Details brought to bear for the Queen and Paddington

EVERYONE needs "a nice polite bear" when things get tough, according to the designer of the Paddington Bear wowing audiences in London's West End.

- BY TONY WHITFIELD

Costume and effects designer Tahra Zafar helped create the all-singing and all-dancing bear for the critically acclaimed Paddington: The Musical at the Savoy Theatre.

Speaking on Desert Island Discs, Tahra said it had been a lengthy project to get Paddington right and he became so loved by the production team they did not want to share him with the world.