Crackerjack! (TV programme)

Last updated

Crackerjack!
Crackerjack! film magazine cover (1955-2).png
Leslie Crowther and Peter Glaze, Radio Times , 25 September 1965
Genre Children's television
Created by Johnny Haddon Downes
Presented by
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series
  • 29 (original)
  • 2 (revival)
No. of episodes
  • 451 (original) [1]
  • 20 (revival)
Production
Production locations
Running time40 minutes
Original release
Network
Release14 September 1955 (1955-09-14) 
21 December 1984 (1984-12-21)
Network CBBC
Release17 January 2020 (2020-01-17) 
5 March 2021 (2021-03-05)

Crackerjack is a British children's television series which was initially aired on the BBC Television Service between 14 September 1955 and 21 December 1984 (with no series in 1971). [3] The series was a variety show featuring comedy sketches, singers and quizzes, broadcast live with an audience. [4]

Contents

Crackerjack returned in 2020. It was hosted by Sam & Mark, with an exclamation mark added to its original title, and aired on CBBC from 17 January. The second revived series aired from December 2020 to March 2021. [5]

Its initial long run featured Eamonn Andrews, Max Bygraves, Leslie Crowther, Ed "Stewpot" Stewart, Jack Douglas, Stu Francis, Peter Glaze, Don Maclean, Michael Aspel, Little and Large, Jan Hunt, The Krankies, Basil Brush, Geoffrey Durham, Bernie Clifton, and Ronnie Corbett, amongst many others.

Performers who appeared as singers/dancers, assisting the host with games, included Sally Ann Triplett (Series 26), Julie Dorne-Brown (Series 27–28), and Ling Tai (Series 29).

Format

Prizegiving on Crackerjack with Eamonn Andrews c. 1958 Crackerjack screenshot.jpg
Prizegiving on Crackerjack with Eamonn Andrews c. 1958

The shows were frantic, being broadcast live in front of an audience largely of children, originally at the King's Theatre [6] on Hammersmith Road, London, used by the BBC as the King's Studio for live and recorded broadcasts until 1963, then at the BBC Television Theatre (since renamed the Shepherd's Bush Empire). The format of the programme included competitive games for teams of children, a music spot, a comedy double act, and a finale in which the cast performs a short comic play, adapting popular songs of the day and incorporating them into the action. The whole audience would shout "Crackerjack!" whenever anybody said the word. [7]

One of the games was a quiz called Double or Drop, where each of three contestants was given a prize to hold for each question answered correctly, but given a cabbage if incorrect. They were out of the game if they dropped any of the items awarded or received a third cabbage. While the winner took his or her pick from a basket of toys, every runner-up won a much-envied marbled propelling pencil as a prize, which became so popular that in 1961 Queen Elizabeth II, who visited the programme, was presented with Crackerjack pencils for her children Prince Charles and Princess Anne. [3]

During the early 1970s, high-profile pop guests included The Sweet, Mud, Gary Glitter and, on more than one occasion, Slade.

In 1982, in a bid to boost flagging ratings, Crackerjack introduced gunge into its games and launched a new game called Take a Chance in which the celebrity guests – one female, one male – could score extra points for the contestant they teamed up with by competing against Stu Francis in a quickfire question tie. A wrong answer or the opponent answering first would lead to Francis or the celebrity guest being covered in gunge. The gunge was always given a name relating to a random theme or to the celebrity guest (Howling Wind for Ian McCaskill, for example).

The format of the final Series 27-29 was revived in all but name by Francis in 1987 for Border Television series Crush A Grape. Francis also toured a live version of his era's format for some time after the BBC cancellation, initially under the Crackerjack name but later as The All Star Laughter Show.

Transmissions

Original

SeriesStart dateEnd dateEpisodesHost
114 September 195528 March 195615Eamonn Andrews
212 September 195620 March 195714
39 October 195719 March 195812
410 September 19584 March 195913
51 October 195931 March 196014
629 September 196027 April 196116
719 October 19613 May 196215
813 September 196225 April 196317
926 September 19637 May 196417
109 October 196426 March 196523Leslie Crowther
111 October 196525 March 196626
127 October 196631 March 196726
136 October 196716 February 196820
1413 September 196814 March 196926Michael Aspel
1526 September 196913 February 197019
167 January 197231 March 197213
172 February 197320 April 197312
184 January 197429 March 197413
193 January 197531 March 197513Ed Stewart
2024 December 197526 March 197614
217 January 19771 April 197713
226 January 19787 April 197814
2329 September 197815 December 197812
2428 September 197914 December 197913
2526 September 198019 December 198013Stu Francis
262 October 198118 December 198112
2722 October 198224 December 198210
2830 September 198323 December 198313
2928 September 198421 December 198413

