An original Mr Blobby costume is expected to fetch thousands of pounds at auction. The iconic outfit, made famous on the 1990s BBC programme Noel's House Party, is one of only three originally created. It was used in numerous television appearances and memorable stunts.
The costume is being sold this month and has been described as a piece of "pure British comedy history." Mr Blobby, the chaotic pink and yellow spotted character created by Noel Edmonds for his Saturday night variety show, evolved from a television prank segment into a national phenomenon. The costume originally belonged to the late Mickey Wills, former head of entertainment at the Cricket St Thomas 'Blobbyland' theme park in Somerset.
Wills was personally trained in portraying the character by Barry Killerby, the main actor behind Mr Blobby's television appearances. Wills performed up to seven high-energy shows daily at Blobbyland, entertaining around two million visitors during the peak of Blobbymania.
Auctioneum Ltd stated that the original and "historically significant" costume is attracting considerable interest as the headline lot in its British Comedy Auction on Monday, June 29. Auctioneer Andy Stowe said: "This costume was one of the original three made for the character. To be able to offer an original costume for sale is a once in a lifetime opportunity."
Beyond the theme park, this specific costume appeared across various media platforms. While the first two costumes were reserved for studio use, the third was used for outside broadcasts and physically demanding stunts. Stowe added: "This is also the exact costume featured prominently on the wildly successful Mr Blobby VHS home video releases of the 1990s. If you ever saw footage of Mr Blobby wreaking havoc outside the studio, it was in this very costume. During its lifetime, it performed many stunts, including running along Charmouth beach and even dangling from a helicopter!"
The character has recently seen a resurgence, with appearances on The Claudia Winkleman Show and the British version of Saturday Night Live. Stowe commented: "Mr Blobby is iconic. The ultimate symbol of nineties nostalgia. We've had him on display in our saleroom, and the reactions from clients have been hilarious. Everyone remembers the utter chaos he caused. All these years later, he's still making people laugh. It's not just a costume; it's a piece of pure British comedy history."
The costume, which includes a 'Baby Blobby' version used at the Crinkley Bottom attraction, is estimated to fetch between £3,000 and £5,000 when it goes under the hammer on June 29 in Auctioneum's 'British Comedy & Memorabilia Auction'. The full catalogue and details are available on their website.
