Voice of SuperTed reveals how he got drunk in pub before recordings

David Owens

It’s the Welsh cartoon series that was a global smash and which is soon to make a comeback.

Created by Cardiff animator Mike Young in the early ‘80s, SuperTed was originally recorded in Welsh with Geraint Jarman voicing the eponymous furry superhero.

Originally running on the BBC from 1983-86, the show soon became a huge hit globally.

A glittering cast of star names from the ‘80s voiced the cast in English, including much-loved children’s presenter Derek Griffiths as the voice of SuperTed.

Now, Griffiths has lifted the lid on the drunken antics the cast got up to during recording sessions.

The former Play School presenter revealed how the voiceover cast, which also included villains – evil cowboy Texas Pete (Victor Spinetti), the cowardly Skeleton (Melvyn Hayes), dimwitted Bulk (Roy Kinnear) – as well as Super Ted’s sidekick Spotty (Jon Pertwee), were “sozzled” at times during recording sessions, because they would go for a pub lunch before making the popular ‘80s cartoon.

The 75-year-old actor told Best of British magazine: “The day started with a visit to the pub for lunch, and then we went in to do the recording.

“Well, everyone was sozzled by the time we got in – and it was the most hysterical recording.”

Filthy

And he says an attempt to film one of the recordings ended up being a complete waste of time.

He added: “They actually filmed one episode being recorded – and they couldn’t use any of it, because it was so disgustingly filthy.

“These drunken actors were all rolling about the floor.”

A revamped version of the cartoon is due to return to television in 2023, but sadly without the actor who admits he has no interest in voicing the bear who was powered by Spotty’s cosmic dust and Mother Nature’s special powers.

He said: “I can’t play an ingenuous teddy bear who’s in his 70s.

“I was pushing my luck then.”

SuperTed was originally made in Welsh and shown by S4C in 1982. It was then translated into English and shown on the BBC for the first time the following year.

It was transmitted in 128 different countries and dubbed into 32 different languages. In July, it was revealed that SuperTed will be returning to the BBC for 26 episodes in 2023.