Dermot O'Leary was quick to reassure This Morning viewers as he returned to the show. Friday's edition of the ITV daytime programme (February 3) got off to an unusual start as after the usual opening credits rolled, Dermot and co-host Alison Hammond were nowhere to be seen.
Instead, the London-based ITV studio had been taken over by a few familiar - and iconic - faces - The Wombles . The Wombles of Wimbledon theme song played out to viewers' living rooms as different members of the This Morning family were seen flanked by the children's TV characters.
While Dr Scott was doing some tidying of rubbish in the studio, Gyles Brandreth was sat on the sofa getting stuck into a newspaper. Then eventually, Alison and Dermot appeared flanked by a Womble each before joining together for a dance.
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The pair then officially welcomed viewers to the show where Dermot told them not to worry as they weren't 'hallucinating' before revealing that the iconic characters from the 70s were celebrating 50 years since the first TV episode, hence their appearance on This Morning.
The Wombles, which are fictional pointy-nosed, furry creatures created by Elisabeth Beresford and originally appearing in a series of children's novels from 1968, first appeared on screens in 1973. They lived in burrows, where they aim to help the environment by collecting and recycling rubbish in creative ways.
But viewers think they spotted a problem with the famous characters. @4thommo tweeted: "They don't even look like the wombles #ThisMorning." @stephanieoram1 shared: "Who are these new fangled Wombles? There’s only one Uncle Bulgaria #thismorning."
@shrimpsy291 said: "Certainly didn’t look like the fluffy scruffy wombles I remember? All too neat and clean looking #ThisMorning." @Tonguetwisteruk added: "#ThisMorning @thismorning Those Wombles would give some kids nightmares."
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