One of the last great icons of British children's TV, and at only seventy six. Far too soon (rather like Rainbow 1972-1992 - forget the 'revived' version, which most kids said was dogshit).

If there was an episode which deserved to be remembered, it's the 1979 Christmas spoof they did.

It's how he would have wanted it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgbcQIT7BMc

Zippy: One skin, two skin, three skin, and four.

George: Zippy, where’s Bungle?

Zippy: I think Geoffrey is trying to get him up.

Viewers then see a shot of the studio door and hear Bungle moaning behind.

Bungle: I can’t get it in, Geoffrey!

Geoffrey: You managed it last night, Bungle.

Bungle: I know, let’s try it round the other way. Oooh, I’ve got it in!

Then Bungle, carrying a wooden hammer and peg kit, enters with Geoffrey.

Bungle: Would you stick this on the shelf, George?

George: I can’t reach, you’ll have to stick it up yourself, Bungle.

Geoffrey (to the camera): Oh, hello everybody. Today we are going to talk about playing.

Bungle: Playing with each other, Geoffrey?

Geoffrey: Yes, Bungle. Tell me, have you got a special friend who you like to play with?

George: Yesterday we played with each other’s balls. Are we going to play with our friends’ balls today?

Bungle: Yes, and we can play with our twangers as well!

Geoffrey (to camera): Have you seen Bungle’s twanger?

Zippy: Oh, I have. I showed him how to pluck with it.

Bungle: It's my plucking instrument.

Geoffrey asks viewers: Can you pluck like Bungle?

Zippy: I can, I’m the best plucker here!

George: I’m good at banging. My peg’s hard isn’t it, Zippy?

Zippy: Well of course it is! Your peg wouldn’t go in if it was soft!

Geoffrey: Let’s get back to Bungle’s twanger.

Bungle (excited): Oooh, Geoffrey, we could all play with our twangers couldn’t we? Let’s play the plucking song. Rod and Roger can get their instruments out and Jane’s got two lovely maracas.

Singers Rod, Jane and Roger enter.

Roger: We could hear you all banging away.

Rod: Banging can be fun.

Jane: Oooh yes, and I was banging away all last night with Rod and Roger.

Roger (downcast): Yes, but it broke my plucking instrument.

Rod (to Jane): Do you want to blow my pipe while I’m twanging away

Jane:  Oh no, Rod. I was banging away with Roger last night. But would you like to play my maracas?

Zippy: No, let’s just pluck away with our twangers.

George: Yes it doesn’t matter what size our twanger is.

Zippy: I’ve got a big red one.

George: I’ve only got a tiny twanger, but it works well and I like to play with it.

Geoffrey (to viewers): “Well, have you got your twangers out? And remember, you can bang your balls at the same time. If you haven’t got any, ask a friend if you can play with his. Now, let’s all play the plucking song.

The whole cast: Pluck, pluck, pluck away, we’re going to pluck all day!

Join Chris and Mark as they venture above the streets and houses. Hope you’ve got your Twangers ready,

Check out some of these links to carry on the fun;

A load of balls - https://worldofcrap.co.uk/2018/06/23/rainbow-comic-a-load-of-balls/

The “Twangers” episode - https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1atuz