'Elephants may be popular in Timbuktu but I'd rather have a kangaroo', sings 10-year-old actor Garry Pankhurst (who played Sonny Hammond) about his best friend Skippy.

Eric Jupp composed a number of songs for Skippy in addition to the iconic theme tune. 'My Pal Skippy' wasn't used in the show itself but was one of the many spin-off products created after Fauna Productions realised Skippy's merchandising potential. You can also listen to fellow actor Ed Devereaux singing the Skippy theme song.

The song itself has a heartwarming, lulling country feel to it with the main instrument being a banjo. Not coincidentally, the banjo is also the central instrument in the Skippy theme song.

The lyrics (by Ted Roberts) are delightfully simple, though sometimes a little forced in their rhyme, and use a call and response format. Overall it's a catchy tune and you can easily imagine children singing along.

Notes by Stephen Groenewegen and Adam Blackshaw