Paddington Bear

Michael Bond created Paddington Bear in 1956, inspired by a teddy bear he saw in a shop on Christmas Eve, which he bought for his wife. He wrote A Bear Called Paddington in ten days, and it was published by Collins in 1958.¹ The character's name came from Paddington Station, near Bond's home, and his Peruvian origin was chosen because Bond wanted a place that was 'darkest' and exotic, and he had seen a documentary about Peru.

Paddington is polite, well-meaning, and often gets into trouble due to his literal interpretation of things and his curiosity. He is known for his hard stare, which he uses to quell misbehavior, and his habit of addressing adults as 'Mr.' and 'Mrs.'² He always carries a suitcase with a label that reads 'Please look after this bear. Thank you.' and a jar of marmalade sandwiches under his hat. His catchphrase is 'I'm Paddington, and I'm very well, thank you.'

Bond wrote 14 original novels, the last published in 2017, and numerous picture books. The stories have been adapted for television, including a 1975 BBC series with stop-motion animation, and a 1997 series with a CGI bear. In 2014, a live-action film Paddington was released, followed by a sequel in 2017 and a third in 2024.³ The films were critically acclaimed for their warmth and humor.

Paddington has become a British cultural icon, appearing on a Royal Mail postage stamp in 2018 and being used in a 2016 Christmas advert for Marks & Spencer. A bronze statue of Paddington stands at Paddington Station, and the character has been used to promote British values of politeness and kindness. In 2017, a film scene was used to raise awareness for refugees, aligning with the character's immigrant background.

Paddington's original illustrations by Peggy Fortnum were based on a real bear at London Zoo. The character's 'hard stare' was inspired by a photograph of a Peruvian bear. In the 1970s, a Paddington Bear was sent to the moon on Apollo 11? No, that's false. But a Paddington toy was taken on a Space Shuttle mission in 1995 by astronaut C. Michael Foale. Also, the first book was rejected by several publishers before being accepted.

Duffle coat

A heavy coat with toggle fasteners, typically made of wool, worn by Paddington.

Marmalade

A fruit preserve made from citrus fruits, especially oranges, often used in Paddington's sandwiches.

Hard stare

A piercing look that Paddington uses to make people behave, often described as 'so hard that it could make a fridge shiver'.