Here's Humphrey

Here's Humphrey is an Australian children's television series produced by Banksia Productions for the Nine Network, which first aired on 24 May 1965. It features an anthropomorphic brown bear character known as Humphrey B. Bear.

Here's Humphrey
Genre
StarringHumphrey B. Bear
Country of originAustralia
Original language(s)English
No. of seasons40
No. of episodes3,000[1]
1,776[2]
Production
Production location(s)Adelaide, South Australia
Running time30 minutes
Production company(s)
  • Banksia Productions
Release
Original networkNine Network
Picture format
Audio format
  • Mono (1965–75)
  • Stereo (1975–2008)
Original release24 May 1965 (1965-05-24) –
29 February 2008 (2008-02-29)

Here's Humphrey has become one of the most successful programs for preschoolers in Australia 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.[3] Set in a magical forest, Humphrey is paired with a human presenter, who narrates their adventures.[4] The series takes place in Humphrey's tree house, where he partakes in magical adventures.[5]

One of the central ideas presented in the show is the importance of taking part and not always being successful at everything.[6]

Cast

Presenters

Humphrey B. Bear

Several performers portrayed the role of Humphrey.

  • Edwin Duryea (1965)[6]
  • Rev. Ross Hutchinson[6]
  • John Maclean[6]

Production

Here's Humphrey was originally aired exclusively in Adelaide on NWS-9,[9] premiering on 24 May 1965,[4][5] before airing nationally two years later.[3] 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.[3][7] The program was created as a result of Humphrey's previous popularity on the afternoon program The Channel Niners.[10]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.[11] Classification deals allowed the Nine Network to repeat each episode three times.[12]

The Nine Network almost cancelled the series in 2000, which led to protests and comments from the Prime Minister.[3][9] The network responded to popular public demand and allowed its continuation.[3][9] The series was commissioned for 180 new episodes in May 2000.[11] New episodes aired until 2003.[4]

In February 2007, Nine commissioned a new series of Here's Humphrey, filming episodes for the first time since 2003.[4][5][12] This followed negotiations with the network, after speculation they would not renew the series approaching the end of its contract.[5][12][9] The episodes started airing in December 2007.

The series celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015.[6]

In September 2019, it was revealed OZPIX were planning to revive Here's Humphrey with a pitch to broadcasters at MIPCOM in France.[13] The production company expressed interest in integrating live action characters with virtual technology.[13] 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.[13]

Episodes

More than 3,000 episodes of Here's Humphrey have been produced.[1] It has also been stated that only 1,776 episodes were filmed.[2]

SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
2000180[11]2000 (2000)[11]2003 (2003)[4]
20076010 December 2007 (2007-12-10)29 February 2008 (2008-02-29)

Broadcast

In September 2013, community station West TV began airing repeats of Here's Humphrey in Perth.[14]

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.[15] The magazine said young viewers loved watching Humphrey leave his tree house for adventures in the magic forest.[15]

It has been stated that Here's Humphrey is one of the most successful programs for preschoolers of all time.[5] It is one of the longest running children's programs in the world.[6]

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.[14][6]

Year Award Category Recipient Result Ref.
1969 Logie Award Best Children's TV Series Here's Humphrey Won
1970 Best Children's TV Series Here's Humphrey Won [8][10]
1975 Parents Without Partners Distinguished Service to Children Award Humphrey B. Bear Won [10]
1978 Festival of Light Humphrey B. Bear Won [10]
1978 Logie Award Favourite Children's Personality Humphrey B. Bear Won
1979 Television Society of Australia Individual Achievement Humphrey B. Bear Won
1982 Penguin Award for Best Children's Personality Humphrey B. Bear Won [10]
Logie Award Best Children's TV Series Here's Humphrey Won [8][10]
1994 Australia Day Citizen of the Year Humphrey B. Bear Won
2003 Heritage Listed and National Trust Icon Humphrey B. Bear Won

See also

References
  1. "Humphrey B Bear gives to National Museum" (Press release). The National Museum of Australia. 21 January 2003. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  2. "Humphrey B. Bear goes up for auction". The Hearld Sun. 28 August 2011. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  3. Moran, Albert; Keating, Chris (4 August 2009). The A to Z of Australian Radio and Television. Scarecrow Press. p. 205. ISBN 0810870223.
  4. "Here's Humphrey". Nostalgia Central. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  5. Knox, David (16 February 2007). "Humphrey barely survives the bone". TV Tonight. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  6. Knox, David (24 May 2015). "Humphrey B. Bear turns 50". TV Tonight. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  7. "Films for the week". The Canberra Times. 45 (12, 702). 21 September 1970. p. 13. Retrieved 12 March 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "Here's Humphrey Archives". Awesome Adelaide. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  9. "Humphrey, beware: Nine may bone you". Sydney Morning Herald. 13 February 2007. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  10. Heading, Rex (1996). Miracle on Tynte Street: The Channel Nine Story. Wakefield Press. p. 78. ISBN 1862543909.
  11. "C and P programs 1998–2004" (PDF). Australian Communications and Media Authority. September 2005. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2016.
  12. "Humphrey Bear lives on". Sydney Morning Herald. 17 February 2007. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  13. Knox, David (26 September 2019). "Virtual plan to revive Here's Humphrey". TV Tonight. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  14. Knox, David (25 September 2013). "Humphrey B. Bear on West TV". TV Tonight. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
  15. Burfitt, John; Cullen, Tamara; Hadley, Amy; Hockey, Maddison; Mitchell, Thomas; Recchi, Karina; Vnuk, Helen; Wang, Cynthia; Zubeidi, Zara (July 2019), 101 Greatest Aussie TV Shows of All Time, TV Week Close Up, Bauer Media Group. Accessed 6 August 2019
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