Here's Humphrey

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 station, West TV, began airing repeats of Here's Humphrey in Perth.<ref name="westtv">Template:Cite news</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 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

Presenter	Tenure	Ref.
Ian Fairweather	1967	<ref name="atozaustv" /><ref name="Can Times Sept70">Template:Cite news</ref>
Patsy Biscoe	1970–1972	<ref name="atozaustv" /><ref name="Can Times Sept70" />
Sue Cardwell	1970s	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Malcolm Harslett	1972–1984	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Martin Portus		<ref name="epcount" />
Robin RoenfeldtTemplate:EfnTemplate:Efn	1979–1988
Joanna MooreTemplate:Efn	1980–1989
Michael Pope	1984	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Glynn Nicholas	1987-1991	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Heidi Greig	1988–1992	<ref name="youtube.com">Template:Cite AV media</ref>
David Sadler	1988–1992	<ref name="youtube.com" />
Terry Webb	1988–1992	<ref name="YouTube2">Template:Cite AV media</ref>
Ann Carter	1988–1992
Narelle Higson	1989–1993	<ref name="humphrey1993">Template:Cite AV media</ref>
Ambrae Jamae	1992–1994
Albert Colbert	1993–1996	<ref name="humphrey1993" />
Anthony O'DonohueTemplate:Efn	1993–2008
Joni CombeTemplate:EfnTemplate:Efn	1995–2000	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Carolyn FerrieTemplate:Efn	1997–1999
Tess MastersTemplate:Efn	1998	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Diane Dixon	1999–2000
Iyari LimonTemplate:Efn	1999-2001
Amber Brown	2007–2008	<ref name="humphrey2007">Template:Cite AV media</ref>

Humphrey B. Bear

Several performers portrayed the role of Humphrey.

• Edwin Duryea (1965)<ref name="50years">Template:Cite web</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-9,<ref name="speculation" /> premiering on 24 May 1965,<ref name="nostalgia" /><ref name="tvtonight2007" /> before airing nationally two years later.<ref name="atozaustv">Template:Cite book</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">Template:Cite book</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">Template:Cite web</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">Template:Cite news</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">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="liveson">Template:Cite news</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">Template:Cite news</ref> The episodes started airing in December 2007 and concluded in 2009 when Banksia Entertainment was wound up.<ref name="heyday">Template:Cite news</ref>

In September 2019, it was revealed OZPIX were planning to revive Here's Humphrey with a 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, and included Catherine Martin and Helen Martin, early childhood specialists who also worked on the program.<ref name="mipcompitch2019">Template:Cite news</ref>

Template:As of 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">Template:Cite press release</ref> It has also been stated that only 1,776 episodes were filmed.<ref name="auction2011">Template:Cite newsTemplate:Dead link</ref>

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 Close Up publication.<ref name="tvweek">Template:Cite magazine</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 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" />

Year	Award	Category	Recipient	Result	Template:Abbr
1969	Logie Award	Best Children's TV Series	Here's Humphrey	Template:Won	Template:Citation needed
1970				Template:Won	<ref name="adelaidearchive">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="channelniners" />
1975	Parents Without Partners	Distinguished Service to Children Award	Humphrey B. Bear	Template:Won	<ref name="channelniners" />
1978	Festival of Light			Template:Won	<ref name="channelniners" />
1978	Logie Award	Favourite Children's Personality		Template:Won	Template:Citation needed
1979	Television Society of Australia	Individual Achievement		Template:Won	Template:Citation needed
1982		Penguin Award for Best Children's Personality		Template:Won	<ref name="channelniners" />
	Logie Award	Best Children's TV Series	Here's Humphrey	Template:Won	<ref name="adelaidearchive" /><ref name="channelniners" />
1994		Australia Day Citizen of the Year	Humphrey B. Bear	Template:Won	Template:Citation needed
2003		Heritage Listed and National Trust Icon		Template:Won	Template:Citation needed

See also

• List of Australian television series
• List of longest-running Australian television series

External links

• Template:Official website
• Template:IMDb title