Small Time
 The children's series Small Time greeted a new arrival
in Pussy Cat Willum. The show also featured Sarah and Hoppity,
magician Larry Parker with Theodore the rabbit, and Gerry
Anderson's first two creations, Torchy The Battery Boy and Twizzle.
Torchy was a dim battery-operated boy, while Twizzle was able
to twist himself to great heights watched by his fat feline
companion Footso. But none became as popular as Pussy Cat Willum.
Accompanied by Wally Whyton and Muriel Young, Willum (who was a
proper little know-all) built up quite a following, receiving some
400 letters a week.
He reigned supreme for six years before being
ruthlessly axed - a cruel deed that warranted a half-page story in
the Daily Express. A television company spokesman said
coldly: "We just thought it was time for a change".
In those days Wally and Muriel had to ad-lib in the continuity
suite between programs if there weren't sufficient commercials to
air. This could be for anything up to eight minutes.
Whyton remembered one such occasion, a New Years Day: "My
character, Ollie Beak, came in with a balloon and announced 'I've
been to the Chelsea Owls' Ball'. To which Muriel replied
innocently 'I didn't know Owls had balls'. I don't know how we
carried on without cracking up completely".
Wally Whyton died from lung cancer in January 1997. Muriel
Young died in March 2001.
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