Here's Humphrey

2025-10-07T00:25:38Z

122.150.206.27:

{{Short description|Former Australian children's TV show}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2013}}
{{Infobox television
| image = Here's_Humphrey_title_card_1994.png
| genre = [[Children's television series|Preschool]]
| creator = Rex Heading
| starring = [[Humphrey B. Bear]]
| country = Australia
| language = English
| num_seasons = 40
| num_episodes = {{ubl|3,000<ref name="epcount" />|1,776<ref name="auction2011" />}}
| executive_producer = Rosemary Blackwell (1995–2003)
| location = [[Adelaide]]
| runtime = 30 minutes
| company = Banksia Productions
| network = [[Nine Network]]
| first_aired = {{Start date|1965|5|24|df=y}}
| last_aired = {{End date|2008|2|29|df=y}}
}}

'''''Here's Humphrey''''' was an Australian [[children's television series]] produced by Banksia Productions for the [[Nine Network]], which first aired on 24 May 1965 and last went to air in 2008.

It features an [[anthropomorphic]] brown bear character (a person in a costume) known as [[Humphrey B. Bear]], and was produced in [[Adelaide]], [[South Australia]]. In September 2013, [[Community television in Australia|community station]], [[West TV]], began airing repeats of ''Here's Humphrey'' in Perth.<ref name="westtv">{{Cite news |last=Knox |first=David |date=2013-09-25 |title=Humphrey B. Bear on West TV |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2013/09/humphrey-b-bear-back-on-west-tv.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309203028/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2013/09/humphrey-b-bear-back-on-west-tv.html |archive-date=2014-03-09 |access-date=2018-10-04 |work=[[TV Tonight]]}}</ref> The character still exists, owned by Ozpix Entertainment as of 2020.

''Here's Humphrey'' became one of the most successful programs for preschoolers in Australia, was sold internationally, and is one of the longest-running children's television programs in the world. The program received multiple [[Logie Awards|Logie Television Awards]].

==Format==
The series features [[anthropomorphic]] [[brown bear]] character known as [[Humphrey B. Bear]], who is mute.<ref name="atozaustv" /> Set in a magical forest, Humphrey is paired with a human presenter, who narrates their adventures.<ref name="nostalgia" /> The series takes place in Humphrey's tree house, where he partakes in magical adventures.<ref name="tvtonight2007" />

One of the central ideas presented in the show is the importance of taking part and not always being successful at everything.<ref name="50years" />

