Ö÷²„“óŠć Genome Blog Feed News, highlights and banter from the team at Ö÷²„“óŠć Genome ā€“ the website that shows you all the Ö÷²„“óŠćā€™s listings between 1923 and 2009 (and tells you what was on the day you were born!) Join us and share all the oddities, archive gems and historical firsts you find while digging aroundā€¦ 2017-04-20T15:32:19+00:00 Zend_Feed_Writer /blogs/genome <![CDATA[Ready to Play... Ten Notable Things About Play School]]> 2017-04-20T15:32:19+00:00 2017-04-20T15:32:19+00:00 /blogs/genome/entries/5d166b04-7d86-4cb9-a362-4d5e31c02884 Andrew Martin <div class="component"> <img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p050mqwp.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p050mqwp.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p050mqwp.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p050mqwp.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p050mqwp.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p050mqwp.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p050mqwp.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p050mqwp.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p050mqwp.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Two of the best remembered Play School presenters, Brian Cant and Chloe Ashcroft, provide invaluable support to toys Humpty and Jemima</em></p></div> <div class="component prose"> <p><a title="Play School" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/18af2c644648405e84f890f3c54e0cbf" target="_blank">Play School</a>, which ran from 1964 to 1987, made an indelible mark on the shape of childrenā€™s television in the UK. It was shown five mornings a week on Ö÷²„“óŠć Two, and eventually <a title="repeated" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/49c86af5632e4571bcdb97e4caeee691" target="_blank">repeated</a> at the start of the afternoon's Ö÷²„“óŠć One children's schedule. Here are 10 reasons why it was so memorable, influential and fun - and not just for the under-fives...</p> <p><strong>Innovative</strong> ā€“ There had been nothing quite like Play School on British television before. New educational theories had been developing for years and were coming to fruition in the early 1960s. Many of the new generation of Ö÷²„“óŠć executives emerging at the time had young families and appreciated that television could help with their education. It was already apparent that even quite young children loved watching television, so it made sense to give them something specifically directed at them. The resources allocated to Play School were naturally not huge, but imagination played a big part in it, both in front of and behind the cameras.</p> <p>Though the Ö÷²„“óŠć had made childrenā€™s programmes from the <a title="very beginning" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f845f3aee4e04d45b9e5cfb26dbdb8aa" target="_blank">very beginning</a> on radio, and there had been a regular childrenā€™s television service since <a title="1950" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1324b37ade8342babac12224cca6be55" target="_blank">1950</a>, programmes for the pre-school age group were confined to daily animated series under the <a title="Watch with Mother" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/6aa44c1ba6184901b2c4950f667e7183" target="_blank">Watch with Mother</a> banner (Andy Pandy, The Flowerpot Men, The Woodentops, Rag, Tag and Bobtail and Picture Book). These were popular, but there were a limited number of episodes, endlessly repeated, and there were no in-vision presenters (except in <a title="Picture Book" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/95bb3b46693244e48301d2e837d60935" target="_blank">Picture Book</a>).</p> <p>The early 1960s was a time of change, not least for the Ö÷²„“óŠć. The Childrenā€™s Programmes department was merged with the Womenā€™s Programmes department (yes, there was such a thing, making shows that went out on weekday afternoons) to become Family Programmes, while production of children's drama and light entertainment was handed to the relevant adult departments. With a clean sheet to begin with it was time for new thinking, and one way this manifested itself was in a programme for pre-school children, for the new and experimental channel Ö÷²„“óŠć Two. It would be called Play School, and it would change the face of childrenā€™s television.</p> </div> <div class="component"> <img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p050mtcq.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p050mtcq.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p050mtcq.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p050mtcq.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p050mtcq.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p050mtcq.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p050mtcq.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p050mtcq.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p050mtcq.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Gordon Rollings and Virginia Stride, who presented the very first edition of Play School on 21 April 1964.</em></p></div> <div class="component prose"> <p><strong>Theme Tune</strong> ā€“ Composed, like the Jackanory theme, by musicologist and broadcasterĀ <a title="Roger Fiske" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/ca68e5d9d3494173afe7f93a756c3544" target="_blank">Roger Fiske</a>, the original Play School theme is a television classic. With the easy-to-follow lyrics ā€œHereā€™s a houseā€¦ hereā€™s a doorā€¦ā€ and the simple graphics of a childā€™s idea of a house, there was never any doubt of what the programme to follow would be like. Music was an important element in Play School, with live musicians featured in every episode. Many of them were serious jazzmen in the evenings, but Play School helped keep them from starvationā€¦</p> <p><strong>Educational</strong> ā€“ Play School taught children essential skills, such as being able to tell what day it was, and how to tell the time. The show was devised by the original producer Joy Whitby to help cope with the shortage of nursery school places in the early 60s, although since you couldnā€™t see it at first unless you lived in the London area (where Ö÷²„“óŠć Two was initially confined) and had a dual standard (405/625 line) TV set, which was needed to receive Ö÷²„“óŠć Two, its immediate impact was limited. But it went on to have nationwide coverage by the end of the 1960s and its influence grew as a result. The programme was also a great proponent of storytelling, and gave an outlet for younger childrenā€™s authors and illustrators, as <a title="Jackanory" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e28d754cbdc4492b908299963578fc75" target="_blank">Jackanory</a> later did with books for older children.</p> </div> <div class="component"> <img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p050mv49.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p050mv49.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p050mv49.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p050mv49.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p050mv49.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p050mv49.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p050mv49.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p050mv49.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p050mv49.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>The set used in the earliest editions of Play School. Dapple the rocking horse can be seen on the left - less troublesome than some of the show's featured animals</em></p></div> <div class="component prose"> <p><strong>Windows</strong> ā€“ Before Microsoft was even thought of, Play Schoolā€™s windows opened up a whole world of film sequences ā€“ factory visits, the countryside, and other stuff. There were famously three of them, square, round and arched, and children would sit entranced, wondering which one would be chosen. There was apparently a clue to the kind of film that followed, depending on which shape of window, but that level of subtlety was probably lost on the average four-year-old.</p> <p><strong>Presenters</strong> ā€“ Some people say actors are people who have never grown up, but what better way to use those vital drama school mime skills than pretending you are a tree, a bunny rabbit, or trapped in a box, on national television? Many presenters became household names, either just from Play School or from things that followed ā€“ such as <a title="Johnny Ball" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/c84a6c6b47c54277a57ead02b0e4a55c" target="_blank">Johnny Ball</a>, Fred Harris,Ā <a title="Floella Banjamin" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/799039b1a02f4de086ea64b677c17368" target="_blank">Floella Benjamin</a> (now in the House of Lords), Julie Stevens, <a title="Toni Arthur" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/370258efb2ac4dba9c522e2b6dedae86" target="_blank">Toni Arthur</a>, Carol Chell, <a title="Eric Thompson" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/fc2efbca64ab42d7b99e5918d2d492eb" target="_blank">Eric Thompson</a> (later the narrator of The Magic Roundabout) ā€“ and of course the great <a title="Brian Cant" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d3f5c93175cb4ca9948130f391b9496a" target="_blank">Brian Cant</a>, who cemented his reputation with voice-overs on Camberwick Green, Trumpton and Chigley, and by fronting the Play School spin-off Play Away.