| How | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | How 2 (1990–2006) HOW (2020–2022) |
| Genre | Educational |
| Created by | Jack Hargreaves |
| Directed by | George Egan Angus Wright Anthony Howard Chris McMaster |
| Presented by | Fred Dinenage (1966–2022) Bunty James (1966-7, 1970-6) Jon Miller (1966–1981) Jack Hargreaves (1966–1981) Dr. Tom Gaskell (1967-1968) Jill Graham (1967–1969) Marian Davies (1977–1981) Gareth Jones (1990–2006) Carol Vorderman (1990–1997) Siân Lloyd (1997) Gail Porter (1999) Gail McKenna (2000–2006) Vick Hope (2020–2022) Sam Homewood (2020–2022) Frankie Vu (2020–2022) |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 17 (original) 15 (How 2) 2 (revival) 34 (total) |
| No. of episodes | 273 (original) 198 (How 2) 20 (revival) 486 (total) |
| Production | |
| Producers | Stephen Wade Kevin Goldstein-Jackson Angus Wright |
| Production locations | Southampton Studios (1966–1981, 1991–1992) Maidstone Studios (1990, 2020) Glasgow Studios (1993–2006) The Bottle Yard Studios (2022) |
| Running time | 30 minutes (inc. adverts) |
| Production companies | Southern Television (1966–1981) Television South (TVS) (1990–1992) STV (1993–2006) Lion TV (2004–2006) Terrific Television (2020–2022) [1] |
| Original release | |
| Network | ITV/CITV |
| Release | 22 March 1966 – 19 August 1981 21September 1990 – 1September 2006 15November 2020 – 6May 2022 |
How (usually stylised as HOW) [2] [3] is a British educational television programme created by Jack Hargreaves. It was produced from 1966 by Southern Television, for which Hargreaves was a presenter and deputy programme controller. [4] It lasted until 1981, when the company lost its franchise to TVS.
How was originally devised by Hargreaves for an audience of adults returning home from the pub. Its aim would be to give facts and demonstrations that could settle arguments or be used as pub tricks. [ citation needed ] A one-off pilot was broadcast at 11.15 pm on 22 March 1966, to viewers in the Southern Television area only.
Following the pilot, Hargreaves felt the show might work better in an afternoon slot, aimed at making facts fun for children. [5] At 5.25 pm on Monday 11 April 1966, Southern broadcast the first programme in the series of How, which would continue in a similar format for the next 15 years. Produced in Southern's Southampton studios, it provided answers to questions beginning with the word "How". Each episode began with the presenters all raising one hand and saying "How" simultaneously (mimicking the stereotypical Native American greeting). Topics commonly covered included science, history, mathematics, and simple puzzles. The formula proved so successful that it was soon broadcast by the whole ITV network and given two slots per week.
The show was originally presented by Hargreaves alone. He was joined by Fred Dinenage (1966–1981), Jon Miller (1966–1981), Bunty James (1966–1967 and 1970–1976), Dr. Tom Gaskell (1967–1968), Jill Graham (1967–1969) and Marian Davies (1977–1981). Occasional standing for Hargreaves included Barry Bucknell and James Kelway. [6]
The series came to an end in 1981 when Southern Television lost its ITV franchise. The majority of episodes no longer exist. [7]
In 1990, the series was revived as How 2 by TVS. Presenter Fred Dinenage returned, accompanied by Gareth Jones, Carol Vorderman, Siân Lloyd, Gail Porter and Gail McKenna. This show aired on Children's ITV (known as CiTV) and ran for 16 years, until 2006. [8]
In 2019, How 2 was made available on Amazon Prime Video in the UK. [9]
Also in 2019, the CITV channel commissioned a further revival of the format. [10] Due for air November 2020, with Fred Dinenage making his second return to the series franchise, alongside a new team of Vick Hope, Sam Homewood and Frankie Vu. [11]