==Cast==
===Presenters===
{|class="wikitable"
! Presenter
! Tenure
! Ref.
|-
|Ian Fairweather
| 1967
|<ref name="atozaustv" /><ref name="Can Times Sept70">{{Cite news |date=1970-09-21 |title=Films for the week |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110461842 |access-date=2017-03-12 |work=[[The Canberra Times]] |page=13 |via=[[National Library of Australia]] |volume=45 |issue=12,702}}</ref>
|-
|[[Patsy Biscoe]]
| 1970–1972
|<ref name="atozaustv" /><ref name="Can Times Sept70" />
|-
|Sue Cardwell
| 1970s
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=2019-10-27 |title=Vale: Roger Cardwell |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2019/10/vale-roger-cardwell.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520115046/https://tvtonight.com.au/2019/10/vale-roger-cardwell.html |archive-date=2023-05-20 |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=[[TV Tonight]]}}</ref>
|-
|Malcolm Harslett
| 1972–1984
|<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=2009-11-02 |title=Humphrey closer to license sale |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2009/11/humphrey-closer-to-license-sale.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520120544/https://tvtonight.com.au/2009/11/humphrey-closer-to-license-sale.html |archive-date=2023-05-20 |access-date=2023-05-20 |website=[[TV Tonight]]}}</ref>
|-
|Martin Portus
|
|<ref name="epcount" />
|-
|Robin Roenfeldt{{efn|Also known as a host of ''Channel Niners'' and ''[[C'mon Kids (TV series)|C'mon Kids]]''|name=ninekids}}{{efn|Also producer and writer in the 1990s.}}
| 1979–1988
|
|-
|-
|Joanna Moore{{efn||name=ninekids}}
| 1980–1989
|
|-
|[[Michael Pope (producer)|Michael Pope]]
|1984
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Television on Air |url=https://www.michaelpope.com.au/television_onair.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328001138/https://www.michaelpope.com.au/television_onair.html |archive-date=2023-03-28 |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=[[Michael Pope (producer)|Michael Pope]]}}</ref>
|-
|[[Glynn Nicholas]]
|1987-1991
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Television - Glynn Nicholas |url=https://glynnnicholas.com/television/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211164317/https://glynnnicholas.com/television/ |archive-date=2023-12-11 |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=[[Glynn Nicholas]]}}</ref>
|-
|Heidi Greig
|1988–1992
|<ref name="youtube.com">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffXuhcwdMPU |title=Here's Humphrey- 1992- Episode |date=2022-08-10 |last=MrSimpleSimon |type=Television recording |language=en |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
|-
|David Sadler
|1988–1992
|<ref name="youtube.com" />
|-
|Terry Webb
|1988–1992
|<ref name="YouTube2">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL57tZ5x2ag |title=Here's Humphrey- 1990- Episode |date=2022-11-30 |last=MrSimpleSimon |type=Television episode |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
|-
|Ann Carter
|1988–1992
|
|-
|Narelle Higson
|1989–1993
|<ref name="humphrey1993">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BRSZvnGvns |title=Here's Humphrey- 1993- Episode |date=2022-07-27 |last=MrSimpleSimon |type=Television episode |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
|-
|Ambrae Jamae
|1992–1994
|
|-
|Albert Colbert
|1993–1996
|<ref name="humphrey1993" />
|-
|Anthony O'Donohue{{efn|Also producer, writer and editor in the final seasons}}
|1993–2008
|
|-
|Joni Combe{{efn|Daughter of singer-songwriter [[Peter Combe]]}}{{efn|Also known as the original/vintage portrayer of Rhapsody from ''[[The Fairies (TV series)|The Fairies]]''}}
|1995–2000
|<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-09-01 |title=Joni |url=https://www.theatrebugs.com.au/joni-combe/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112071146/https://www.theatrebugs.com.au/joni-combe/ |archive-date=2022-11-12 |access-date=2022-11-12 |website=Theatre Bugs}}</ref>
|-
|Carolyn Ferrie{{efn|Also known as the voice of [[The Wiggles|Dorothy the Dinosaur]] for many years}}
|1997–1999
|
|-
|Tess Masters{{efn|Presented a special American version of the show for the 1998 public television series ''Someday School''}}
|1998
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=Presenter |url=https://www.tessmasters.com/presenter |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230719201312/https://www.tessmasters.com/presenter |archive-date=2023-07-19 |access-date=2023-07-19 |website=Tess Masters}}</ref>
|-
|Diane Dixon
|1999–2000
|
|-
|[[Iyari Limon]]{{efn|Presented a Spanish-language version of the show, titled simply ''Humphrey'', which was broadcast in Latin America and the United States on [[Galavisión]]}}
|1999-2001
|
|-
|Amber Brown
|2007–2008
|<ref name="humphrey2007">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnyRXTEsDfs |title=Here's Humphrey- 2007- Episode |date=2022-07-13 |last=MrSimpleSimon |type=Television recording |language=en |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>
|}

===Humphrey B. Bear===
Several performers portrayed the role of Humphrey.
* Edwin Duryea (1965)<ref name="50years">{{Cite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=2015-05-24 |title=Humphrey B. Bear turns 50 |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2015/05/humphrey-b-bear-turns-50.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630170521/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2015/05/humphrey-b-bear-turns-50.html |archive-date=2017-06-30 |access-date=2018-10-04 |website=[[TV Tonight]]}}</ref>
* Ross Hutchinson<ref name="50years" />
* John Maclean<ref name="50years" />
* Tom Fairlie
* Aaron Dubois (1992-1994)
* Tony Balzan (1985–2008)
* Anthony O'Donohue
* Bec Schembri (2002-2007)

