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This is a list of characters in the comic from the children's television programme Zzzap!. Aimed for hearing impaired children, the show was broadcast on ITV (later ITV1) and ITV2 (although it was later re-ran on CITV) between 8 January 1993 to 21 September 2001.
Cuthbert Lilly (1993–2001)
Cuthbert Lilly is a well-meaning, yet clumsy and accident-prone man, played by Richard Waites and voiced by Neil Buchanan from Series 2-9 (Series 1 had no voice acting and was composed entirely of Stock SFX and Music), and then by Richard Waites himself in Series 10. He is aided with the catchphrase "He's Dead Silly", has brown spiky hair and mostly wore a pink lily coloured suit with a yellow shirt, a red and white polka dot bow-tie and red shoes. Cuthbert is one of two characters (the other being The Handymen) to have appeared in every episode from Series 1-10.
His comic sound effect bubbles always appeared pink or lilac coloured from Series 2 onwards, whereas in Series 1, they appeared in a variety of different colours. Cuthbert's scenes follow the general trend of a slapstick comedy, where Cuthbert generally fails to perform simple tasks with disastrous consequences. The sketches often featured the recurring characters of "Mr Snooty", Cuthbert's antagonist, and the "Old Lady" who frequently attacks Cuthbert with an umbrella. His trademark characteristic is putting his thumbs up (whether he had come out on top in a sketch or not). Two running gags throughout his sketches show Cuthbert reaching out and taking the comic book frame from the edges of the screen before throwing it away, as well as pushing it away, tripping over it or walking over it and Cuthbert repeatedly getting his hand crunched by anyone he tries to shake hands with.
Sometimes, if Cuthbert caused trouble, another person like an angry old lady or a policeman would chase after him. Before they did, he would stick his thumbs up to the camera, and then he would run off. Cuthbert is also a friend of Smart Arty and made a few cameos in his sketches mostly helping him solve a problem such as opening a pot of paint or looking after a baby.
In Series 1, Cuthbert was introduced with the camera travelling to visit his respective square, which showed a picture of him with his thumbs up in the sketch's setting, within the Title Card; This was likely impractical, as his transition would've been reshot for each of the 10 episodes of that series.
From Series 2-9, the square features Cuthbert bursting into his Title Card, which mended behind him (an effect possible because, to aid the camera operator in aligning shots with the comic frame, the shots began aligned with the panel and finished with a wide shot, which was then reversed in Post-production); In Series 10, frames containing the characters floated around the screen, the respective character's segment would continue when the roulette stopped at them. Due to the dynamism of Cuthbert's sketches, he had the largest, most varied selection of Production Music. He was at the Top row on the left side.
Cuthbert also has the distinction of being the only character in the entirety of the show's run to speak whole proper sentences, which occurs in Cuthbert's Diary (a special episode created for CITV's Comedy Week — The moniker for Series 3 of Goggle Watch, released during the Spring Half-Term of 1997). The special establishes a week in the life of Cuthbert, presented as clip show featuring previous or new sketches for each day of the week, with Waites voicing Cuthbert to prelude the sketches with a brief explanation of it.
Smart Arty (1993–1998)
Smart Arty is a caricatured French painter who featured in Series 1-7, played and voiced by Neil Buchanan. Smart's trademark is to blow the unseen audience kisses at the beginning and end of every segment.
His comic sound effect bubbles always appear dark pink. All Smart Arty sketches begin with him painting the same picture of himself. In Series 1, the sketches feature Smart creating large pictures out of rather unusual objects. From Series 2 onwards, the sketches involve drawings created with a magic pen which bring his many drawings to life. This is performed in the style of Maurice Minor sketches in Kenny Everett's shows and the cartoon Penny Crayon. His sketches are accompanied by the music of Boccherini's Minuet and Trio, from his String Quartet in E.
He is also a friend of Cuthbert Lilly and makes a few cameos in his sketches, mostly helping him solve problems such as photography and painting.
In recognition of ZZZAP, one of the Art Attack 'Big Art Attack Pictures' featured on the show was a giant picture of Smart Arty.
At the start of the sketch, Smart Arty always waves at the camera and does two hops to the wall.
Smart Arty's first sketch on the program is in Series 1, Episode 1, when he makes a black sellotape picture of Laurel and Hardy. His last sketch is in Series 7, Episode 16. The sketch shows him planting some seeds in his garden. He is at the bottom row on the right side.
The Handymen (1993–2001)
The Handymen are two gloved hands; one yellow and one blue, played by Sarah Pickthall. The Handymen are one of two segments of the show (the other being Cuthbert Lilly) to have appeared in every episode from Series 1-10.
