Teletubbies facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Teletubbies
Created by	Anne Wood Andrew Davenport
Developed by	Ragdoll Productions (original series) Darrall Macqueen (revival series)
Written by	Andrew Davenport Catherine Williams
Directed by	David G Hillier Vic Finch Nigel P Harris Bob Jacobs Martin Scott Paul Gawith Nicky Hinkley Jack Jameson Richard Bradley Dermot Canterbury Iwan Watson Matt Rene
Starring	Original series: Dave Thompson Simon Shelton John Simmit Nikky Smedley Pui Fan Lee Mark Dean Jess Smith Robin Stevens Toyah Willcox Revival series: Jeremiah Krage Nick Kellington Rebecca Hyland Rachelle Beinart Olly Taylor Berry Smith Victoria Jane Luisa Guerreiro
Voices of	Original series: Toyah Willcox Penelope Keith John Simmit Gary Stevenson Alex Hogg Alex Pascall Rudolph Walker Eric Sykes Mark Heenehan Sandra Dickinson (US) John Schwab (US) Toni Barry (US) Rachael Lillis (US) Dena Davis (US) Revival series: Jane Horrocks Jim Broadbent Fearne Cotton Antonia Thomas Teresa Gallagher Rob Rackstraw David Walliams Rochelle Humes Ralph Reay
Narrated by	Original series: Tim Whitnall Toyah Willcox (titles and credits only) Rolf Saxon (US) Revival series: Daniel Rigby Antonia Thomas (titles and credits only) Tituss Burgess (US version of 2015 reboot)
Opening theme	"Teletubbies say 'Eh-oh!'"
Composer(s)	Andrew McCrorie-Shand (original series) Robert Hartley BBC Philharmonic Richie Webb Matt Katz (revival series)
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language(s)	English
No. of series	9
No. of episodes	485 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Anne Wood David G Hillier Vic Finch (original series) Maddy Darrall Billy Macqueen (revival series)
Production location(s)	Wimpstone, England (1997–2001) Twickenham Studios, West London, England (2015–18)
Running time	Original series: 25 minutes (series 1-5) Revival series: 15 minutes (series 6-10)
Production company(s)	Original series: Ragdoll Productions BBC Revival series: DHX Media Darrall Macqueen Ingenious
Release
Original network	Original series: BBC Two (on the CBBC programming block) Revival series: CBeebies
Picture format	Original series: PAL Revived series: HDTV 1080i
Original release	31 March 1997 (1997-03-31) – 12 October 2018 (2018-10-12)

Teletubbies is a popular British TV show for kids. It was created by Anne Wood and Andrew Davenport for the BBC. The show is about four colorful characters called Teletubbies. They are named after the TV screens on their tummies. Each Teletubby has a unique antenna on their head. They talk in a special language and act a bit like toddlers.

The show quickly became very successful in Britain and other countries. It won many BAFTA awards. It was also nominated for two Daytime Emmys. A song based on the show's theme became a number 1 hit in the UK in 1997. It stayed on the charts for 32 weeks and sold over a million copies. By 2000, the show's merchandise had earned over £1 billion.

The original series ended in 2001. However, a new version was made in 2014. This new series started on CBeebies in the UK and Nick Jr. Channel in the US. Old episodes of the show are still shown on TV around the world. A new version of the 2015 reboot with Tituss Burgess was released on Netflix in 2022. The original series also returned to live TV in the US on Pluto TV in 2019.

About Teletubbyland

The show takes place in a bright, flowery area with rabbits and bird sounds. The four Teletubbies live in a house called the "Tubbytronic Superdome." It's built into the ground and has a large round door. The Teletubbies share their home with strange things like the Voice Trumpets and a blue vacuum cleaner named Noo-Noo. The colorful setting was made to keep young children interested. It also helps them learn about changes in life.

Each episode has special routines. These include the Teletubbies playing with the Voice Trumpets. Sometimes, Noo-Noo causes funny accidents. Children are shown on the Teletubbies' tummy screens. A magical event happens once in every episode. This event is often surprising and fun. At the end of each show, the Voice Trumpets and the narrator say goodbye. The Teletubbies go back to their Superdome as the Sun Baby sets.

Meet the Characters

The main characters. From left to right: Dipsy, Laa-Laa, Po, and Tinky Winky.

