Gimlet and Finchley 2 - Gavin

Gavin stopped the video, and the screen froze on the image of Gimlet, basking in the laughter.

“There you are gentlemen,” Gavin said. “Proof that Ted intended the act to continue after he died.”

“It’s not really proof though, is it,” said Blake. “I mean, I could show you a clip that ‘proves’ Gimlet and Finchley were the first glove puppets on the moon, or proof that dad believed that a wolf and alligator glove puppets would make good hairdressers.”

“Or vicars,” said Mario.

“Exactly, you might as well make the case for Gimlet performing the funeral service.”

“I know all the sketches, boys. I saw them enough times. I also know the viewing figures, Gimlet and Finchley are still huge, they need to continue, children’s TV wouldn’t be the same without them. It’s what Ted would have wanted. It’s what Gimlet and Finchley would want.

“Who do you have in mind?” said Becky. “One of us?”

Gavin laughed. “Good lord, no.”

“What’s so funny about that?” said Blake. “Sooty was handed down from father to son. So was Emu.”

“Sooty was a different era, boys.”

“Stop calling us boys. At least 33% of us is a girl.”

“Sorry Becky, but these days you need a star to carry an act like this.”

“Nonsense,” said Mario. “Gimlet and Finchley are the stars. Children love the puppets, not the person operating them.”

“It’s a performance,” said Gavin. “You need a performer. A star.”

“Not Bobby Davro,” said Blake. “I know he’s on your books.”

“No of course not. We were thinking of Bradley Walsh.”

“Bradley fucking Walsh,” said Mario, who never usually swore in front of children’s puppets. “Gimlet and Finchley should be kept in the family. Children recognise the name Elliot.”

“It needs someone who takes a back seat, just voices and gloves the puppets,” said Blake. The show’s about Gimlet and Finchley, with Bradley Walsh it would all be about Bradley Walsh. Plus, it will be complete crap.”

“Maybe a change of format would be a good thing,” said Gavin.

“Wheeling dad’s corpse onto the stage would be ‘a change of format’ said Blake. “And a damn sight more entertaining that Bradley Walsh.”

“Can you even do this?” said Becky. “I thought dad was leaving everything to us. That means it’ll be our decision.”

“We’ll see about that,” said Gavin. “He told me he was leaving the puppets in my care.”