The Bash Street Kids pets, from elephants to mice. His mouse is often part of the kids' plans. During the academy makeover, his chimney-brush hair is shaved off and he is apparently hypnotised. Smiffy's full name is Aristotle John Smiffy. When Teacher calls the roll, instead of saying "Present, sir" he says "Gift, miss". Although he is sometimes very kind and intuitive (similar to a savant), most of the time he cannot remember what colour the sky is. In his brief involvement in "The Wizard", he is given the name John Smith. Smiffy has appeared in two spin-off strips: the 1971–72 "Says Smiffy" and
The Bash Street Kids "academy", and Teacher by a robot. A protest began, accompanied by petitions and publicity stunts throughout Britain, demanding that the characters remain the same. The proposal turned out to be a hoax when the story introducing the new Bash Street Kids saw them in their old ways. Editor Euan Kerr was pleased with the fan response, saying that the publication "even got death threats!" Shortly afterwards, an animated adaptation was produced as a segment of "The Beano Video Stars". By 2000 "The Bash Street Kids" was a feature-length strip, filling an entire "Beano" book. Often drawn by Mike Pearce and