</p> <p><strong>Toys</strong> ā€“ Humpty, Jemima, Big and Little Ted and Hamble ā€“ like the line-up of a manufactured pop group, there was something for everyone in this unforgettable combo. Even if Hamble was seriously scary. The Play School toys were not aspirational, they were proper toys that anyone could own a version of. Humpty and Jemima particularly had a home-made look about them, while the Teds were so ubiquitous that there would be few children who needed to feel envious.</p> <p><strong>Pets</strong> ā€“ Never work with animals and children, they say ā€“ but as with <a title="Blue Peter" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/c237644f71cd457dba404d1c4ebf835e" target="_blank">Blue Peter</a>, both were occasional hazards on Play School. The most notable pet was Cocky the Cockatoo, who would cheerily take a lump out of presentersā€™ fingers. He was usually kept in a cage to minimise the digital damage.</p> </div> <div class="component"> <img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p050mvjq.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p050mvjq.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p050mvjq.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p050mvjq.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p050mvjq.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p050mvjq.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p050mvjq.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p050mvjq.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p050mvjq.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>A Play School reunion for the show's 15th anniversary in 1979</em></p></div> <div class="component prose"> <p><strong>ClockĀ </strong>ā€“ Though an occasional cause of demarcation disputes over whose job it was to work it, the Play School clock, which had the dual function of teaching you how to tell the time (ā€œThe big hand is pointing to the 12ā€¦ā€) and introducing the dayā€™s story with the rotating diorama of a related object or scene below it, was one of the most iconic segments of the show. The original complex design was replaced by a simplified clock in the 70s ā€“ and telling the time was never quite the same again. The programme also taught children about the date, using a wooden frame with the day, day number and month on rotating blocks, at the start of each show.</p> <p><strong>Colour</strong> ā€“ Although filmed series like <a title="Stingray" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/12c985083cd148adb658f6f544ade8ed" target="_blank">Stingray</a>, <a title="Thunderbirds" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1a876cccb32843edab9d363fe5ff83ae" target="_blank">Thunderbirds</a> and the <a title="Camberwick Green" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/4ef7b908e0414858b3dd42a3eb8ec134" target="_blank">Camberwick Green</a>Ā family of shows had been made in colour earlier, Play School was the first colour videotaped children's series in the UK ā€“ by dint of it being the only children's series on Ö÷²„“óŠć Two for many years. When colour started on Ö÷²„“óŠć Two in 1967 it took a while before studio programmes could be made on videotape, but by 1968 Play School was one of them. Admittedly, when Ö÷²„“óŠć One introduced colour in late 1969, Play School went back to black and white for a while, as not enough colour studios were available, and popular adult programmes took priority (<a title="Blue Peter" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/90292d0900204a44b0b2a950bfa3d487" target="_blank">Blue Peter</a> didnā€™t get to go into colour until autumn 1970).</p> <p><strong>Legacy</strong> ā€“ As well as being sold to various countries as a format package so they could make their own versions, Play School spawned one direct domestic spin-off, <a title="Play Away" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/62caef70b870452dbe7be8ae43877128" target="_blank">Play Away</a> (its memorable theme tune beginning ā€œNever mind the weatherā€¦ā€), giving Play School graduates a chance to work with a slightly older audience. The show, which lasted from 1971 to 1984, introduced new generations to some seriously old jokes, and featured <a title="Jeremy Irons" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/66e6d6795cf042299d6f9bf309a94fcb" target="_blank">Jeremy Irons</a> and one or two other actors who would later think twice before romping around in primary-coloured dungarees.</p> <p>Although it ended in <a title="1988" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/819113cddfa643348b6de93c07b7b9f1" target="_blank">1988</a>, Play Schoolā€™s influence lives on. As well as the careers it launched, it was succeeded by the likes of Playdays,Ā <a title="Teletubbies" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e105400522274a87a611505464e9fda3" target="_blank">Teletubbies</a>, Tweenies andĀ <a title="Tikkabilla" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b7d6e2962f4c476b845fdd99512f1f19" target="_blank">Tikkabilla</a>, the latter even featuring a set of windows to introduce location-based items. These shows, not to mention the presentation style of the CBeebies channel, all owe something to the pioneering work of the team behind Play School. And generations of children have thoroughly enjoyed them...</p> </div> <![CDATA[When Ö÷²„“óŠć daytime television fully arrived]]> 2016-10-27T06:00:00+00:00 2016-10-27T06:00:00+00:00 /blogs/genome/entries/5434a4f5-04bc-4df1-8b4b-b6603e37cbb6 Heather Lewis <div class="component"> <img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p04d6dpv.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p04d6dpv.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p04d6dpv.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p04d6dpv.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p04d6dpv.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p04d6dpv.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p04d6dpv.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p04d6dpv.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p04d6dpv.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Ö÷²„“óŠć Daytime was launched on October 27th, 1986, along with its pastel hued promos</em></p></div> <div class="component prose"> <p><strong>Guest blogger Heather Lewis grew up with a love of television, with a particular fascination for continuity and idents from the 1980s. In-between looking after her two young children she celebrates Children's Ö÷²„“óŠć in her blog <a title="The Broom Cupboard and Me" href="https://broomcupboardandme.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">The Broom Cupboard and Me</a> and contributes guest posts for the <a title="Curious British Telly" href="http://www.curiousbritishtelly.co.uk/" target="_blank">Curious British Telly</a> website. She writes about the launch of the Ö÷²„“óŠć's full daytime television schedule 30 years ago.</strong></p> <p>There are a great number of us waxing lyrical in blogs and websites about television shows and schedules of the past. The 1970s and 1980s are now a fondly remembered age when the majority of us had a maximum of four channels to enjoy and the Ö÷²„“óŠć1 nightly channel <a title="Ö÷²„“óŠć Genome - Closedown" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/347e20c5520440bf998228450ce7d7f2" target="_blank">closedown</a> sequence is worthy of a nostalgic discussion among enthusiasts on social media.</p> <p>Less talked about though, is the Ö÷²„“óŠć1 daytime schedule in the early and mid- 1980s. There is a reason for that of course and the words 'daytime schedule' are perhaps a little misleading due to a huge gap in the morning hours of programming until October 1986, now 30 years ago.</p> <p>A delve into the pages of Ö÷²„“óŠć Genome for <a title="Ö÷²„“óŠć Genome - Oct 24" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1986-10-24#at-6.50" target="_blank">Friday, October 24th 1986</a> paints an interesting, if baffling picture of daytime viewing options, or rather lack of options. With Ö÷²„“óŠć Breakfast finishing just after 9am and a repeat showing of Will to Win (a documentary previously shown on Ö÷²„“óŠć2 in 1985) we were treated to a selection of pages from the Ö÷²„“óŠćā€™s Ceefax text service for a whole 55 minutes before that cornerstone of childrenā€™s programming Play School was aired. Pages from Ceefax appeared again afterwards for a lengthy 2 hours and 10 minutes until the lunchtime news bulletin at 1pm. Soā€¦ where were all the programmes? Was that really it?