(Updated 5/6/15): Basil Brush – star of TV, stage and TV Comic – is out and about over the summer months in the UK with his “Full on Fox Tour”, taking in towns across the country from Newport on Saturday to Ipswich on 22nd November.
Basil Brush has celebrated over 50 years in entertainment and The Basil Brush Show on BBC TV has been seen by millions of viewers all over the globe from 1968 through to today. The show was BAFTA nominated and voted best comedy show on TV.
He also made over 800 appearances in TV Comic, drawn by the likes of Pugwash creator John Ryan, Chas Sinclair and Dick Millington, as well as appearing in assorted holiday specials and annuals. He even had his own Comic Car, produced by Corgi, that was released in 1971.
Basil Brush’s impending arrival in TV Comic, along with Laurel and Hardy, was announced the previous week in issue 841, 27 January 1968.
Basil Brush first appeared in TV Comic in 1968. The strip was announced in issue 841, 27 January 1968. The first Basil Brush strip in appeared the following week, in issue 842, 3 February 1968.
The first appearance of Basil Brush in TV Comic Issue 842, 3 February 1968. The art is by Pugwash creator John Ryan
Since we first published this story Basil Brush himself has revealed his own love of his comic strip appearances – and posted a photograph of a Basil Brush strip he owns, drawn by Dick Millington. If readers can help identify the issue of TV Comic it appeared in, that would be great. Please post a comment below.
Basil Brush has a page of art from the comic in his collection – but can you tell us which issue of TV Comic it appears in?
GE Publishing, the sister company to GE Fabbri, was the most recent publisher to offer a Basil Brush title – Basil Brush Jokes – which launched as a four-weekly title in 2004 that included comic strip as well as features – but I have to confess the title slipped me by and I don’t know how long it ran for.
Another fine Basil Brush spread drawn by Dick Millington for TV Comic, posted on ComicArtFans
Britain’s most loveable fox is back on the road until the autumn, along with his TV chum Mr Stephen (aka Chris Pizzey). Together they will take you on a journey of laughs, storytelling and song in a brand new specially written ‘live’ stage show packed with fun and excitement.
A show for all the family and you’ll also be able to meet Basil and Mr Stephen after the show.
So in Basil’s words..”Boom Boom!!”
• Official Site: http://basilbrush.com | Tour dates: http://basilbrush.com/tour
• Follow Basil Brush on Twitter @realbasilbrush
• Lew Stringer has an item on John Ryan’s Basil Brush strips here
• There’s a potted history of Basil Brush, from his early appearances on The Three Scampies and The Nixon Line to the present day here on Toonhound
Information on Basil Brush’s first appearance in TV Comic courtesy Paul Scoones
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
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