Main Teletubbies

• Tinky Winky is the first and biggest Teletubby. He is purple and has a triangle antenna on his head. He often carries a red bag. Dave Thompson and Simon Shelton played him in the original series. Jeremiah Krage plays him in the new series.
• Dipsy is the second Teletubby. He is green and his antenna looks like a dipstick. Dipsy can be a bit stubborn. He sometimes doesn't want to do what the others want. His face is darker than the other Teletubbies. The creators said he is black. He often wears a hat with a black and white pattern. John Simmit played him in the original series. Nick Kellington plays him in the new series.
• Laa-Laa is the third Teletubby. She is yellow and has a curly antenna. Laa-Laa is very kind. She loves to sing and dance. She often looks after the other Teletubbies. Her favorite toy is an orange rubber ball. Nikky Smedley played her in the original series. Rebecca Hyland plays her in the new series.
• Po is the fourth Teletubby. She is the shortest and youngest. She is red and her antenna looks like a bubble wand. Po usually speaks softly. The show's creators said she is Cantonese. She sometimes speaks the language. Her favorite toy is a blue and pink scooter. Pui Fan Lee played her in the original series. Rachelle Beinart plays her in the new series.

Other Fun Characters

• Noo-Noo is a smart vacuum cleaner. He takes care of the Teletubbies and cleans their home. He mostly stays inside the Tubbytronic Superdome. He cleans with his nose, which acts like a vacuum. Noo-Noo talks by making slurping and sucking sounds. Sometimes he misbehaves and sucks up things like toast or blankets. When this happens, the Teletubbies call him "Naughty Noo-Noo" and chase him. He was blue in the original show. In the new series, he has orange, pink, and yellow stripes.
• The Voice Trumpets are like periscopes that pop out of the ground. They talk to the Teletubbies and play games with them. They also act like supervisors. They are the only characters in Teletubbyland who speak in full sentences.
• The Sun Baby appears at the start and end of each episode. She wakes up the Teletubbies. Jess Smith played her in the original series. Berry (last name unknown) plays her in the new series.
• Many rabbits live in Teletubbyland. The Teletubbies enjoy watching them hop and play. They are the only Earth animals in Teletubbyland. They live in holes and bushes.
• The Tubby Phone is a character in the new series. It can make the Teletubbies dance when they push its button. It can also take "Tubby photos."
• The Tiddlytubbies are baby Teletubbies from the new series. Their names are Mi-Mi, Daa Daa, Baa, Ping, RuRu, Nin, Duggle Dee, and Umby Pumby. They got their own cartoon web series in 2018.

How the Show Started

The show was created by Anne Wood and Andrew Davenport. The BBC asked them to come up with a show for young children. Andrew Davenport was interested in astronauts and the first Moon landing. They also thought about how children were using more technology in the 1990s. These ideas helped them create the show's concept. The BBC liked their idea and decided to make it.

Finding a place to film was tricky. They wanted to film outside but needed a special bowl-shaped dip in the ground. They found a farm in Wimpstone, Warwickshire, where they had filmed another show before.

Teletubbies: Everywhere

Teletubbies: Everywhere is a spin-off show that started on CBeebies in 2002. In the United States, it began on PBS Kids in 2003. These episodes are 10 minutes long. They teach kids about colors, shapes, numbers, and simple ideas like "up and down" or "big and small." They also teach about different cultures.

Teletubbies Everywhere does not take place in Teletubbyland. Instead, it uses different colored backgrounds for each part. Each episode has 4-5 short sections.

Episode List

Series 1

• Numbers – 3 (India)
• Drumming (Taiwan)
• Feeding Chickens (Portugal)
• Ice Skating (Finland)
• Rolling Wheels (India)
• Ballet (USA)
• Balloon Umbrella (Taiwan)
• Collecting Garnets (Namibia)
• Autumn Leaves (Chile)
• Indian Dance (India)
• Peacocks (Korea)
• Handshapes: Fish (USA)
• Idlis (India)
• Carousel (France)
• Washing Clothes (South Africa)
• Snails (Korea)
• Fetching Water (Morocco)
• Erhu Fiddle (Taiwan)
• Picking Mandarins (Spain)
• Numbers – 2 (India)
• Lion Dance (Taiwan)
• Dog Training (Russia)
• Kites (India)
• Football (Argentina)
• Balancing Pots (South Africa)
• Numbers – 5 (India)

