Rupert Bear

Rupert Bear is one of those quietly iconic characters who has become woven into the fabric of British childhood. First appearing in the pages of the Daily Express in 1920, Rupert is instantly recognisable with his checked yellow trousers, red jumper, and matching scarf - an outfit that’s never changed, even as the decades have rolled by. There’s something gently reassuring about him, like an old friend who never grows up, always ready for another adventure.

Rupert was created by Mary Tourtel, an illustrator and artist who was asked to develop a character to rival other popular newspaper strips of the time. She gave us Rupert: a plucky, polite little bear who lived with his parents in the village of Nutwood. At first glance, it might seem like a quiet, uneventful place - but Rupert’s world is anything but dull. He frequently finds himself flying in hot air balloons, meeting dragons, or stumbling into strange lands through hidden doors in the countryside.

After Tourtel retired in the mid-1930s, the stories were taken over by Alfred Bestall, whose work is often seen as Rupert’s golden era. Bestall didn’t just carry the torch - he expanded the world of Nutwood, deepened the stories, and brought a painterly elegance to the illustrations. His scenes of lush countryside, starry skies, and fairytale villages are still some of the most beautiful ever to appear in a children’s comic strip.

One of Rupert’s enduring charms lies in its unique format. Each story is told in three ways: there’s the rhyming couplets beneath each illustration, a longer prose version below that, and of course, the pictures themselves. It’s an unusual approach, but it works wonderfully, allowing children to engage at different levels depending on their reading ability - and giving adults a nostalgic smile as they read along.

The characters in Rupert’s world are as charming as the bear himself. There’s Bill Badger, his loyal if slightly bumbling friend; the wise and gentle Edward Trunk; mischievous Pong-Ping the Pekingese; and Tiger Lily, the magical daughter of a Chinese conjuror. And yet, despite all the fantasy and whimsy, there’s always a strong moral core to Rupert’s adventures. He’s brave, thoughtful, curious - but never boastful or greedy. If anything, Rupert embodies that very British ideal of quiet decency.

Over the years, Rupert has appeared in annuals, TV adaptations, toys, and even postage stamps. The annuals in particular have become something of a tradition, eagerly awaited at Christmas, with their stories of snowy walks, woodland feasts, and magical mishaps. For many, leafing through a Rupert annual is as much a part of the season as mince pies and mulled wine.

Though times have changed, and Rupert’s stories now exist in a very different world to the one he was born into, he still endures - largely because his tales remain rooted in imagination, kindness, and that sense of wonder found in the British countryside. Rupert Bear doesn’t shout or dazzle; instead, he invites us into a world where magic is possible, manners matter, and every walk through the woods might lead to an adventure. Wow!!!

My friend still has his 'Rupert Bear scarf' lol.