Phil Fletcher

[1] He developed an interest in puppeteering as a child, after seeing programmes featuring The Muppets and, his favourite, Rod Hull and Emu.

He continued to make puppet performances whilst working on production lines at Ingersoll Rand and Alphason Design factories.

Hacker had appeared in the television series Scoop from 2009 but was being brought in as a presenter sidekick and continuity announcer on the CBBC Channel for the following year.

Fletcher initially declined to audition, stating he was too busy and the contract was short term (four months), but was persuaded to reconsider and was awarded the role.

[1] On Scoop Hacker had only growled and barked but he gained a voice under Fletcher, who gradually introduced more dialogue to the act.

Hacker first appeared alongside CBBC presenter Iain Stirling, with Fletcher hidden on screen by a trolley, desk or couch.

[4][1] The character has also appeared on breakfast news programming, Today at Wimbledon and Celebrity Mastermind (his specialist subject was The Pet Shop Boys).

[5] Although rumours arose claiming it was inspired by an interaction between Fletcher and the police after being arrested in Leeds he says it was not and was "just nonsense".

[1] He has also appeared as Larry the Lizard in the ITV sitcom Buffering (2021–) alongside Stirling who wrote and stars in the programme.

The puppet joined others in his collection, such as George from Rainbow, Keith Harris' Orville the Duck, and Sooty and Sweep.