Series 2

• Picking Maize (Spain)
• Sign Painting (Taiwan)
• Dung Beetles (South Africa)
• Bhelpuri (India)
• Getting Dressed (Korea)
• Numbers – 4 (India)
• Marble Track (Germany)
• Shaking and Beating (Taiwan)
• Flower Planting (Chile)
• Sand Bottle (Russia)
• Numbers – 1 (India)
• Lanterns (Taiwan)
• Flower Festival (Spain)
• Dune Sledding (Namibia)
• Bubbles (Korea)
• Go Karts (Morocco)
• Canal Trip (India)
• Dancing Sevillanas (Spain)
• Wall Painting (Taiwan)
• Sandwich (India)
• Mechanical Toys (South Africa)
• Rolling (Korea)
• Feeding Lambs (Wales)
• Milking the Cow (Columbia)
• Drum Dance (Taiwan)
• Walking in the Snow (Germany)

Episodes

Merchandise and Events

Teletubbies Toys and Products

A kiddie ride featuring the Teletubbies characters.

Golden Bear Toys made the first Teletubbies dolls when the show started. These toys were sold all over the world. Talking toys were available in many languages. Hasbro also made new products in 1998. In 1999, Microsoft UK released special "ActiMates" toys. The Rasta Imposta company made Teletubbies costumes for kids and adults. Two educational video games featuring the characters were also released.

Teletubbies dolls were the most popular Christmas toy in 1997. Stores often ran out of them. Many shops had to limit sales to one toy per customer. Sometimes, people even camped outside stores to buy them. Over a million dolls were sold in Britain by Christmas 1997. The plush toys were named "Toy of the Year" in 1998.

Fast-food restaurants in North America also offered Teletubbies toys. In 1999, Burger King gave out six Teletubbies plush toys. They also sold chicken nuggets shaped like the characters. McDonald's had keychains of the characters in 2000.

Jolly Roger made two kiddie rides with the characters. You could find them at places like Chuck E. Cheese's. The show's merchandise earned a lot of money for the BBC. In 2021, WildBrain, which owns the Teletubbies brand, launched a Teletubbies Pride Collection. Money from these products helps support LGBTQ+ inclusion in children's shows.

Live Teletubbies Events

Teletubbies in the Hamley's Toy Parade in 2016.

To celebrate the show's tenth anniversary in 2007, special events were held. The Teletubbies had a private event in London. They also appeared in New York City at places like Times Square. They were even interviewed on NBC's The Today Show. This was the first time the actors were seen without their costumes on TV.

A partnership was made with designer Isaac Mizrahi. He designed Teletubbies-inspired bags that were sold to help charities. A new clothing line was also launched. The mayor of New York City, Mike Bloomberg, declared March 28, 2007, "Teletubbies Day." He gave the Teletubbies the key to the city. After New York, the Teletubbies went on their first live tour in Europe.

In 2016, costumed Teletubbies characters appeared at the American International Toy Fair. They also made appearances at malls in Athens, Greece, to promote the show. They visited various TV shows in May 2016 to promote the new series coming to Nick Jr. Channel in the United States.

Awards and Nominations

Teletubbies has won many awards for being a great children's show.

The "Eh-oh!" Song

In December 1997, BBC Studios released a song from the show. It was based on the Teletubbies theme song and called "Teletubbies say 'Eh-oh!'" This was the only song released by the Teletubbies. It became a number 1 hit in the UK in December 1997. The song stayed on the Top 75 charts for 32 weeks.

Teletubbies Games

In 1998, BBC Multimedia released a game called Play with the Teletubbies for computers. It was later made for the PlayStation in 2000. In December 2017, Teletubbies Play Time was released for phones and tablets.

More Teletubbies Shows

Tiddlytubbies Animated Web Series

In 2018, a cartoon web series about the Tiddlytubbies started. You can watch these short videos on the official Teletubbies YouTube channel. WildBrain Spark Studios makes these cartoons.

Teletubbies: Let's Go!

A new computer-animated spin-off show called Teletubbies: Let's Go! was announced in 2022. This series will have 52 short episodes, each 5 minutes long. They will be uploaded to the official Teletubbies YouTube channel.

See also

In Spanish: Teletubbies para niños