The Handymen have no comic sound effect bubbles. The sketches are performed in a theatre with an audience composed entirely of hands. The Handymen appear on stage, either making an object or performing a magic trick. Accompanying them, are various cardboard signs on a white stick describing an instruction, step, object or passage of time.
A frequent characteristic of The Handymen is that, mostly between Series 1-7, but sporadically thereafter, the sign stays in shot slightly too long, and one of the hands taps it, prompting it to leave the scene.
During Series 1-7, The Handymen have the same music (Memories of the Music Hall by Roger Webb) in all of their sketches, but in Series 8-10, other Music Hall-style pieces are sometimes played in its place. The Handymen are at the top row on the right side.
Tricky Dicky's Mission Impossible (1993)
Tricky Dicky is a mysterious spy played by Richard Waites and was featured in Series 1. He is always seen wearing a black hat, a mask, a grey trench coat and black plimsolls. He sometimes wears Wellington boots in the event of a muddy task. His trademark is a very high and slightly creepy giggle. His eyes only appear at the beginning of his sketches. The character was dropped following Series 1, as he was considered too scary for younger viewers.
His comic sound effect bubbles appear in different colors such as black, white, blue and green. His sketches involve him in his secret office, writing a challenge on his typewriter, that then has to be performed by a selection of children. The challenges initially sound simple (for example, having to pour custard on a pudding), but they feature a twist that makes it more difficult (e.g. the custard might be in a wheelbarrow and the pudding at the end of an obstacle course). The children often give a black and white speech bubble of "Oh No!" and Tricky Dicky would hold up a speech bubble sign saying "Oh Yes!". Depending on whether the children fail or succeed in completing the task, at the end of the sketch Tricky would hold up a sign reading "Mission Impossible" or "Mission Possible" respectively.
He is in the centre in the middle below the clown square.
Daisy Dares You (1994–2001)
Daisy Dare is featured in Series 2-10 and was the replacement for Tricky Dicky. She is played by Deborah McCallum for Series 2-8, and Claire Macaulay from Series 9. Daisy is always seen wearing yellow and black checks, and is supposedly a young, freckled, cheeky schoolgirl in dungarees. Her hair is always tied into her trademark style of two bunches, secured with yellow bows. Her trademark walk is a playful skip.
Her comic sound effect bubbles always appear canary yellow. Much like the Tricky Dicky sketches featured in the first series, Daisy sets difficult challenges for a small group of children who were selected from local schools or drama organisations. If even one of the children succeed in performing the challenge, Daisy starts to cry or throw a tantrum; but if they all fail, Daisy laughs and celebrates her victory. From Series 8 onwards, Daisy has to do the challenge herself if the children succeed. She gets covered in mouldy food or falls into a swimming pool. If she falls in, the kids laugh and say hurrah.
In the last episode of Series 2-10, Daisy sets children a task where they get themselves in trouble (usually by throwing food or gunge balloons at a policeman, some old ladies, or angry members of the public) but the plan usually backfires and gets Daisy into trouble. Daisy also whistles to give the children a signal to perform. She is a friend of Minnie Magic as she is seen in one of Minnie's sketches, coming to visit her for tea. She also appears in one of Cuthbert Lilly's sketches where he attempts to get her a present for her birthday; and in one of Smart Arty's sketches to hand him a party invitation. She is in the centre of the middle row, below the clown/dot to dot square.
Daisy was one of the show's most popular characters; In Series 2-7, she is voiced by Neil Buchanan. From Series 8-10, she is voiced by Sophie Aldred.
Minnie The Mini Magician (1999–2001)
Minnie Magic is played by Sophie Aldred and is featured in Series 8-10. She was Smart Arty's replacement, after Neil Buchanan left the role. Minnie is a magician in training who wears an L-plate around her neck to show this. She has a mop of curly orange hair, freckles and wears black rimmed circular glasses. Minnie's main attire consists of a purple magician's robe with a yellow collar, decorated with yellow stars and spots with a matching hat and bloomers, along with black and white striped leggings and purple shoes.
Her comic sound effect bubbles always appear orange. Minnie often uses her magic performances to try out new things, make new discoveries or just to do a simple task, but they usually go wrong or backfire on her, and whenever they do, she sighs her catchphrase of "Oh well!" before tapping her learner sign. Sometimes she succeeds and twiddles her glasses, saying her other catchphrase "Magic!" She is also a friend of Daisy Dare as seen in one of her sketches when she invited her to tea. She is at the bottom row on the right side.
Other pages
- Question Mark (Puzzle Page)
- Dot to Dot
- Eye (Spot the Difference)
- Eyes in Leaves (Guess the Animal)
- Magnifying Glass (Dingbats)