In the very first episode, back in 1962, the horse is introduced with a name. A very specific, slightly ridiculous name. That name is “Hercules.” Yes, a scruffy, tired old cart-horse lumbering through Shepherd’s Bush was called Hercules.
It’s a perfect bit of irony, isn’t it? This wasn’t some mighty steed from Greek myth; this was a creature who looked like he could barely lift a carrot, let alone a sky. You can just imagine Albert Steptoe naming him that, with a gruff chuckle, as a joke only he found funny. Harold certainly didn’t laugh.
The Great Name Change Mystery
But here’s where it gets fun. After that first episode, the name “Hercules” vanishes. Poof. Gone. For the rest of the series—and there were eight seasons and several films—the horse is almost never called anything at all.
Sometimes, Harold would refer to him as “the horse.” Albert would shout, “Git up, you lazy brute!” or “Whoa there, you great lump!” But a proper name? Nope. It’s like the horse had become a silent, four-legged extra who forgot his own name tag.
This has led to a glorious bit of fan confusion. Some claim the horse was called “Tuffy” in an early script. Others swear they heard “Fred” in one episode. The official BBC archives are a bit hazy, which, let’s be honest, is very on-brand for the Steptoes. Their world was always a bit chaotic and dusty.
