Mr Blobby: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox character |
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[[File:Nyami character 2.svg|thumb]] |
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| name = Mr Blobby |
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| image = Mr_Blobby,_2009.jpg |
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| size = 250 |
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| portrayer = Barry Killerby |
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| creator = Charlie Adams |
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| species = |
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| gender = Male |
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| first = 14 November 1992 ''[[Noel's House Party]]'' |
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| last = |
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| cause = |
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| occupation = |
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| title = |
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| nickname = |
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| alias = |
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| family = |
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| spouse = Mrs. Blobby |
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| children = Baby Blobby (son) |
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| relatives = |
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| religion = |
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| nationality = British |
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}} |
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'''Mr Blobby''' is a character featured on [[Noel Edmonds]]' Saturday night variety [[BBC]] television show ''[[Noel's House Party]]'', portrayed by Barry Killerby, and was the brainchild of British comedy writer Charlie Adams, a writer for the show. A bulbous pink figure covered with yellow spots, he has a permanent toothy grin and jiggling eyes. Mr Blobby communicates only by saying the word "blobby" in an [[Voice changer|electronically altered voice]], expressing his moods through tone of voice and repetition. He topped the [[UK Singles Chart]] with the 1993 Christmas release "[[Mr Blobby (song)|Mr Blobby]]". |
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Although popular in Britain, the character came to attract substantial [[#Criticism|criticism]]. |
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== Origins == |
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Mr Blobby first appeared in 1992 in the 'Gotcha' segment of the second series of ''Noel's House Party'', in which celebrities were caught out in a ''[[Candid Camera]]'' style prank. Mr Blobby was presented to the celebrities as if he were a real and established children's television character, in order to record an episode centred around the guests' profession. In truth, there was no "Mr. Blobby" TV series, and he was created purely for the prank. Mr Blobby would clumsily take part in the activity, knocking over the set, causing mayhem, and saying "blobby blobby blobby." His childish and unprofessional behaviour was calculated to irritate the celebrities taking part. When the prank was finally revealed the Blobby costume would be opened, revealing Noel Edmonds inside. |
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Once the first 'Gotcha' segments had aired, Mr Blobby was no longer usable as part of the 'Gotcha' sequences. He continued to make appearances on ''Noel's House Party'' with various members of the production team donning the costume created by artist Joshua Snow. |
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Through ''Noel's House Party'', Mr Blobby was seen in short comedy sketches, 'guest-appearing' on other TV programmes. Examples include ''[[Lovejoy]]'', where he unintentionally broke antique furniture, and ''[[Keeping Up Appearances]]'', where he was seen paying an impromptu visit to [[Hyacinth Bucket|Hyacinth]] and Richard Bucket, disrupting their kitchen. |
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== Other appearances == |
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Mr Blobby made regular appearances on Saturday morning show ''[[Live & Kicking]]'' and Saturday evening show ''[[The Generation Game]]'' with [[Jim Davidson (comedian)|Jim Davidson]]. The character has appeared in cameos on ''[[Dead Ringers (comedy)|Dead Ringers]]'', ''[[Harry Hill's TV Burp]]'', ''[[Dick and Dom in da Bungalow]]'' and ''[[Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway]]''. The character also appeared in the music video for [[Peter Kay]]'s 2005 charity single "[[Is This the Way to Amarillo]]". |
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Mr Blobby has toured around the UK making public appearances at events such as university balls and in [[pantomime]], and has made short videos and sketches exclusively for his official YouTube channel.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}} |
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John McLagan stood as "Mr Blobby" in the [[Littleborough and Saddleworth by-election, 1995|Littleborough and Saddleworth by-election]] in 1995, having changed his name by deed poll. He came seventh out of ten candidates, with 105 votes. |
