Gordon T Gopher is a puppet presenter who appeared on Children's BBC in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He is known for his floppy arms, his cheeky personality, his squeaky voice, and his leather jacket which was gifted to him by Adam Ant. Gordon presented on CBBC interstitials and on Going Live! alongside his human co-host. Gordon was a big hit, and merchandise, stuffed toys, videotapes, and picture books were created to capitalize on him.

Gordon lives in a gopher hole apartment, and comes from the prairies. He likes cactus juice, and hates rattlesnakes. He was once invited to attend a Girl Guide jamboree in Canada. Fans create their own parodies and tribute videos on youtube using Gordon The Gopher puppet toys you can find for sale on secondhand marketplaces in the UK.

I found out about Gordon when researching the history of puppets on UK TV, and was immediately in love the moment I saw an image of him. His design is incredibly simple and goofy, looking more like a fuzzy sock puppet than a real gopher, and conveys a whole lot of personality despite speaking entirely in squeaks and only moving his mouth and head. For example, check out this iconic clip from Going Live! where Gordon is "attacked" by a tiny puppy. His little indignant squeaks and nervous trembling are hilarious and adorable. While the puppets on TV today may be more complex, Gordon really lives up to the saying "less is more!"