</p> </div> <div class="component"> <img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p04d6f4h.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p04d6f4h.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p04d6f4h.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p04d6f4h.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p04d6f4h.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p04d6f4h.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p04d6f4h.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p04d6f4h.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p04d6f4h.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>On the morning of October 24th, 1986, viewers were treated to a selection of pages from the Ö÷²„“óŠćā€™s Ceefax text service for a whole 55 minutes... (image is from 1981)</em></p></div> <div class="component prose"> <p>We need to travel back to 1983 first of all. The Ö÷²„“óŠć took a significant step forward in launching <a title="Ö÷²„“óŠć Genome - Breakfast Time" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d99ee62abc8844d4bd2d66c03788fc13" target="_blank">Breakfast Time</a> early in that year, at that time it was followed by the familiar countdown dots of the schools and colleges strand just after 9am. More change was to come, however, from late in June 1983 as the schools programmes slowly ambled their way over to Ö÷²„“óŠć2, leaving a few holes during the morning hours. <a title="Ö÷²„“óŠć Genome - September 1983" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbctwo/england/1983-09-19" target="_blank">By the 19th September 1983</a> the game of 'scheduling musical chairs' meant that Play School was now moved across to Ö÷²„“óŠć1 and the schools and colleges programming occupied Ö÷²„“óŠć2 for much of the day.<br /><br />Until 1986 <a title="Ö÷²„“óŠć Genome - morning 1983" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1983-12-12#at-9.00" target="_blank">the odd programme creeped in</a> to interrupt the weekday Ceefax and Play School dominance on Ö÷²„“óŠć1. Repeats of Sunday teatime staples included Antiques Roadshow and Songs of Praise; the <a title="Ö÷²„“óŠć Genome search results" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?adv=1&q=party+conference&media=all&yf=1983&yt=1986&mf=1&mt=12&tf=00%3A00&tt=00%3A00#search" target="_blank">annual political party conferences</a> filled up the Autumn months with Play School solidly standing its ground every mid-morning throughout (presumably to give the keen politics viewer a chance to take a tea break). The summer of 1984 brought us<a title="Ö÷²„“óŠć Genome - Grandstand" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1984-08-07#at-9.00" target="_blank"> extended Grandstand,</a> showing highlights from the Los Angeles Olympics.</p> <p>The school holidays usually saw Ö÷²„“óŠć1 with a slightly <a title="Ö÷²„“óŠć Genome - September schedule" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1986-08-11#at-9.50" target="_blank">more jovial schedule,</a> particularly in 1986, when with the new Children's Ö÷²„“óŠć branding in its infancy, in-vision presenters (Debbie Flint and Andy Crane) appeared on screen during the morning introducing cartoons, the holiday staple Why Donā€™t Youā€¦? and special editions of Newsround. By <a title="Ö÷²„“óŠć Genome - September schedule" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1986-09-08#at-9.20" target="_blank">September 1986</a> the kids were back at school and pages from Ceefax reappeared, much to the delight of some enthusiasts and the frustration of others.</p> </div> <div class="component"> <img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p04d6gvm.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p04d6gvm.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p04d6gvm.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p04d6gvm.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p04d6gvm.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p04d6gvm.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p04d6gvm.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p04d6gvm.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p04d6gvm.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>The Radio Times listing for the launch of daytime television</em></p></div> <div class="component prose"> <p>At last, on the 27th October 1986 <a title="Ö÷²„“óŠć Genome - 27 Oct 1986" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1986-10-27#at-10.00" target="_blank">the new look Ö÷²„“óŠć Daytime finally arrived.</a> It didn't exactly explode onto our screens, but lightly skipped on, complete with pastel hued promos that included an animated peachy coloured curtain and window for added scenery. Featured in the new daytime line up were the 'filler repeats' of classic comedy and films, but more importantly there was a significant number of brand new shows introduced on to our screens for the very first time.</p> <p>Children's Ö÷²„“óŠć presentation, now just over a year old, was rewarded with a small mid-morning slot either side of Play School where Phillip Schofield sat with his mid-morning coffee in one of the Ö÷²„“óŠćā€™s small presentation studios, <a title="Ö÷²„“óŠć Genome - Birthday cards" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/821f0ebe1af64cdbad80295108455a71" target="_blank">reading out birthday cards</a> for his under-5 year old audience. It started off as a relatively simple, humble affair, as in addition to the hand-drawn cards, there were birthday messages hastily scribbled onto scraps of paper and shop bought cards! Nonetheless this is a format which was hugely popular and is still going strong every day, now on the CBeebies channel.</p> <p>Ā </p> </div> <div class="component"> <img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p04d6h6j.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p04d6h6j.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p04d6h6j.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p04d6h6j.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p04d6h6j.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p04d6h6j.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p04d6h6j.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p04d6h6j.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p04d6h6j.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Phillip Schofield reading out birthday cards on the day of the launch</em></p></div> <div class="component prose"> <p><a title="Ö÷²„“óŠć Genome - Open Air" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/091b43b837db49cd97f5a1bca0480cfe" target="_blank">Open Air</a> bore a striking resemblance to the Ö÷²„“óŠćā€™s long running show Points of View, but expanding the concept into a live broadcast magazine. Originally presented by Pattie Coldwell, Bob Wellings and Eamonn Holmes each daily edition covered all aspects of television programming in an interactive (for the 1980s) way where viewers could telephone in and be given the opportunity to praise recent shows, or grumble about them. Various show creators, producers and presenters were put in the firing line to answer their questions. Enjoyably, we saw fascinating behind-the-scenes features of the workings of the Ö÷²„“óŠć, for example in 1987 when Richard Straker talked the Open Air audience through his duties as a Ö÷²„“óŠć continuity announcer. Some of Open Air was even dedicated to the new Ö÷²„“óŠć1 Daytime schedule itself, and one of the programmes given notable attention was the lunchtime soap opera called Neighbours, which in terms of peak viewing figures became one of the Ö÷²„“óŠć Daytime scheduleā€™s most successful shows.</p> <p>The story of <a title="Ö÷²„“óŠć Genome - Neighbours" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/fa09995582b7436fa4742038db7614ad" target="_blank">Neighbours</a> coming to the Ö÷²„“óŠć <a title="Ö÷²„“óŠć Genome - Neighbours 10th anniversary" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f5dadde7b424449e9ae332d0e8dfd75e" target="_blank">was recalled by Roger Laughton</a> who had the task of finding a drama suitable for a lunchtime audience. His choice was made simple when faced with a selection of numerous identikit American soaps, or a lone Australian drama centred round a small street of houses and a handful of families. Neighbours had an immediate appeal to many people, sitting down at lunchtime for 25 minutes of daily television escapism to a friendly world of warm sunshine and backyard swimming pools. Its popularity wasn't restricted to just frazzled mums of young toddlers and the retired, in school and college common rooms all over the country it became essential viewing for teenagers and students, too.