Biff, Chip and Kipper aren’t actually called Biff, Chip and Kipper. Their real names are Elizabeth, David and Christopher Robinson – and it’s blowing people’s minds.
The revelation was uncovered on Twitter, after one person shared a page from one of the books titled, “Meet the Robinson family” – which revealed the three kids’ real names.
And it turns out they all owe their nicknames to Kipper struggling to pronounce his older brother and sister’s names, as well as his own.
People couldn’t get over the news.
The Magic Key books, which began in 1985, are used in more than 80% of the primary schools in the country thanks to its inclusion in the National Curriculum – and the series has a staggering 800 books in it.
The stories cover both big adventures involving Bigfoots and pirates, and small-scales ones like getting a new jumper. Author Roderick Hunt and illustrator Alex Brytcha might not be household names – but they surely have to be the most-read creators in Britain. Both have received MBEs.
There was also an additional mystery pointed out on Twitter. It seems Biff might once have been Barbara…
Roderick Hunt’s son, photographer JJ Hunt, asked his father about the nicknames, and said they were chosen to not have any class associations, as well as to ensure they were unlikely to be shared by children reading them.
People have found some interesting details in the books over the years, from cameos from then-celebrities like Jeremy Beadle, to the curious inclusion of building blocks spelling the word ‘hepatitis’.
Presumably, after 800 books, they’ve got to do something to keep themselves interested…