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In 2012, Mr Blobby made a guest appearance on the 23 September episode of ''[[The Big Fat Quiz of the Year]]'' "The Big Fat Quiz of the '90s".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qssuCeO4LhU?t=1h6m10s|title=BBC-4: "Big Fat Quiz of the '90s"|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=}}</ref> |
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In May 2017, Mr Blobby made a guest appearance in the ''[[Ghostbusters]]'' episode of ''[[The Keith & Paddy Picture Show]]'', where he was portrayed by Paul Denson. He also appeared on [[The Last Leg]], where he was declared as leader of "The 90s Party", a political party formed by the show's hosts. |
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On 14 October 2017, Mr Blobby made a guest appearance on ''[[Sam Delaney's News Thing]]''. |
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== Criticism == |
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In March 1994, Elizabeth Kolbert of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote: "Mr. Blobby's rise to stardom has provoked anguished commentaries about just what he stands for... Some commentators have called him a metaphor for a nation gone soft in the head. Others have seen him as proof of Britain's deep-seated attraction to [[Low culture|trash]]."<ref name="nyt">{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/27/style/britain-s-answer-to-barney.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm | work=The New York Times | title=Britain's Answer To Barney | first=Elizabeth | last=Kolbert | date=27 March 1994 | accessdate=13 May 2010}}</ref> A ''[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|Sun]]'' article published the previous month had reported that Blobby reduced a young girl to tears after throwing her birthday cake onto the floor during a show, causing the girl's father to mount the stage and assault Blobby.<ref name="nyt"/> Neville Crumpton, who owns the rights to the character, said: "If the press can knock him, they'll knock him whenever they can."<ref name="nyt"/> A trio of failed [[#Theme parks|Mr Blobby theme parks]] also resulted in considerable negative press and scandal. |
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On 25 April 1997, ''[[Daily Mirror|The Mirror]]'' ran the headline, "Mr Blobby's not funny".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Mr+Blobby%27s+not+funny%3B+LAST+NIGHT%27S+VIEW.-a061099068|title=Mr Blobby's not funny|last=Purnell|first=Tony|date=25 April 1997|website=''[[TheFreeDictionary.com#TheFreeLibrary.com|TheFreeLibrary]]''|publisher=''[[Daily Mirror|The Mirror]]''|accessdate=12 October 2014}}</ref> Addressing the character's popularity, former longtime BBC employee [[Michael Parkinson]] in 2007 confessed that he "really didn't get it", and found Blobby "far from amusing".<ref>"Classic Clips: The 1990s". [[Gold (UK TV channel)|UK Gold]]. 22 October 2007. "I really didn't get it, to be honest...Millions of people just loved [Blobby], but he was far from amusing to me."</ref><ref name="farrier">{{cite web|url=http://davidfarrier.tumblr.com/post/62136787985/mr-blobby |title=Mr Blobby |last=Farrier |first=David |authorlink=David Farrier |date=2013 |accessdate=11 October 2014 |deadurl=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325034623/http://davidfarrier.tumblr.com/post/62136787985/mr-blobby#.V-cf5zVA6Vs |archivedate=25 March 2014 |df= }}</ref> In February 2009, Cole Moreton of ''[[The Independent]]'' featured Blobby in a recounting of the "10 most irritating television characters", asking: "Was there something in the water? Did the nation really once fall about laughing at the clumsy antics of a bloke in a big pink rubber costume with yellow blobs all over it?"<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/tv-radio/10-most-irritating-television-characters-1522543.html | work=The Independent | title=10 most irritating television characters | first=Cole | last=Moreton | date=1 February 2009 | accessdate=22 April 2013}}</ref> Looking back in a 2016 article, [[Stuart Heritage]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' said that Blobby "became a sensation immediately", but then devolved into a "widely despised irritant".<ref name="heritage">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2016/apr/01/mr-blobby-does-america-a-beginners-guide-for-all-his-new-stateside-fans|title=Mr Blobby does America: a beginner's guide for all his new Stateside fans|last=Heritage|first=Stuart|date=1 April 2016|website=[[The Guardian]]|accessdate=25 September 2016}}</ref> |
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===Music career=== |
