Runaround (UK game show)

Last updated
Runaround
Also known asPoparound (1985-6)
Genre Children's game show
Created by Merrill Heatter & Bob Quigley
Presented by Mike Reid (1975-6, 1978-81)
Leslie Crowther (1977)
Stan Boardman (1977-8)
Gary Crowley (Poparound)
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original language(s)English
No. of series12 (Runaround)
2 (Poparound)
No. of episodes100 (inc. 3 specials) (Runaround)
12 (Poparound)
Production
Running time30 minutes (inc. adverts)
Production company(s) Southern Television (Runaround)
Central (Poparound)
DistributorRenown Pictures (Runaround) [1]
ITV Studios (Poparound)
Release
Original network ITV
Picture format 4:3
Original release2 September 1975 (1975-09-02) - 7 September 1981 (1981-09-07)(Runaround) 

19 June 1985 (1985-06-19) - 4 June 1986 (1986-06-04)(Poparound)
Chronology
Related shows Runaround (US version)

Runaround was produced by Southern Television for the ITV network between 2 September 1975 and 7 September 1981. It was much more successful than the original American version. The original host was comedian Mike Reid. In 1977 his place was taken by Leslie Crowther and Stan Boardman, before Reid returned in 1978. The ball in tube scoring was copied from the US version but with two colours; yellow worth one point for a correct answer and red worth two points for being the only contestant to choose the right answer. Metal Mickey made his screen debut on the British version of the show after being discovered by the show's in-vision researcher, Tim Edmunds. The series ended when Southern Television's franchise ended at the end of 1981. The game was also incorporated into the two seasons of the short-lived ITV Saturday morning show Saturday Banana hosted by Bill Oddie from 1978.

Southern Television ITV broadcasting licence holder

Southern Television was the ITV broadcasting licence holder for the south and south-east of England from 30 August 1958 to 31 December 1981. The company was launched as Southern Television Limited and the title Southern Television was consistently used on-air throughout its life. However, in 1966 during the application process for contracts running from 1968 the company renamed itself Southern Independent Television Limited, a title which was used until 1980, when the company reverted to its original corporate name. Southern Television ceased broadcasting on the morning of 1 January 1982 at 12.43am, after a review during the 1980 franchise round gave the contract to Television South.

ITV (TV network) TV network in the United Kingdom

ITV is a British free-to-air Television network. Headquartered in London, it was launched in 1955 as Independent Television under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to BBC Television, that was established in 1932. ITV is also the oldest commercial network in the UK. Since the passing of the Broadcasting Act 1990, its legal name has been Channel 3, to distinguish it from the other analogue channels at the time, namely BBC 1, BBC 2 and Channel 4. In part, the number 3 was assigned because television sets would usually be tuned so that the regional ITV station would be on the third button, with the other stations being allocated to the number within their name.

Runaround was a children's television game show produced by Heatter-Quigley Productions. The program was hosted by ventriloquist and voice actor Paul Winchell, airing Saturday mornings on NBC from September 9, 1972 to September 1, 1973. Paul would frequently use his dummies, Jerry Mahoney and/or Knucklehead Smiff on his program. The program was announced by Kenny Williams, with music by Mort Garson. However, the show received low ratings and was canceled following the first season.

Contents

A spin-off entitled Poparound was produced by Central and aired between 19 June 1985 and 4 June 1986 with Gary Crowley as the host.

ITV Central

ITV Central, previously known as Central Independent Television, Carlton Central and popularly shortened to Central, is the Independent Television contractor for the Midlands, and was created following the restructuring of ATV and commencing broadcast on 1 January 1982. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting Limited.

Gary Crowley is an English broadcaster, TV presenter and DJ.

Transmissions

Runaround

SeriesStart dateEnd dateEpisodes
12 September 19757 October 19756
213 January 197624 February 19767
331 March 19765 May 19766
418 August 197629 September 19767
512 April 197712 July 197713
623 November 19774 January 19787
728 March 19782 May 19785
84 August 19788 September 19786
922 May 197931 July 197910
1013 June 198019 September 198013
1125 December 198025 March 198114
1227 July 19817 September 19816

Christmas Specials

Date
26 December 1975
27 December 1976
24 December 1979

Out of 103 episodes from 12 series that were made during its 6-year run, 33 survived from the archives, which included Episode 4 of Series 8, Episodes 5 & 9 of Series 9, The 1979 Christmas Special, Episodes 1, 3-5, 7-8 & 10-13 of Series 10, Episodes 1-7 & 9-14 of Series 11 and all 6 episodes of Series 12. [2]

Poparound

SeriesStart dateEnd dateEpisodes
119 June 198524 July 19856
230 April 19864 June 19866

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