</p> <p>Throughout the latter half of the 1980s the daytime schedule evolved to bring us more new and long-running shows including the <a title="Ö÷²„“óŠć Genome - Kilroy" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1988-10-31#at-9.20" target="_blank">topical debate programme Kilroy</a>, and <a title="Ö÷²„“óŠć Genome - Going for Gold" href="%20http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1988-10-31#at-13.50" target="_blank">Going for Gold,</a> a quiz with an international flavour hosted by Henry Kelly.</p> <p>There was even a Daytime magazine and a Daytime Club, complete with a flashy membership card. The phenomenal success of Neighbours continued to grow and the combined lunchtime and teatime repeat each day (from 1988 onwards) had audiences of 18 million upwards glued to Ramsay Street's unfolding dramas. The long, enduring stretches of selected 'pages from Ceefax' became a distant memory, much to the wistful sadness of some; but also to the joyous relief of many!</p> </div> <![CDATA[Saturday Morning Fever]]> 2016-10-02T09:00:00+00:00 2016-10-02T09:00:00+00:00 /blogs/genome/entries/ca4da4a9-d587-4af2-8aa1-eec4d76d8373 Steve Williams <div class="component"> <img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p049kf5q.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p049kf5q.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p049kf5q.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p049kf5q.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p049kf5q.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p049kf5q.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p049kf5q.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p049kf5q.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p049kf5q.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>This famous phone number was kidsā€™ hotline to the stars for many years</em></p></div> <div class="component prose"> <p><strong><em>Steve Williams is an Editorial Curator for <a title="Ö÷²„“óŠć iPlayer" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer" target="_blank">Ö÷²„“óŠć iPlayer</a> and writes about television for <a title="TV Cream" href="http://www.tvcream.co.uk/" target="_blank">TV Cream.</a></em></strong></p> <p>For many years, millions of kids celebrated their freedom after a week of school by staying in their pyjamas, closing the curtains so thereā€™d be no light on the screen and watching telly until lunchtime. Forty years ago, Noel Edmonds and Multi-Coloured Swap Shop changed Saturday mornings forever.</p> <p>There had been childrensā€™ programmes on Saturday mornings before ā€“ occasional series <a title="Zokko" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/0b62f76c78654e188c818d237d29306b" target="_blank">such as ZOKKO!</a>, which promised "Noise! Adventure! Glitter!" and was linked by a talking pinball machine had run around lunchtime since 1968.<br /><br />On the other side, too, LWTā€™s Saturday Scene transformed from brief links around cartoons into a fully-fledged show in its own right, while on ATV, Tiswas began in 1974 and broadcast a hundred episodes before anyone outside the Midlands had seen it.</p> <p>Swap Shop, however, was still a major step forward ā€“ it was shown across the UK, it was completely live and ran for three hours.<br /><br /><a title="Swap Shop" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/6068045961764ddaae5101c30f64668f" target="_blank">The first show, on 2nd October 1976,</a> was billed in Radio Times as the first of 12 programmes, and promised, alongside the Radio 1 breakfast DJ as host, an appearance from Tom Baker (or Dr Who, as he was billed), music from Harpo and Flintlock, a junior light bulb collector, the cartoon Valley of the Dinosaurs and Keith Chegwin, ā€œthe Roving Swapmanā€, out and about somewhere in the UK. It was a mix that proved the cornerstone of Saturday morning TV for 25 years. Apart from the light bulb collecting.</p> <p>Swap Shopā€™s success was almost instant ā€“ the series was extended to run right through until the following February. In August, as part of the Ö÷²„“óŠćā€™s <a title="Festival 77" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/45b119434d9a42909e6027d0679178bc" target="_blank">Festival 77 season</a> which broadcast a programme from each of the previous 25 years, Swap Shop was selected as 1976ā€™s most significant show and a ā€œcondensedā€ episode was screened on primetime Ö÷²„“óŠć Two. And when the series returned in October, it received the honour of a Radio Times cover.</p> </div> <div class="component"> <img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p049khc1.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p049khc1.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p049khc1.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p049khc1.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p049khc1.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p049khc1.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p049khc1.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p049khc1.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p049khc1.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>John Craven and Maggie Philbin oversee another morning of swapping</em></p></div> <div class="component prose"> <p>As Tiswas began to spread its wings across Britain, the battle to attract the attention of the nationā€™s kids began in earnest, although many happily watched both and flicked between the two whenever one went into a boring bit. Tiswas was certainly considered the more anarchic, but Swap Shop was pretty daring in its own way ā€“ members of the production team actually appeared on camera (unheard of at the time) and a regular highlight came when Noel casually strolled out of the studio to see what else was happening at Television Centre.</p> <p>One thing that fast became clear was that Swap Shop wasnā€™t just popular with the kids it was aimed at ā€“ it quickly gained a huge adult audience as well. Partly this was thanks to the other options ā€“ Ö÷²„“óŠć Two would be screening the Open University, or even nothing at all, so Noel and the team were the only option if you didnā€™t fancy Calculus over the Corn Flakes. Swap Shop dominated the Saturday schedules (except <a title="Saturday schedule" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1976-11-13" target="_blank">the week in November when the Lord Mayorā€™s Show was on</a>).Ā </p> <p>Indeed, in 1980, actor Peter Barkworth wrote in Radio Timesā€™ Preview column about its appeal to the wider audience ā€“ and paid tribute to its host. "He is the presenter (both on television and radio) <em>sans pareil</em>: funny yet sincere, fast yet relaxed, professional yet friendly, discreet yet naughty, bland yet astringent, articulate yet unpretentious; a thoroughly nice, likeable fellow who can talk and laugh and smile without in any way playing down. There cannot be a single viewer who does not feel present at the programme."</p> <p>This adult appeal meant that Swap Shop could attract huge celebrity guests ā€“ <a title="Christopher Reeve" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/62c05b5ec14d4cca9fd82a29e87a371c" target="_blank">Christopher Reeve,</a> <a title="Terry Wogan" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/3a0d1e04ee274937b7fa6d7cdc994e79" target="_blank">Terry Wogan,</a> <a title="Dame Edna E" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/71a72eb2a29e4f498909442bd4d899d6" target="_blank">Dame Edna Everage</a>Ā and many more all made an appearance, with eager viewers getting the once in a lifetime opportunity to speak to a star.</p> </div> <div class="component"> <img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p049l1d5.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p049l1d5.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p049l1d5.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p049l1d5.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p049l1d5.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p049l1d5.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p049l1d5.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p049l1d5.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p049l1d5.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Everyone was welcome on Saturday SuperStore, from football stars to royal visitors</em></p></div> <div class="component prose"> <p>When Noel moved on in 1982, and the Swap Shop closed, <a title="Saturday SuperStore" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/135c852138e249a080daa245165db7c6" target="_blank">Saturday SuperStore</a> opened in its place.</p> <p>Yet despite the arrival of Mike Read as ā€œGeneral Managerā€, things seemed pretty similar ā€“ John Craven, Keith Chegwin and Maggie Philbin were all still taking part, and the same mix of pop, cartoons and star guests remained intact. If anything, things got even starrier ā€“ David Steel, Neil Kinnock and Margaret Thatcher all appeared in quick succession, the Prime Minister famously confronted with some tough questions from the audience, while Prince Edward also popped in.</p> <p>This illustrates how Saturday morning TVā€™s influence spread far and wide ā€“ and how they became far more than just another kidā€™s show. It certainly seemed the place to be on Saturday mornings ā€“ hence in 1984, alongside appearances from Spandau Ballet and Simon Groom, Saturday SuperStore <a title="Saturday SuperStore" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/5a35152faa84404ca78f52139e7dfcc0" target="_blank">also included live action from the Winter Olympics</a> and coverage of the return of the space shuttle.Ā </p> <p>In 1986, the Store opened early to take in pictures from the Queenā€™s Visit to China. If it was happening on Saturday morning, it was on Saturday morning TV.</p> <p>1987 saw Going Live! take over Saturday mornings. The show had two main presenters rather than one, in the shape of Sarah Greene and Phillip Schofield, and there were other changes ā€“ out went the outside broadcasts from windswept playing fields, in came comedy sketches from Trevor and Simon. But the classic Saturday morning mix remained intact, including some fabulous combinations of guests ā€“ like <a title="Going Live!" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e8655d5fefc942f2b2877534665d85bc" target="_blank">Reeves and Mortimer and Kiri Te Kanawa,</a> <a title="Going Live!" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b41f82f1a55d44db84d31b6618cd235c" target="_blank">Terry Waite and Take That,</a> and <a title="Going Live!" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e244a306e3584e8d8fb574df0e171121" target="_blank">Judi Dench and Bros.</a> If the guest lists looked odd on paper, they always worked on screen. Talking to Radio Times in 1993, Sarah Greene said the guests appeared "because their children tell them to - that it's cool... and it's quite funny seeing someone like Sting getting all nervous because he's going to be on with Trevor and Simon."</p> </div> <div class="component"> <img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p049lrkn.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p049lrkn.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p049lrkn.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p049lrkn.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p049lrkn.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p049lrkn.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p049lrkn.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p049lrkn.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p049lrkn.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>For 25 years, shows like Going Live! welcomed huge star names</em></p></div> <div class="component prose"> <p><a title="Live & Kicking" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/fabd58826ccf48eaad71963bb42be96e" target="_blank">Live & Kicking</a> replaced Going Live! in 1993 and was on air when Saturday morning telly celebrated its twentieth anniversary ā€“ and not much had changed. Twenty years to the week of the first Swap Shop, Live & Kicking offered up virtually the same mix of pop, cartoons, star guests and games.</p> <p>The <a title="Swap Shop Star Awards" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/2cdaf69eeff74dc6b324747c7b71ca33" target="_blank">Swap Shop Star Awards,</a> where young viewers could vote for their favourite stars, were still taking place under the banner of the <a title="Red Nose Awards" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/40d57505b9084061acbc059dbf5f6e5d" target="_blank">Red Nose Awards,</a> the programme was still <a title="Schedule" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbcone/london/1996-11-09" target="_blank">ending early one week in November</a> for The Lord Mayorā€™s Show and, from 1997, the show was being presented by the current Radio 1 breakfast DJ in the shape of Zoe Ball.</p> <p>But an era ended in 2001 when<a title="Live & Kicking final episode" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/4a56f8ed9a974478afb69c7c3d2bc18b" target="_blank"> Live & Kicking came to an end.</a> Saturday morning kids TV lives on to this day, but with a host of other options for grown-up viewers, it can never have the impact and influence it used to. But for generations of kids (and adults), Saturday mornings were extra special.</p> </div> <![CDATA[Behind the camera: John Hunter Blair]]> 2015-12-06T10:00:00+00:00 2015-12-06T10:00:00+00:00 /blogs/genome/entries/e76c6379-48b7-4da4-bf0f-18bc29fbb680 Andrew Martin <div class="component"> <img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p03b24d5.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p03b24d5.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p03b24d5.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p03b24d5.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p03b24d5.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p03b24d5.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p03b24d5.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p03b24d5.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p03b24d5.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>John Hunter Blair arrived late at the Ö÷²„“óŠć after a life of travel and teaching</em></p></div> <div class="component prose"> <p><strong>Blue Peter is the Ö÷²„“óŠćā€™s flagship childrenā€™s programme which has formed an important part of its output since its launch in 1958.Ā </strong></p> <p>As a favourite with succeeding generations, it has received a great deal of attention. Perhaps the greatest amount has been reserved for the <a title="'dream team'" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/6ea97a931cdb44c288f3a92e3fcdb6d8" target="_blank">ā€˜dream teamā€™ era</a> from the late 1960s to early 70s, when Valerie Singleton, John Noakes and Peter Purves were at the helm. Successive replacements have in many ways tried to emulate that formula, although in the changed environment of the 21stcentury the programme is a very different animal from 45 years ago.</p> <p>The prominent figure behind the scenes from 1962 to 1988 was <a title="Biddy Baxter" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/56d87eed585d4748aa9c731280874f9a" target="_blank">formidable editor Biddy Baxter</a>, and her long service and strong personality have shaped the programme in no uncertain terms.Ā </p> <p>Yet one figure who preceded her is the programmeā€™s founder and first producer, John Hunter Blair, about whom little is known.</p> <p>John Wauchope Hunter Blair was a slightly eccentric and obscure figure. Ā Born in 1903 to Major-General W. Hunter Blair and his wife Ethel, he went to school at the Royal Naval College in Osbourne and Dartmouth. Ā After studying at Edinburgh University, he did an MA in Modern History at Oriel College, Oxford, before becoming a schoolmaster. Ā </p> <p>In 1933 he took the unusual step of going to work in Latvia, at the University of Riga.Ā  He stayed there until 1940, when the independent republic was swallowed up by the Soviet Union. Ā In the course of his time there he became fluent in Latvian, began working in radio for the Latvian State Broadcasting Service, and married a local woman.Ā </p> <p>Even less is known about Hunter Blairā€™s wife than about him:Ā  she was called Helene Ezergailis, but by the time he was established in the UK as a television producer they had separated.Ā  He obviously didnā€™t talk about her as it was only vaguely apparent to Ö÷²„“óŠć officials and colleagues that he had been married. He lived alone, and some even referred to him as a bachelor.</p> <p>When he left Latvia he moved to Australia, where he worked for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, initially as an announcer based in Brisbane.Ā  In 1943 he became a script writer for ABC, and then in 1944 a Presentation Officer, which also involved writing.Ā  He continued in this job until 1947, when for some reason he decided to return to Britain.Ā </p> <p>He got leave of absence from ABC, and applied to join the Ö÷²„“óŠć.Ā  One of the great loves of his life was music, and he at first tried to enter the music department. But he was turned down, and gained a sick relief post in Far Eastern department of the Empire Service.Ā  Following this he moved to Schools Broadcasting, where he obviously made a good enough impression. He is credited as script writer for the series <a title="Senior English" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b84332030386474caa61d8f51a526ecc" target="_blank">Senior English</a> in 1949, and for the Geography series, contributing a talk about Latvia, as a ā€˜former British resident'. In 1951 he was able to gain promotion to Producer in Childrenā€™s Television.</p> <p>Itā€™s not clear why Hunter Blair made the move to television, but by 1951 it was starting to expand around the country, with the opening of the Ö÷²„“óŠćā€™s third transmitter, Holme Moss, bringing the medium to the North of England.Ā  It had also been decided to start a regular childrenā€™s television service in 1950, to replace the patchy, occasional programmes shown before.Ā  Although characters likeĀ <a title="Muffin the Mule" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/dd8ac5f64f4740d7bcdb93435cb89cf2" target="_blank">Muffin the Mule</a>Ā were already popular, the Ö÷²„“óŠć decided to dedicate a slot to childrenā€™s programming, which came from the new Lime Grove studios.Ā Ā </p> </div> <div class="component"> <img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p03b24j1.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p03b24j1.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p03b24j1.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p03b24j1.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p03b24j1.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p03b24j1.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p03b24j1.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p03b24j1.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p03b24j1.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Leila Williams was Blue Peter's first female presenter under Hunter Blair</em></p></div> <div class="component prose"> <p>The expansion of television meant new people were taken on, though Hunter Blair seems to have replaced a producer called Alan Bromly whose contract had ended. Bromly nonetheless went on to have a successful TV career, producing thriller serials including those of Frances Durbridge.Ā </p> <p>At this point Hunter Blair did not even have a television set, unable to obtain one of the few domestic sets owned by the Ö÷²„“óŠć for staff use, although he was able to hire one from Radio Rentals and claim back the cost.</p> <p>Hunter Blair began work at Lime Grove on 1 November 1951.Ā  Although working as a producer his name did not necessarily appear in Radio Times, and when it did it was sometimes in another capacity.Ā  He is credited forĀ musical directionĀ on childrenā€™s drama series <a title="The Silver Swan" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/a6c0a0b6619d4e07950925304b212aba" target="_blank">The Silver Swan.</a>Ā </p> <p>After a year or two his credits start to appear as a producer, for <a title="Jack-in-the-Box" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/541a5d0731244f14a53023f61e6a3be8" target="_blank">Jack-in-the-Box</a>, The Runaway Band and The House that Jack Built.Ā  In 1954 he continued with Jack-in-the-Box but was also producer, writer and music composer for a play with music called The Smith FamilyĀ which received several showings, latterly billed as a childrenā€™s opera.Ā  Itā€™s not always clear from listings what childrenā€™s output Hunter Blair was producing, but among the material shown were items on model railways, and appearances by young artist Tony Hart, both of which would figure in Hunter Blairā€™s later career.</p> <p>By 1955 he was dividing his time between drama serial <a title="Bobby in France" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/92d9254663414496879b1af102eb6ac9" target="_blank">Bobby in France</a>, which combined elements of language teaching with storytelling, and allowed Hunter Blair to exercise his good command of French and passion for travel. His flair for music was reflected in Television Puppet Theatre and two programmes with Eric Robinson and his Orchestra. He was also still in charge of Jack-in-the-Box, which featured Nat Temple and his Orchestra.</p> <h4><strong>Birth of Blue PeterĀ </strong></h4> <p>His credits mounted up in 1956, producing drama including more Bobby in France, Lucky Silver and The Adventures of Pierre.Ā  His musical output also increased, withĀ <a title="Anniversary" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e0f161f2ff1b42ea8710da3348b5de0c" target="_blank">Anniversary</a>Ā marking 200 years since Mozartā€™s birth and The Fisk Jubilee Singers, a programme of Negro spirituals.</p> <p>By 1957 Hunter Blair was a safe pair of hands, and was commended ā€“ and given a bonus ā€“ for his innovative work in music for childrenā€™s TV.Ā  Annual reports paint a picture of a man who was very happy in his work, though he could be uncommunicative in formal situations.Ā  His appearance, as described by acquaintances and confirmed by the few photographs of him, was reminiscent of Billy Bunter, with his round face and spectacles.Ā  There seems to have been something of the schoolboy about him too in his enthusiasm for model railways. He was said to possess a first class mind, though happy in his lot as a childrenā€™s TV producer.</p> <p>His 1957 productions seem to have been mostly musical, until he was appointed editor and producer of the series <a title="Studio E" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/6519d99b92cf4fada8be8918ad7d29df" target="_blank">Studio E</a>.Ā  Starting in January, Hunter Blair took over with what was described as a ā€˜scratch team of assistantsā€™.Ā  This magazine programme included comedy with the likes of Clive Dunn as well as a range of factual and music items. George Cansdale talked about animals, Percy Thrower about gardening, Shirley Abicair told stories and played her zither, Johnny Morris appeared as the Hot Chestnut Man.Ā  It was presented by the redoubtable Vera McKechnie, later Elizabeth Lanchbury.Ā </p> <p>Hunter Blair left ā€œStudio Eā€ in 1958 to be replaced by Ursula Eason, but continued to produce Jack-in-the-Box, until it finished in September.Ā  He also co-wrote another musical drama, <a title="Castle Dangerous" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/a60b7d00aada4b1b9b20029e7fd70eb2" target="_blank">Castle Dangerous</a>,Ā for which he also composed and conducted the music.Ā  He had the odd other credit, but something new was in the air.</p> <p>Owen Reed, head of Childrenā€™s Television, saw there was a gap in the provision for children too old for Watch with Mother but too young for the sophistications of Studio E.Ā  Sensing that Hunter Blair knew what appealed to children - despite having none of his own - Reed gave him the task of producing a weekly 15-minute magazine programme for primary-age children.Ā Ā </p> </div> <div class="component"> <img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p03b24gd.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p03b24gd.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p03b24gd.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p03b24gd.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p03b24gd.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p03b24gd.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p03b24gd.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p03b24gd.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p03b24gd.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Biddy Baxter took charge of Blue Peter for more than 20 years</em></p></div> <div class="component prose"> <p>Hunter Blair found a solid male presenter in actor Christopher Trace, and to partner him the 1957 winner of Miss Great Britain, Leila Williams.Ā Needing a title for the show, Hunter Blair chose the name of the flag flown by ships preparing to set sail:Ā  Blue Peter.</p> <p><a title="first episode" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b02eb970d3474079804f91f74f8a0311" target="_blank">The first episode</a> went out live on October 16Ā 1958. Originally the seriesā€™ title sequence used film of a sailing ship at sea, and colleagues recalled Hunter Blairā€™s gleeful instruction in the gallery to add the sound of sea wash to the footage. The show quickly caught the imagination of children with its fresh and enthusiastic presentation.</p> <p>Christopher Trace was an avuncular figure, a former army officer with an undistinguished acting career, but he took to presenting at once. He is cited as coming up with two of the best-known phrases associated with Blue Peter ā€“ ā€œAnd now for something completely differentā€ and ā€œHereā€™s one I made earlierā€.Ā  Arriving for interview with Hunter Blair, staff remembered that he immediately bonded with the producer over a shared love of model trains, which soon became a regular feature of the series, even featuring in a regular story series.Ā  Storytelling was also a feature, predating Jackanory.