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Blobby's 1993 Christmas release "[[Mr Blobby (song)|Mr Blobby]]", which topped the [[UK Singles Chart]] for three weeks, is regarded by many as the worst single,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/106931/racist-azealia-banks-has-sold-worse-in-the-uk-than-mr-blobby|title=Azealia Banks' music has had less success in the UK than Mr Blobby's|last=Butler|first=Ben|date=13 May 2016|publisher=[[Gigwise]]|accessdate=25 September 2016}}</ref> and indeed, song,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metro.co.uk/2015/12/20/7-songs-you-cant-believe-made-christmas-number-one-5550693/|title=7 songs you can't believe made Christmas number one|date=20 December 2015|website=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]|accessdate=12 May 2016}}</ref> [[List of music considered the worst|of all time]]. His 1995 track "Christmas in Blobbyland" (a number 36 UK entry) was voted the worst festive song ever by British Christmas shoppers in 2011<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/mr-blobbys-christmas-song-is-the-worst-1702913|title=Mr Blobby's Christmas song is the worst ever|date=18 December 2011|website=[[The Sunday People]]|publisher=[[Trinity Mirror]]|accessdate=12 October 2014}}</ref> and 2015 polls,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/video-news/video-east-17s-tony-mortimer-reveals-the-worst-christmas-songs-34249274.html|title=East 17's Tony Mortimer reveals the worst Christmas songs|date=1 December 2015|website=[[Belfast Telegraph]]|accessdate=25 September 2016}}</ref> and was named in the ''[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]'' as the second-worst Christmas song of all time in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://metro.co.uk/2013/12/04/the-top-10-worst-christmas-songs-ever-fact-4191693/|title=The top 10 worst Christmas songs ever, fact|last=Caster|first=Yvette|date=4 December 2013|website=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]]|publisher=[[DMG Media]]|accessdate=12 October 2014}}</ref> ''Mr Blobby: The Album'' (1994) was voted the worst LP ever made in a 2016 listener survey.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishnews.com/arts/music/2016/09/08/news/one-direction-justin-bieber-and-bruce-willis-albums-voted-among-worst-of-all-time-687267/|title=One Direction, Justin Bieber and Bruce Willis albums voted among worst of all time|date=8 September 2016|website=[[The Irish News]]|accessdate=25 September 2016}}</ref> |
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''[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]'' featured Blobby in a 2012 recounting of "The top 15 worst attempts at a pop career".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thesun.co.uk/archives/news/951494/the-top-15-worst-attempts-at-a-pop-career/|title=The Top 15 worst attempts at a pop career|last=Wood|first=Beci|date=27 September 2012|website=[[The Sun (United Kingdom)|The Sun]]|accessdate=26 September 2016}}</ref> |
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== Toys and merchandising == |
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Around Christmas 1993, retailers came out with many types of Mr Blobby merchandise. In addition to the CD or cassette tape single, Blobby merchandise included dolls and plush toys, slippers, egg cups, condiment shakers, pink lemonade, and towels. |
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Three programs were released on VHS, "Mr Blobby" (1993), "Blobbyvision" (1994) and "The All New Adventures of Mr Blobby" (1996). |
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===UK VHS and DVD releases=== |
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[[File:Mr Blobby VHS covers.png|thumb|VHS covers of the three Mr Blobby releases.]] |
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{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" width="750px" |
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!scope="col"|No. |
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!scope="col"|VHS Title |
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!scope="col"|Catalogue no. |
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!scope="col"|Release Date |
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{{Episode list |
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| EpisodeNumber = 1 |
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| Title = Mr Blobby |
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| Aux1 = BBCV 5157 |
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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date| 1 November 1993}} |
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| ShortSummary = A comical 'blobbumentary' programme made by Noel Edmonds on the star of his 'Noel's House Party' show, Mister Blobby. See Mister Blobby with Will Carling, Valerie Singleton, Wayne Sleep, Hudson and Halls, and Garth Crooks. |
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| LineColor = |
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}} |
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{{Episode list |
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| EpisodeNumber = 2 |
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| Title = Blobbyvision |
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| Aux1 = BBCV 5397 |
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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|10 October 1994}} |
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| ShortSummary = Mr Blobby displays his skills as only he can in 'Blobbywatch', 'Blindblob', 'Masterblob' and 'Blobstand'. Many scenes in this video were filmed at the Crinkley Bottom theme park at [[Cricket St Thomas]] in Somerset <ref name=dunblobbin>{{cite web | url=http://www.dunblobbin.com/merch/|title= Merchandise & Promotional Materials|publisher=Dunblobbin.com|accessdate=27 September 2017}}</ref> |
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| LineColor = |
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}} |
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{{Episode list |
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| EpisodeNumber = 3 |
