Review for Tingha and Tucker

When I say I remember ‘Tingha and Tucker’, it’s a much clearer memory of the copious merchandising that followed the series surprising runaway success throughout the 1960’s, than it is of the series itself I think.

Watching this cornucopia grab-bag of full episodes, parts of episodes, seaside specials and so on, made me realise that memory is a dangerous thing.


For a start, I remembered the two principal characters as highly animated puppet Koalas – not merely a couple of stuffed toys. I had also pretty much forgotten their voices, created by speeding up a tape to a point where you could barely make out what was being said but lending them a mischievous, hyper quality which must have really appealed to kids – possibly when so superbly juxtaposed against the un-flappable calm of Auntie Jean (ATV continuity announcer Jean Morton).



Which is not to say that it isn’t enjoyable. From a nostalgia point of view, it’s incredibly good fun, particularly when the group leave the confines of the studio and travel to other European destinations, or through the streets of Britain, reflecting so much of everyday life in the 1960's.


As I was born in 1961, by the time I was old enough to be watching TV, the show would have been in its heady heyday, even attracting ‘fans’ like Cliff Richard, happily doing the ‘Tingha and Tucker’ club salute – a slightly sinister vertical index finger held across the bridge of the nose during a deep bow.


The show aired from 1962 right the way through to the early colour years (a colour episode is included here) in 1970. They were generally short weekday shows, airing in ITV although they also featured in a so-called ‘Sunday special’, The Tree House Family.


Apparently the show started by simply using a couple of stuffed toy koalas actually owned by Jean Morton herself who would speak to them on air during her continuity breaks between children’s programmes. Once they got their own series, puppets were made so they could be more life-like, though they never reached any high level of sophistication (think ‘glove puppet’ style tech).


Whatever the case, its success was unarguable with some 750,000 children joining the ‘Tingah and Tucker’ club at the time, and proudly wearing a badge which I seem to recall either myself or a sister wearing with pride.


The opening theme song ‘Woomerang Boomerang’ (written by Tony Hatch of ‘Crossroads’ theme fame) was hugely successful, as was an often repeated song called "The Wibbly Wobbly Way" which I had no recollection of.


Despite hundreds of episodes being made, sadly very few still exist. Indeed, until relatively recently, only one was known to have survived intact. Thankfully, a recent discovery of film material has allowed three more complete episodes to be reconstructed and they are all included here on the first disc.


There are also other elements here like clips from a theatre event in Blackpool ( a very popular part of British TV at the time) featuring Cliff Richard looking very young and dapper, and generally being a good sport.

The second disc in the set was a real thrill – chock-a-block full of short extracts and individual sketches; some three hours’ worth or more; a veritable treasure trove including several Zoo Club sequences, a young Nigel Mansell, Ilkeston Donkey Derby, baby leopards and much more.


There is also a nice interview with Jean Morton filmed shortly before her death in 2012, recalling her time on the show which she recalls with great affection, despite filming often involving being among a sea of over-excited children.



As if this absolute gold mine were not enough, Network have thoroughly spoiled us by also adding in a number of pieces of publicity material, annuals and club membership certificates as PDF’s – frankly more than worth the price of the disc alone.



One extra that isn’t included (possibly they would have been tough to licence) are the various audio releases like the 1964 7" single "Woomerang Boomerang" b/w "Over the Rickety Bridge"; the Century 21 Records released LP , ‘The Tingha and Tucker Club Song Book’  and, also from Century 21, a "mini album" called ‘Tingha and Tucker present the New Wombaville Band’ where the duo cover some Beatles songs. But you can’t have everything and for my money Network have done a grand job with this release.

If you’re a British retro TV nostalgia freak like me, you’re going to absolutely love this set. Highly recommended.