Skateboarding duck facts for kids

Herbie the skateboarding duck (born around 1976, died 1983) became famous after appearing on a BBC news show called Nationwide. His story was first shown on May 24, 1978, as part of the Midlands Today segment.

Herbie was an Aylesbury duck, a type of white duck. He was a pet of the Randall family, Jacky and Paddy, and their children Mikala and Colin, who lived in Croydon.

Herbie the Skateboarding Duck

Herbie's Story

The TV report about Herbie was presented by a reporter named Alan Towers. It showed Herbie doing many everyday things. You could see him waddling down the street. He also joined the Randall family for breakfast. The clip even showed him playfully chasing their family dog, a terrier.

The most famous part of the film was a short four-second clip. In this clip, Herbie seemed to be skateboarding all by himself! He was on Colin Randall's skateboard. This amazing image really caught the public's attention. Many people asked the BBC to show the clip again, and they did, many times.

Why Herbie Was Famous

Herbie's clip became very popular. Other TV stations around the world also showed it. Many of them even made their own similar stories about animals. People became interested in Herbie again in 1983. This was after it was announced that Herbie had passed away. Since then, the clip has been shown many more times on different TV shows.

Herbie's Legacy

Because Herbie's story was so popular, the phrase "skateboarding duck" became well-known. It now means a special kind of news story. These stories are often a bit funny or unusual. They are usually light-hearted and are sometimes used to fill the last few minutes of a news broadcast.

Herbie's story became a symbol for the Nationwide TV show. The very last item ever shown on the program was a song. It was a tribute to the skateboarding duck, and it even had a surprising ending!