Got Kids? We’ve sifted through the archives to find TV and fiction’s smelliest, filthiest characters. If you plan keeping your children clean, neat and tidy over the summer hols, best keep them away from these anti-role models…

Pig-Pen

This Peanuts character is every parent’s worst nightmare. There’s little mystery behind how Pig-Pen got his name; the little fella is so mucky that he’s followed around by a constant cloud of dirt. His overalls have never seen the like of a washing machine either. Pig-Pen must be doing something right though; he was voted fifth favourite Peanuts character. Bet it was kids doing the voting.

Pep Le Pew

The problem with some people is that they don’t seem to realize they stink in the first place. Certainly this can be said for Looney Tunes’ Pepé Le Pew, the marauding French skunk in permanent pursuit of a poor pussy cat. With episode names like “Odor-able Kitty” and “ For Scent-imental Reasons” kids find this cartoon hard to resist.

Oscar the Grouch

Live in a dustbin, and you’re going to stink. One can only imagine how bad Sesame Street’s Oscar the Grouch smells having inhabited a trash can since he first appeared on screens in 1969. His infatuation with rubbish doesn’t end there either, as evidenced in the ditty “I Love Trash”. Best hide the bins, lest your children start sleeping in them.

Poong Poongie

The name Poong Poongie might not be familiar with British parents. But you’ll rue the day you ever bought your child a Poong Poongie DVD. Why? This massively popular Korean kids TV character likes nothing more than to let one go. Poong Poongie does it all through the episode; when speaking, singing and dancing. Kids are encouraged to join in too. Smell/hygiene factor: Not good.