Bungle - the Shropshire man behind the bear
He was one of the best-loved characters from children's TV – but his face is not familiar to many.
As Bungle on prime time TV show Rainbow, he was the bumbling bear who bizarrely put pyjamas on to go to bed yet wandered around in nothing but his fur the rest of the time.
He lent his voice to the show's slightly camp pink hippo George and he appeared as Are You Being Served John Inman's understudy in pantomimes up and down the country.
Now Malcolm Lord is sharing his extensive experience with students from Shrewsbury College – and he believes his career has been down to luck and who he knew rather than what he knew.
The 58-year-old ,who grew up in Donnington, Telford, said: "I left Shropshire in 1976 to become an actor in London. In 1980 I worked with the man who played Zippy in Rainbow in another production, and he told me that the man who operated George was leaving the show. So I joined. It was always down to knowing the right person.
"I had spent three years at drama school and here I was operating a large pink hippo.
"But it was wonderful. I loved it. Then the man who played Bungle left and I was promoted to his role. I had a great time. We were all good friends right up until the show ended in 1993. Then we went on tour for three years. It just shows the appeal of the show that we were able to do that and still perform to sell-out crowds."
Malcolm, who moved back to Shropshire six years ago following a health scare, believes shows such as Rainbow would not be commissioned today. Unless there is a merchandising opportunity, shows don't get on. Rainbow is still very relevant today, it educated children and taught them things without them realising. Children's TV today seems to be about pure entertainment."
Malcolm, who lives in West Felton near Oswestry, feels all his success is down to his time as Bungle.
"I owe it all to a bear," he said. "When I was young I didn't know what path I was going to take. A lot of it is down to luck and who you know.
"Now, although I do still do panto, I also work with local drama groups, helping them with their productions. I can tell them, from my own life experiences, exactly what life as an actor is like, how you have to take jobs as you can't always get acting work."
