Do we like them?

Do we like Mr. Squiggle?

A character from Mr Squiggle and Friends (1959-1999)

Our score: 9 out of 10. Yes, we'd back him. He's endlessly cheerful and creative, and he's kind to kids and to his slightly bossy friends, even when he's upside down.

Mr Squiggle is a puppet "man from the Moon" with a pencil for a nose. He was created by cartoonist and puppeteer Norman Hetherington, who also voiced and operated the puppets. He first appeared on the ABC's Children's TV Club in 1959 and soon had his own show.

Each episode, children send in squiggles. Mr Squiggle hangs head-down from a wire above the paper and draws with his nose. He turns the squiggle into a picture while the audience tries to guess what it will become. His friends include the Blackboard, who keeps an eye on him, and Gus the Snail.

We scored him high because he's pure, gentle fun. He's never cruel, he's always encouraging, and he shows that a random scribble can become something good. He's a bit chaotic and not very tidy, but he does no harm and makes a lot of kids happy.