Teddy Bear Times Magazine

It was fifty years ago that Paddington first made his debut on screen, appearing in a charming BBC children’s programme.
The five-minute episodes, featuring a moveable puppet against black and white sketches, were narrated by Michael Hordern, the actor more famous for his Shakespearean roles. Viewing them today they look quite charming, but they do capture the essence of the marmalade sandwich-eating bear from Peru as a beacon of old-fashioned decency in a cynical world.
Paddington made the long trip from darkest Peru to England in the original books by Michael Bond, but the journey from that 1976 BBC series to today’s crop of films and stage musical seems even further.
This issue we take a look back at the humble beginnings of this much-loved bear and also suggest some Paddington-related locations in London you might want to visit.
We also chat with several wonderful artists who share some fascinating reflections. We loved the one from Oxana Lyashenko who told us: “When I was little, I had a small handmade dog who I loved very much. It seemed to me different from all other toys that I had then. And I lost it one day. I remember the very special feeling of uniqueness that this toy had, of having your own little friend who’s not the same as who anyone else has. A long time after that, I had the thought of trying to make toys myself. Now I find a great joy in recognising this feeling of uniqueness in every new bear, dog, or bunny I make.”
And Patricia Hall captures the essence of collecting bears: “Any collector knows the feeling. It may grow slowly over time or happen suddenly. It is that moment when you see, touch or read about a bear and decide ‘he must be mine’. To possess it makes sense and not to have it seems unacceptable. A decision is made to acquire the bear and the transaction is final. For a moment the world feels whole, perfect and harmonious.”
That’s a lovely thought to hold on to in the early stages of 2026.