Retail Property For Sale Bergen County, Nj, Morgan Stanley Racial Equity Audit, Sconiers Funeral Home Obituaries, Schweizer 300 Main Rotor Blades, Articles T

The original series ran from 1997 to 2001. As Tinky Winky,Simon Shelton, himself put it,"People always ask me if Tinky-Winky is gay. Norway banned the show for its power to attract infants, The Washington Post noted. He revealed, Dipsy would say, Papa Come Papa Come To Po, which was actually my take on a classic reggae rhythm track calledThe Whip. 3. Search, watch, and cook every single Tasty recipe and video ever - all in one place! This is NOT for the faint of heart and if you sat through, major props to you. While watching the show as kids, we all wanted to be in Teletubbyland with our beloved characters Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po. By "Teletubbies" was an undeniable hit. He got frostbite, which caused his limbs to go permanently blue. In the interview, Pui Fan Lee recalls seeing journalists hidden "in the bushes, just trying to find any bit of dirt on the Teletubbies, but in ten years, they didn't even scratch the surface." Inan interview for BBC Two's "Big Hug: The Story of the Teletubbies" documentary, Davenport explained the juxtaposition between the technological marvel of interstellar travel and the childlike wonder of exploring the moon. The British television show for children, featuring four brightly-colored, toddler-like creatures that had television screens built into their bellies and uniquely-shaped antennae for each character, caused a sensation that resulted in a huge amount of merchandise sales (almost $1.4 billion in three years, according to the book Innovation at the Edge by TimJones) and award nominations (plus two wins) from around the globe. But it wasn't all fun and games as Nikky explained that the hot and heavy suits were a nightmare as they filmed for 11 hours at a time. The four cuddly characters have been making little children laugh for more than 20 years. On the show's 10th anniversary in 2007, the Teletubbies received the keys to the city in a New York ceremony (via Reuters). We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Lions can't say 'Meow!' We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Laa Laa and Dipsy are about 10 foot, and Po is about 6 foot. Noo Noo from the Teletubbies pokes Holly Willoughby's bum on The One Show, The Teletubbies were always giggling at something or other, Tinky Winky was known for carrying that fetching red handbag, Dave Thompson was the first man inside the costume, Dave Thomson performed with the Naked Balloon dance troupe in 2014, Simon Shelton was the second actor to play Tinky Winky, John Simmit is a stand up comedian and all round nice chap, Nikky's now a choreographer on In The Night Garden, Pui Fan Lee played Po in Teletubbies for four years, The Sun Baby woke the Teletubbies up every day, Jess is in her 20s now but still has that same cheeky grin, Rapper Lil Nas X agrees to collaborate with kids TV favourites The Teletubbies, This Morning fans baffled by Phillip and Holly's 'trippy' chat with Teletubbies. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. The smallest Teletubby, Po, is actually 6 feet, 6 inches tall, while the purple, red purse-toting Tinky Winky looms at about 10 feet. For years, nobody thought much about the identity of the real life tot. "To be able to watch a child smile as they interact with 'Teletubbies Play Time' sounding out, for example, a word that Laa-Laa asks them to repeat, is one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had," he said. The takers would leave him face-down on his own vomit, and it was hard for him to move because he was ill and weak. To him, footage of astronauts always looked like "children exploring a new world. TikTok users are horrified to know the real story of the Teletubbies, but some believe the creator's idea had something to do with astronauts. Dipsy is the green maverick, with the antenna like a dipstick. It is known that Dipsy's character was inspired by him, and green was his color because he always looked sick. It aired originally from 1997 to 2001, and in 2015 it was rebooted. Despite this disappointment, Thompson went on to work with famous comedian Harry Hill on his self-titled TV series as well as many of his other projects. A mysterious "voice" tells them when to do everything, from eating to sleeping. We lost seven out of 11. The episode was banned in several countries and taken off air until 2000, when it was adjusted to make the sounds and vision less scary. All that jumping around and rolling around on the Teletubbyland hills meant the cast got incredibly sweaty. @aakashpothu I cant believe this is what happened #fyp #foryoupage #xyzbca #scary #truestory #crazytales #childhoodtrauma #isolation #psycho Amityville Horror - Scary Halloween Sound Effects - Halloween Sound Effects. The Teletubbies first aired on BBC 2 in 1997. All products shown purchased by me. Wood and Davenport were also directly ahead