The Teletubbies became a global phenomenon in the 1990s with their childish catchphrase “eh-oh,” colourful tubby custard, and cheeky hoover Noo-noo.
But according to the woman behind Laa-Laa, there was a sinister side to starring as one of the loveable children’s characters. Nikky Smedley, debuted as the yellow Teletubby 23 years ago.
Initially, she says, the reaction to the Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po was negative, with parents fearing they would be a “bad influence” on children. However, it became a cultural phenomenon, running for five series before its cancellation in 2001.
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The identity of the cuddly characters remained a mystery at first with stars Smedley, Dave Thompson (Tinky Winky), John Simmit (Dipsy), and Pui Fan Lee (Po) made to sign non-disclosure agreements. As the media circled and attempted to unmask the stars behind the Teletubbies, Smedley says the “weird” messages began.
In her memoir Over the Hills and Far Away, she writes: “It started after the Daily Sport printed a badly mocked-up image of Laa-Laa, dressed in black bras and pants, with the tagline, ‘FAKE: Saucy shots of Laa-Laa shock fans.
(Image: NikkySmedley/Instagram)
“I started getting [letters] from a grown man telling me what a saucy little Teletubby I was and what he would like to do to me – with Tubby custard. I let the bosses know, in case I came to a grisly – and sticky – end, but after a few months, the letters tailed off and it became apparent that I was no longer starring in the stalker’s fantasies.”
Smedley however says she never felt in danger, with production company Ragdoll “protecting” the stars. The BBC also helped filter out the more unusual messages aimed at the stars.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Smedley added: “We got very well protected. There was the whole Ragdoll office. And the BBC, which filtered things out. Weird messages, yes. Not for me. For Laa-Laa. Grown men, writing love letters to a giant yellow puppet. But there was no harm done in the end.”
Even after the criticism of the “gibberish” speech died down, the popularity of The Teletubbies still led to controversy. American televangelist Jerry Falwell slammed Tinky Winky in 1999, describing the purple character as a “covert homosexual symbol” because of his triangle antenna – a shape often used in gay pride movements – and purse.
Smedley, who was originally a singer with garage-rock group Psychopussy, recounts the more unusual moments of her career in her stage show Confessions of a Teletubby. And for a woman who reached number one of the charts with single Eh Oh, there’s plenty of pinch-me anecdotes on offer.
Confessions of a Teletubby will be performed at The Space, Surgeons’ Hall between August 2 and 10 as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