</p> <p>Although Blue Peter aired every week, Hunter Blair continued to contribute to other shows, including <a title="Young Musicians" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/52315d69bfe5432ea3b9df0715840a31" target="_blank">Young Musicians</a> (a one-off that included Jacqueline du PrĆ©)Ā and a series with Shirley Abicair. Ā But Blue Peter was his main job, and one which he was commended on numerous times.Ā  He even went as far as taking trips abroad to try to source idea for items and unusual toys to feature in the series.Ā </p> <h4><strong>Ill health</strong></h4> <p>However, all was not well.Ā  Itā€™s unlikely that Hunter Blair took much exercise, and the stresses of live television production were starting to tell.Ā  He began to suffer from heart problems, and was admitted to hospital in December 1960.Ā  He returned to work the following January but had a heart attack in June.</p> <p><a title="last day on duty" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/cf7df8b1f1564ac3bbafe9e12481419b" target="_blank">His last day on duty</a> with the Ö÷²„“óŠć was the 12 June 1961 ā€“ a Blue Peter transmission day. Hunter Blair apparently collapsed in the production gallery, although not during transmission as far as records show.</p> <p>He was signed off from work, and various others took charge temporarily, with greater or lesser degrees of success.Ā  At first, this was thought to be until Hunter Blair would recover sufficiently to return to work, but eventually it was realised he would never be fit enough again.Ā  He had angina, and struggled to climb stairs at times and was also suffering from Parkinsonā€™s disease.Ā  He had spells in hospital and nursing homes, and gave up his flat in Maida Vale to go and live in his sisterā€™s house in Norfolk.Ā  At last, the Ö÷²„“óŠć agreed that he would have to retire prematurely on health grounds.Ā </p> <p>A late starter with the Corporation, he was 43 when he joined and 57 when he made his last programme. Ā It was agreed his last day on the staff roll would be his 59th birthday, October 4 1962.Ā  Hunter Blairā€™s health never improved, and he died just over two years later, on December 31 1964.</p> <p>By that time, Blue Peter had celebrated over six years on air, and was now running twice a week, presented by <a title="Trace and Valerie Singleton" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/4afcf14c23c04e84a40550d24bf0c03a" target="_blank">Trace and Valerie Singleton</a>.Ā  Although the Childrenā€™s Television department no longer really existed, with most output farmed to other areas, Blue Peter survived, and under its eventual permanent replacement producer/editor Biddy Baxter, it would go on to fulfil and exceed all of John Hunter Blairā€™s hopes in the succeeding decades.</p> </div> <![CDATA[The Sunday Post: A Brush with fame]]> 2015-11-22T10:00:00+00:00 2015-11-22T10:00:00+00:00 /blogs/genome/entries/41b30f1f-8741-49f3-b0e4-469113b96d7e Andrew Martin <div class="component"> <img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p038mjdx.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p038mjdx.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p038mjdx.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p038mjdx.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p038mjdx.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p038mjdx.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p038mjdx.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p038mjdx.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p038mjdx.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Derek Fowlds has been one of Basil's many human sidekicks over the decades</em></p></div> <div class="component prose"> <p><strong>Actor Ivan Owen's main claim to renown was as the original voice of children's favourite Basil Brush.Ā  </strong></p> <p>Born in 1927, he studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art briefly and then worked in repertory theatre. Owen is first credited in Childrenā€™s Television in June 1954, where he and Peter Hawkins provided the voices for puppet series <a title="Billy Bean and his Funny Machine" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/d48de545e45a420baf8becc46c445c7e" target="_blank">Billy Bean and his Funny Machine</a>.Ā  During the 1955 series, Owen made an appearance in person playing ā€œother partsā€ in childrenā€™s drama The Gordon Honour and some other small roles.Ā </p> <p>In 1957 Owen joined the voice cast of Toytown, making his first appearance in <a title="Playbox" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/870fc9fb23664d7897b4a703fe9b38ed" target="_blank">Playbox</a>Ā that year, hosted by Eamonn Andrews when he was also presenter of This is Your Life and What's My Line. Ā </p> <p>Playbox included an item called The Playbox Detective Agency, in which viewers were presented with a dramatised puzzle, from the 1958 series Owen was receiving star billing in follow-up The Six Clue Challenge as Inspector Bruce.Ā </p> <p>When he appeared in adult programmes he was still a minor player.Ā  Owen was also working extensively for ITV at this time, collaborating again with Peter Hawkins on The Adventures of Booty Mole, and voicing a dog called Fred Barker on Dog-Watch, Tuesday Rendezvous and the Five Oā€™Clock Club during the early to mid-60s.Ā </p> <h4><strong>Birth of Basil</strong></h4> <p>The final series of Playbox in 1963 did not feature Owenā€™s live-action character, and he returned to the world of the jobbing actor, making appearances in <a title="Compact" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/951afd77a10b414592cc10355ef944e2" target="_blank">Compact</a>Ā Ā and Mr Pastryā€™s Pet Shop for the Ö÷²„“óŠć, and police drama Crime Sheet on ITV. But his future was to be in voice-work.Ā </p> <p>In 1962 Owen was cast in ITV series The Three Scampis, providing the voice for a character designed by Peter Firmin, an artist and art lecturer. Ā The puppets in The Scampis were Basil Brush, a fox, and Spike McPike, a hedgehog, assisted by a human, Howard Williams.</p> <p>The convention of Basil interacting with a person was to continue for the rest of his career. Ā He made an immediate impact, his plummy accent reminiscent of comedian Terry-Thomas, with whom he shared similar dentition ā€“ a gap in his front teeth. Ā The Three Scampis ran until 1965, after which Owen and Howard Williams made a single series of All at Sea, also for ITV.Ā  Owen had meantime also contributed voices to the obscure ITV puppet series Muskit and Dido.</p> <p>Owenā€™s next partner was to be popular magician and TV personality David Nixon, when an offer came to co-star in a new Ö÷²„“óŠć series. In 1967, childrenā€™s showĀ <a title="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b9f801e8df1948d2a00bf3695050f3f5" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/b9f801e8df1948d2a00bf3695050f3f5" target="_blank">Now for Nixon</a> was aired, and for the first time he co-starred with Basil Brush. By this time Basil was receiving his own billing, and Ivan Owen elected to receive no credit, preserving the ā€˜illusionā€™ that Basil was his own man (or fox).Ā </p> <p>A few weeks after the end of that series came The Nixon Line, an early evening show that allowed <a title="sophisticated material" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1c33fa1bae3f4f22946bf9a6571ab519" target="_blank">slightly more sophisticated material</a>. WithĀ Basil Brush now established as Nixonā€™s sidekick, the series ran until March 1968.Ā  Both Nixon and Basil starred in a Show of the Week on Ö÷²„“óŠć2 in July, but that was to be their last appearance together for some time.Ā </p> </div> <div class="component"> <img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p038mjbv.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p038mjbv.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p038mjbv.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p038mjbv.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p038mjbv.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p038mjbv.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p038mjbv.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p038mjbv.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p038mjbv.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Basil's enduring popularity saw him on screen well into the noughties</em></p></div> <div class="component prose"> <p>Basil Brush started his own show in the traditional Crackerjack slot at five to five on a Friday afternoon. The first series of <a title="The Basil Brush Show" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/f343afffb8504186a1cc0929e62f599b" target="_blank">The Basil Brush Show</a> debuted on 14th June 1968.Ā  Again scripted by George Martin, it was produced by Johnny Downes, and Basil was partnered by actor Rodney Bewes, late of The Likely Lads. In Basilā€™s inimitable fashion he was addressed as ā€˜Mr Rodneyā€™.