Only 148 out of 451 episodes from the original 29 series of the show survive in the BBC archives. The earliest episode known to exist is Episode 12 of series 3 with Eamonn Andrews; of his tenure, Episode 16 of Series 6, Episode 2 of Series 7, Episode 3 of Series 8 and Episodes 1 and 17 of Series 9 also survive. None of the Leslie Crowther episodes are known to exist, and two episodes only (Episodes 12–13 of Series 18) of the Michael Aspel period survive. All of the Ed Stewart (Series 19–24) and Stu Francis (Series 25–29) periods remain. [1]

Revival

SeriesStart dateEnd dateEpisodesHosts
117 January 202020 March 202010Sam & Mark
211 December 20205 March 202110

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eamonn Andrews</span> Irish TV and radio personality (1922–1987)

Eamonn Andrews, was an Irish radio and television presenter, employed primarily in the United Kingdom from the 1950s to the 1980s. From 1960 to 1964 he chaired the Radio Éireann Authority, which oversaw the introduction of a state television service in the Republic of Ireland. He is perhaps best remembered as the UK host of This Is Your Life from its inception in 1955 until his death in 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Basil Brush</span> Fox puppet from British childrens TV (since 1962)

Basil Brush is a fictional fox best known for his appearances on daytime British children's television. He is primarily portrayed by a glove puppet, but has also been depicted in animated cartoon shorts, books, annuals and comic strips. The character has featured on children's television from the 1960s to the present day. He has also appeared in pantomimes across the UK.

Michael Terence Aspel is a retired English television presenter and newsreader. He hosted programmes such as Crackerjack, Ask Aspel, Aspel & Company, Give Us a Clue, This Is Your Life, Strange but True? and Antiques Roadshow.

<i>Noels House Party</i> British light entertainment TV series

Noel's House Party is a BBC light entertainment series that was hosted by Noel Edmonds. Set in a large house in the fictional village of Crinkley Bottom, leading to much innuendo, it ran from 23 November 1991 to 20 March 1999 on BBC One and was broadcast live on Saturday evenings for eight series. The show, once described by a senior corporation executive as "the most important show on the BBC", was cancelled in February 1999 due to declining ratings, although two further compilation specials were shown in March 2000.

Leslie Douglas Sargent Crowther was an English comedian, actor, TV presenter, and game show host.

Stuart G. G. Francis is a British comedian with a camp style of delivery who achieved celebrity as lead presenter on the children's television programme Crackerjack (1980–1984). His principal "co hosts" were initially the Krankies and later, on alternating editions, Basil Brush and The Great Soprendo. He went on to host Ultra Quiz in 1985 and Border TV's Crush a Grape in 1987, a children's game and variety show in a similar vein, if not carbon copy, to his era of Crackerjack. He also released a single in 1983 called "Ooh! I could crush a grape".

<i>Holly & Stephens Saturday Showdown</i> British childrens programme

Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown is a British children's entertainment programme that was broadcast on ITV from 10 January 2004 to 1 July 2006.

Don Maclean KSS is an English actor and comedian, who appeared on the BBC television series Crackerjack with Michael Aspel, Peter Glaze and Jan Hunt in the 1970s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gunge</span> Gooey, yet runny, substance used in childrens shows

Gunge as it is known in the United Kingdom, or slime as it is known in the United States and most English-speaking areas of the world, is a thick, gooey, yet runny substance with a consistency somewhere between that of paint and custard. It has been a feature on many children's programs for many years around the world and has made appearances in game shows as well as other programming. While gunge mostly appears on television, it can also be used as a fundraising tool for charities, youth and religious groups. Gunge tanks have appeared at nightclubs and Fun Days. The British charities Comic Relief and Children in Need, supported by the BBC, have used gunge for fundraising in the past. In the U.S., slime is sometimes associated with Nickelodeon, even having several game shows revolving around it, such as Slime Time Live.

