Sooty was born in Blackpool!
Harry Corbett, an electrical engineer and part-time magician from Bradford, spent 7s 6d in Paul Clive’s shop on North Pier on the 19th of July 1948, buying a glove puppet of a bear from salesman Bill Lamb, to amuse his son David.
Corbett had watched Paul doing tricks with the puppet and decided he could use it in his amateur magic act. Originally named ‘Teddy’, with the addition of chimney soot to his ears and nose to enhance his character, he was re-christened Sooty and appeared on the BBC’s "Talent Night", joining Harry’s magic act.
Sooty became a star when he first appeared on TV on the 3rd of May 1952 in "Talent Night", and after "The Sooty Show" started in 1955, he went on to have the world’s
longest-running children’s television programme (over 50 years).
Blackpool North Pier now has a Blue Plaque commemorating the historic event:
