Creator of childrens TV hit was ‘horrified’ by criticism

Teletubbies creator Anne Wood has criticised firms that profit from parents’ “anxieties” about how to bring up their children.

The 73-year-old told BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs about the horrified reactions she faced from some people when Teletubbies was first shown.

Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po appeared on BBC TV for the first time in 1997 and became a worldwide hit. The show screened in more than 100 countries and was translated into 45 languages.

However, the show had its critics – American evangelist Jerry Falwell claimed Tinky Winky could be a gay role model.