Skippy

Skippy the Bush Kangaroo

1967 - Australia

Skippy the Bush Kangaroo remains one of the most fondly remembered children's series of the late 1960s, delighting audiences not just in Australia but across the globe – including the UK, where it became a surprise hit. Set in the fictional Waratah National Park, the series followed the adventures of a clever kangaroo named Skippy who, after being rescued from near death, forms an inseparable bond with a young boy named Sonny (Garry Parkhurst), son of Chief Ranger Matt Hammond (played by Ed Devereaux).

Filmed on location, the series made the most of Australia's stunning and colourful outdoor scenery, giving British viewers a window into a sun-drenched world utterly different from their own. The natural beauty of Waratah National Park became a character in itself, reinforcing the show’s gentle environmental message and appreciation for wildlife.

The cast was solid, with Ed Devereaux providing a steady presence as the dependable ranger and father figure, while a young Lisa Goddard – in her television debut – made an impression as Clarissa ‘Clancy’ Merrick, a friend to the Hammond family and frequent participant in Skippy’s adventures.

Though it ended in the early 1970s, Skippy’s legacy endured. More than two decades later, a sequel series titled The New Adventures of Skippy emerged, featuring a grown-up Sonny (played by Andrew Clark), now following in his father’s footsteps as a ranger. While the newer series never quite captured the original's magic, it served as a testament to the enduring appeal of this unlikely kangaroo hero.

Published on January 31st, 2019. Written by Laurence Marcus for Television Heaven.

Read Next...

City Beneath the Sea

Scientists are being kidnapped and taken to an undersea world.

Also tagged Childrens Drama

The Clifton House Mystery

Children's fantasy/paranormal drama series. When the Clare family moves into an old Bristol townhouse, the children discover a mysterious sealed room - and the skeleton inside.

Also tagged Childrens Drama

The Growing Summer

Alex, Penny, Robin and Naomi come home from school one day to find their predictable secure pattern of life completely changed.

Also tagged Childrens Drama

Flight of the Heron

Epic period drama made by Scottish Television and based on D.K. Broster's 1925 novel centred round fictional events at the time of the non-fictional Jacobite Rebellion of 1746 and leading up to the battle of Culloden.

Also tagged Childrens Drama

Ask the Family

BBC quiz show which originally was hosted by Robert Robinson and proved surprisingly durable running from 1967 to 1984.

Also released in 1967

Danger Island

A 12-year old boy overhears two sinister men plotting to assassinate their country's ruler.

Also released in 1967

Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons

In the year AD2068, Earth's elite Spectrum force is bought into action when war is declared on the planet by the Mysterons.

Also released in 1967

The multi-talented Burnett could play everything from a cleaning woman to a femme fatale, thanks to her lithe body, incredible facial expressions and that wonderful booming voice.

Also released in 1967

Brendon Chase

Classic children's story shown over thirteen episodes concerning the Hensman brothers, Robin, John and Harold, who spend eight months living as outlaws in the forest of Brendon Chase.

Also tagged Childrens Drama