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New 'Paddington' stage musical -

Tom Fletcher (pictured), lead vocalist with British pop band McFly, is writing the music and lyrics for the new 'Paddington: The Musical' production, which will open at the Savoy Theatre in London's West End on November 1, 2025.

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The origin of Paddington Bear -

The show will follow Paddington as he arrives from Peru seeking a new home in London. It is the latest adventure to feature the bear since he was created by British author Michael Bond in 1958.

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Michael Bond (1926–2017) -

Michael Bond began writing in 1945. He later produced several plays and short stories before bringing to life the little bear in his first book, 'A Bear Called Paddington,' published by Collins in 1958.

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'A Bear Called Paddington' (1958) -

Paddington Bear originally came from Peru, where he was brought up by his Aunt Lucy after being orphaned by an earthquake. When she went to live in a home for retired bears, she sent the young orphan to England, arranging for him to stow away in a ship's lifeboat.

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"Please Look After This Bear. Thank You." -

He eventually ended up at Paddington railway station in London. In time, he was found by a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Brown, sitting on a small suitcase near the lost property office with a label round his neck with the words "Please Look After This Bear. Thank You." They also discovered that he has a fondness for marmalade sandwiches and always keeps one under his hat for emergencies!

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Paddington's life story -

Mr. and Mrs. Brown take the bear home to live with them, and name him Paddington. They are delighted to find out their new friend can speak English, having been taught the language by his Aunt Lucy. They also learn that in Peru Paddington was called Pastuso, after his uncle.

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Inspiration for the character -

Michael Bond was once asked what inspired him to create his fictional character. His memories of seeing Jewish refugee children from Europe arriving in Britain during the Second World War and of London children who were being evacuated to the countryside, the evacuees bearing luggage and identification labels, is what led Bond to pick up his pen.

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The real Paddington Bear -

Paddington himself is based on the spectacled bear, also known as the Andean bear. The species is native to the Andes Mountains in northern and western South America. It is listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as vulnerable.

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First Paddington Bear toy manufactured -

The success of 'A Bear Called Paddington' prompted Michael Bond to write several more books throughout the 1960s featuring the friendly and adventurous bear. The first Paddington Bear stuffed toy to be manufactured was created in 1972 by Gabrielle Designs, a small family business run by Eddie and Shirley Clarkson (pictured).

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Standing on its own two feet -

Michael Bond had awarded the Clarksons the licensing of the toy rights throughout the world. Shirley Clarkson dressed the stuffed bear in Wellington boots to help it stand upright.

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The Jeremy Clarkson connection -

The prototype Paddington was made as a Christmas present by the Clarksons for their children, Jeremy and Joanna. Jeremy Clarkson is today a successful British television personality, known for co-hosting TV programs such as 'Top Gear' and presenting 'Clarkson's Farm.'

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First TV appearance -

Paddington Bear's first television appearance was in the stop-motion animated BBC television series 'Paddington.' Broadcast from 1976 to 1980, Paddington himself is a puppet in a three-dimensional environment, while other characters are paper cutouts.

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A series scripted by the author -

The series was scripted by Michael Bond, with episodes based on stories published in the author's books.

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Michael Hordern (1911–1995) -

'Paddington' was narrated by British Shakespearean actor Michael Hordern, who in fact voiced all the characters throughout the series. In his 1993 autobiography, Hordern wrote of his enjoyment over working on the program.

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The Ivor Wood strip cartoon -

In the late 1970s, Paddington Bear enjoyed more exposure in Anglo-French animator and writer Ivor Wood's strip cartoons of Paddington, originally published in the London Evening News newspaper. Wood, together with Serge Danot, made the acclaimed French series 'Le Manège enchanté' (known in English as 'The Magic Roundabout').

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Paddington goes stateside -

Meanwhile, episodes of 'Paddington' were being aired on American television. In 1979, the series won a silver medal at the New York Film and Television Festival, the first British animated series to do so. And in the United States 'Paddington Bear,' an animated children's television series produced by Hanna-Barbera, made its debut in 1989. By now, a Paddington Bear was the must-have soft toy for youngsters.

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Michael Bond awarded an OBE -

In 1997, Michael Bond was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), for services to children's literature. Paddington Bear would in time become closely associated with the British royal family.

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Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade -

During the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City in 2014, an enormous Paddington Bear balloon was among those floated along the Avenue of Americas in Manhattan. The inflatable attraction served to promote the release of the live-action animated comedy film 'Paddington.'

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'Paddington' (2014) -

Written and directed by Paul King, 'Paddington' stars Ben Whishaw as the voice of the title character, with Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, and Nicole Kidman in live-action roles.

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Critical and commercial success -

A critical and commercial success, movie audiences around the world took the beloved children's character to their hearts, with one critic praising the filmmakers for having created a charming and sweet-natured family film, full of wit and fun.

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Michael Bond awarded a CBE -

In October 2015, Michael Bond was again honored by British royalty, this time made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), presented to him by the Duke of Cambridge (now William, Prince of Wales) at an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London.

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Paddington's creator dies -

Fans of Paddington Bear were left in tears following the passing of Michael Bond on June 27, 2017, at the age of 91. Flowers and jars of marmalade were left by the Paddington Bear statue inside Paddington train station as a tribute to the author.

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'Paddington 2' (2017) -

Michael Bond's death came just five months before the release of 'Paddington 2,' a sequel to the first film and another huge hit with audiences and critics alike.

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Paddington and the Platinum Party -

In a pre-recorded comedy segment at the opening of the Platinum Party at Buckingham Palace on June 4, 2022, Paddington joined Queen Elizabeth II for tea and marmalade sandwiches at Her Majesty's residence. The monarch was well known for her humor, and the hilarious sketch was applauded by millions watching on big screens outside the royal household and on televisions at home.

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"I keep mine in here" -

In one segment as the beloved bear shows Her Majesty a marmalade sandwich he hides underneath his hat, the monarch prizes open her iconic handbag to reveal her very own ready-made supply of Paddington's bread and orange preserve staple inside, remarking: "I keep mine in here."

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In mourning for the monarch -

Such was the warm affection shared by the British public for Paddington Bear and Elizabeth II that Paddington toys were among the flowers and Union Jack flags placed at royal residences and memorial sites across the United Kingdom following the Queen's death on September 11, 2022.

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Upholding the tradition -

The following month, Camilla, then Queen Consort, posed with dozens of Paddington cuddly toys at Clarence House. Over 1,000 Paddington and teddy bears, left at royal residences as tributes to Queen Elizabeth II, were later donated to Barnardo's, a charity for vulnerable children.

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'Paddington in Peru' (2024) -

The third instalment of the Paddington Bear movie franchise, 'Paddington in Peru,' was released in the UK in November 2024 and the United States in February 2025. The film sees the Brown family traveling through the Peruvian jungle to find Paddington's Aunt Lucy. A success at the box office, the film received positive reviews from critics. A fourth film is in development.

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The Paddington Trail -

In the wake of the film, the Paddington Trail was inaugurated in London. The trail contains 22 different installations and sculptures, charting the Paddington region's industrial heritage, medical and scientific pioneers, engineering and military history, and royal, stage, and literary connections.

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The world's most famous bear -

Today the affable bear is a lucrative marketing phenomenon. The film franchise alone has helped toy sales exceed 27 million units since 2021. And a vintage Paddington Bear, one made in the 1970s, is worth a mint!

Sources: (Paddington Bear) (BBC) (This Is Paddington) (IUCN)

See also: The most influential authors of the 20th century

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