Some Bluey fans are unable to watch an episode of the beloved kids show after it was removed from a streaming service.
The Australian animated series first hit screens in 2020. It follows the titular character, a Blue Heeler puppy, and her family – Dad Bandit, Mum Chilli and younger sister Bingo.
Bluey proved a massive success and two years after premiering Down Under, it was rolled out globally – with episodes streaming on BBC iPlayer and Disney Plus in the UK.
However, a recent promotion between BBC Studios and Australian hardware store Bunnings has resulted in an episode now being unable to air.
The season 2 episode Hammerbarn follows Bandit being inspired to build a new pizza oven before taking his family to visit their local hardware store, Hammerbarn, for supplies.
A few years on, Bunnings has rolled out products connected to the show – including garden gnomes, rugs, hats, socks and tote bags – whilst also hosting in-store scavenger hunts and workshops.
This has meant the show’s local broadcaster – the Australian Broadcasting Corporation – can no longer air the episode due to the government-funded network being banned from advertising and taking part in commercial partnerships.
‘This campaign is a BBC Studios and Bunnings partnership,’ an ABC representative said in a statement to Channel Nine.
‘As the ABC cannot align with a commercial brand or partnership, the Bluey episode Hammerbarn will temporarily be unavailable on ABC iView while the Bunnings Hammerbarn campaign is live.’
They went on to explain that the episode would ‘return to ABC iView at a later date’.
Although Hammerbarn is still available to stream in the UK and US, Australian viewers have been left frustrated, with one parent saying it was ‘silly’.
Despite the ABC being bound by regulations, Bunnings spokeswoman Melissa O’Neill told Kidspot the company was disappointed the ABC had chosen to remove the episode, in which the Heeler family visit their local hardware store.
‘It’s sad to think that they can’t enjoy the episode. And particularly given Bluey fans can buy merchandise from a range of retailers and sites both in Australia and overseas,’ she said.
When the Bluey merch was first released in Bunnings last year it sparked a frenzy, with the garden gnomes ‘flying off shelves’.
There were four available – Hecuba, Tony, Jeremy and the Meditation gnome – which retailed for $19 (£9.50).
However, after they became so in demand, some started advertising full sets on eBay for as much as $1000 (£500).
Following the success of Bluey (it was last year revealed to be the most-streamed show in the US, watched for 55.62 billion minutes on Disney Plus), the Walt Disney Company and BBC Studios announced in December 2024 that the show was being developed into a feature film.
Due for release in 2027, creator Joe Brumm will be leading the Ludo Studios production as the writer and director.
Bluey is streaming on BBC iPlayer and Disney Plus in the UK.
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