Zippy, the loudmouthed orange puppet from the British kids’ show Rainbow, was a chaotic icon of 1970s–90s TV, known for his rugby-ball-shaped head, zippered mouth, and relentless bragging. He constantly interrupted his co-stars—George the shy pink hippo and Bungle the earnest bear—and often had his mouth zipped shut when he got too cheeky. Though no one knows exactly what kind of creature he was meant to be, Zippy’s brash personality and surreal design made him unforgettable. His voice, provided by Roy Skelton (also the voice of the Daleks), added to his manic charm, making him a cult figure in British pop culture and ripe for nostalgic remixing.
