Rebecca Hetherington, the former presenter of the beloved children’s television show Mr. Squiggle, is paying tribute to the classic show as it celebrates its 65th anniversary this year. The 62-year-old Rebecca is featured in a new exhibition showcasing old photographs from the show created by her father, Norman Hetherington, who passed away in 2010.
Rebecca, who hosted the show for ten years from 1989 until its final episode, can be seen in a throwback photo from the 1990s sporting a perm and a crew-neck top. In a recent interview, Rebecca revealed that Mr. Squiggle’s distinctive look was based on her father, noting their similar messy hair and big eyes.
The format of the show involved children sending in their drawings, or “doodles,” for Mr. Squiggle to create new images using his oversized nose, resembling a pencil. Over the 40 years of the exhibition, Norman Hetherington completed an impressive 10,000 drawings. The exhibition, which opened at the National Museum in Canberra, features original costumes, props, and a collection of photographs from the show.
The original Mr. Squiggle series, which aired on ABC in July 1959, was a family endeavor with scripts written by Rebecca’s mother, Margaret. The character Mr. Squiggle was said to “live” on the moon at 93 Crater Crescent. The series had various presenters over the years, with the last new episode airing in July 1999.
In 2019, Mr. Squiggle was honored with his image on a new coin, alongside other puppet show characters like Gus the Snail, Bill Steamshovel, and Blackboard. The legacy of Mr. Squiggle continues to be celebrated through exhibitions and commemorative coins, reminding fans of the beloved children’s show.
