How old is Sooty, what TV shows did Sooty and Sweep appear in and who are Harry and Matthew Corbett?
The yellow bear with a talent for magic tricks is celebrating his 70th birthday
SOOTY has been a favourite on children's TV since he made his debut in 1952.
Here's everything you need to know about the puppet bear and his career so far.
How old is Sooty? What's his background?
In 2018 Sooty is celebrating his 70th birthday.
On July 19, 1948, he was bought from a novelty shop in Blackpool by Harry Corbett - an engineer and amateur magician.
He cost seven shillings and sixpence (about £13 today) and was used to entertain Harry's sons while on holiday.
His original name was Teddy but he earned the name Sooty after Harry blackened his ears and nose with soot so he'd show up better on black and white TV.
He famously can't speak and communicates by whispering in the ear of his puppeteer.
Sooty's catchphrase is "izzy, wizzy, let's get busy" which are the words he uses to do his magic tricks.
What else turns 70 this year?
Walkers crisps
NHS
Barcodes
Polaroid
Porsche
Velcro
Scrabble
Prince Charles
Samuel L. Jackson
Cheetos
Nesquik
Wagon Wheels
The Pez dispenser
Mentos
British Railways
What TV shows did Sooty and Sweep appear in?
Sooty first appeared on TV in 1952 in the BBC's Talent Night show broadcast from Belle Vue, Manchester.
After winning the competition via public vote Sooty went on to be a regular on the BBC children's show Saturday Special from 1952-1955.
Sooty then had his own programme, The Sooty Show, from 1955-1992 and the grey squeaky dog Sweep joined him in 1957.
In 1964 he was also joined by Soo, a softly spoken Panda who is Sooty's "girlfriend" and other characters included Kipper the cat and Sooty's cousin Scampi.
In 1993 the gang moved to Manchester for a new show Sooty and Co which ran until 1998.
Sooty Heights aired on CITV from 1999-2000 and was followed by The Sooty Show which was shown from 2001-2004 and from 2011 to the present.
Who are Harry and Matthew Corbett?
Harry Corbett was born in 1918 in Bradford, Yorkshire.
He was deaf in one ear which meant he couldn't pursue his dream of being a concert pianist.
His uncle is the Fish and Chip shop entrepreneur Harry Ramsden and he used to play the piano in his Guiseley restuarant.
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In Christmas 1975 he suffered a heart attack so his younger son Peter (stage name Matthew) left the Rainbow show to take over on The Sooty Show.
Harry died in his sleep in 1989 aged 71 after performing to a sell out crowd at Weymouth Pavilion.
Matthew, 70, retired in 1998 and handed over the puppetry reigns to his co-star Richard Cadell.