Teletubbies are back! Eh-oh Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po

After nearly 20 years, the iconic Teletubbies are back from Monday 9th November at 7.25am. The show is aimed primarily for preschoolers 0-3years, although we think it will be a big hit with the adults too! We spoke to the show's writer and producer to find out more...

Tell us about your role in Teletubbies

Catherine: I am a writer and script editor

Fiona: I'm the Series Producer of Teletubbies

For anyone who isn't familiar with it already, what is Teletubbies is all about?

Well Teletubbies is a show primarily for preschoolers 0-3 yrs but it might appeal to older children - and maybe even a few adults too.

The show is about having fun and being silly in a safe, familiar environment. It's been devised specifically for very young pre-school audience, with a pace and language they understand. Fun and laughter are at the very heart of the show.

As all parents and those who spend time with little ones know, young children love to experiment and gain confidence through repetition. Making children laugh is a great way to hold their focus. We embrace these qualities in the series; each episode uses repetition and comedy, embedded within a simple, clear theme, to encourage young children to learn through laughter and play.

As for the world where these adventures all take place; it is a very joyful and safe place. There is no jeopardy or disappointment, sadness or fear in Teletubbyland. There are no dashed ambitions, the Teletubbies are open to all experiences in the way that young children are too. They are positive, happy to see how things pan out and totally up for the ride.

Can you tell us a bit about each of the characters and who (or what) inspired them?

I think it's fair to say that Teletubbies is so iconic and so familiar to everyone, that I imagine 9 out of 10 people could name them without having to think too hard, which is the biggest compliment you could ever pay a show.

For our Teletubbies, we wanted to make sure the differences between the four were if anything, more apparent than before; a little more emphasised.

For the sake of the 1 out of 9 who doesn't know, in reverse-size order, the Teletubbies are:

Po , (the red one,) is a cute, sweet, innocent character, who is often awestruck by the simplest things but also loves doing her own thing and thinks nothing of going superfast on her scooter.

Laa-Laa , (the yellow one,) is a bundle of good fun energy, loves laughing, singing and dancing, very expressive, loves to go with the flow. Laa Laa loves the ball.

Dipsy , (the green one,) is quite giggly and very physical:  a funky and groovy Teletubby with swinging hips. Dipsy is always on the go, doing dance moves – often in a black and white hat.

Tinky Winky , (the purple one,) is the biggest and almost always goes first. Tinky Winky is gentle, soft and a bit of a dreamer. Tinky Winky can do things in surprising ways – you can never be quite sure what to expect with this Teletubby.

What will children learn from watching Teletubbies?

The narrative is very simple and slow because it's important for children to understand what is going on. The repetition not only reinforces the learning, but children also find it very reassuring.

Children find the way the Teletubbies attempt to speak very funny, which makes them confident enough to join in. Previous research has suggested that Teletubbies creates opportunities for children to develop cognitive understanding. Every episode contains various forms of communication such as the voice trumpets and the narrator. The narrator is a child as children often pay closer attention to the voice of another child.

We hope that children will adore the many new elements such as the Phone Dance and the Tubby Custard Ride, which add to the fun and comedy of the show.

What (if anything) will adults enjoy about the show and are there any influences they should look out for?

The Teletubbies are very, very funny. They just are. Young and old will giggle at their pursuits. There is an innocence to their world view which will charm parents, I think, just as it will enchant kids. It's the visual humour along with the funny sounds which appeals to all ages.

Adults can listen out for the familiar voices of Jim Broadbent and Fearne Cotton who are the fun voice trumpets; big grey speakers which slowly ascend from the ground with a gurgly clunk.

Jane Horrocks is the voice of the Tubby Phone which is brand new for the series; a phone which enagages the Teletubbies in playful dance and in some episodes surprises them by taking their photo!

Tell us about the new Teletubbies home and surroundings – what can we expect to see?

The Teletubbies live in Home Dome with their friend/pet and vacuum cleaner, The Noo-noo. They have a bed and blanket each, a table and chairs, a custard machine and a toaster. There's also a whole host of other secret and random treats which you'll have to watch to see!

In order to go outside to the hills the Teletubbies can simply run out of the Dome Doors which open and close automatically or they can take the lift, called the Dup-Dup, which raises one Teletubby up at a time onto the top of Home Hill, from which point the Teletubbies can see the lush hills all around, covered in beautiful multi-coloured flowers and bushes, plus of course the obligatory rabbits hopping around minding their own business.

What are the main changes from the original show and characters?

The most obvious change is the picture quality. The new show is High Definition and widescreen. The old show is much older than people realise. It was first broadcast in March 1997 and technology has moved on a lot since then.

So what's new? Given that these episodes are being made nearly 20 years after the first lot, there have been some innovations – the Teletubbies have touch screen tummies now and a Tubby Phone that they can even take photos on.  They also have a brand new Tubby Custard Ride to create fun, hilarious moments – but overall we have tried to remain faithful to what it was that everybody loved so much about the original series.

Do you have any personal favourite things in the show?

My favourite thing of all is watching the Teletubbies looking to camera excitedly, awaiting a line from the narrator. Oh, and the physical, silly stuff – falling over, bottom bumping, collapsing in giggles – all guaranteed to leave me howling with laughter every time.

Which of the Teletubbies do you most identify with and why?

I love them all, of course, including The Noo-noo but I identify most with Laa-Laa because she always tries her best and she's the colour of sunshine. That's not to say that she's my favourite. I can't possibly choose a favourite!

I suppose the genius of the Teletubbies is that they represent a little bit of all of us. I'm a bit dithery at times like Tinky Winky, I love a bit of monochrome chic, just like Dipsy, I can get lost in creativity like Laa-Laa, and I always want to go that tiny bit faster just like little Po.

As a parent, let's face it…. I probably most identify with the poor long-suffering Noo-noo who braces itself by wiggling its nozzle despairingly every time the words 'Tubby Custard' are mentioned (I react exactly the same when my daughter gets out the glitter, albeit without the nozzle).