Ā  The first series also benefited from impressive musical acts, including Manfred Mann, The Alan Price Set and The Kinks.Ā </p> <p>The series performed well enough, and a second series followed in March 1969, although Rodney Bewes had bowed out to concentrate on his ITV sitcom Dear Motherā€¦ Love Albert and was replaced by another young actor, Derek Fowlds, later famous for roles in Yes Minister and Heartbeat ā€“ but for now known by Basil as ā€˜Mr Derekā€™.Ā </p> <p>Fowlds became perhaps the best remembered of Basilā€™s partners, interacting well with his furry friend through several series until he called it a day in 1973. Ā They made guest appearances onĀ Itā€™s Lulu, and landed a 'best of' show and a Christmas morning programme in 1970.Ā </p> <p>Basil also appeared in his own right with Val Doonican, the guest on Ask Aspel, and in a Cilla special filmed in Scandinavia.Ā  Special Christmas episodes also began to be featured from 1971 onwards, such as that yearā€™s <a title="Basil in Pantoland" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/c9f26a3284f748498be6f1d5ebbf90eb" target="_blank">Basil in Pantoland.</a></p> <h4>'Boom Boom!'Ā <a href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/c9f26a3284f748498be6f1d5ebbf90eb"><br /></a></h4> <p>The format of The Basil Brush Show was a variety show, with musical and comedy guests, sketches and musical items involving Basil and his co-host.Ā  One of the best loved features of the show was the serial story at the end of every episode, with Basilā€™s interruptions and jokes, clashing with his partnerā€™s attempts to get on with telling the story.Ā  There were catchphrases like the trademark ā€œBoom Boom!ā€ when Basil made a joke, and recurring references including Basilā€™s dislike of puppets, though he got on well with clockwork puppy Ticker.</p> <p>When Derek Fowlds left the series, he was replaced by Roy North.Ā  Like Fowlds, North had a great rapport with the fox, though his style was a little less droll.Ā  He also stayed with the programme for a number of years, making guest appearances alongside Basil on Seaside Special and an early edition of <a title="Multi-Coloured Swap Shop" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e3d684f9ff024012806c2262f63b3029" target="_blank">Multi-Coloured Swap Shop</a>.Ā </p> <p>The show returned year after year, and indeed so did many of the jokes. George Martin was still faithfully providing scripts for Basil, but as time went on the material was getting familiar (but then the humour was rarely ground-breaking).Ā  While the music acts never quite lived up to the promise of the first series, there were some odd appearances by the likes of Charlie Drake plugging a single release, acts like Dennis Waterman, the New Seekers, the Electric Light Orchestra and <a title="Abba" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/be19ec55563b4e3d8e5953e24e8e95e4" target="_blank">even Abba</a>Ā showed up.<a href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/be19ec55563b4e3d8e5953e24e8e95e4"><br /></a></p> <p>Though chiefly a television performer, in May 1975 Basil co-starred with Lord Charles and Lenny the Lion in a Radio 2 quiz<a title="Ask a Silly Question!" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1859fa92e56340549826f3c64c143f88" target="_blank"> Ask a Silly Question!</a>, hosted by Wally Whyton.Ā  In 1977-78 Basil presented a Radio 3 series Holiday Special intended to get young people interested in serious music.Ā  In September 1977 Ivan Owen made a rare appearance on Radio 3 as himself, with his own choice of records in Man of Action.Ā </p> </div> <div class="component"> <img class="image" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p038mj94.jpg" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/80xn/p038mj94.jpg 80w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/160xn/p038mj94.jpg 160w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/320xn/p038mj94.jpg 320w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/480xn/p038mj94.jpg 480w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/640xn/p038mj94.jpg 640w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/768xn/p038mj94.jpg 768w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/896xn/p038mj94.jpg 896w, https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p038mj94.jpg 1008w" sizes="(min-width: 63em) 613px, (min-width: 48.125em) 66.666666666667vw, 100vw" alt=""><p><em>Basil even made a bid to make classical music more youth-friendly on Radio 3</em></p></div> <div class="component prose"> <p>Roy North called it a day as Basilā€™s stooge after four series, and Howard Williams, who had been his first straight man back in the early 60s, came back. Ā The resumed partnership lasted from 1977 to 1979, and as ever there was the usual Christmas special episode each year.Ā  These tended to be a departure from the usual format, with more music integrated into the show and a running theme.Ā </p> <p>Basil Brushā€™s Magical Christmas in 1978Ā was <a title="especially poignant" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/e35cfcb4b56c4410a25b1d85058c19d6" target="_blank">especially poignant</a> as it featured a visibly ill David Nixon, renewing his own acquaintance with the fox.Ā  Nixon had died from lung cancer by the time the episode was transmitted on 23rd December.Ā  The programme came close to not being shown, not for that reason, but because Ö÷²„“óŠć television had been blacked out by a strike for several days in the run-up to Christmas, and programmes only resumed that day.</p> <p>In 1979 Williams was replaced by the youthful Billy Boyle, an Irish actor in his mid-30s but with a very boyish personality on screen.Ā  His nationality led to a few dubious jokes, while there was never a buoyant rapport between Basil and Boyle.Ā  There had been a shake-up on the script front too, with George Martin leaving in 1977, and a team of writers under script editor Peter Robinson replaced him ā€“ not to any startling effect.Ā  The series soldiered on until December 1980, when the <a title="last Christmas special" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/479f5e4d8b4b46838a2427b6235ecdc8" target="_blank">last Christmas special,</a> Basilā€™s Christmas Cruise went out with guests Michael Hordern, Dilys Watling, the Pasadena Roof Orchestra and Legs & Co.<a href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/479f5e4d8b4b46838a2427b6235ecdc8"><br /></a></p> <p>There were rumours at the time that Ivan Owen wanted Basil to be given a peak-time show using slightly more adult material, and that the Ö÷²„“óŠć was not interested. Ā Basilā€™s next appearance was on ITV schools programme Letā€™s Read with Basil Brush, before he returned to the Ö÷²„“óŠć in 1983 as part of the team on <a title="Crackerjack" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1cd49304f2654f1a8a47a37a59e637b3" target="_blank">Crackerjack</a>. On the air almost continuously since 1955, it had started to look really tired by the start of the 80s, and Basil was just one ploy to try to bolster viewing figures.</p> <p>After that Basilā€™s appearances are more sporadic, and spread between Ö÷²„“óŠć and ITV, including shows like Fast Forward, former Crackerjack host Stu Francisā€™s ITV series Crush a Grape and cookery show Hudson and Halls.Ā  There was one more starring role in Basilā€™s Joke Machine for Border TV, where he was partnered by Doug Ridley.Ā </p> <p>But by the end of the 80s Basil was not making many appearances, and he became a fixture of the rising tide of nostalgia compilation shows.Ā  One late appearance was in Granada TV sketch series The Full Monty in 1993.Ā  Ivan Owen died in 2000, never having become a star in his own right, though he was instantly recognisable as one particular character voiceā€¦</p> <p>In 2002, the character of Basil Brush was reborn in a <a title="Children's Ö÷²„“óŠć sitcom" href="http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/eecc61c8c11c4d1e9545a89512a28c75" target="_blank">Childrenā€™s Ö÷²„“óŠć sitcom,</a> still called The Basil Brush Show.Ā  The voice was similar to Owenā€™s characterisation, but it was now a very different era, and Basil no longer appealed to as wide a range of viewers as he had originally.Ā  The last original episode was transmitted at Christmas 2007, but repeats were a staple of the CÖ÷²„“óŠć channel until 2011.Ā  In a hark-back to one of his 1970s guest appearances too, 2008 saw Basil presenting Basilā€™s Swap Shop, with Barney Harwood as the latest in the long line of co-hosts.</p> <p><strong>Additional research by Simon Coward</strong></p> <h4><em><strong>What are your memories of this enduring character? Who do you think was Basil's best human sidekick? Tell us your thoughts in the space below.</strong></em></h4> </div>