Uncle Bobby facts for kids

Uncle Bobby was a popular Canadian children's television show. It first aired in 1964 on Toronto's CFTO TV station. Later, starting in 1968, it became a weekly show across Canada on the CTV network. The show continued to be shown on local CTV stations even after that. In its later years, it was called Uncle Bobby and Friends. In 1979, it changed its name again to Kid's Corner. This version was shown on Saturday mornings for a few more years. You could even see repeats of it on YTV into the early 1990s.

About the Show

The half-hour show starred a friendly man named Bobby Ash (1924–2007). He was a former comedian and circus clown who moved to Canada from the United Kingdom. The show was on weekdays around noon. It had many fun parts that kids loved.

Who Was Uncle Bobby?

Bobby Ash was known as Uncle Bobby. He was kind and never talked down to his young audience. His famous catchphrase was "MMMM...BOBBY'S HERE!!!" Children who came on the show were often called "bobbysoxers" by Uncle Bobby.

Fun Characters and Friends

The show featured many memorable characters and regular guests. These helped make the show special for kids.

Bimbo the Birthday Clown

One of the most popular parts was "Bimbo: The Birthday Clown." Bimbo was a large cardboard cutout. He would come out of his closet with a big, booming laugh. This happened while a song called "Bimbo" played. Uncle Bobby would then announce birthday greetings for children watching. Three puppets on strings, named Wilson, Keppel and Betty, would "dance" to Bimbo's song.

Other Regulars

Many talented people were part of the Uncle Bobby show. These included:

• Alex Laurier, who played guitar and sang songs.
• Meredith Cutting, who was known as the singing police officer.
• Ventriloquists Jack O'Reilly with his puppet Daniel O'Rourke.
• Another ventriloquist, Cy Leonard, with his puppet Happy.
• Magician Ron Leonard, who performed amazing tricks.
• Nancy McCaig, who played the accordion.
• Barry Kent MacKay, a wildlife artist who shared his drawings.
• Ruth Winkler, a clay artist who created fun shapes.
• Traffic Officer John (also called Big Big John), who gave important safety tips for children.

Behind the Scenes

The Uncle Bobby show was made at CFTO's Channel Nine Court studios. It was a big part of Canadian children's television for many years.

Bobby Ash's Journey

Before Uncle Bobby, Bobby Ash had played a clown on another show called Professor's Hideaway. After spending three years in England, he returned to Canada. That's when he got the job to host his own show as Uncle Bobby. Even though he was a TV star, he didn't earn a lot from the show. To support himself, he also worked as a school bus driver in the Toronto area. Bobby Ash retired to Elliot Lake. He passed away on May 20, 2007, at the age of 82.