Teletubbies icon Tinky Winky has a surprising new role

Some of our favourite children’s TV characters are set to undertake a massive challenge when entering the MasterChef kitchen for Children in Need.

The annual BBC campaign has raised over £1 billion for disadvantaged children and young people in the UK since launching back in 1980.

One of the highlights is an annual telethon, held in November, which features skits, live music and star-studded appearances.

Ahead of the next one, which is happening next week, it’s been announced beloved characters are going to be put through their paces for a special segment.

For the first time ever, Puppet MasterChef will hit screens.

Alongside Teletubbies icon Tinky Winky, Basil Brush, Zippy and George from Rainbow and Hacker T Dog and Dodge will be invading the hallowed MasterChef kitchen of presenters John Torode and Gregg Wallace.

Teletubbies icon Tinky Winky is entering the MasterChef kitchen (Picture: BBC)

Basil Brush has also signed up for the Children in Need cooking special (Picture: BBC)

The show’s catchphrase ‘cooking doesn’t get tougher than this’ is set to be mashed up and smashed to bits as the British children’s TV favourites cause chaos among the pots and pans trying to impress Gregg and John with their culinary skills.

The original series of Teletubbies ran from 1997 until 2001 and followed four differently coloured characters, named after the television screens on their bellies.

Back in October the sun baby from Teletubbies, real name Jess Smith, also took to Instagram to share the news that she’s expecting her first child.

Teletubbies originally aired from 1997 until 2001 (Picture: BBC)

Sharing a picture of the ultrasound, she wrote: ‘When two becomes three’.

Jess, who revealed her toddler acting skills when she was 19 years old, became the most recognisable baby in television after being randomly picked by producers who called a local hospital asking for the names of potential tots for the role.

She announced at the time: ‘So I’ve recently celebrated my 19th birthday and after a lot of thought, I’ve decided it’s time to tell everyone.

‘I used to hide it but after a lot of encouragement from my friends at university I’ve gained the confidence to come out with it.

‘I am the sun from Teletubbies.

‘There has been quite a few people pretending to be ‘the sun’ but only I could tell you the real story.’

The Sun Baby announced earlier this year she was expecting her first child (Picture: BBC)

Jess went on to say that her big career break happened when she was around nine months old, when her mum took her to their local hospital for a check-up.

The midwife there had been contacted by a local production company looking for ‘a smiley baby’ and submitted Jess’ name.

After going through an audition process, she was finally picked.

While she understandably didn’t remember any of her time recording the series, Jess said she was told her dad used to hold a teddy bear behind the camera to get her to laugh.

To donate to BBC Children in Need people can visit We’re there for you- BBC Children in Need

Teletubbies is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. BBC Children in Need airs this Friday, November 17, from 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : Nick Knowles: ‘We can’t rely on this government – we need DIY SOS’

MORE : We went from 0 to 9 kids in three years and couldn’t be happier

It sounds a little chaotic!