Top 5 Paddington Bear Facts

What links Paddington with James Bond, besides the fact that they’re both British icons? Answer; Ben Whishaw. The English actor voices Paddington for the feature-film series, starting in 2014, but you may know him better as 007’s gadget guru, Q. The “Paddington” films also feature an ensemble of British acting talent, including Hugh Bonneville and Sally Hawkins as Henry and Mary Brown, Peter Capaldi as the nosy neighbour Mr. Curry, and Imelda Staunton as Paddington’s Aunt Lucy. There’s even room for Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Matt Lucas, Michael Gambon, Australia’s Nicole Kidman and a cameo by Michael Bond himself. Plus, Hugh Grant’s in the sequel! Only the best, for this bear.

Famous for keeping marmalade sandwiches tucked beneath his bonnet, Paddington isn’t exactly a champion for healthy eating, but his lunch of choice is an integral part of his charm. However, he was once moved to change his eating habits, fronting an advertising campaign for Marmite in 2007. While Bond insisted that the switch was made without his blessing, the adverts caused quite a backlash with fans – especially considering Marmite’s famously divisive taste. Love them or hate them, the clips of Paddington experimenting with yeast extract are a standout moment in his history.

Paddington’s well known for getting a little confused from time to time, but if you ever go searching for this bear’s home, then you’ll be left scratching your head. Because 32 Windsor Gardens, London, doesn’t exist. Bond invented the house and street as a combination of his and his parents’ addresses. There is a Windsor Gardens, but tourists who travel there are always disappointed to find a block of ‘60s council flats, rather than the Victorian terrace they had been expecting. Staying with the issue of Paddington’s residence, the character almost came a cropper in 2008, when a 50th birthday story saw him interrogated by immigration officers over his right to be in Britain. Thankfully, he was allowed to stay.

Not counting the original bear, which we’ll get to in a moment, the first imitation bear was given to TV’s Jeremy Clarkson, in 1972. Clarkson, who’s best known for presenting “Top Gear” and “The Grand Tour”, was 12 at the time, when his parents’ design company made the first Paddington toys. In fact, it’s thanks to Clarkson’s family that the bear is in boots. The original prototypes kept falling over, so Paddington’s wellies were designed to solve the problem. As for the rest of his outfit, Paddington’s hat is the only thing he was actually wearing when he arrived in England – the blue duffel coat was given to him by the Browns, his adoptive family.

He’s one of the best-loved bears on the planet now, but things haven’t always been as peachy for Paddington. Michael Bond found the bear on Christmas Eve, 1956 – he was the last on the shelf in Selfridges. Seeing as no-one else seemed to want him, Bond, who was working as a cameraman for “Blue Peter” at the time, bought the teddy as a last-minute stocking-filler for his wife. The toy inspired him to write his first story, “A Bear Called Paddington”, in just a few days. Christened Paddington as Bond lived close to the train station, the character ultimately starred in 14 main series story volumes, with over 35 million Paddington books sold worldwide, in more than 40 different languages.