Well this was a proper nostalgia trip for me. 
Those of you who have been reading my blog for some time may recall that my 1st ever “concert” experience was seeing the Sooty Show with Harry Corbett at Sunderland Empire in the early 1960s. One of the many great things about having grand children is that it gives you the chance, and a great excuse, to relive your childhood. Now I wasn’t aware that Sooty was back on television again but indeed he is and, along with Sweep and Soo, in pretty authentic form accompanied by new friend Richard Cadell and on TV every morning (see the Sooty Show). So along we went myself, Laura, Dale, Lisa and little Phoebe to experience the little bear and all his friends. The advertisement said: “Izzy Wizzy let’s get busy! Join Sooty for his brand new Laugh Out Loud Magic Show! Direct from their hit ITV series, Sooty, Sweep and Soo will amaze you with impossible tricks and sidesplitting jokes! Be astounded at Sooty’s flying car, Soo’s singing unicorn and Sweep’s levitating sausage! A spectacular treat for the whole family.” What fun!
And pretty good it was too. Sooty was as naughty as ever, the little voices of our three heroes were exactly the same, the magic tricks were as silly as ever and Sooty had his magic wand and even said (along with all of us of course) “Izzy Wizzy Let’s Get Busy!” Along with this we had friendly magician Michael Jordan who span plates on sticks and managed to make his wonderful assistant disappear from a box.
But the most magical part came at the end. A little boy, who couldn’t have been more than 5 or 6 years old was brought up on stage. Richard told him that some magical things were going to happen and that he would “remember them for the rest of his life.” The boy did some tricks with Sooty and then climbed into his little red car alongside the little bear and flew up into the air. The car safely brought them back to land safely onto the stage and Richard presented the boy with a small magic wand which apparently was Sooty’s “original wand that he had had for 70 years. 🙂 ” The boy was told that he would treasure the wand for the rest of his life and that he would remember this experience for ever. And you know what. I bet he will.
Pure magic.
Vintagerock's Weblog. 
Posted by Peter Stoddart on February 22, 2020 at 6:37 pm
I was there too. As you said grandkids are a great way of reliving your childhood. Mine thoroughly enjoyed it
Posted by Steve Merchant on February 22, 2020 at 8:02 pm
I went to see a Sooty Show in Loughborough Town Hall on the 10th of December 1977 at an afternoon matinee performance with some visiting friends from back home in Shrewsbury. Very funny it was too with Matthew Corbett as MC with Ramsbottom the Snake stealing the show with lines like “,,,aye reet enoof…well ahm gooin’ down t’snake club to kip int bucket…”. Great stuff! As we exited the foyer I gathered up a bunch of now redundant Sooty Show leaflets and secreted them about myself. Eager for liquid refreshment my friends and I continued onto and into various pubs of Loughborough as preparation for the evening’s musical entertainment up at the University. That entertainment being Ian Dury & The Blockheads no less, a very hot ticket at the time. Suffice to say we were somewhat dis-inhibited due to the victual distractions that we encountered as we proceeded onward to the University. The venue was stuffed to the rafters and very hot and sweaty it was too. It was a great rock and roll show from Ian and the Boys, was there a tighter and more creative band at that time? I would argue not. The show roared by and the audience roared back their approval and by the last song they were roaring for more. The band returned and gave it to them in spades when the opening and memorable riff of the song that was sweeping student Halls of Residence across the land at that time. The Riff had arrived and the audience went berserk as we lifted off our feet as one. It was then that I realised that something was discomforting me in the crush, I forced a hand round and fished into my back pocket to pull out what the hell was stuffed in there, I heaved the mystery impacted mass out and gazing down with one eye realised the value of the surprise prize. About 40 of the damn things! It happened very quickly, no thought of right or wrong, it was childish and spontaneous and lurking roadies be damned, They had to go, I flung them towards the stage where they landed at Ian Durys feet where they scattered on impact. Unflinching, Ian Dury bent and raised one of the projectiles and with no break in his flow, band riffing hard and as if on cue sang “Sex and Sooty and Rock and Roll…is all my brain and body needs….” – a life motto we could all set our store by
Posted by vintagerock on February 23, 2020 at 1:31 pm
Great story Steve many thanks indeed
Best wishes Peter
Posted by Graham on February 22, 2020 at 7:15 pm
That sounds wonderful. I wonder if Richard is related to Simon Cadell (of “Hi-De-Hi” fame)…? I think my little nephews would have loved this.
Posted by jeffollerton on February 25, 2020 at 11:39 am
Just going to leave this here:
Posted by vintagerock on February 25, 2020 at 12:13 pm
Thanks Jeff. Pretty cool. Sooty wins of course cheers Peter