TV: Teletubbies celebrate 20th birthday
The series, in which the characters say "Eh Oh" and sport antennae on their heads, is now a huge hit, seen by around one billion children in over 100 countries.
But its simple language and child-like movements were initially frowned upon by parents.
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Hide AdThe three-year-old boy, Ned Frost, who starred in the very first "tummy screen" film in the debut episode of Teletubbies, is now a 23-year-old medical student, training to become a doctor in Newcastle.
"They were looking for a family riding bikes in London. I was very talkative, was filmed on my bike, and didn't mind the camera," he told the Press Association.
"Friends found out about the episode I was in and it was later used during a paediatrics teaching session to show child development," he said.
"I was in two more episodes." he added. "And I still ride a bike, all the time."
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Hide AdThe original series was created by Anne Wood and Andy Davenport for the BBC, which is airing a new series.
CBeebies Controller Kay Benbow said that it had been a "risk" commissioning the show.
But she added: "It was a risk that paid off and we are very proud of the show's fantastic heritage and its continued success."