Puppet brings presenter wealth

Press, 2 August 1989, Page 15

Puppet brings presenter wealth

TONY VERDON,

By

London correspondent

Former Television New Zealand presenter Phillip Schofield has reportedly paid out about $560,000 for a dream home in West London — thanks to a glove puppet called Gordon the Gopher. The 26-year-old began his television career in New Zealand, but has since become a toprating presenter of children’s television shows on the 8.8. C.

He has bought a fourbedroomed home in Chiswick, a fashionable suburb in West London, and, according to the “Daily Star” newspaper, Schofield has bought it without raising a mortgage.

The newspaper says he bought the house out of proceeds from the sale of the furry brown glove puppet he invented for his British television show. Schofield sold the licences to reproduce Gordon to a toy firm, which sells them for $36.

The puppet has become such a star that a range of other toys, mugs and pens also carries his name, and makes Schofield more money. A spokesman for Scho-

field told the “Daily Star”: “Phillip’s a shrewd businessman. He invests money wisely.”

A friend of Schofield told the newspaper he could not believe the success of the puppet he created to entertain children watching his television show.

“He’s well on his way to being a millionaire,” said the friend. Schofield now hosts a Saturday-morning show on 8.8.C.1, and as well does regular week-end shows on the B.B.C’s nation-wide pop music station, Radio One.