This larger version of Muffin the Mule, made by Stanley Maile, was designed for use in major theatres such as the Chelsea Palace and the Wimbledon Theatre, where a more prominent figure was needed for visibility on large stages.
Muffin the Mule became one of Britain’s most iconic children’s television characters and a landmark figure in early TV puppetry. Originally created by Fred Tickner for the Hogarths’ puppet circus, he was chosen by Annette Mills to appear with her on BBC Television in 1946. He quickly became the star of For the Children and later Watch With Mother. Perched on a simple wooden piano, Muffin danced, trotted and kicked his way through live songs and stories performed by Mills, whose warm narration and original music helped define his appeal. His popularity made him the first true celebrity of British children’s television puppetry.