==Production==
''Here's Humphrey'' was originally aired exclusively in [[Adelaide]] on [[NWS (TV station)|NWS-9]],<ref name="speculation" /> premiering on 24 May 1965,<ref name="nostalgia" /><ref name="tvtonight2007" /> before airing nationally two years later.<ref name="atozaustv">{{Cite book |last=Moran |first=Albert |title=The A to Z of Australian Radio and Television |last2=Keating |first2=Chris |date=2009-08-04 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0810870222 |page=205}}</ref> Filmed in Adelaide and produced by Banskia Productions, the character of Humphrey was initially known as "Bear Bear" until he was renamed as a result of a competition.<ref name="atozaustv" /><ref name="Can Times Sept70" /> The program was created as a result of Humphrey's previous popularity on the afternoon program ''The Channel Niners''.<ref name="channelniners">{{Cite book |last=Heading |first=Rex |title=Miracle on Tynte Street: The Channel Nine Story |date=1996 |publisher=Wakefield Press |isbn=1862543909 |page=78}}</ref>''Here's Humphrey'' was granted a P classification, deeming it specifically designed to meet the needs and interests of pre-schoolers and allowing it to be broadcast on the Nine Network with a 30-minute runtime commercial-free.<ref name="candp">{{Cite web |date=September 2005 |title=C and P programs 1998–2004 |url=http://www.acma.gov.au/webwr/aba/tv/content/requirements/children/documents/c%20and%20p%20programs%201998-2004.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227221502/http://www.acma.gov.au/webwr/aba/tv/content/requirements/children/documents/c%20and%20p%20programs%201998-2004.pdf |archive-date=2012-02-27 |access-date=2016-10-13 |website=[[Australian Communications and Media Authority]] |page=6}}</ref> Classification deals allowed the Nine Network to repeat each episode three times.<ref name="liveson" />

The Nine Network almost cancelled the series in 2000, which led to protests and comments from the Prime Minister.<ref name="atozaustv" /><ref name="speculation" /> The network responded to popular public demand and allowed its continuation.<ref name="atozaustv" /><ref name="speculation" /> The series was commissioned for 180 new episodes in May 2000.<ref name="candp" /> New episodes aired until 2003.<ref name="nostalgia">{{Cite news |title=Here's Humphrey |url=https://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1960s/heres-humphrey/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720135150/http://nostalgiacentral.com/television/tv-by-decade/tv-shows-1960s/heres-humphrey/ |archive-date=2017-07-20 |access-date=2018-10-04 |work=Nostalgia Central}}</ref>

In February 2007, Nine commissioned a new series of ''Here's Humphrey'', filming episodes for the first time since 2003.<ref name="nostalgia" /><ref name="tvtonight2007">{{Cite web |last=Knox |first=David |date=2007-02-16 |title=Humphrey barely survives the bone |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2007/02/humphrey-barely-survives-the-bone.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709041945/https://tvtonight.com.au/2007/02/humphrey-barely-survives-the-bone.html |archive-date=2023-07-09 |access-date=2018-10-04 |website=[[TV Tonight]]}}</ref><ref name="liveson">{{Cite news |date=2007-02-17 |title=Humphrey Bear lives on |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/humphrey-bear-lives-on-20070217-gdpgsn.html |url-access=registration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723122543/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/humphrey-bear-lives-on-20070217-gdpgsn.html |archive-date=2018-07-23 |access-date=2018-10-04 |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]}}</ref> This followed negotiations with the network, after speculation they would not renew the series approaching the end of its contract.<ref name="tvtonight2007" /><ref name="liveson" /><ref name="speculation">{{Cite news |last=Hawthorne |first=Mark |date=2007-02-13 |title=Humphrey, beware: Nine may bone you |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/humphrey-beware-nine-may-bone-you-20070213-gdpgng.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201226032435/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/humphrey-beware-nine-may-bone-you-20070213-gdpgng.html |archive-date=2020-12-26 |access-date=2018-10-04 |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]}}</ref> The episodes started airing in December 2007 and concluded in 2009 when Banksia Entertainment was wound up.<ref name="heyday">{{Cite news |last=Boisvert |first=Eugene |date=2020-01-05 |title=Here's Humphrey! Looking back at the heyday of children's television in Adelaide |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-05/looking-back-at-the-heyday-of-childrens-tv-in-adelaide/10853180 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921144423/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-05/looking-back-at-the-heyday-of-childrens-tv-in-adelaide/10853180 |archive-date=2022-09-21 |access-date=2022-09-21 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]]}}</ref>

