ITV brings back Sooty for digital net

Sooty (centre) first appeared on ITV in 1968

ITV in the UK has ordered new episodes of The Sooty Show for its recently launched preschool programming block on its digital channel ITVBe.

The Sooty Show (6×15′), which features the iconic puppet character who first appeared on the BBC before moving to ITV in 1968, will begin airing next month on the littleBe block, which runs between 09.00 and noon every day on ITVBe.

ITV has been acquiring a range of animated and live-action programmes for the block, which targets two- to four-year-olds.

The new episodes of The Sooty Show will feature guest stars including Peter Andre, Faye Tozer, John Challis and Lisa Riley alongside Sooty’s right-hand man Richard Cadell. The show is produced by Cadells Ltd.

The Sooty Show began on the BBC in 1955 and was created and presented by Harry Corbett. Corbett’s son Matthew took over presenting duties in 1976 until Richard Cadell began presenting the show in 1998.

Cadell bought the brand from Hit Entertainment in 2008 for close to £1m (US$1.3m), later launching the shows Sooty Heights and Sooty, which has aired on CiTV since 2011.