Bungle (Rainbow)
Encyclopedia
Bungle is a character in the British children's television series Rainbow. He is a large brown furry bear
and is played by various actors, but chiefly Stanley Bates
. An urban legend
holds that one actor (presumably Stanley Bates) playing the role of Bungle was fired after swearing at a child who had deliberately stood on his foot during a live show, although long-time Rainbow contributor Malcolm Lord revealed that Bates chose to stand down before the live shows began in order to concentrate upon scriptwriting, giving Lord the opportunity to portray Bungle himself. The character of Bungle is inquisitive but also clumsy, each show typically represents Bungle involved in a comic dispute with the other puppet
characters, Zippy and George
, with Geoffrey Hayes mediating. Bungle also appeared in an episode of series 2 of Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps
when Jonny hired him and a bouncy castle with his scratch card winnings.
, one of the actors who played Bungle, was bound over to keep the Peace following an alleged road rage
incident.
because some of the younger viewers were frightened by his realistic appearance. They made his fur more of an orange-brown colour, and his head was enlarged with his fat furry face squashed in.
Bungle appeared without clothes during the day, but bizarrely put pyjamas on to go to bed or had a towel round his waist when he'd had a bath.
Bear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
and is played by various actors, but chiefly Stanley Bates
Stanley Bates
Stanley Bates is a British actor and screen writer most famously known for the role of Bungle, and as a scriptwriter, in the children's television programme, Rainbow between 1973 and 1988. Other credits include roles in The Tomorrow People and Theatre of Blood.In 2001 Bates caused controversy due...
. An urban legend
Urban legend
An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend, is a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true...
holds that one actor (presumably Stanley Bates) playing the role of Bungle was fired after swearing at a child who had deliberately stood on his foot during a live show, although long-time Rainbow contributor Malcolm Lord revealed that Bates chose to stand down before the live shows began in order to concentrate upon scriptwriting, giving Lord the opportunity to portray Bungle himself. The character of Bungle is inquisitive but also clumsy, each show typically represents Bungle involved in a comic dispute with the other puppet
Puppet
A puppet is an inanimate object or representational figure animated or manipulated by an entertainer, who is called a puppeteer. It is used in puppetry, a play or a presentation that is a very ancient form of theatre....
characters, Zippy and George
George (Rainbow)
George is an effeminate anthropomorphic pink hippo and a character of the popular children's television programme Rainbow in the 1980s, voiced by Roy Skelton and operated by Malcolm Lord, Tony Holtham and later Craig Crane....
, with Geoffrey Hayes mediating. Bungle also appeared in an episode of series 2 of Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps
Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps
Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps was a BBC sitcom created and written by Susan Nickson. It is set in the town of Runcorn in Cheshire, England, and initially revolves around the lives of five twenty-somethings, played by Ralf Little , Sheridan Smith , Will Mellor , Natalie Casey and...
when Jonny hired him and a bouncy castle with his scratch card winnings.
Road rage
In 2001 Stanley BatesStanley Bates
Stanley Bates is a British actor and screen writer most famously known for the role of Bungle, and as a scriptwriter, in the children's television programme, Rainbow between 1973 and 1988. Other credits include roles in The Tomorrow People and Theatre of Blood.In 2001 Bates caused controversy due...
, one of the actors who played Bungle, was bound over to keep the Peace following an alleged road rage
Road rage
Road rage is an aggressive or angry behavior by a driver of an automobile or other motor vehicle. Such behavior might include rude gestures, verbal insults, deliberately driving in an unsafe or threatening manner, or making threats. Road rage can lead to altercations, assaults, and collisions...
incident.
Original look
Originally, Bungle's face stuck out more, and his belly was white. He also looked more like a bear, but starting with the second season the crew made him look more cartoon-likeCartoon
A cartoon is a form of two-dimensional illustrated visual art. While the specific definition has changed over time, modern usage refers to a typically non-realistic or semi-realistic drawing or painting intended for satire, caricature, or humor, or to the artistic style of such works...
because some of the younger viewers were frightened by his realistic appearance. They made his fur more of an orange-brown colour, and his head was enlarged with his fat furry face squashed in.
Bungle appeared without clothes during the day, but bizarrely put pyjamas on to go to bed or had a towel round his waist when he'd had a bath.
Actors who portrayed Bungle
- John LeesonJohn LeesonJohn Leeson is a British actor who is best known for voicing K-9 on the television series Doctor Who from 1977 to 1979, and again in the 1980–1981 season. He was called back to do the voice of K-9 again for the 2006 episode "School Reunion" and again for the 2008 Doctor Who episode "Journey's End"...
- Stanley BatesStanley BatesStanley Bates is a British actor and screen writer most famously known for the role of Bungle, and as a scriptwriter, in the children's television programme, Rainbow between 1973 and 1988. Other credits include roles in The Tomorrow People and Theatre of Blood.In 2001 Bates caused controversy due...
- Malcolm Lord
- Paul Cullinan
- Daz SampsonDaz SampsonDarren "Daz" Sampson is a British dance music producer, musician and singer-songwriter.Up until 2006, when he represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest, Sampson was best known for his commercial dance music, often reworkings of older songs as a solo act and as a member of various...
- Matthew Butt