History
Morph’s been around since 1977 and has an interesting history which you can read here! Read how he came into being, tracing his story up to the present day.
Early Years
Early Days
Morph was created by Peter Lord and David Sproxton to feature in the children’s programme Take Hart alongside the artist and presenter Tony Hart. Peter and David made a very simple terracotta-coloured figure who could change shape, and because he could metamorphose they called him Morph! Morph’s first ever TV appearance was on the first episode of Take Hart which was broadcast on BBC1 on 15 Feb 1977. In the series, Morph would act as a foil to Tony, generally get into mischief and make a mess of Tony’s desk! Morph has always been hand-made out of one lump of clay. Morph stands 12cm tall and weighs 5 ½ oz. To check they always used the same amount of clay, Peter and David would weigh the clay on some old scales that they found in a junk shop in Bristol. There is an ‘M’ on the correct weight.
Morph is Back!
Into the Noughties
2009 saw Morph make his modelling debut, featuring in a high-fashion shoot for Esquire Magazine. In the same year, following the death of Tony Hart, a flash mob of Morph models gathered outside the Tate Modern in London to pay tribute to the much-loved and inspirational TV presenter.
Still Naughty at 40...
Turning the Big 4-0
Morph turned 40 in 2017, and to celebrate he tackled his mid-life bucket list. The Telegraph newspaper covered his quest to get a tattoo, take a drive in a fancy sports car and go skydiving! His birthday was also marked by some brilliant street art created for Upfest, Europe’s largest urban arts festival, by Bristol street artist Cheo. That same summer ‘Mega Morph’ – a 3-metre tall sculpture – went on tour around Bristol, stopping at the historic harbourside, the Bristol Children’s Hospital and the Mall at Cribbs Causeway.