Gordon the Gopher returns in BBC pilot
Gordon the Gopher, the former puppet sidekick of Phillip Schofield, is the focus of a new comedy pilot, Gordon.
Originally appearing during Schofield's in-vision presentation in Children's BBC's 1980s' Broom Cupboard, the 5-minute online taster pilot sees Gordon returning to work after a long stint in rehab.
Now without his signature squeak and instead voiced by Warwick Davis, producers explain: "Whilst former co-presenter Phillip Schofield carved himself a career in light entertainment, Gordon struggled to adjust to life outside the Broom Cupboard.
"Embittered by the success of his former 'Broom Cupboard' and Going Live co-host and one-time friend, Gordon has faced up to his demons. He's fresh from a stint in the Priory, he's cleaned himself up and he's arrived at MediaCityUK for a meeting with the BBC.
"Whilst in exile he's been working on his comeback, Ready Steady Goph, a part-chat, part-cooking light entertainment show. However the BBC have other ideas about Gordon's future at the corporation."
"Gordon is the biggest thing to come out of BBC Comedy this lunch time," says executive producer Rebecca Papworth.
The pilot was written and directed by Manchester partnership Ryan McDermott and Adam Brown.
McDermott explains: "As kids of the 80s, Gordon was the first thing we both ever loved. Even back then you could tell he was frustrated and had a lot to say, so we sought the permission of Paul Smith, the original puppeteer and Mr. Schofield himself, and made it our mission to bring Gordon back."
The taster, if received well, aims to be the beginning of Gordon's story with further episodes already outlined and the writers aim to reunite Gordon and Phillip so they can finally settle their differences.
Published as part of the BBC's Taster initiative, the 5-minute short can be watched online now. To leave feedback about the pilot, vote for more, and read further about Gordon's return to airwaves, visit the Taster: Gordon website.