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I got a surprise package in the post today, though I was pretty sure he it was from so not too worried that it might be a bomb. The genius prop maker Richard Ison (responsible for all the nice looking puppets in my show including Randrew Andrew, Cocky Carrot and Right Bollock - clearly he specialises in massive genitals) had sent me another creation.
I have asked him to make a couple of specific puppets, but mostly he just sends me some beautifully crafted invention when the mood strikes him. So what would be in the box?
It turned out that he had been inspired by
Ally's dirty, dirty pigeon song. It was a (mercifully actually clean) dirty pigeon covered in pretend insects and crud.
It has a moving mouth and flapping wings and mad orange eyes and it's another utter beauty that I will ensure makes its debut in Newsround on Friday.
The voice of a new character usually comes to me the minute I pick up the puppet and let it speak. The King of the World (originally King Herod in an AIOTM sketch) was delivered to my house from wherever he'd been stored. I opened the box with the kids and the former King Herod just immediately said "I'm the King of the World" and that was that.
Dirty Pigeon stumbled for a second, but then his voice emerged. Sorry to anyone born within the sound of Bow Bells. This isn't a comment on you all as a species. No catchphrase as yet though.
Dirty Pigeon will make his debut tomorrow, I suspect.
Richard also included a present for Ernie, a slice of fossilised mammoth tusk that he'd found amongst his dad's possessions. Again such kindness and Ernie was thrilled to have another item for his collection. Weirdly, according to the writing on the back, it was discovered in 1892, which is the same year that Ally sprung into existence.
I don't think I can make a puppet out of the but of mammoth tusk. But that won't stop me trying.
I don't know what I've done to deserve such lovely people liking me.
I don't know what you've done to deserve liking me.
The rest of you really need to pull your fingers out in sense of commitment though! Ison is the King (though not of the world, just of puppets).
