There is no doubt about it, when it comes to Hansons and Sooty – we’re a bit of a double act.
In 2018 we set a world-record price at auction in our Etwall saleroom when an original version of the iconic yellow bear sold for £14,800.
Earlier this year, two other Sootys, one from the ‘60s and one from the ‘90s, sold for £3,000 and £1,500 respectively.
What really makes the difference between a mid-table Sooty and a premier league one is what us auctioneers call provenance – who has owned it.
Scores of Sootys were made by the toymaker Chad Valley for the show over the years – each notably different from their replicas because of their longer bodies – needed in puppetry.
Many of them were given away by big-hearted Harry, known for his generosity, to friends, coworkers on the show, or their children.
But this Sooty is in a whole different league. Because this puppet – along with two Sweeps and a pair of Soos, were all part of the Corbett family.
They were owned, loved and cherished by Harry himself and stayed in the family for decades.
This is the provenance auctioneers, like me, dream of, and – even better – they were consigned for sale by Bradford-born Harry’s eldest son Dave, now aged 81.
The archive is so exceptional, it’s difficult to gauge what they might be worth.
We have set the estimate of £4,000-£6,000 at our sale on April 23, but with interest from museums, private collectors and British TV buffs, the price could skyrocket.
Dave was a baby in 1947 when Sooty was introduced into the family home in Guiseley, near Leeds.
In fact, it was to amuse Dave and his brother Matthew that Harry first bought Sooty – then just known as ‘Teddy’ – while on in Blackpool, paying 7s 6d for the yellow glove puppet.
It wasn’t long before Harry, already a part-time magician, had ditched his job as an engineer with Leeds County Council, to devote himself to Sooty’s antics full-time.
Their first TV appearance was in 1952 and soon after Harry, the naughty bear and his wand had become a hit.
Dave can’t remember a time when Sooty was not in their lives. As a child he recalls passing props up to his dad as he appeared in countless TV shows and live events.
His memories of the show are endless. He recalls his mother using fireplace soot to smudge Sooty’s nose and ears to make him more endearing – the smut being the reason for both his name and that of his sidekick Sweep.
He also remembers how his dad would use a pin to meticulously comb Sooty’s face to make sure he looked his very best.
Dave who studied at the Central School of Drama in the ‘60s went on to be a stage manager on the show, later working as the musical director on Sooty & Co. in the ‘90s.
The sale also includes two Sweeps, also owned by the family, who was voiced by Harry’s brother, Leslie, using a saxophone reed to produce the dog’s famous squeaky voice.
In 1964, Sooty’s girlfriend Soo joined the cast, with Harry’s wife – Dave’s mother Marjorie, known as ‘Toabs’ – providing both the voice and “hand”. As well as coming up with the name (a contraction of Sooty) she also made all the puppets’ clothes for the show.
But unlike her more dextrous husband, who was a talented pianist, Marjorie’s skills were lacking causing Soo to slouch, and she needed an mechanical extension to help her puppetry.
A specially-designed tool was constructed by the show’s props maker Bill Garret and, like the rest of the lots, is an exceptional insight into one of the UK’s favourite children’s shows.
The archive also includes a hardback This Is Your Life album, presented to Harry Corbett OBE by Michael Aspel after the 1988 show which saw Aspel dressed in a full-size Sooty outfit.
The ITV show included appearances from Janet Brown and Charlie Drake and the book is signed Got you at last, Harry! Best Wishes + Thanks Michael Aspel and the team.
Harry had a heart attack and retired in 1976, with his son Matthew, who was working on Rainbow, later taking over. When Matthew retired in 1998, he bequeathed Sooty to lifelong fan Richard Cadell.
Dave became a teacher in Worcestershire, marrying Sue and having two children and latergrandchildren.
Even today his interest in children’s entertainment and education continues in storytelling musical podcasts and as a composer of musicals aimed at youngsters.
Now he wants the glove puppets, currently kept in a box, to go to someone who will really appreciate them.
Some entertainment acts, like Sooty and Sweep, become a cultural phenomenon.
If you think the antics of the mischievous duo hasn’t stood the test of time have a look at the old programmes on YouTube.
The slapstick is hilarious. Show it to any child and they will gladly put down their iPads becoming as entranced as we did decades ago.
Strips of fur they may be, but these glove puppets represent some of the most iconic moments of entertainment history.
Auction Details
Auction: The Derbyshire April Specialist Diecast, Model Railway and Collectable Toys Auction
Auction date: 23rd April 2026 | 10am
Location: Hansons’ Derbyshire Saleroom
Auction contact: [email protected]
Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saleroom.com
