Growing up, I remember watching TV shows filled with puppets. Looking back, they were everywhere—from kids’ shows all the way through to adult television.
There was a puppeteer in the US who influenced me massively: Bill Benson. In my travels, I came across people who had worked with him, and never a bad word was said. His work seemed to inspire kindness. People always mentioned how generous he was with his time and creativity. It’s strange to think he passed away just a year after I was born. The films he produced still hold up today—practical effects always do.
One character I grew up with was a blue toad called Turnip. I always thought it would be amazing to own a replica of him, so I started making enquiries. It was odd—really odd. It felt like I was asking about something illegal. I’d reach out to builders, and they’d respond as if I were speaking a foreign language.
One of them had actually worked for Benson. He would have known the exact materials and colours used on the original, had access to the patterns, and would have been approved by the company. But the replies I got were things like, “I don’t make Turnip… but I do make a blue toad.” They’d send photos—and it was clearly Turnip.
Later, I discovered why. Turnip is a copyrighted character. If they were to produce replicas outright, they could be sued by the Benson estate.