30/01/2026: On Bargain Hunt today (BBC), Rupert expert and co-writer of The Rupert Bear Dossier Howard Smith spoke about Rupert and his creator Mary Tourtel. During the show he joined presenter Eric Knowles to discuss some original early Rupert items and the history behind the character that delighted generations of readers.
Mary Tourtel, who first drew and helped create Rupert in 1920, and her husband Herbert Tourtel were responsible for bringing the little bear to life in the Daily Express. Mary worked as an illustrator and created many of the first stories and illustrations for Rupert before handing the strip over to Alfred Bestall in the mid‑1930s.
The episode is available now on BBC iPlayer and will be repeated on BBC Two on Monday, February 2 at 06:05 AM.
CLICK HERE to watch just the 5-minute clip with Howard instead of the whole episode.
