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Bungle

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description Bungle Overview

Bungle is a large brown bear character from Rainbow, the British children's television series broadcast from 1972 to 1992, with later revivals and related productions. Unlike the smaller puppet characters Zippy and George, Bungle was normally portrayed by a performer in a full-body costume. He was written as earnest, sensitive, and sometimes fussy or childish, participating in the program's stories, songs, games, and educational conversations.

help Bungle FAQ

Is Bungle from Rainbow a puppet or a bear costume?

Bungle was normally a performer inside a full-body brown bear costume, not a small hand-operated puppet ([BFI overview of Rainbow](https://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/780259/index.html)). That makes him physically larger than the puppet characters Zippy and George in the Thames Television series.

Who played Bungle in the original Rainbow?

The original run credits John Leeson, Stanley Bates, and Malcolm Lord as Bungle performers across different parts of the series. Rainbow was made for Thames Television and first aired in 1972.

What was Bungle's role in Rainbow?

Bungle was the inquisitive, childlike bear who shared the house with presenter Geoffrey Hayes and the other characters. The format mixed stories, songs, animation, and simple explanations for preschool viewers, rather than treating Bungle as a standalone cartoon hero.

How did Bungle differ from Zippy and George?

Bungle was the large bear in a suit, Zippy was the loud, energetic puppet, and George was the shy puppet with a quieter personality. Their contrast gave the 1972 to 1992 show three distinct childlike characters around Geoffrey.

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