Mr. Squiggle

Mr. Squiggle

Industry	Children's television
Founded	July 1, 1959 (1959-07-01)
Founder	Norman Hetherington
Headquarters	Australia
Products	Television series, live theatre tours, fan conventions

Mr. Squiggle, initially known as Mr. Squiggle and Friends, is a renowned Australian children's television series and the eponymous character featured on the ABC network. The show was broadcast in multiple formats from 1 July 1959 until 1999, ranging from brief five-minute segments to an extensive 90-minute variety program that included additional performers. Throughout its run, the series underwent several title changes and established itself as one of Australia's most beloved and enduring children's programs. Originally designed to cover a six-week programming gap, it ultimately captivated numerous generations through television, live theatre tours, and fan conventions.

History

Conceived by cartoonist and puppeteer Norman Hetherington OAM, Mr. Squiggle made his debut on ABC TV’s Children's TV Club before receiving his own dedicated program on 1 July 1959. Hetherington personally operated and voiced all puppet characters, while the scripts were crafted by his wife, Margaret.

The show’s concept revolved around children submitting "squiggles," which Mr. Squiggle would then creatively transform into identifiable illustrations using his distinctive pencil-shaped nose. Frequently, these drawings were completed upside down—a technique reflecting Hetherington’s unique puppet manipulation style. Every child whose squiggle was featured was sent a customized letter from Mr. Squiggle himself.

The series enjoyed a broadcast span exceeding four decades, with its final episode airing on 9 July 1999. Although production ceased in 1997, the contractual agreement with ABC extended until 2001. After production ended, Hetherington retained possession of the puppets, which have since been displayed at venues such as the National Film and Sound Archive and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image during their "50 Years of TV" exhibition in 2007. In 2010, both Hetherington and his puppets were featured on ABC TV’s Collectors program.

In 2005, the Mosman Art Gallery organized a significant exhibition titled "Mr Squiggle, Who’s Pulling the Strings," highlighting Hetherington’s artistic contributions and legacy. The showcase included memorabilia like fan letters addressed to "Mr Squiggle, The Moon."

Characters

• Mr. Squiggle - The main figure is a marionette characterized by a pencil for a nose who resides at 93 Crater Crescent on the Moon. He travels to Earth aboard his pet rocket, Rocket. Each episode centers on him turning "squiggles" submitted by children from across Australia into imaginative drawings. Mr. Squiggle is portrayed as cheerful, kind-hearted, and somewhat absent-minded; he often becomes distracted or embarks on "space-walks," requiring his assistant to bring him back to focus on his artwork.

Supporting characters

Additional puppet figures featured in the show include:

• Blackboard – a cantankerous blackboard serving as Mr. Squiggle's easel, recognized for phrases such as "Hurry up," "Hmmph," and “Boringgg.”
• Gus the Snail – notable for having a television set as his shell initially, later replaced by a flower pot; he frequently delivers knock-knock jokes.
• Bill the Steam Shovel – known for telling cheesy jokes (often riddles) and emitting steam-like belches made from talcum powder when laughing.

Assistants

Throughout its history, Mr. Squiggle was supported by various human assistants including Miss Gina (Gina Curtis), Miss Pat (Pat Lovell), Miss Jane (Jane Fennell), Roxanne (Roxanne Kimmorley), and Rebecca (Rebecca Hetherington). During his earliest appearances as Mr. Jolly Squiggle on the Children's TV Club, his assistant was Miss Faith (Faith Linton).

Guest appearances

Between 1989 and 1990, comedian Mikey Robins portrayed the role of Reg Linchpin. Among other distinguished guest stars were actor Paul Chubb and illusionist Timothy Hyde.

Commemoration

In February 2019, the Royal Australian Mint released a collection of two-dollar coins to mark the show's 60th anniversary. These coins depict characters such as Squiggle, Gus the Snail, Bill the Steam Shovel, and Blackboard.

Archival collection

In April 2024, the National Museum of Australia obtained an assortment of Norman Hetherington's puppetry items, including scripts, artwork, props, graphic designs, merchandise, and fans' "squiggles," with intentions to make them accessible to the public.

This collection was on display at the museum from July through October 2025.

External links

• Mr Squiggle at the National Film and Sound Archive