Otis the Aardvark
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Otis the Aardvark was a puppet presenter on Children's BBC. Otis mainly presented the afternoon links on BBC One alongside the main CBBC presenters, initially from Studio A and eventually into Studio 9.
Otis was thought to be inspired from some late '80s Children's BBC idents which ended with a voice proclaiming "Tell That Aardvark its a wrap". These idents led to much speculation as to what the phrase meant, to the point of one presenter (Josie D'Arby) recording a short film about the Children's BBC aardvark. Further variations appeared such as "Merry Aardvark/Tell that Aardvark to start the wrapping". However, these idents had been dropped a year or two before the character of Otis appeared.
The original Otis was actually much different to the version most people are familiar with. He looked a lot less cute and cuddly and was a bit more 'dim'. This incarnation lasted less than a year and after four or five months the Otis we know and love appeared on our screens.
Dave Chapman was the puppeteer for both incarnations. Dave has also been the voice of Tiny (of Tiny and Mr. Duk fame), The Cat from Dick and Dom in Da Bungalow, Vinnie on Xchange and The Pod - all CBBC programmes.
When Children's BBC relaunched their breakfast show in 1997 Otis gained his own 'Otis Vision' segment, this was usually a short sequence featuring otis in one of several guises. Most memorably perhaps as The Wizard of Woo. Each Otis vision segement would feature a spoof testcard in which otis would do a variety of different things.
When Fully Booked (Summer Morning show) moved to Sundays on BBC 2 the extended Saturday CBBC was renamed to Saturday Aardvark, with Otis being a key feature. Some new characters at this time were Sister Otis (dressed like a nun) and Dr Otis (who liked to tell jokes). All of the quirky costumes and clothes worn by Otis in his time at the BBC were designed and created by Susan Lucas.
In Otis' final months presenting on CBBC his ears were 'refurbished' and were fluffier, when he left Studio 9 during a compilation of highlights he said how he had changed and grown hair in places. Otis' final words as a 'broomcupboard' presenter were 'Bye Bye My Little Monkeys'.
After leaving CBBC Otis' worked on a puppet based quiz show before the puppet was finally laid to rest, with the announcement given claiming that the character had gone to work at the BBC canteen..
During his CBBC presenting days Otis presented a couple of other programmes, including Ants in your Pants (basically a way to link up all the short 5 min pre-school programmes) and other Quiz Shows. He was also drawn in an episode of children's art show SMart and the painting adorned the Phone Area of Studio 9 for many years.
Otis had a big softspot for his co-presenter Kirsten O'Brien, though he preferred to refer to her as "Mrs Lady".
