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Gus Honeybun's Magic Birthdays

 Gus Honeybun's Magic Birthdays
type
 TVTItem
 Gus Honeybun's Magic Birthdays
label
 Gus Honeybun's Magic Birthdays
 Gus Honeybun's Magic Birthdays
page
 GusHoneybunsMagicBirthdays
 Gus Honeybun's Magic Birthdays
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 Gus Honeybun's Magic Birthdays was a long-running strand within the live in-vision continuity of Westward Television (1961-81) and later, Television South West (TSW) (1982-92), the ITV companies for the south-west of England, covering Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. Although not a separate 'programme' as such, it was a regular spot for so many years that it effectively became a series. It was aimed at the under-12s and starred Augustus Jeremiah Honeybun, a grey Hand Puppet rabbit in a variety of outfits, accompanied by one of the station's continuity announcers. These segments were an opportunity for local children to have their birthday cards and greetings read out on-air. After the announcer had read a card that had been sent in, he or she would request Gus to do a certain number of bunny-hops, one for each year of the child's age. Over the years, Gus could be requested to do other tricks, such as wink his eyes, stand on his head or press a Magic Button to turn out the studio lights and/or change the background behind the announcer.Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_1'); })Broadcast Live, the Gus segments would air before and after the networked children's programmes on ITV (around the CITV strand from 1983) and during the day at weekends. By the 1980s, Gus had his own theme song (composed by Ed Welch and released as a 7" single) and wardrobe mistress, and was something of a local star and cult figure within the south-west, as well as the station's mascot - while being largely unknown elsewhere. His reign came to an end when Westcountry Television beat TSW in the early Nineties franchise round, and replaced Gus Honeybun's Magic Birthdays with its own segment Birthday People - but Gus soon resurfaced at Flambards Theme Park, and more recently has featured in his old birthdays role on Atlantic FM. A precursor to puppet characters such as Gordon the Gopher and Edd the Duck on CBBC, his 'programme' is said to have been the longest-running puppet TV series after The Sooty Show.Advertisement:propertag.cmd.push(function() { proper_display('tvtropes_mobile_ad_2'); })Among the many presenters with whom Gus appeared are Roger Shaw, Ian Stirling, Judi Spiers, Fern Britton, Ruth Langsford, David Fitzgerald and Sally Meen. The segments were broadcast live from Westward/TSW's studios in Derry's Cross, Plymouth, Devon.Gus Honeybun's Magic Birthdays provides examples of:
 Gus Honeybun's Magic Birthdays
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 2021-11-05T19:40:26Z
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 2021-11-05T19:40:26Z
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The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Gus Honeybun's Magic Birthdays
hasFeature
 Continuity Announcement / int_10e7e3be
 Gus Honeybun's Magic Birthdays
hasFeature
 Delusions of Local Grandeur / int_10e7e3be