Tuesday Topic, with Christine Rutter

TWO decades ago tots' TV hardly raised an eyebrow.

The likelihood of Mr Ben or The Clangers causing a rumpus would have been unimaginable.

But take four fat baby-like humanoids who speak like gurgling children, have TV screens where their bellies should be and aerials growing out of their heads - and you've got mayhem.

Trouble has been brewing ever since the appearance on BBC-2 of the Teletubbies, who have become celebrities in their own right.

Thousands of people tune in every day, manufacturers have turned them into the toy that every child craves but cannot get and the foursome are soon to become pop stars.

But just what is the fascination for children and adults alike and why are parents fighting over the merchandise?

Anyone tuning into a typical episode could be forgiven for believing somebody had slipped something into their tea.

What are we to make of brightly-coloured creatures named Tinky-Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po, surreal scenery and the repetition of mindless acts such as skipping round a bunny. Eh-oh!

A lecturer from Blackburn College, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "Teletubbies has become a cult thing among the students. They find something eclectic about it. They think it's a bit off-the-wall, a bit trippy.

"I find it bizarre with the surreal scenery. The Teletubbies are a bit spooky. They've no eyebrows. They look like David Bowie in the '70s."

Despite an outcry over the slightly sinister world of Teletubbies, the "addictiveness" of the show, the ecstasy symbol on the Tubbytoast and their failure to use proper words, creator Anne Wood has been honoured with The Baird Medal for outstanding work by the Midland Centre of the Royal Television Society. And did anyone ever complain about Bill and Ben's failure to display a proper command of the English language?

Mrs Lorraine Kirkham, who runs Les Enfants nursery, in Darwen, where a student from St Mary's College has created a Teletubbies mural, said: "The children all talk about Teletubbies and wear clothes with them on."

A spokesperson for Seven Trees Nursery, in Blackburn, said: "My daughter is fascinated by Teletubbies. Her personality changes when they come on. She sings, dances and seems to understand the baby talk."

Mrs Heather Bulcock, head of Ashworth Nursery School, in Blackburn, applauds the "escapism" the Teletubbies offer.

"Children should be given both fun and educational programmes. The repetition is also good. This is how children learn things."

The grapple for merchandise is overwhelming. Mothercare World report brawls between parents for the store's supply of Teletubbies and incidents of people buying the toy only to sell it in the queue for double the price.

Sales manager Wayne Chester said: "It is unbelievable. There are just not enough to go round. There will be a lot of disappointed children and parents this Christmas."

Wayne added that the small company who make the Teletubbies toys - Golden Bear Products, in Telford - refuse to increase production, believing the craze will die after Christmas.

But Wayne disagrees. "This craze will go on well after Christmas," he said.

Ian Grutchfield, manager of Children's BBC Worldwide, said: "Ever since toys and goods went on sale we've been asked about a pop record. We know this single will make a lot of children very happy indeed."

Maybe. But what about the parents who cannot get their hands on a record or Teletubbies toy? Psychologists say that these parents will feel they have let down their children this Christmas.

Parent Linda Ashcroft, 39, of Sunnyhurst Lane, Darwen, said: "My daughter Sophie loves them. I will feel a bit let-down if I can't get a Teletubbies toy. But there are other toys."

Keith Livesey, 40, of Bisham Close, Darwen, added: "My children think the Teletubbies is great but I'm not queuing up for one. It's ridiculous. This demand has been created by parents."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.