Fat Cat and Friends was an Australian children's television show starring Fat Cat (full name: Frederick Alphonso Tubsy Cat[1]), an orange anthropomorphic cat who wears red braces, a blue bow tie and a green bowler hat. The show was similar in concept to Here's Humphrey featuring Humphrey B. Bear. It was produced in the studios of Channel 10 Adelaide and it survived the 1987 frequency switch of channels 10 & 7 in Adelaide.
Fat Cat and Friends was written, directed and produced by Murray George for 13 years. It was then produced by Channel 10.
The show ran on the 0-10 Network (as it was then known) from 1972 until 1987, then on the Seven Network until it was cancelled in 1992 after the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal claimed that the program was not educational enough and was "not clearly defined and might confuse the young". There was also a question of gender—namely, that Fat Cat did not appear to have one. The character being mute was also a clear issue despite the precedent of Humphrey B. Bear.
Despite cancellation, Fat Cat still appears on Perth television screens as the mascot of Seven Perth's highly successful Telethon fundraising organisation. He also says goodnight to children on television at 7.30 each night.
Fat Cat was played by Ralf Hadzic, who currently operates wine tours in Adelaide with an organisation called "Life is a Cabernet". Fat Cat was then played by Melanie George (1980–1985) who is now a freelance choreographer. The character was later played off screen by a male friend of the show's musician, singer Patsy Biscoe.
Initially slated for release as a sidekick to Fat Cat, the character of 'Stringbean' was originally played in the first month of screening by veteran comedic actor 'Nudge McGee'.
