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For millions of children, Rainbow was an unforgettable part of growing up with puppets Zippy and George, and giant bear Bungle.
The show ran for more than 1,000 episodes until 1992 and followed the antics of a 'dream team' of puppets.
But more than 30 years on from the programme ending, the lives of the stars have taken very different turns.
From marrying two of their co-stars to landing an audition on The Voice, to stacking shelves in Sainsbury's, no two fates have been the same.
On Monday, it was announced that Zippy actor Ronnie Le Drew had passed away aged 78.
His death comes seven years after he unmasked the explosive secrets of the show in his 2019 autobiography Zippy And Me: My Life Inside Britain's Most Infamous Puppet.
Here, the Daily Mail takes a look at the varied fates of the stars of the children's show.
What happened to the cast of Rainbow? From marrying two of their co-stars to landing a role on Doctor Who to stacking shelves in Sainsbury's - the very varied fates of the stars (pictured Jane Tucker, Rod Burton and Matthew Corbett with Geoffrey Hayes)
On Monday, it was announced that Zippy puppeteer Ronnie Le Drew had passed away aged 78
Ronnie Le Drew
Ronnie played the puppeteer behind iconic Rainbow star Zippy.
Zippy, an unknown yellowish creature, and his friends, Bungle the teddy bear and George the hippopotamus, would take the role of inquisitive children, asking about the episode's subject.
Violet Philpott was forced to step down as puppeteer after just one year following a back injury from Zippy's appearances all being through a window.
John Thirtle replaced her, before Ronnie, a former debt collector, stepped into the job in 1974.
He became both the puppeteer and voice of the puppet during the 1994 reboot.
Speaking of his career on Rainbow after the series, he told The Guardian in 2015: 'We got so much more money than a puppeteer could ever have dreamed of.'
Ronnie also gave his talents to other classic children's shows, including Playdays, The Tommy Cooper Show and The Sooty Show.
He also operated the original Bill and Ben in an Ideal Home Exhibition advert and the Brains from Thunderbirds puppet in a Drench water advert.
His work led him to major films including Labyrinth, Little Shop of Horrors and The Muppet Christmas Carol.
In 2019, Ronnie revealed the lewd secrets behind Rainbow that involved a heavy-drinking cast who loved 'getting lashed' and arranging the animals into sex positions.
Ronnie released a tell-all memoir called Zippy And Me: My Life Inside Britain's Most Infamous Puppet, that shattered the innocence of the hit show.
He revealed the sexism backstage and also the culture of heavy drinking.
On Monday, July 27, Ronnie passed away following a short illness, aged 78.
His death was announced by the British Puppet Guild. The statement read: 'We are saddened to announce the death of our President and friend Ronnie Le Drew, following a short illness...
'Ronnie has been our president for 10 years, possibly the most active and supportive president we have ever had or will have.
'Attending nearly every event, whether it be online or in person, often performing when asked and always willing to chat, tell stories and entertain in whatever way he could.
'Ronnie was, of course, known for Zippy, but his legacy in the puppetry world stretches far more than that, and there will be countless puppeteers mourning the loss of our dear friend.
'He meant so much to so many, and the legacy of his life will live on.'
He is survived by his two children, Liz and John.
Roy Skelton
Roy played Zippy and George
Roy played both Zippy and George, and also wrote many of the scripts for Rainbow.
In addition to writing around 100 scripts for Rainbow, Skelton also wrote Naughty Rainbow, a humorous double-entendre-laden version that became a cult hit.
He also coincidentally voiced the Daleks in Doctor Who from 1967 to 1988, as well as the Cybermen and the Krotons.
In 2002, he guest-starred in the audio drama Sarah Jane Smith: Test Of Nerve.
He reprised the role of Zippy in 2008 for the BBC One series Ashes to Ashes.
In June 2011, Roy died aged 79.
His daughter Samantha Skelton told the BBC that her father passed away at his Brighton home after suffering a stroke.
'He had a stroke some months ago and had been in and out of hospital and finally he succumbed to pneumonia,' she said.
Peter Hawkins
Peter Hawkins was the original Zippy
Peter was the original voice actor for Zippy.
