Sesame Street’s Big Bird is instantly recognisable worldwide. But could you pick out the man who has been inside the 8-foot high yellow costume for almost 46 years in a line-up?

Now you might be able to, because this documentary is an affectionate and loving portrait of the life and work of 81-year-old Caroll Spinney who has been playing Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch since 1969.

Interviews with work colleagues, family and friends, archive footage and home videos provide a fascinating insight into this gentle and hardworking man who was spotted by Jim Henson in a puppeteering festival in the 1960s.

Despite touching upon Spinney’s bullied childhood and a woman found murdered on his land, the film lacks drama.

But it makes up for it through Spinney’s optimism and the startling revelation that his most famous creation Big Bird was supposed to be on the Challenger shuttle’s last ill-fated flight to teach kids about the US space program.

Due to logistics, he was replaced by a teacher.