced Smart Arty. Minnie was played by Sophie Aldred.

Minnie was a magician who was still learning, so she wore an L-plate (like a learner driver) around her neck! She had curly orange hair, freckles, and round glasses. She wore a purple magician's robe with stars, matching hat and bloomers, black and white striped leggings, and purple shoes.

Her comic sound effect bubbles were always orange. Minnie would try out new magic tricks for different tasks, but they often went wrong! When they did, she would sigh and say "Oh well!" before tapping her learner sign. Sometimes she would succeed, and then she'd twiddle her glasses and say "Magic!"

Minnie was also friends with Daisy Dare.

Other Pages

• Question Mark (Puzzle Page)
• Dot to Dot
• Eye (Spot the Difference)
• Eyes in Leaves (Guess the Animal)
• Magnifying Glass (Dingbats)