of their time, as far as encroaching-technology-as-inspiration went. Officially, Tinky Winky's purse has nothing to do with his sexual preference. Tragically, Simon was found dead in 2018 from hypothermia. Have you got a story to share? There are lots of rabbits, colourful flowers (some of which can talk), trees and bushes all over the hills. On-screen it was just laughs all the way, but behind-the-scenes there were dark secrets that thankfully no child was ever aware of. Email us at yourmirror@mirror.co.uk, Get the biggest TV headlines, recaps and insider knowledge straight to your inbox. Once you see it, you can't unsee it. Because of their weirdness, the Teletubbies tended to polarize audiences. In December 2017, DHX Media announced the launch of the mobile game "Teletubbies Play Time," which was released for Android and iOS devices. Four giant, alien-like creatures running around causing mischief has the makings of a horror film. 4. When most people see the Teletubbies and their colorful antennas and giggly spaciness, they automatically think "happy alien." Still not convinced? We hold major institutions accountable and expose wrongdoing. In the end, about 365 episodes of the show were aired in more than 120 countries(via NPR) and a song from the series, Teletubbies Say Eh-Oh! Tubbyland: Entertainment was a place full of joy and fun, where kids could meet the Teletubbies in real life, however, after some. I took all the risks.. 5 of the strangest Teletubbies conspiracy theories | CBC Radio Loaded. According to Business Insider, Kim Jong-un spent a substantial part of his childhood in Europe, and was subsequently exposed to influences like Disney, etc. Teletubbies Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Lala and Po from the new rebooted series in Netflix ( Source : today ). Sad news arrived this morning (January 23): Simon Shelton, one of the actors behindTeletubbiesTinky Winky, has died aged 52. You might think that the Teletubbies were small, or at the very least the same size as people, but no. You would never have guessed it, but there was a major cast change in the early days of "Teletubbies." The show has since been broadcast in 120 countries and has been translated into 45 languages, entertaining children and horrifying some parents in process. It also tends to add significant height many people are shocked at how short some actors actually are when they meet them in real life. He is a very intimidating and very frightening monster in the original sketch. The Teletubbies love to play and dance over the hills. And what nobody ever knew until recently was that the Tubbies' favourite food, Tubby Custard was actually an inedible mix of mashed potato dyed with red and yellow paint. According to the video made by Aakash Pothu, he has explained that the show isn't as happy as we think because it is based on the mental institute in Bulgaria known as La La Land. Explaining how he influenced the character, John explained: "Dipsy would say, Papa Come Papa Come To Po, which was actually my take on a classic reggae rhythm track called The Whip. His skin tone is slightly darker than the others and he wears a cool hat. Rhys Frake-Waterfield, writer and director of Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, wants to set his sights on other beloved properties such as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the Teletubbies. All of this is no small feat, for a cast that somehow manages to appear miniature. Something for everyone interested in hair, makeup, style, and body positivity. It was bought by a Canadian company called DHX Media, for a cool 17.4 million. From 1997 to 2001, Teletubbies ruled the family-friendly airwaves. Discover short videos related to teletubbies in real life versus movie on TikTok. "He is purple the gay pride color, and his antenna is shaped like a trianglethe gay pride symbol," a shaken-up Falwell wrote at the time. TheTeletubbiesarebiogeneticallyengineered slaves. He even has a very funny joker like attitude with his very funny 'Meow!' More likely, it's just that after 365 episodes, Ragdoll Productions may havesimply felt it was time to quit. It is said to be the story of the kids in the institute for the mentally disabled in Bulgaria, and the kids in the institute were locked in dark and cold rooms. But it all started with the moon landings, and the hoppy bounciness of the astronauts so famously chronicled in that footage eventually became the floaty giddiness of the Teletubbies themselves. The episode features child-friendly sketches of British Jazz band King Pleasure and the Biscuit Boys performing a rendition of the episode's titular song and the Teletubbies first performing the "Walking Dance," which would be recreated in later episodes. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. So, if you think the Teletubbies disappeared, you might just be running in the wrong circles they're easy to find and consume, even though it's been 20 years since the series ended. The Pinwheel then picks its favourite character and turns on it's tummy TV. Searching through various toys she brought my attention to some: "Mama, can I buy one of those?". It aired originally from 1997 to 2001, and in 2015 it was rebooted. But there was something about the episode, titled See Saw, that was considered too frightening for children. 04 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) Another horror film loosely based on the life and crimes of killer Ed Gein, Tobe Hooper's landmark horror film capitalized on Gein's notorious exploits to help create one of the genre's most iconic and terrifying figures: Leatherface. Bright yellow Teletubby Laa Laa was depicted by Nickey Smedley, an English choreographer and dancer, and Tinky Winky was predominantly played by Simon Shelton, an English ballet dancer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlhCie8rIY4. "We had to wear really ugly underwear like those old Western long johns, which was essentially a onesie, but it was so it could absorb the sweat," he said. The episode featured two cardboard cutout characters, a bear and a lion, who enter the Teletubbyland and repeat scary phrases. This led to problems behind-the-scenes and original Tinky Winky actor Dave Thompson left after the first runs of episodes. Amityville Horror - Scary Halloween Sound Effects - Halloween Sound Effects, Chris Distefano Has Three Kids With Wife Jazzy Distefano, 10 Safest Destinations For Family Vacation In The World. The programme focuses on four differently coloured characters known as the Teletubbies, named after the television screens on their bellies. Picture: Supplied https://www.instagram.com/p/BHaJ8sBApFl/?tagged=flemishrabbit. Obsessed with travel? It was later reported that the show's production company felt the actor had misinterpreted the role by "implying" Tinky Winky was gay. For more of the news you care about, straight to your inbox, sign up for one of our daily newsletters here. in real life. Though, the opposite appears to be true for the Teletubbies thanks to the magic of television. We used to receive a lot of fan mail from kind and parents, I suppose we were a bit like The Beatles or Take That of childrens television, explained Simon. Because "Teletubbies" is so delightfully strange, many people get caught up in its imagery and neglect to note that the show is also a great proponent of racial diversity, and diversity in general. However, the episode is best remembered for its hypnotic and disturbing Lion and Bear sketch involving a singing, googly-eyed lion and bear playing hide and seek in a darkened Teletubbyland landscape supported by a menacing score. Ah well, all's well that floods well. Networks in other countries, including PBS in the United States, went a step further and banned the episode from airing outright. If those bunnies scampering around in Teletubbyland looked big, its because they were. Some claim to see a demonic visage take over the baby's face as it expands, just for a second, right before it explodes, thus sending subliminal horrific images to children everywhere. You're not alone. I was always the one to test out the limitations of the costume. But not everybody has loved the cuddly quartet. She fell asleep one night near the logs for the fire. Towotei was seven years old when the incident took place. To mark the show's 10th anniversary in 2007, then-New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg welcomed the fab four and handed the keys to the city in a special ceremony, as reported by New York Magazine. . John has shared some behind-the-scenes secrets from his experience on the show, revealing that the sweet-looking creatures were actually rather unpleasant to be around because of how sweaty they got. Despite their average-size appearance on the show, the real-life versions of the colorful creatures with TV for stomachs were gargantuan. But in the edited sketch, he retains a much more humourous,jolly, and friendlypersonality. It wasn't until the 10th anniversary of the show that the actors and actresses in the suits were finally revealed, and Simon Shelton (Tinky Winky) did a tour, gave interviews, and on one occasion said: "It was incredible, just like being one of the Beatles. In foreign dubs of the sketch, the Lion has been given many different types of voices: Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! The kids were not looked after properly, and the caretakers used to forget to feed them. What's the proof? The childhood show Teletubbies is returning with its second reboot series on Netflix this November 14, 2022. A black-and-white short featuring a Joy Division song being played over footage of the Teletubbies once went viral. One of the most iconic symbols in the "Teletubbies" program is the pink custard dubbed "Tubby Custard," which is made from the Tubby Custard Machine. "I'm sorry to disappoint, but it was definitely not fit for human consumption," John Simmit, who played Dipsy, admitted to HuffPost UK. In their dialect, they refer to it as "Tubby Tustard". Dave went on to have a standup comedy career and performed with the Naked Balloon dance troupe in 2014. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. A cut-out lion chasing a cut-out bear, voiced by veteran actors Eric Sykes and Penelope Keith, doesn't sound too scary. He uploaded the video in 2015, and it has been viewed over 3.5 million times since then. He was said to have taken a particular fancy to Goofy, so the network was led to wonder about the viability of the "Teletubbies" on North Korean shores. I suppose we were a bit like the Beatles or the Take That of childrens television.. In the annals of children's television, few programs or at least few highly successful programs have been more delightfully surreal than "Teletubbies." In reality, the show never truly disappeared. They were introduced in the 2015 series ofTeletubbies and are all voiced by Teresa Gallagher. A. Milne and E. H. Shepard's beloved children's character, Winnie the Pooh, into a bloodthirsty horror . | November 14, 2022 11:05 AM. He was replaced by the late Simon Shelton. But the character is supposed to be a three-year-old, so the question is really quite silly.". He was said to be a troublesome child, and the caretakers would lock him outside. Marvelous.". "And then when they climb out they look like toddlers toddling around a new world for the first time.". I was the first to fall off my chair and roll over. First, it was followed up in 2002 by Teletubbies Everywhere, which airedfor a couple of seasons on the BBC's preschool channel CBeebies. The franchise even expanded into the video game universe in the form of an educational video game "Play with the Teletubbies," which was developed by Asylum Entertainment and first released for Microsoft Windows in 1998 before being released on the Playstation 1 in 1999. Until next time ILYSM!My second channel, for follow-me-around vlogs, gaming and more! Teletubbies is a British children's television series created by Anne Wood and Andrew Davenport for the BBC. You can check out more references to the Teletubbies in popular media here: Teletubbies in Popular Culture. The childhood show Teletubbies is returning with its second reboot series on Netflix this November 14, 2022. One day, four of them overheard the director of the orphanage saying that they would have to remove the television due to its high expenses. Teletubbies is a British children's tv series produced by Anne Wood and also Andrew Davenport for the BBC. Even after the original series was cancelled in 2001, reruns continued over a decade afterward, according to The Guardian. "Later on, they did actually make an edible version, but originally, it was made from mashed potato and acrylic paint and there was a tube going into our costume mouths and siphoned off somewhere else." The children's show definitely had a dark side. He had a high concentration of booze in his system and had known to have had problems with alcohol. The sun we see in the show represents the caretakers, and the kids have to obey what they say. Teletubbies continued to be talked about and watched online, too. Her caregivers tortured her and broke her leg, preventing her from dancing; despite the pain, she always smiled. Teletubbies watching video sent by their viewers on the television attached to their stomach ( Source : mirror ). Apparently there's racial diversity among the Teletubbies. "People always ask me if Tinky Winky is gay," he said. And Jess's revelation must have certainly been the most talked-about disclosure of the entire event. Actress and presenter Pui Fan Lee took on the role shortly after leaving drama school - and in one incredible picture was seen lying down fast asleep with the body of her Po costume still on. Nikky got the role of Laa Laa after replying to newspaper ads for an actor to star in a new children's TV show and stayed for the original four-year run. Their eyes were wide open, and they had permanent smiles on their faces. "Teletubbies" merch which ranged from toothbrushestopajamas tokitchen playsets wasa huge commercial success. 1 single in December 1997. We were introduced to the Tubbytronic Superdome, Tubby Toast, Tubby Custard and Noo-Noo the naughty, sentient vacuum cleaner. "My mum took me and it just happened to be the same time that the producer of the old series had come in and wanted the hospital to get in contact with them if they'd seen any smiley babies. "The stand-up circuit is pretty close-knit so people got to know that I was Dipsy - but I never mentioned it on stage, he previously said. And her decision to out herself was rather impromptu. incidents, the place closed it's doors.. Some critics thought they resembled the murdering mutant children in David Cronenberg's horror classic "The Brood." Po, the red Teletubby, was played by actress Pui Fan Lee, who is Cantonese and can speak Cantonese and English. @Azniac FUN FACT! However, the characters were, in fact, modeled after astronauts. Luckily, the sweet moment made baby Jess laugh so much that she was instantly cast in the coveted BBC role. Look no further than the strange antenna on the heads of Tinky Winky, Dipsy, and Po. Some people were entranced with their whimsical abstraction and bouncing ebullience. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Cookies help us deliver our Services. By Helen A. Lee / March 28, 2021 11:53 pm EST. As attention falls back onto the iconic kids' TV show, which. In 2013, Ragdoll Worldwide, which first created the "Teletubbies," was acquired by Canadian firm DHX Media for 17.4 million. The show is about the four kids who passed away on the same day. The show's characters were Tinky Winky, Laa-Laa, Dipsy, and Po. That year, a remake using CGI (as compared to being filmed in a field in Warwickshire) aired from DHXMedia, after the original creator Ann Wood sold them the rights in 2013 (via BBC News). There is also a vacuum-like character, the Noo Noo, who is constantly keeping theTeletubbiesin check, making sure they follow orders. A look behind the curtain on the biggest kids' show ever. This episode was considered traumatizing by parents and was banned in several countries. According toThe Telegraph, new students at Canterbury Christ Church University were asked to "say something about themselves that no one else would guess." "Teletubbies" began as a quirky and novel children's show but rapidly became a global phenomenon watched and adored by millions. In 2013, she flooded out a large section of her property on purpose. As the famous saying goes, the camera adds ten pounds. It also tends to add significant height many people are shocked at how short some actors actually are when they meet them in real life. In C4s Metrosexuality, she took part in lesbian sex scenes. It is located "over the hills and far away". And even, for that matter, more so than Big Bird. It turns out the Teletubbies, who first hit our screens 20 years ago, are actually enormous monsters who would tower over Barney. "We were interested in how children were reacting to the increasingly technological environment of the late 1990s," Wood recalled. I was always the one to test out the limitations of the costume. Due to the lack of sunlight exposure, her skin turned a sickly yellow color. When the Teletubbies reached the grand old age of 10, they celebrated by receiving the keys to New York City and the casts identities were revealed for the first times. We wanted to sing, dance, and play with them, and it also made us want to try the Tubby custard and know what it tasted like. 2. This may be hard to stomach, but unfortunately the Teletubbies were not real creatures and there were real-life people hiding under those massive, sweaty, stinky costumes. The original Sun Baby was played be Jess Smith, who is now in her 20s, between 1997 and 2001. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. He was replaced by actor Simon Shelton, who saw all four Tubbies reach huge success in the UK and US. Their three symbols, when combined, form the symbol for the Deathly Hallows, a key element in JK Rowling's Harry Potter universe. 1. The adorable Sun Baby popped up at the beginning of every episode to wake the Teletubbies up and as a signal for the end of the day. The first time Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po went on air was March 31, 1997. The Teletubbies like to play games with them, sing with them and watch them sleep. In real life, however, the winsome creatures' Easter-bunny-perfect lives were somewhat more harrowing. He also voiced his distress about the bright red purse that the character routinely carried around, despite the fact that he had "a boy's voice. The program concentrates on four in a different way coloured characters referred to as the Teletubbies, named after the tv screens on their tummies. The fuzzy bear from the Teletubbies as she runs away from the lion in the uncensored version ( Source : nzherald ), The Dark Truth Behind Teletubbies: TikTok Controversy. TikTok users are horrified to know the real story of the Teletubbies, but some believe the creator's idea had something to do with astronauts. He is very scary in the original sketch as he made the Teletubbies scream and his roar so loud it makes clouds move and trees in Teletubbyland shake in the infamous part where the Lion is coming after the Bear hides. Teletubbies and Harry Potter, both released in 1997, are linked. He is shown to be an antagonist due to the fact he chasesthe Bear in the very spooky chase scene at the end on the original sketch. But there have been plenty of moments that were definitely for adults only. Over the hills and far away, Teletubbies come out to play the four cuddly, brightly coloured characters - Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po - first burst onto our screens in 1997, and have. Generations of toddlers watched in awe as the four colourful characters, Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po, frolicked around the grassy Tubbyland while being watched over by a Sun Baby and supervised by Voice Trumpets. A problematic situation that recurs throughout the show's history is the Tubby Custard Machine creating an oversupply of the delicacy, thereby creating a mess for the characters. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. Dave responded to his sacking, saying: I am proud of my work for them. The Real Reason The Teletubbies Disappeared. Green Dipsy was played by African-American stand-up comic John Simmit. But its innocence was so very sweet (Slate called it "so harmless it was almost a parody of children's television") that it somehow veered into creepy enough so that conspiracies started popping up around the series. I suppose we were a bit like the Beatles or the Take That of children's television," he told The Sun. The Truth Behind TeletubbiesFact *WARNING: SCARY* | VIRAL Horror Story - YouTube 0:00 / 23:24 The Truth Behind TeletubbiesFact *WARNING: SCARY* | VIRAL Horror Story LoeyLane 2.36M. Something went wrong, please try again later. It was one of the most loved and watched children's shows back in the day. According to Quotev, Teletubbies is actually based on the asylum story, which took place in 1955. Although Po (the red one) is only about 6 feet tall, Tinky Winky (the purple one) is well over 11 feet tall. In an interview for BBC Two's "Big Hug: The Story of the Teletubbies" documentary, which aired on Christmas Day 1998, Anne Wood revealed her motivation for the series: "I wanted to make a programme that had the direct opposite message that 'big hug' was the event of the day, and loving each other very much mattered," she said. In keeping with the entertainment industry's efforts to diversify casts and storylines, the trailer for the upcoming series features the first non-white Sun Baby who will open the iconic show. Classic kids TV show Teletubbies reached a milestone in 2017, with Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, and Po celebrating their 20th birthdays. Actually, this part is true. People spotted my little wink to my culture and Im proud of that., The Teletubbies visited Grand Central Station and took New York by storm when they were given the keys to the city, Pui Fan Lee played innocent Po in Teletubbies for years. You can check them out for yourself here. The Teletubbies are nearly 10 feet tall. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The producers used Flemish Giant rabbits, who were renowned for mating so often while on camera, that filming had to be stopped regularly and whole scenes reshot to make it less X-rated. The actor behind Tinky Winky compared his experience to what the Beatles went through in the '60s. In April 1998, the U.S.A. picked up the Teletubbies on PBS, and proved to be popular with American children too. At least they died happy," Davenport said. The 2015 Reboot uses some sort of Milkshake Powder and some fruit mixture. She was played by Pui Fan Lee, who also became famous to a generation of pre-schoolers when she starred in Show Me, Show Me on CBeebies. He is shown to be an antagonist due to the fact he chases the Bear in the very spooky chase scene at the end on the original sketch. They were also created in response to the violence seen on shows like. Their faces had deformities due to the beatings and lack of food, and they were even kept in isolation, which caused the kids to dance and sing by themselves even though there was no music. If something appears from far away, the Teletubbies will ask "What's that?" Then the narrator will . He is voiced by the late Eric Sykes. Having been exposed as . The show will be narrated by "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" star Tituss Burgess. Creative director of Ragdoll Productions Anne Wood and Andre Davenport, who would end up creating "Teletubbies" together, first saw the "Power Rangers" series while on a flight. US residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data. AnotherTiktokcreator, Oliver Parson, explained how the kids were tortured and why they were colored with specific colors. That's right, the Teletubbies came to town. They're Flemish Giant rabbits, and they're much larger than normal rabbits. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Brandishing a jazzy cow print . Appearance: Yellow Lion. Discover unique things to do, places to eat, and sights to see in the best destinations around the world with Bring Me! Is Teletubbies Based on An Asylum True Story in 1875? Trivia In real life, the Tubby Custard is not edible, as it is made of mashed potato with red and yellow acrylic paint. Timothy A. Clary / AFP / Getty Images / Via. Merchandising sales have been in the billions of pounds for the past 20 years. Since the Teletubbies were huge, they had to use huge rabbits to make them look proportionate pic.twitter.com/YEDySRQwu0, big dumb idiot (@JuanTon88) May 14, 2013, Tinky-Winky was initially portrayed by Dave Thompson, who was asked to leave at the end of the first series in 1997 because his interpretation of the role was not acceptable.