In September 2019, it was revealed OZPIX were planning to revive ''Here's Humphrey'' with a [[Pitch (filmmaking)|pitch]] to broadcasters at [[MIPCOM]] in France. The production company expressed interest in integrating live action characters with virtual technology. The production team for the project was led by Julie Greene, former executive producer of ''[[Hi-5 (Australian TV series)|Hi-5]]'', and included Catherine Martin and Helen Martin, early childhood specialists who also worked on the program.<ref name="mipcompitch2019">{{Cite news |last=Knox |first=David |date=2019-09-26 |title=Virtual plan to revive Here's Humphrey |url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2019/09/virtual-plan-to-revive-heres-humphrey.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927012710/https://tvtonight.com.au/2019/09/virtual-plan-to-revive-heres-humphrey.html |archive-date=2019-09-27 |access-date=2018-10-04 |work=[[TV Tonight]]}}</ref>

{{as of |2020|post=,}} Ozpix Entertainment owns the character, whose "home" is at [[Village Roadshow]] Studios on the [[Gold Coast, Queensland]].<ref name=heyday/>

==Episodes==
More than 3,000 episodes of ''Here's Humphrey'' have been produced.<ref name="epcount">{{Cite press release |title=Humphrey B Bear gives to National Museum |date=2003-01-21 |publisher=[[National Museum of Australia]] |url=https://www.nma.gov.au/about/media/media-releases-listing-by-year/2003/humphrey-b-bear-gives-to-national-museum |access-date=2018-10-04 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420113736/https://www.nma.gov.au/about/media/media-releases-listing-by-year/2003/humphrey-b-bear-gives-to-national-museum |archive-date=2020-04-20}}</ref> It has also been stated that only 1,776 episodes were filmed.<ref name="auction2011">{{Cite news |date=2011-08-28 |title=Humphrey B. Bear goes up for auction |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/humphrey-b-bear-goes-up-for-auction/news-story/8de6be4a481a0ba6a51464313ab6572a |access-date=2018-10-04 |work=[[Herald Sun]]}}{{dead link |date=January 2024|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

<onlyinclude>{{Series overview
| seriesT = Series
| episodes2000 = 180<ref name="candp" />
| start2000 = {{Start date|2000|||df=y}}<ref name="candp" />
| end2000 = {{End date|2003|||df=y}}<ref name="nostalgia" />
| episodes2007 = 60
| start2007 = {{Start date|2007|12|10|df=y}}
| end2007 = {{End date|2008|2|29|df=y}}

}}</onlyinclude>

==Reception==
In 2019, ''TV Week'' listed ''Here's Humphrey'' at #96 in its list of the 101 greatest Australian television shows of all time, which appeared in its monthly ''[[TV Week#TV Week Close Up|TV Week Close Up]]'' publication.<ref name="tvweek">{{Cite magazine |last=Burfitt |first=John |last2=Cullen |first2=Tamara |last3=Hadley |first3=Amy |last4=Hockey |first4=Maddison |last5=Mitchell |first5=Thomas |last6=Recchi |first6=Karina |last7=Vnuk |first7=Helen |last8=Wang |first8=Cynthia |last9=Zueidi |first9=Zara |display-authors=1 |date=July 2019 |title=101 Greatest Aussie TV Shows of All Time |magazine=[[TV Week#TV Week Close Up|TV Week Close Up]] |publisher=[[Bauer Media Group]]}}</ref> The magazine said young viewers loved watching Humphrey leave his tree house for adventures in the magic forest.<ref name="tvweek" />

