Bananas in Pyjamas actor claims the iconic ABC characters were KIDNAPPED by the Russian mafia

It’s a story ripped straight from the pages of a John Le Carre novel, featuring abduction, international intrigue and…bananas.

Australian actor Kenneth Radley has claimed that iconic children’s characters Bananas in Pyjamas were kidnapped and held for ransom by none other than the Russian mafia.

Kenneth, 61, who played B1 for 10 years, revealed to News Corp this week that the iconic ABC characters were the unlikely subjects of an international abduction plot.

The actor explained that the incident started when then ABC marketing boss Grahame Grassby took the recognisable yellow costumes to Russia as part of a promotional tour.

Kenneth explained that Graham would often escort the Bananas around the world to have their photos taken at various iconic locations such as the White House and the Tower of London.

Unfortunately while in Russia the costumes were stolen with a ransom note, allegedly sent by the Russian mob, sent to Graham asking for $100,000 for the safe return of the bananas.

‘Grahame got in touch with ABC Sydney and said, “this has happened, they want $100,000, what will we do?’”’ Kenneth 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.”‘

Kenneth claimed the ABC told Graham to offer the kidnappers $20,000, with a view of having new costumes made if they refused the offer.  

‘So they wired $20,000 Australian through and then he’s [Graham] walking with a briefcase to meet the Russian mafia … and he stopped and thought, ‘what am I doing?’” Kenneth said.

Kenneth continued saying that on his way to the exchange, Graham had a change of heart, scuttling the meeting and leaving B1 and B2 behind the ‘iron curtain’.

‘He went straight to the airport and got on a plane with the $20,000,’ Kenneth said.

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

Kenneth was the longest serving. B1, donning the iconic yellow costume from 1993 to 2001. 

The actor explained to News Corp that the international incident started when then ABC marketing boss Grahame Grassby took the recognisable yellow costumes to Russia as part of a promotional tour. Pictured: Kenneth Radley

The costumes were stolen in Russia on a promotional tour with a ransom note, allegedly sent by the Russian mob, was sent to Graham asking for $100,000 for the safe return of the bananas

Kenneth claimed the ABC told Graham to offer the kidnappers $20,000, with a view of having new costumes made if they refused the offer

Aside from the iconic role, Kenneth has also starred in such big screen fare as Rabbit Proof Fence, The Adventures of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert, and Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. 

Long before the first episode of Bananas in Pyjamas aired in 1992, the seeds of the iconic series were sown in the ’60s.

The television series, which follows B1 and B2, was inspired by the 1967 song from British composer Carey Blyton about bananas in pyjamas which was initially aired on Play School.

In 1972, Carey released a children’s book titled Bananas in Pyjamas: A Book of Nonsense.

And in 1978, ABC aired a short animated video of the Bananas’ first descent down the stairs.

Creator Helena Harris later saw potential in the characters after hearing the tune while attending a Play School concert with her kids.

Helena, who was also the brains behind Hi-5, believed the bananas could have their own show.

‘In Play School they were one of the few characters that had personality. They chased teddy bears and I was sure we could make them younger, less ugly and the children would love them,’ Harris told The Manly Daily in 2016.

Kenneth continued saying that on his way to the exchange, Graham had a change of heart, scuttling the meeting and leaving B1 and B2 behind the ‘iron curtain’

Kenneth continued saying that on his way to the exchange, Graham had a change of heart, scuttling the meeting and leaving B1 and B2 behind the ‘iron curtain’

The series, set in Cuddles Avenue, Cuddlestown, followed B1 and B2 and their teddy bear friends along with Rat-in-a-Hat.

Harris revealed she wanted the original series to be animated, however, the idea was too expensive.

‘There’s no way that we could afford animation, but I wanted to make it look like a comic book come to life…. the reality is that it actually worked so well as suited characters,’ she said.

The live action series ended in 2001.

In 2011, the show became a completely animated version until it ceased production in 2013.

Since its debut, Bananas in Pyjamas has received countless nominations and awards, even appearing in different languages for children all across the word.