Replica of 'Muffin the Mule' puppet marionette

Replica of 'Muffin the Mule' puppet marionette, made in 1998 for the BBC's 'Small People' children's television promotion.

Muffin the Mule was a marionette character who appeared on the first British television programme targeted to children, 'For the Children' in 1946. His popularity with audiences made him the first children’s television star. This replica was produced for the BBC promotional film 'Future Generations: Small People'.

The original Muffin puppet was made as a kicking mule by Fred Tickner in 1933 for husband and wife puppeteers Jan Bussell and Ann Hogarth. The unnamed puppet was used in a circus show. Bussell had shown puppets on the Baird 30 line television service in 1931. After marrying they formed Hogarth Puppets, who appeared on the BBC's pre-war ‘high-definition’ television service.

The mule puppet was selected by Annette Mills to appear on the show 'For the Children', first appearing on 20 October 1946. Mills named the puppet Muffin and composed the show’s songs, including the Muffin the Mule theme. Hogarth wrote the episodes and Bussell directed. Mills hosted the programme with Muffin and other puppets performing on top of her piano. After the death of Annette Mills in 1955 the show moved to ITV 1956-57.

Additional Muffin puppets were created, one with a hook on the end of his nose for picking up objects, and a larger model for publicity purposes. This replica more closely resembles the larger model in scale.

This replica was produced for the BBC promotional film 'Future Generations: Small People' which premiered as part of Children in Need in 1998. The film was a successor to the BBC’s 'Perfect Day' promo celebrating music at the BBC. 'Small People' highlights the importance of the licence fee in funding programming for young people. The film follows child actor Scott Chisholm through memorable scenes from children’s television history by superimposing the actor or recreating famous scenes. Muffin appears with other puppet characters from the 1950s.