It has been stated that ''Here's Humphrey'' is one of the most successful programs for preschoolers of all time.<ref name="tvtonight2007" /> It is one of the longest running children's programs in the world.<ref name="50years" />

==Awards and nominations==
The program received multiple [[Logie Awards|Logie Television Awards]], and the character won a special "Citizen of the Year" Award at the 1994 Australia Day celebrations.<ref name="westtv" /><ref name="50years" />

{| class="wikitable" style=text-align:center
|-
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Award
! scope="col" | Category
! scope="col" | Recipient
! scope="col" | Result
! scope="col" | {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
|rowspan="1"|1969
|rowspan="2"|[[Logie Awards|Logie Award]]
|rowspan="2"|Best Children's TV Series
|rowspan="2"|''Here's Humphrey''
| {{won}}
| {{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}
|-
|rowspan="1"|1970
| {{won}}
| <ref name="adelaidearchive">{{Cite web |date=2018-10-30 |title=Urban Exploring: Channel 9 Studios North Adelaide |url=https://www.awesomeadelaide.com/disused-abandoned-buildings-ruins/urban-exploring-channel-9-studios-north-adelaide/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528004841/https://www.awesomeadelaide.com/disused-abandoned-buildings-ruins/urban-exploring-channel-9-studios-north-adelaide/ |archive-date=2023-05-28 |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=Awesome Adelaide}}</ref><ref name="channelniners" />
|-
|rowspan="1"|1975
|rowspan="1"|Parents Without Partners
|rowspan="1"|Distinguished Service to Children Award
|rowspan="5"|Humphrey B. Bear
| {{won}}
| <ref name="channelniners" />
|-
|rowspan="1"|1978
|colspan="2"|Festival of Light
| {{won}}
| <ref name="channelniners" />
|-
|rowspan="1"|1978
|rowspan="1"|[[Logie Awards|Logie Award]]
|rowspan="1"|Favourite Children's Personality
| {{won}}
| {{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}
|-
|rowspan="1"|1979
|rowspan="2"|Television Society of Australia
|rowspan="1"|Individual Achievement
| {{won}}
| {{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}
|-
|rowspan="2"|1982
|rowspan="1"|Penguin Award for Best Children's Personality
| {{won}}
| <ref name="channelniners" />
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Logie Awards|Logie Award]]
|rowspan="1"|Best Children's TV Series
|''Here's Humphrey''
| {{won}}
| <ref name="adelaidearchive" /><ref name="channelniners" />
|-
|rowspan="1"|1994
|rowspan="1"|Australia Day Citizen of the Year
|rowspan="2"|Humphrey B. Bear
| {{won}}
| {{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}
|-
|rowspan="1"|2003
|rowspan="1"|Heritage Listed and National Trust Icon
| {{won}}
| {{Citation needed|date=October 2019}}
|-
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Television|Australia}}
* [[List of Australian television series]]
* [[List of longest-running Australian television series]]

== Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{official website}}
*{{IMDb title}}

[[Category:1970s Australian television series]]
[[Category:1980s Australian television series]]
[[Category:1990s Australian television series]]
[[Category:1965 Australian television series debuts]]
[[Category:2003 Australian television series endings]]
[[Category:2007 Australian television series debuts]]
[[Category:2008 Australian television series endings]]
[[Category:Australian children's television series]]
[[Category:Australian preschool education television series]]
[[Category:Australian television shows featuring puppetry]]
[[Category:Black-and-white Australian television shows]]
[[Category:1960s preschool education television series]]
[[Category:1970s preschool education television series]]
[[Category:1980s preschool education television series]]
[[Category:1990s preschool education television series]]
[[Category:2000s preschool education television series]]
[[Category:Australian English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Nine Network original programming]]
[[Category:Television series about bears]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Adelaide]]

Vero - Wikipedia - User contributions [en]

Here's Humphrey