<i>The Saturday Show</i> (2001 TV series) 2001 British TV series or programme

The Saturday Show is a British children's television series that aired on BBC One from 22 September 2001 to 3 September 2005. It was the replacement for Live & Kicking and contained a mix of audience participation, cartoons, games and gunge. The presenters were Dani Behr and Joe Mace, who presented the show from September 2001 - September 2002, then Fearne Cotton and Simon Grant presented from September 2002 - September 2003 and Grant presented until the programme finished in September 2005. Then in April 2004, Angelica Bell and Jake Humphrey joined Grant until to the end of the shows run.

<i>What Now</i> (TV programme) 1981 New Zealand TV series or programme

What Now is a New Zealand children's television programme that premiered on Saturday 9 May 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam & Mark</span> English popular music and TV presenting duo

Sam Nixon and Mark Rhodes, known collectively as Sam & Mark, are an English popular music and television presenting duo. They previously competed on the second series of Pop Idol in 2003, in which they finished third and second, respectively, behind winner Michelle McManus. Since then, Sam & Mark have had a successful career in radio and television in the UK.

Hard Spell is a United Kingdom televised spelling bee programme for children between the ages of eleven and fourteen, presented by Eamonn Holmes, with Nina Hossain reading the words. It was first broadcast on BBC One in late 2004. Heats were held in different parts of the country leading to the grand final, at the end of which Gayathri Kumar was crowned Britain's best young speller.

<i>Xchange</i> (TV series) 2000 British TV series or programme

Xchange is a factual entertainment BBC game show for children. It was broadcast initially on BBC One and BBC Two and later the CBBC Channel. The programme was transmitted live from studio TC2 at BBC Television Centre.

Run the Risk is a British children's game show, which ran from 26 September 1992 to 28 December 1996. It aired as part of the Saturday morning shows Going Live! and Live & Kicking. It was presented by Peter Simon for the entire run alongside Shane Richie, John Eccleston and Bobby Davro. The games the teams had to do involved gunge and were similar to those performed on It's a Knockout. Run the Risk borrowed much from its predecessor, Double Dare, which was also hosted by Simon. The links for the show were written by John Mann and Paul Dudderidge.

Sam & Mark's TMi Friday (originally TMi) is a British children's entertainment programme that was produced for five series by the BBC and aired from 16 September 2006 to 17 December 2010.

<i>This Is Your Life</i> (British TV series) British TV biographical series (1955–2003)

This Is Your Life is a British biographical television documentary, based on the 1952 American series. In the show, the host surprises a special guest, before taking them through their life with the assistance of the 'big red book'. Both celebrities and non-celebrities have been featured on the show. The show was originally broadcast live, and over its run it has alternated between being broadcast on the BBC and on ITV.

<i>Basil and Barneys Swap Shop</i> British childrens television series

Basil and Barney's Swap Shop is a British children's television series that was produced for CBBC and ran on Saturday mornings on BBC Two and CBBC Channel from 5 January 2008 to 25 September 2010. Based on the original BBC children's Saturday morning show Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, which ran on BBC One from 1976 to 1982, it was hosted by Barney Harwood, along with veteran puppet character Basil Brush, from whom the show takes its title.

<i>Pointless</i> British television quiz show

Pointless is a British television quiz show produced by Banijay subsidiary Remarkable Entertainment for the BBC hosted by Alexander Armstrong. In each episode, four teams of two contestants attempt to find correct but obscure answers to four rounds of general knowledge questions, with the winning team eligible to compete for the show's cash jackpot.

<i>Saturday Mash-Up!</i> 2017 British TV series or programme

Saturday Mash-Up! is a live British Saturday morning children's magazine entertainment programme on CBBC and BBC Two, first broadcast on 30 September 2017. It is currently presented by Joe Tasker, Shereen Cutkelvin and a puppet monster called Stanley performed by Dave Chapman, Kia Pegg is a recurring presenter in the show.

References

  1. 1 2 "TVBrain | Kaleidoscope | Lost shows | TV Archive | TV History". tvbrain.info.
  2. "Crackerjack is coming back with Sam and Mark presenting". Dock10 . Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  3. 1 2 "BBC – (none) – Factual – Crackerjack!". BBC.
  4. Sheridan, Simon (2004). The A-Z of Classic Children's Television: From Alberto Frog to Zebedee. Reynolds & Hearn Ltd. pp. 89–93. ISBN   1903111277.
  5. "Crackerjack is coming back with Sam and Mark presenting". BBC News. 11 February 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
  6. "Theatres and Halls in Hammersmith, London". arthurlloyd.co.uk.
  7. "History of the BBC: Crackerjack". BBC. Retrieved 18 May 2024.