Ted's Back With More Bullpitt

Illawarra Mercury

Thursday September 25, 1997

DENISE EVERTON

IT'S BEEN more than a decade since Ted Bullpitt was last spotted polishing the exhaust pipe on the Kingswood but don't worry, he's just moved back into your neighbourhood.

There's a little more grey in the hair and Thelma's flown the coop but nothing keeps old Ted Bullpitt down.

He's taken up residence at the Whispering Pines Retirement Village with a goldfish called Keiren and his faithful concrete Aborigine, Neville.

The setting may be different, the supporting characters may be different but the humour that made Kingswood Country a winner in the early"80s is in plentiful supply in its successor, Bullpitt.

Ross Higgins, who played Ted Bullpitt through seven seasons from 1979, was approached to reprise the character in May 1996 and immediately jumped on board.

"There was nothing I didn't like about Ted," he said in fond memory. "He's really a child and you can't be offended by a child. He'll never grow up and he says what jumps into his mind straight away.

"Ted's very wary of anything he doesn't understand and he ends up as the loser in every episode and that's very important."

Tangling with Ted in this new series are his granddaughter, Terri, who replaces son-in-law Bruno as the major antagonist; neighbour and confirmed committee man Johnno; gardener Darcy Kelso, and femme fatale Joan Collins.

Admitting that writing and performing comedy is the hardest gig in town, Higgins believes the stellar credentials of the supporting cast plus the merger of traditional Kingswood Country catchphrases with"90s issues will produce a winning formula.

"Bullpitt is written so well and it has very funny scenes with sight gags and stand-up comedy that you have to be happy about it returning," he said.

"I don't know why (the writers) decided to bring Ted back now but it was easy to slip back into (the role). I really enjoyed filming the series and there was such a good rapport between the cast. We're hoping for a second season."

Higgins, who began his career as an announcer on Sydney's radio 2GB and doing voice-overs, has kept busy in recent years.

As well as stints on Richmond Hill and Echo Point, he has continued doing voice work for cartoons and corporate videos but says he has enjoyed none of his work as much as he loved Kingswood Country.

All that waits to be seen is whether Australian audiences are hankering for that same old comedy, a repackaged but familiar television gift that professes to do nothing but make you laugh.

Amid all the great Australian drama we keep producing, a lighter mood may just hit the spot.

Bullpitt screens on Prime Television, Thursday nights at 7.30pm.