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Tinky Winky, Dipsy, La La and Po were introduced to British viewers on 31st March, 1997 - launching an international phenomenon and changing kid\u2019s television forever.\n\u2018Teletubbies\u2019 was an enormous hit for the BBC, but not without controversy: from viewers concerned that the characters\u2019 toddlerish language might impede the linguistic development of the nation\u2019s children, to angry Radio Times readers who claimed the BBC were committing \u2018cultural vandalism\u2019 by axing the long-running series Playdays.\nIn this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly get lost in the weeds of Teletubbies Wiki fandom; revisit the \u2018toy rage\u2019 that the show had inspired by Christmas 1997; and reveal why the first generation \u2018tubbies never did live appearances\u2026\xa0\nFurther Reading:\n\u2022 \u2018Teletubbies turn 20: how four blinking toddlers became a true TV phenomenon\u2019 (The Guardian, 2017): https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/mar/31/teletubbies-turn-20-how-four-blinking-toddlers-became-a-true-tv-phenomenon\n\u2022 \u2018The Great Distractor\u2019 (Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy, 2021): https://www.mediatechdemocracy.com/work/the-great-distractor\n\u2022 \u2018Teletubbies: Ned\u2019s Bicycle\u2019 (BBC, 1997): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9woh2gKx1rM&list=PL8Zq4IrtuktnIh_XkWqMRfNkebVPgUIwy\nIf you enjoyed this episode, there\u2019s three-and-a-half minutes MORE material about the Teletubbies exclusively available to our supporters today!\nJust sign up at Patreon* or click Subscribe on Apple Podcasts to receive your bonus bit, this and every week...\n* https://patreon.com/Retrospectors. Top two tiers only.\nFor bonus material and to support the show, visit\xa0Patreon.com/Retrospectors\nWe'll be back tomorrow! Follow us wherever you get your podcasts:\xa0podfollow.com/Retrospectors\nThe Retrospectors are Olly Mann, Rebecca Messina & Arion McNicoll, with Matt Hill.\nTheme Music: Pass The Peas. Announcer: Bob Ravelli. Graphic Design: Terry Saunders. Edit Producer: Emma Corsham.\nCopyright: Rethink Audio / Olly Mann 2022.\n Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices