Basil Brush

Basil Brush was, according to differing accounts, either a fictional puppet character in at least the 20th century, (PROSE:, etc.) or a real individual (GAME: , ) who once went rent collecting. (GAME: )

As a real person, he was an anthropomorphic fox with either light (GAME: ) or dark brown fur. (GAME: ) He also existed as a puppet in a parallel universe. (COMIC: )

Going hunting with the Diddymen
At one point, the Diddymen may have gone hunting with Basil Brush during their hike. (GAME: )

Rent collecting
Basil Brush once went rent collecting, potentially stopping off at various locations. First, he may have collected £10 store rent from the Diddymen. Next, he may have collected £25 village rent, also from the Diddymen. After this, he may have been witness to the Diddymen's house collapsing, sending him back the way he came. Later, he may have collected £5 from Beetle Bailey. Shortly after, Mighty Moth may have eaten his cloak, Basil shouting "My cloak!". He may later have collected £15 land rent. After this, he may have gotten a refund of £15. He may also have collected £15 rent from the Keystone Kops. He may also have collected a £5 fine for fishing in the moat. He may later have gotten arrested by the Keystone Kops and locked in Keystone Jail. He may also have gotten a tax refund of £20. The "TV Terrors" may then have directed Basil wrongly, sending him the wrong way. Popeye may have fed Basil, with Basil moving forward and picking up rent. Old debt may have settled, allowing Basil to collect £20. Laurel & Hardy may then have payed the month's rent in advance, with Basil collecting £25. Basil may later have collected £25 rent. He then may have had to go back the way he came to avoid Tardis. Finally, he made his way to the castle collecting further rent of either £20, £15, £10, or £5. (GAME: )

Other references
Ace listed the character's television programme among the favourites of her youth. (PROSE: ) Many years later, she would find being called "Miss Dorothy" by Sanaul amusing as it made her sound like one of Basil Brush's assistants. (PROSE: )

Professor X, fully aware of his status as a fictional character, said that he felt like he was "caught between Basil Brush and Bruce Forsyth." (PROSE: )

Doctor Who Weekly 's universe
When the Eighth Doctor and Izzy Sinclair were brought into a parallel universe in which their reality existed only as fiction on 12 October 1979, Basil was one of the brain-washed minions of Beep the Meep found at the BBC Television Centre. The Doctor, Basil and countless other 1970s TV personalities were saved by the actor Tom Baker, who played the Fourth Doctor. (COMIC: )

Behind the scenes

 * Basil Brush was the titular character in the comic series Basil Brush, which was published in TV Comic and crossed over with the Doctor Who universe in the board games TV Comic's Counter Game and Basil Brush goes Rent Collecting.
 * In an early sketch of the real, Basil encountered a Yeti in the Himalayas. The costume used for the Yeti was one of those featured in The Web of Fear.
 * Basil Brush had a new show in 2008 entitled, which featured ex-Totally Doctor Who host Barney Harwood.
 * Several cast members of the real The Basil Brush Show have acted in Doctor Who stories or its spinoffs; Rodney Bewes, Derek Fowlds, Christopher Pizzey and Milton Johns.