The UK's Most Beloved Fox, Basil Brush, is Britain’s most famous and lovable fox … Boom Boom! Fans of all ages love Basil’s unforgettable catchphrase (“Boom! Boom!”), his quick wit, his debonair style, and his impeccable manners. He’s maintained a loyal fan base since the 1960s, when he broke into show business with a little help from two special friends: designer Peter Firmin and voice actor/performer Ivan Owen.

Basil made his big debut on The Three Scampies, along with human performer Howard Williams and Scottish hedgehog Spike McPike. Basil’s popularity increased further when he supported magician David Nixon on two shows in the late 1960s: Nixon at Nine-Five and The Nixon Line.

As Basil was such an entertaining, lovable performer on Nixon at Nine-Five and The Nixon Line, the BBC offered him his own show — and he gladly accepted!

Basil's Amazing Success with The Basil Brush Show

The Basil Brush Show hit screens in 1968, and ran for an amazing 12 years. Basil took the starring role (of course), but he had support from several human characters along the way. Mr Rodney (played by the late Rodney Bewes) featured on The Basil Brush Show first, followed by Mr Derek from 1969 - 73, played by the late Derek Fowlds. Derek Fowlds is best known for his roles in Yes Minister and ITV’s long-running series Heartbeat. After Mr Derek (Fowlds) left the show, other humans joined Basil, including Mr Roy and Mr Howard.

Basil demonstrated his versatility as a performer throughout his show’s run, whether he was singing a duet with well-known celebrities or cracking jokes during sketches. The Basil Brush Show was family entertainment, but featured topical gags and references that helped widen Basil’s appeal to adults as well as children.

The Basil Brush Show was cancelled in 1980 — but that didn’t keep the fox down for long!

Basil's Career After The Original Basil Brush Show Ended

Basil returned to Britain’s screens in 1982 with ITV’s fun and educational series Let’s Read With Basil Brush. This programme was designed to motivate young children to read, with full-screen illustrations and turning pages recreating the experience of reading a storybook.

Basil’s friend Mr Howard told stories about a puppy named Pepper each week. Basil would listen to Mr Howard read, but he’d also crack jokes and play games for children to emulate in their classrooms. Basil moved back to the BBC in 1983 to become a co-host on Crackerjack, the beloved variety show that ran for almost 30 years before it was revived in 2020.

Basil Brush: A Versatile Performer On Stage, On Songs, and On The Screen

After The Basil Brush Show was cancelled, Mr Howard joined Basil for a popular stage show. Even though he was off television screens for a short while, fans could continue to enjoy his antics in person as Basil performed his own brand of live entertainment.

Basil has also appeared in countless Christmas pantomimes alongside many human performers, such as Cilla Black, Mr Billy, My Howard, and more. His family appeal and humour made Basil a perfect match for traditional pantomimes, and he’s always a welcome addition to the cast. That’s why Basil is still a major attraction in pantomimes today. He featured in Dick Whittington at Windsor’s Theatre Royal over Christmas in 2018, and returned to the Theatre Royal for Cinderella in 2020.

But fans have also followed their favourite fox in other media over the decades too! He’s done everything from joining Right Said Fred on their Comic Relief track “Stick It Out” to winning his own segment on Blue Peter (one of the UK’s biggest children’s television programmes of all time).

Ivan Owen lent Basil his vocal skills for decades until he sadly passed away in 2000. With the passing of Ivan, performer Michael Winsor took over and has helped bring out the best in Basil since.

The Basil Brush Show Returns

Fans were ecstatic when Basil returned in a new version of The Basil Brush Show in 2002. A new human co-host, Mr Stephen, followed in the footsteps of Mr Derek, Mr Roy, Mr Rodney, Mr Billy, and Mr Howard by supporting Basil in each episode. The show also introduced other members of the Brush family, including his nephew Bingo and cousin Mortimer.

The Basil Brush Show’s new run continued until 2007. Later, Basil starred in Basil and Barney’s Swap Shop in 2008, an updated version of the classic Saturday morning programme Multi-Coloured Swap Shop. Basil shared hosting duties with presenter Barney Harwood, and numerous celebrities (including comedians and Olympians) joined the pair.

What Other TV Shows Has Basil Brush Appeared On?

Throughout his long career, Basil featured on a huge variety of television programmes. From an appearance on Fantasy Football League to today’s biggest game shows, he's brought his charm to numerous other projects over the years.

For example, Basil joined other children’s presenters on the BBC’s Pointless Celebrities, and won more than £7,500 for his chosen charity on The Chase: Celebrity Special in 2017. Fans have also seen Basil on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two (as part of the Friday Panel), Hypothetical, Celebrity Juice, and Good Morning Britain.… show more