Dave Corbett, the son of legendary puppeteer Harry Corbett, is auctioning off the original Sooty and Sweep puppets that inspired the beloved children's television show. The collection, which includes one Sooty, two Sweeps, and two Soos, is expected to fetch up to £6,000 at Hansons Auctioneers in Etwall, Derbyshire, on April 23.
Dave, now 81, was just a baby in 1948 when his father purchased the yellow glove puppet, originally named 'Teddy', for 7s 6d on holiday in Blackpool. The puppet was later renamed Sooty after Harry's wife, Marjorie, used soot from the fire to darken its ears and nose. The show debuted on television in 1952 and became a global phenomenon.
Also included in the sale is a mechanical device created by prop maker Bill Garret to help Marjorie, who voiced Soo, manipulate the puppet more effectively. Dave recalled that the puppets were a fixture of family life, with his father treating Sooty as a real person, meticulously combing its face with a pin to ensure it looked its best.
Hansons owner Charles Hanson said the provenance of these puppets, being owned by Harry Corbett himself and consigned by his son, could not be better. He expects interest from museums, private collectors, and British TV enthusiasts, potentially driving the price higher. In 2018, Hansons set a world record when an original Sooty puppet sold for £14,500.
The auction also features a hardback 'This Is Your Life' album presented to Harry Corbett by Michael Aspel in 1988, signed by Aspel and the team. Dave, who worked as a stage manager and later musical director on the show, hopes the puppets find a home with someone who will truly cherish them.
