It's a lovely story, but sadly untrue! Master Bates was actually called Master Mate, while there was no character named Seaman anything. The myth usually adds that there was a character called Roger the Cabin-Boy, but his name was in reality Tom. Pugwash's creator John Ryan sued two British newspapers, the Guardian and the Sunday correspondent, for publishing stories claiming the suggestive names were used, and won the case.

Nevertheless, I still tell people that the show really did use the made-up names - the myth is harmless and funny, so why ruin it?

you live and you learn thanks

You would be a Rainbow fan

wow brilliant lol