It’s like buses. You wait for one original Sooty puppet to appear in the saleroom and then two come along at once.
Both come from opposite ends of an entertainment phenomenon that has lasted more than 75 years.
The Sooty you most associate with says a lot about you.
For children of the ‘60s and early ‘70s it will be Sooty and his inventor, the legendary puppeteer Harry Corbett, you most remember.
Corbett was working as an engineer for Leeds City Council when he ‘discovered’ Sooty in joke shop in Blackpool in 1948.
Anxious for a way to amuse his young children, including his newborn son Peter (Matthew), he paid 7s 6d for the yellow glove puppet.
Harry, who was also working parttime as a magician and children’s entertainer, soon realised the potential of his naughty sidekick.
Sooty’s first TV appearance was in a 1952 BBC TV show, Talent Night and before long the disobedient puppet known for wielding a magic wand, became a hit.
As well as being a TV favourite, Sooty and his pal Sweep also delighted youngsters up and down the country in live shows.
It was at one, at Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre in 1969, that Donna Paris, then a toddler, met the famous entertainer.
At the time her dad, Ron Martin, was the “hand” of Sweep. Ron, a Butlins red coat, had been working as a magician on the south coast when Harry asked him to join the iconic show.
Her mum was working in the theatre as an usherette, with baby Donna kept in a pram at the side of the theatre. But after a crying fit threatened to shatter the puppets’ performance, kindly Harry presented her with a Sooty puppet to quieten her.
When the tantrum was repeated a week later, Harry offered the crying Donna a puppet of Sooty’s girlfriend, Soo.
She has held on to both puppets ever since, with her beloved Soo – which she used as a comforter until the age of 10 – the far more threadbare.
Both puppets were both kept in the loft of her London home, but now Donna, aged 57, has made the difficult decision to sell the pair as part of a downsize.
Also included for sale are photos of Harry Corbett with Donna and rest of the family, as well as telegrams from the puppeteer. Both Sooty and Soo and the accompanying archives are expected to make £4,000-£6,000 when they appear in our toy auction on January 22 at out Etwall saleroom.
But that is not the only Sooty – or Soo – in the sale.
Today Richard Cadell is the “hand” of Sooty having taken over from Matthew Corbett, Harry’s son, in 1998. Matthew having taken over from his father in 1976.
This Sooty – along with a Soo signed by her “voice” Brenda Longman – was donated by Cadell to the charity MajorTim.space.
The charity, founded in 2016 by Amelia Jane Piper when she was just 14, encourages youngsters to learn more about science and space exploration.
In a letter of authenticity, Cadell, said: “This signed Sooty puppet was frequently used on ITV’s The Sooty Show, CITV and ITVBe. He was my particular hard-working friend and tool of the trade for some years, making him rare. Please love him and take care of him during his retirement.”
The puppet, which is expected to make £1,000-£2,000, is signed on the inside “Best Wishes Richard Cadell and Sooty”. Soo has an estimate of £200-£300.
For adults of any generation the furry trio, with their mischief and slapstick humour, were iconic.
Nostalgia is one of the biggest movers in the memorabilia market today, and I have no doubt bidders will get izzy wizzy busy to ensure they own these pieces of British television history.
Auction Details
Auction: Hansons Diecast, Model Railway, Live Steam & Collectable Toy Auction
Auction date: 22nd January 2026 | 10am
Location: Hansons Derbyshire Saleroom
Auction contact: [email protected]
Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saleroom.com
