Whatever happened to... The Teletubbies?
Monday 16th July 2007
Teletubby: Tinky Winky
Real name: Simon Shelton, 43, from North London
Imagine being the star of one of the most popular telly shows in history and hearing your catchphrase, 'Eh-oh', being shouted out whenever you went to pick the kids up from school.
Yet, as I walked down our high street in North London, no one gave me a second glance.
None of my fans knew I was Tinky Winky from the BBC children's sensation Teletubbies.
I hadn't been sure I was doing the right thing when I went to the Teletubbies auditions. I was a trained ballet dancer and choreographer, and was worried that the role would make me
a laughing stock. But I got the role and in March 1997, we started filming. The show became an instant, and huge, hit.
The long hours meant I didn't get to see much of my kids. But my children, Lydia, then 5, and Henry, 1, were my biggest fans.
'My daddy's Tinky Winky,' Lydia told her friends proudly.
'You're like John Lennon to toddlers,' Emma joked.
But, like the Beatles, it didn't last forever. In January 2001, after 365 episodes, we stopped filming. Stepping out of my purple costume for the last time, I felt strangely sad. With the show over, what would I do next?
Suddenly, I had all this time on my hands, and the first thing I wanted to do was see more of my own kids. For four years, I'd been a regular sight to kids all over the world, except to my own children, that is!
'I'll pick the kids up from school,' I said to Emma, grabbing my keys.
When the kids spotted me, they raced across the playground with huge smiles on their faces.
'Daddy,' Lydia beamed.
It was far more rewarding than dancing around in a purple suit.
Then I got a job helping to direct the kids who present the Cartoon Network show, Cartoonito. And, with me working normal hours again, Emma got back into her singing career. She got the job of one of the Sheilas in the Sheila's Wheels ads and, suddenly, she was the famous one, while I took a back seat.
I still find it hard to believe that 10 years have passed since I made my first Teletubby appearance. Career-wise, it opened lots of doors, and my kids loved it. After all, there aren't many kids who can say that their dad is the real-live Tinky Winky.
Teletubby: Laa-Laa
Real name: Nikky Smedley, 43, from Ilmington, Warwickshire
Glamorous it wasn't. Life as a dancer meant I spent my life going from one audition to another, being asked to pirouette across the stage looking like I had a broom stuck up my back. It could be stuffy, to say the least.
But all that changed in March 1997, when I got the job as Laa-Laa. As soon as I set eyes on the big yellow creature, with her curly antenna and a telly in her belly, I couldn't help but smile.
On meeting the other Teletubbies for the first time, I felt a bit nervous. I'd be working long hours with these people. What if we didn't get on? But there was no need to worry. On the first day of filming, the agent at Ragdoll Productions introduced me to the others. We just started chatting, and bonded instantly.
I knew immediately we were working on something special. And it was every bit as fun as I'd thought it would be. I got paid to dress up and play like a kid, on the set at Sweet Knowle Farm, in Whimpstone, Warwickshire. It was a dream job.
To everyone's delight, the programme soon became popular in 120 countries and was translated into 147 languages. At the height of its fame, it was watched by millions of people, our single sold 1.3 million copies and reached No 1 in the charts, and we sold £500 million worth of toys and games. Unbelievable.
But it was hard work, too. I spent five days a week, for up to 11 hours a day, running around in my heavy, furry, Laa-Laa suit. The long hours meant my social life suffered. Plus, it wasn't long before the papers started slating us. After taking the world by storm, I suppose it was inevitable it would come to an end eventually.
In January 2001, six years after we'd first stepped into our suits, filming stopped. I was gutted. But then, one evening, I was at a friend's house chatting to Adam James, who's now 44.
'What do you do for a living?' Adam asked, topping up my drink.
'I'm a Teletubby,' I replied.
'Well, I can see that you're going to be a lot of fun,' he laughed.
Thankfully, Adam had a great sense of humour, and we soon became a couple. So, as I said goodbye to Laa-Laa, I said hello to Adam. When we decided to tie the knot, three years later, it seemed only right that we should do something a little bit different.
'How about a wedding in Vegas?' I suggested hopefully.
'Great idea,' Adam smiled.
On 27 May 2004, we were married in Las Vegas, by an Elvis impersonator. Life together was full of laughs, and we couldn't have been happier. Soon, a year had flown by and, even though we'd been trying, I hadn't become pregnant. Ironic really, considering I'd appeared in one of the most famous kids' shows in history. But not surprising. I was 37 when we met and now, at 40, I knew my chances of having a child of my own were slim.
Then, in March this year, I got a call from the Teletubbies' agent. As part of the 10th anniversary celebrations, the four of us Tubbies were invited on a trip to New York. I'd kept in touch with the others, but it would be amazing to all be in the same room again.
As we stepped into our costumes, the past 10 years just melted away. I knew we'd had loads of fans in our heydey but, as we arrived in New York, we were mobbed. The mayor, Michael
Bloomberg, awarded us the Freedom of the City of New York, to honour our work. He then officially designated 28 March 2007, Teletubby Day. Unbelievable!
It's incredible that 10 years have passed since I first wore my yellow suit, but I'm really proud of my time as Laa-Laa. Despite not having kids of my own, I'm lucky to have a special connection with kids all over the world.
Every week, Pick Me Up revisits someone who's made headlines in the past. Check out the other stories in our 'Whatever Happened To...?' section
Whatever Happened To... jilted bride Marylin Woodcock?
Whatever Happened To... James Bulger's Mum?
Whatever Happened to... Millvina Dean, Titanic survivor?