He left the show after the first year because he found it hard to rewrite gags for a preschool audience amid shifting show policies.
He continued major voice work for kids' TV, providing voices for SuperTed, The Family-Ness, and Jimbo And The Jet-Set during the 1980s.
Peter also reprised his classic BBC voices, including Bill And Ben The Flower Pot Men, for appearances on programmes like Blue Peter.
The actor passed away in July 2006, aged 82, from pneumonia.
John Leeson
John Leeson was the first to play Bungle the bear
John was the original Bungle the bear in the show.
Following the series, he continued acting by voicing K9 in Doctor Who.
His film credits are few but include the Hunt Secretary in the film Tarka The Ott, and A TV interviewer in the film Whoops Apocalypse.
Away from the screen, he is a freelance lecturer in wine both on land and cruises at sea, and is a regular tutor for The Wine Education Service Ltd.
Stanley Bates
Stanley Bates played Bungle for the longest period
Stanley voiced Bungle for the longest period, from 1974 to 1989.
After the show, he went on to star in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Theatre Of Blood and The Tomorrow People.
He then largely stepped away from TV work, later making headlines in 2001 for a local court appearance following a minor road rage incident in Suffolk.
Malcolm Lord
Malcolm Lord took over the role of Bungle from 1989 to 1992
Malcolm took over the role of Bungle from 1989 to 1992.
He then transitioned into theatre, traditional British pantomime and occasional television appearances.
He played the Dame after accidentally filling in for an ill John Inman (Are You Being Served?) during a 1990s production of Dick Whittington.
Malcom became highly sought after for the role, playing characters like Sarah the Cook.
In 2024, he celebrated his 40th anniversary in panto, returning for consecutive years to star in productions like Cinderella and Beauty And The Beast.
Paul Cullinan
Paul Cullinan went on to audition for The Voice UK
Paul played the large brown furry bear, Bungle, up until the show finished in 1992.
After the show, he made a bid for fame outside the fluffy costume by appearing on The Voice UK.
Judge and Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson was thrilled with the appearance, informing the crowd: 'There was a guy called Geoffrey who lived in a house with a pink hippo, a thing, I don't know what he was, called Zippy, with a zip for a mouth.'
Sadly, Paul failed to impress the judges and was eliminated at the audition stage.
David Cook
David Cook was the show's first presenter
David was the first presenter of the UK programme.
He then went on to land acting roles, including playing Jimmy Porter in Look Back In Anger.
He also adapted his own 1978 novel Walter into a TV film, starring Ian McKellen.
David died in September 2015 aged 74.
Geoffrey Hayes
Geoffrey Hayes went on to host the show
Geoffrey hosted the long-running children's programme, replacing original host David Cook in 1973.
He played the long-suffering adult character, guardian and upholder of the peace in the hallucinogenic Rainbow house on the show, which aired several nights a week to children across the UK.
After the series, he struggled to find work and said the secret to the programme's enduring popularity was that it was full of 'magic, innocence and imagination'.
In 2002, he said: 'Practically all the time people come up to me and it really breaks me up because they thank me for being part of their childhood.
'It makes me want to cry sometimes.'
In a 2015 interview, Geoffrey said he would 'always be grateful' for his role on Rainbow.
He told the Express in 2015 he got the role simply by 'being in the right place at the right time'.
The star added: 'It sounded interesting, so I knocked on his door and got an audition. I was a jobbing actor with no experience of kids' TV but, thankfully, I got the job.'
He also revealed he 'loved working on Rainbow and couldn't wait to get into the studio.'
He told the Express: 'Other actors thought me mad because I never minded coming in on days off to rehearse. Classed as a pre-school programme, it meant my wages were at the lower end of the pay scale.
'I never earned vast amounts, but at least it was a regular income for 20 years, even if it didn't make me a millionaire.'
After the show ended, Geoffrey went on to work as a taxi driver and worked two nights a week shelf-stacking in his local Sainsbury's.
He had a recurring role in drama series Z Cars in the early 1970s, and appeared on programmes including Never Mind The Buzzcocks and Pointless Celebrities alongside former Tiswas presenter Sally James in 2015.
