One of children's greatest television entertainers is due to make a grand
comeback in 2007 with his own 26 part sit-com.
He shows all the characteristics of a mute, violent sociopath and rides
around on a man's arm. He is Emu.
Having graced the airwaves for two decades during the 70's and 80's, Emu -
with handler, Rod Hull - was the bane of many a talk show host who often became
the victims of an unprovoked attack.
It was this trademark anarchic violence that allowed them a string of
successful TV shows and kept the pair as a kiddies' firm favourite. Their
widespread success made Hull a millionaire only to see bankruptcy in 1994.
Hull died in 1999, aged 63, after a fall from his roof.
Since then, his actor son Toby Hull, has carried on the family mantle by
appearing with the bird in pantomimes and children's shows. The new series is
aimed at six to eleven year olds and will see Toby and Emu sharing a flat and
being joined regularly by two young friends. The new twist is that the puppet
will no longer be constrained to Hull's arm - it will have freedom to move
around by itself - and will also make 'noises' that will give an indication to
the birds thought processes and mood.
With this in the wake of a number of resurrections including fellow glove
puppet Basil Brush, let's just hope they don't decide to pull a Men Behaving
Badly style renaissance for Roland Rat and Gordon the
Gopher.
