TV Cream

TV: G is for...

Gus Honeybun

Hare apparentFIVE MINUTE FLEABAG originally on Westward then the channel that sank it. Gus was the worst puppet in the world: an expressionless toy rabbit quite clearly being manipulated by a hairy, chunky wristwatch-wearing arm under the table. A succession of oh-so-local presenters uneasily provided the “sanity” by reading out birthday requests from kids, showing pictures, your usual cheap-as-cheap-can schtick. Mr. Honeybun, for his part, did his characteristic “birthday bunny hops” marking out years attained by each kid, sometime “anarchically” showing his arse as well. His only moving part was an eyelid which could wink at the gathered masses. Also there was a mushroom-shaped “magic button” which, when haphazardly hit, caused some weird psychedelic effect on the Chromakeyed background. Even had a theme song – “He’s a star on TV, just for you and for me.” Got taken along to ITV head office as “lucky mascot” when TSW was trying to get franchise renewed. Station went bust shortly afterwards.

6 Comments

6 Comments

  1. Pearlyman

    November 3, 2009 at 5:20 pm

    Highlight of a many a holiday in Paignton…

  2. David Pascoe

    November 3, 2009 at 6:15 pm

    Always most enjoyable when paired with either Judi Spiers or Iain Stirling. They’d nearly always end up collapsing in hysterics at the absurdity of what they were doing.

  3. Nick H

    November 7, 2009 at 4:34 pm

    Applemask wont like what you’ve said there…

  4. Rinsewind

    April 7, 2011 at 10:18 pm

    I actully met him – my school were taking part in a sports quiz (Stopwatch?Chris Kelly?) produced at Westward’s Plymouth studios in 1976, and I went along as a supporter. He was no better in the fake-fur, to be honest!!

  5. Arthur Nibble

    April 8, 2011 at 11:15 pm

    No mention of Channel TV’s similarly one-dimensional Puffin’s Pla(i)ce on the website? I’m sure Harry Hill would have encouraged a fight between the two.

  6. Alan Keeling

    June 16, 2016 at 8:56 pm

    During the days of Mr. G. Honeybun’s reign at the now defunct Westward TV, the puppet had his own 12 minute programme & as well as local kids’ birthday greeting read out by ‘whoever was in charge’, there was also a cartoon included, such as “Casper the Friendly Ghost”, “Melotoons” or “Tales of the Wizard of Oz”, etc, etc. I live in the Midlands, by the way.

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