In October 2018, it was announced that Geoffrey had passed away.
He died in hospital from pneumonia with his wife Sarah and son Tom by his side, his manager Phil Dale confirmed at the time.
He said: 'The family would like to express their thanks to the many fans over the years as it always gave Geoffrey so much pleasure to know that he and his Rainbow team had given so much fun to TV and theatre audiences over the years.'
Freddy Marks
Freddy played himself as part of the musical trio Rod, Jane and Freddy, on the classic British children's television show
Freddy played himself as part of the musical trio Rod, Jane and Freddy, on the classic British children's television show.
He joined the cast in 1980, replacing musician Roger Walker.
Alongside Rod Burton and Jane Tucker, Freddy performed songs, nursery rhymes, and short musical sketches to entertain young viewers.
After the show, he continued working in the entertainment industry as a scriptwriter, live performer and pantomime actor.
He, Jane and Rod went on to star in their own spin-off series, The Rod, Jane and Freddy Show, from 1981 to 1991.
He also made appearances on The Sooty Show, which focused on the mischievous adventures of the glove puppet character of the same name, alongside his friends Sweep and Soo.
Freddy married co-star Jane in 2016 at London's luxury Claridge's hotel.
However, their romance hit headlines after it was revealed the blonde had previously been married to their other bandmate Rod.
Speaking on panel show 50 Ways To Leave Your TV Lover in 2013, Jane revealed how she and Freddy got together.
Appearing alongside her first husband Rod, Jane said: 'Rod and I were married and then we got divorced.
'That's it basically. Some years later when Freddy joined, Freddy and I hooked up together.'
Freddy continued: 'Rod and Jane had been divorced long before I actually joined the series.
'So with all the will in the world it was very difficult to make a ménage à trois out of something that didn't exist.'
In February 2021, Freddy made his last TV appearance when he and his wife Jane appeared on a special edition of game show Pointless.
In May of that year, it was announced that Freddy had passed away.
He died in Princess Alice Hospice in Esher, Surrey, after being admitted just four days earlier.
He was diagnosed with cancer in January and told that he had only months to live.
The news was announced in a post on a Rainbow Facebook fan group saying: 'It is with a heavy heart that we sad to say that "Freddy Marks" from Rod, Jane and Freddy has sadly passed away yesterday.
'Freddy was a very talented and funny guy who always bought a smile to everybody's face.
'Our thoughts go out to his wife Jane Tucker, Rod Burton and all their friends and family at this difficult time. Freddy will be greatly missed.'
Jane Tucker
Jane Tucker married Freddy after her divorce from Rod Burton (pictured with Freddy in 2016)
Jane was part of the musical trio on the show.
After the show, she continued acting in minor roles, including the independent film Shadow of A Stranger and appeared on Pointless Celebrities.
She initially married Rod in 1976, but the pair went their separate ways in 1979.
The presenter went on to marry Freddy in 2016 and remained married to him until his tragic death in 2021.
Jane told the Daily Mail at the time: 'My final words to him were "I love you".
'But Freddy didn't say anything back, he just had a gentle smile on his face like he always did. It was incredibly beautiful.
'I'm totally devastated by his loss and it's going to take me and a lot of other people in the country a long time to get over this'.
Jane recalled meeting Freddy for the first time when he came to audition for Rainbow, adding that her abiding memory of him after his death is how much he loved her.
She added: 'It's his smile that I most remember from that audition. But my eternal memory of Freddy will be the deep love he had for me.
'He could never have done enough for me and spent his whole life making me happy.'
Recalling their wedding day in 2016 at London's luxury Claridge's hotel she said: 'We had already been together for a long time but just wanted to give our friends and family a knees up.'
Rod Burton
Rod Burton made up the iconic Rod, Jane and Freddy trio
Rod made up the iconic Rod, Jane and Freddy trio.
After leaving Rainbow, he focused on their own show; Rod, Jane and Freddy toured across the UK until 1996.
In the same year, he was given the Gold Badge Award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.
Although Rod is now reported to have semi-retired, he still writes songs and has provided music for TV series including A House That's Just Like Yours in 2003.