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No Such Thing As Teletubby TikTok Tummies

October 30, 2025·55 min·5 clips

Ben Elton's friend was fired as Tinky Winky for giving him a handbag, igniting a bizarre gay panic scandal.

Ben Elton joins No Such Thing As A Fish -- the QI-affiliated British fact podcast -- and the hosts begin with Elton's own fact about Dave Thompson, his second-oldest friend (after Gabrielle Glaister, who played Bob in Blackadder). Thompson, a serious physical comedian influenced by Laurel and Hardy, was cast as Tinky Winky in the original Teletubbies through his background in physical theatre and work with children using dramatic performance. He took the role seriously as an artistic endeavor, testing the limits of the costume and apparently being the first Teletubby to fall off his chair. Mid-series, at an end-of-series party, Thompson was handed a letter informing him his services were no longer required. The rumored reasons include the character's handbag (which Thompson maintained was a 'magic bag'), the color purple, and Thompson's voice being overdubbed by another actor -- Mark Henehan, whose other major role was playing Lyndon B. Johnson. Elton notes the deep irony of the Vietnam-era LBJ being the voice of a beloved children's character. The other Teletubbies apparently did their own voices; Thompson was the only one redubbed. Elton reflects that Thompson was deeply hurt at the time, though the notoriety has served his comedy career well since. The episode continues with facts from the other hosts, covering topics that span from the Teletubbies anecdote into a wide variety of curious subjects in the show's signature style -- each host bringing their oddest discovery from the past week. Ben Elton discusses his autobiography What Have I Done, a Sunday Times bestseller covering his full life and career.

As heard by us

Ben Elton brings book talk, rambles, and a lively lance tangent to a very engaged episode.

Ben Elton gives the episode genuine momentum. It opens on autobiography and a bit of fan excitement, then settles into the show's looser, more meandering rhythm.

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Why you'd press play

For when you want Ben Elton, quick-fire facts, and one gloriously dumb debate about lances.

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