Bananas in Pyjamas kidnapped and held for ransom by mafia

After years of industry rumours, an actor from Bananas in Pyjamas has confirmed details of a shocking kidnapping plot.

An Australian actor has revealed the Russian mafia stole the ABC’s iconic Bananas in Pyjamas costumes and held them for ransom.

Kenneth Radley, who played B1 for more than 10 years, mentioned the story briefly during an appearance on The Final Encore Podcast, and then gave more detail in an interview with news.com.au (which you can watch in the video player above).

Mr Radley said the theft happened when an ABC marketing boss took the costumes on a promotional trip overseas.

“Grahame Grassby was the head of marketing and franchising … and Grahame went all over the world with some banana suits to get photo opportunities at places like London Tower and the White House,” Mr Radley said.

“He took the suits to Moscow … and the suits were stolen, and there was a ransom note given to Grassby for $100,000 Australian dollars for the return of the suits.”

The ransom note was allegedly from the Russian mafia.

“Grahame got in touch with ABC Sydney and said, ‘this has happened, they want $100,000, what will we do?’” Mr Radley said. “And the head of the ABC said, ‘well, we’re not gonna give them $100,000. How much do they cost to replace?’ And Graham said, ‘they’re $20,000 to make.’”

B1 and B2.

Kenneth Radley.

The ABC boss allegedly told Mr Grassby to offer the mafia $20,000, and if they refused, they would just abandon the suits and get new ones made instead.

“So they wired $20,000 Australian through and then he’s (Mr Grassby) walking with a briefcase to meet the Russian mafia … and he stopped and thought, ‘what am I doing?’” Mr Radley told news.com.au.

After a few minutes of contemplation, Mr Grassby decided he was out of his depth and abandoned the meeting with the mafia.

“He went straight to the airport and got on a plane with the $20,000,” Mr Radley said.

“So the bananas are actually in some gulag in Russia, in some freezing cold jail,” he laughed.

No one likes a wet banana.

The Bananas were in the Olympics closing ceremony.

Mr Radley also opened up to news.com.au about what it was like performing as B1 in the “impossibly hot” costumes, and the surprising reaction he received from athletes after taking part in the Sydney Olympics Closing Ceremony (again, you can watch the interview in the video player above).

In addition to his role in Bananas in Pyjamas, Mr Radley has also appeared in Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge, Rabbit-Proof Fence and The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

He is currently writing his first book to be called, Are You Thinking What I’m Thinking? A patchwork journey through my life so far.