Bluey House: Australia House renamed in London

Bluey is a cultural phenomenon much like Sir Les Patterson or Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, says Australian High Commissioner Stephen Smith as Australia House becomes a doghouse for a day.

Australia's most famous cultural export, Bluey outside Australia House in central London, renamed Bluey House on Sunday, April 21, 2024. Photo: Jacquelin Magnay

Surprise! Stephen Smith didn’t look remotely uncomfortable. As the High Commissioner, or “top dog” of “Bluey House” for one day, Australia’s man in London extolled the charm of Australia’s most famous cultural export, “Bluey” as a special unexpected edition of the wildly popular children’s show was celebrated on Sunday.

Over the weekend Australia House in The Strand was adorned in “Bluey” flags, was renamed Bluey House and had a new front door - the heritage Queenslander with a wraparound balcony, hours after a secret showing of the surprise episode on Australian television.

Bluey made a special celebrity appearance at the front of Bluey House, watching a matching band - dressed in blue - and performed Bluey music as young onlookers wore Bluey and Bingo ear headbands and waved blue balloons.

Mr Smith even handed Bluey with a special recognition award for cultural impact across the UK and the world - the highest honour the high commissioner said he was authorised to impart. Any dame hood for the dog would have to come from others with higher authority and responsibility, Mr Smith said.

Australia's top dog in London, Stephen Smith, high-fives Australia's most famous blue-heeler, Bluey, outside the Australian High Commission in London. Photo: Jacquelin Magnay

More used to dealing with submarines, AUKUS, and visas, Mr Smith gladly handed over the honour in front of scores of happy children.

The occasion was a celebratory event organised by BBC Studios to promote the latest seven minute episode of Bluey called “Surprise” which has been just released to broadcasters in Australia, the UK and the United States.

The new episode sees Bluey and her sister Bingo encourage Bandit, their dad, play two games at the same time. It was much needed reassurance for millions of fans who worried that last week’s 28 minute episode, The Sign, was the end of the popular show.

Mr Smith said Australia has had cultural icons in the past, naming Barry Humphries character Sir Les Patterson and the West End show Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

A London family pose for a photograph with Australia's famous blue heeler dog. Photo: Jacquelin Magnay

He said Bluey has had incalculable monetary value and impact on a generation of children who may decide to visit Australia in the future.

“It is a cultural export”, he said, adding “it is one of those great Australian stories to the world, showing the rest of the world the way Australians live, in particular Brisbane, our coastal environment and outdoors activities.

“It is an important cultural ambassador for Australia, not the only one, but it has an impact on millions of kids around the world.’’

Joe Brumm, the show’s creator said: “Our beautiful country is a character in the show just as much as any of the dogs, so to have brought it into the living rooms of the whole world, encouraging people to come and visit is something I’ll always be proud of.”