Showbiz
Some people are born into wealth. Others are born into a showbiz lifestyle. But nobody has ever been left with a legacy quite like Matthew Corbett, who was handed the world's most famous bear - Sooty - by his dad Harry in 1976. Matthew went on to work with Sooty (and his pals Soo and Sweep) for 22 years, man and boy. Squirted with water pistols, harassed by a squeaking dog and for generally putting up with living with three glove puppets for the majority of the '80s, Corbett should be recognised as a legend in his own field.
Pre-Sooty, Corbett earned his showbiz stripes with cameos on Doctor Who and Rainbow, but it was only when he got his hands on a certain yellow bear that he really hit his stride. Since handing over the Sooty baton and heading into retirement, Corbett has shunned the limelight. In the '00s, he was more often found playing pub gigs on his acoustic guitar and presenting regional interest show Locks and Quays than entertaining the masses on primetime telly. However, whatever Corbett chooses to do in his retirement is fine with us, because he is, without question, a television legend.
Click along our gallery below for some classic snaps of Matthew and the gang:
Pre-Sooty, Corbett earned his showbiz stripes with cameos on Doctor Who and Rainbow, but it was only when he got his hands on a certain yellow bear that he really hit his stride. Since handing over the Sooty baton and heading into retirement, Corbett has shunned the limelight. In the '00s, he was more often found playing pub gigs on his acoustic guitar and presenting regional interest show Locks and Quays than entertaining the masses on primetime telly. However, whatever Corbett chooses to do in his retirement is fine with us, because he is, without question, a television legend.
Click along our gallery below for some classic snaps of Matthew and the gang:
Copyright: Rex Features
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