He had a stellar screen career spanning five decades, thrilling generations of children and adults alike with his wisecracks and famous catchphrase, ‘Boom! Boom!’

And now Basil Brush has reflected on what he misses most about his years on TV, ruing the fact that he can no longer perform to a live crowd in his retirement.

He told host Andrew White and co-host Kate Martin on Pulse Of The Nation: ‘My favourite times of all of that period was all the stories that I would have when Mr. Derek [Fowlds] or Mr. Roy [North] would read a story at the end. 

‘I’d interrupt them, and we were in front of live audiences all the time, which I think is one of the things that I miss the most about doing television programmes is having that live audience.’

The fictional fox, voiced by Ivan Owen from 1962 to 2000 before Michael Winsor took up the glove, has appeared in comics, annuals and books but is best known for leading The Basil Brush Show from 1968.

The series, which was cancelled in 1980 before re-emerging on CBBC in 2002, was known for its chaotic atmosphere in front of an audience and Basil explained what would happen if things went pear-shaped on the programme.

Basil Brush has reflected on what he misses most about his years on TV, ruing the fact that he can no longer perform to a live crowd in his retirement

The fictional fox has appeared in comics, annuals and books but is best known for leading The Basil Brush Show

‘We would be rehearsing all week,’ he said. ‘All the kids would come in on a Friday afternoon and we would film it in front of them, and if it went wrong, they filmed it and they used it.’

The Basil Brush Show was known for its famous guest appearances, with the great and the good of the TV and pop worlds often joining the puppet for some zany fun. 

Indeed, there was an entire slot dedicated to a musical performance, during which the likes of Petula Clark and Cilla Black would strut their stuff.

Viewing figures were so strong that stars would try extremely hard to get onto the show in a bid to promote their new tunes.

Basil reflected on sharing the stage with such icons, saying: ‘We used to have the great bands that came in, because you didn’t have YouTube like you have today. 

‘So, if you had a single that you wanted to put out, you had to go on a television program. So, mine was one of those on a Friday night, everybody wanted to get on. 

‘And we had the likes of ABBA, you know, Petula Clark would always come on Lulu, and she would like it when we changed the lyrics to all of her songs and made them funny.’

The show ended after a dispute between creator Ivan Owen and the BBC over promoting Basil Brush to a coveted mid-evening slot.

He told host Andrew White and co-host Kate Martin on Pulse Of The Nation: ‘My favourite times of all of that period was all the stories that I would have’

The Basil Brush Show was known for its famous guest appearances, with the great and the good of the TV and pop worlds including ABBA (pictured), often joining the puppet

Co-host ‘Mr Derek’ Fowlds died in 2020 aged 82 and Basil recalled fond memories of his time working with the actor in the same year

During its hiatus, the puppet appeared on ITV educational show Let’s Read With Basil Brush before returning to the BBC as a co-host on Crackerjack. 

The programme returned on CBBC in 2002 in a slightly different sitcom format set in a flat and added family members Bingo and Mortimer. 

Derek Fowlds died in 2020 aged 82 and Basil recalled fond memories of his time working with the actor in the same year.

He said: ‘After being my Mister he went on to do so many magnificent things, like the TV series Yes Minister. 

‘He was a lovely man and we made a lot of people laugh together with our sketches and I’m honoured to be mentioned in the same breath as him. 

‘I popped out from behind the pulpit to surprise everyone so I was a small part of a wonderful send- off. I wanted it to be a celebration and I think it was.’