Bungle dead from Aids

Rainbow star Bungle has died at his home of AIDS-related pneumonia at the age of 51.

Bungle: bear

Long-term partner Geoffrey Hayes was at his bedside when he died, and Rainbow co-stars George and Zippy were among the first to be told of the news.

HIV

Dr. Bungle Bonce had been in declining health for the last two years, having first been diagnosed with the HIV virus in 1988, and will always be remembered for his role in the long-running children's TV show.

'We didn't always see eye-to-eye but he was a true friend. Someone I could depend upon, someone who would keep me in check' said a tearful Zippy, 'To be honest I can't believe he's gone, Geoffrey.'

Gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell paid tribute to the furry bruinette: 'Bungle's legacy is a very simple and yet highly positive message. A message for everyone.' said the Stonewall founder, 'Paint the whole world with a rainbow... I think we can all learn something from his example.'

First launched in 1972, Rainbow was the first children's program to actively promote a homosexual lifestyle, and paved the way for the groundbreaking Children's TV of the 1980s.

Fisto: powerful

Conclusion

The message 'It's OK to be gay' reached it's logical conclusion when He-man and the Masters of the Universe introduced the 'Fisto' character, taking powerful homoerotic imagery to a new level.

But while Zippy and George became the darling couple of the celebrity gay circuit, Bungle was always the shy one, preferring to spend quiet nights in with Geoffrey.

He was given his big break while at medical school when he met pink hippomopotamus George who was looking for co-stars for a West-End musical written by Rod, Jane and Freddie.

The musical flopped, but out of it came the Rainbow project, and 20 years later the show was as popular as ever when it was finally axed by the BBC due to low ratings.