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| Title = The All New Adventures of Mr Blobby |
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| Aux1 = BBCV 5786 |
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| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|5 February 1996}} |
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| ShortSummary = He's back! Everyone's favourite big, bouncy, big blob (well how many do you know?) In his new guises, Mr Blobby is a complete hoot, hilariously bumping, bashing and bruising his way through life. Superblob, Mr Blobby Sees the optician, Blobby The Bell Boy, Mr Blobby Goes Fishing, Mr Blobby is James Blob, Blobby The Busker, Blobby The Traffic Warden, Blobby Goes To The Bank, Mr Blobby On The Water |
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}} |
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|} |
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The Nutter Clutter Productions released the original Mr Blobby VHS on DVD in 2013. |
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== Theme parks == |
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Mr Blobby appeared at three Crinkley Bottom-themed attractions in pre-existing British theme parks during the 1990s. The first was based at [[Cricket St Thomas]] in Somerset, opening in July 1994. Attractions included a walk-through Blobby House named Dunblobbin, a [[dark ride]] based around classic children's television characters, and an animated [[Noddy (character)|Noddy]] exhibit. While the park attracted over 500,000 visitors in its first year, attendance figures dwindled and the park closed in 1998.<ref name=dunblobbin /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1220390/Pictured-The-abandoned-ruins-Mr-Blobby-theme-park-ravers-trash-site.html |title=Pictured: The abandoned ruins of Mr Blobby theme park after ravers trash site | Mail Online |publisher=Dailymail.co.uk |date=2009-10-16 |accessdate=2010-09-14}}</ref> |
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The second park was opened at Happy Mount Park, Morecambe, in 1994. This led to large losses, a local scandal toppling councillors and finally an auditor's investigation, which reported in 2004 that "the Council's decision to proceed with the Theme Park was, on the basis of information available to Members and officers in March 1994, imprudent and failed to give due regard to the interests of local taxpayers." The auditor noted "the failure of the Council to carry out market research, the failure to make informed estimates of likely attendance figures, the absence of a design concept, the absence of a detailed specification, the absence of an accurate financial forecast and the imprecise drafting of the Heads of Terms", concluding that "the Council entered into an open ended commitment without knowing what it was going to get for local taxpayers' money."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thevisitor.co.uk/news/local/morecambe-and-the-blobby-land-saga-20-years-on-1-6755475|title=Morecambe and the Blobby Land saga – 20 years on|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.virtual-lancaster.net/services/council/blobby_audit2004.doc |title=District Auditor's Report: Crinkley Bottom Theme Park |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141017223610/http://www.virtual-lancaster.net/services/council/blobby_audit2004.doc |archivedate=2014-10-17 |df= }}</ref><ref name="fiasco">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/lancashire/3398491.stm|title=Council blamed for 'Blobby' fiasco|date=15 January 2004|publisher=[[BBC News]]|accessdate=11 October 2014}}</ref> Council losses stood at £2.5 million. Unique successfully sued the council, whose activities were described as "imprudent, irrational and even unlawful", for £950,000.<ref name="fiasco"/> |
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A third park based in [[Pleasurewood Hills]], Lowestoft also failed to outlive the 1990s but maintained successful revenue during and after the Crinkley Bottom branding. |
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== References == |
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{{Reflist|group=note}} |
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{{reflist|colwidth=35em}} |
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* Death of comedy writer [https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222540/http://www.comcomcom.co.uk/with-great-sadness/ Charlie Adams] – creator of Mr Blobby |
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== External links == |
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* http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/ilove/years/1993/toys3.shtml |
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* https://www.facebook.com/mrblobbyofficial |
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{{Authority control}} |
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[[Category:Fictional characters introduced in 1992]] |
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[[Category:Comedy characters|Blobby]] |
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[[Category:1992 in British television]] |
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[[Category:British novelty song performers]] |
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Revision as of 10:46, 30 September 2018
Poo poo poo Mac Donald’s
