2019 - A Retrospective

Only a week and a half late but here we are in to a new year and a new decade. Which means the crushing realisation that 2000 was 20 years ago, which is frankly depressing when you can remember those days of sunny delight, turkey twizzlers and spiking your fringe up with cheap hair gel.

This is just a quick blog post to reflect on the previous year and the upcoming one, in regards to this barmy project of mine.

Being very "Dead Silly" - Comic Con March 2019

I'm really pleased about how the recent second batch of podcasts has gone. It was great fun recording them. The majority of them were recorded between June-August apart from the Simeon Courtie chat which I recorded in the January. Originally intended to go out with the first lot, but I ended up starting a new job shortly after which took up my time as I got to grips with it.

There's still something very surreal about chatting with people you watched on TV as a child and admired, even if it is just over the phone. I've never claimed to be a brilliant interviewer. I just write down a list of questions and hope to get some good stories out of them. The one thing I like doing is asking questions about shows which have fallen off peoples memory radars. I don't think Dave Benson Phillips was expecting to be asked about one series wonder Petswap  for instance. You can detect an amount of surprise in his voice in the interview!

It is still alien to me to get people agreeing to chat with me and being happy to give me their contact details to phone them. I'm entirely grateful for it though. Every interview I've done has been special.

The amount of plays appears to be increasing each time there's a new one. We're not talking viral figures here and I never expect that to happen for such a niche subject. However, I'm amazed at how certain interviews such as Dave Benson Phillips and Sophie Aldred passed the 300 plays mark within a week or two of being uploaded.

One of the nice highlights of last year was also meeting Francis Wright. Who has brought many puppet characters to life on children's TV down the years. Including 'The Head' on Art Attack and being one of the great mind behinds the criminally underrated Bug Alert!. We've kept in touch and email often and he's a genuinely nice chap. The surprise in his voice when I mentioned I actually have seen Bug Alert! (It used to air VERY early in the morning) and I am a fan was a great moment.

There's still two more interviews to go out for the second batch, both should be out by the end of February. One of which is with someone that I have to thanks Francis for, a fellow puppeteer who worked on a show very dear to me as a large amount of it was filmed around where I live.

Meeting James MacKenzie of Raven fame was great too. He was at a small convention near me and was a very nice guy indeed. I hope to one day record an interview with him, if and when that will happen I'm not sure as he's understandably a very busy man.

Other highlights include of course attending Birmingham's Comic Con in March dressed as Cuthbert Lilly from Zzzap! With my friend Rachael going as Daisy Dares. Some lovely reactions and some great feedback received afterwards by people who worked on the production of the show.

Well this year I do hope to do a third batch of interviews. So far I have no plans set in place, but maybe towards the spring I'll have a look at my list of names I have in mind and start attempting to contact people and record them over the summer. Fingers crossed!

I do hope to do some more videos on my Youtube account for people to watch. A megamix compilation I made has so far since July 2019 at the time of writing this blog post received over 200,000 views. I'm thinking about maybe doing some retrospective review videos on certain shows, featuring narration by myself. As well as maybe doing some videos looking at some items I own which relates to 90's kids TV. Something similar to an Ashens style review maybe? I'm trying to find my style at the moment. Plus it's very time consuming and I don't have a fancy editing suite. I have recently done a video on forgotten CITV shows of the 1990's though which you can watch here...

You may notice at the moment that the comments feature has been disabled on the majority of my videos. This was done automatically due to Youtube's new rules on child friendly content which I'll have to look in to and get amended at some point as the feedback I receive from fans of the same TV shows is what makes doing this project so enjoyable!

So that's a look back at last year and a look forward to the new one. Hopefully some great stuff will come along and more great memories will be revived. As always you can look at what I do on Youtube and you can follow me on Twitter too!

Jack's Throwback Attack Podcast - S2 E5 - A Chat With Dave Benson Phillips

I'm hugely proud to present this new podcast interview and seeing as it's almost Christmas it's a bit of a special one as it's a chat with a true legend of children's television, it has to be none other than the godfather of gunge himself, Dave Benson Phillips!

You can also listen to the chat on Youtube, Spotify and iTunes

Dave is someone who had been top of my list to talk to the entire time I've done this project so I was very pleased when he agreed to have a chat with me and what a lovely chat it was and very funny too!

I have to say I admire Dave as someone who is a bit of an all rounder and a genuinely nice guy. He loves entertaining children, he gives up a lot of his free time to charity and to meet his fans young and old. He does the telly work but still happily entertains at kids parties and DJ's various retro events. I think that's lovely and very admirable.

Dave presenting Get Your Own Back in the 1990's

In this chat we discuss Playdays, Get Your Own Back, Wake Up in the Wildroom, Playhouse Disney, Petswap and all many of other things. We do also chat about the unfortunate internet hoaxes about Dave that spread in the late 2000's which caused a bit of a dip in his career which the then lead to Dave using the internet to his advantage and picking himself back up and is now very busy with all kinds of work. Including his Get Your Own Back live shows and the mockumentary series Getting Back With Dave Benson Phillips. 

Dave is available to hire for events and his website can be found at http://www.davebensonphillips.com/ and his Twitter is @DaveBensonPhill

How 2 - Now on Amazon Prime!

To the surprise of anyone who remembers it and even to those who worked on it. Classic CITV show How 2 is now available to stream on Amazon Prime.

To refresh your memory How 2 was the revival of How which was popular in the 60's and 70's. It combined interesting facts to do with history, science, technology, art and geography. Packaged in to a fun show for children with demonstrations and experiments. It ran for 16 successful years on CITV between 1990 and 2006. I've previously interviewed both Gareth Jones and Fred Dineage about the show on my podcast.

Well for some reason, Series 2 and 3 have been picked to be available to stream. It's very random and out of the blue but I'm not complaining. Nice to see the show in high quality, the only slight niggle is the awesome theme tune (With the deep voice going "How 2!" throughout) has been replaced with something that sounds like it was knocked up in 5 minutes on a cheap keyboard by pressing the "demo" button. Are there rights issues with the theme tune? Who knows.

Maybe this means more hard to find 90's CITV shows will be available to stream in the not too distant future. We can only dream...

and that's How for Now!

Jack's Throwback Attack Podcast - S2 E4 - A Chat With Francis Wright

Next up on my podcast it's a chat with puppeteer Francis Wright



You can also listen to the chat on Youtube, iTunes and Spotify.

In the 90 minute discussion we talk about Francis's long and varied career in the world of puppetry. From shows such as You and Me, followed by the likes of Grotbags, Wizadora and the fantastic series Bug Alert! which Francis co-wrote.

We also discuss Francis's time as 'The Head' on the original version of Art Attack for 12 years.

Francis with The Head. Alongside producer Nic Ayling.

This is my first chat with a puppeteer (but by no means the last) and it's very interesting to hear how so many wonderful characters were brought to life and what it was like being involved in so many fondly remembered TV series but at the same time remaining pretty much incognito.

Francis runs a blog himself at https://franciswright.wordpress.com/ which is largely about family history but does have some pages relating to his TV work. I have to say Francis is one of the nicest people I've spoken to and is always more than happy to answer questions.

A few weeks after recording the interview we did cross paths at an event about 90's kids TV at the BFI in London.

10 More Lesser Remembered Retro Kids TV Shows (90's and 00's)

Been a while since I've wrote a blog post, been mostly busy with editing and uploading the podcast interviews. Series 2 is well underway now and I'm already brewing up ideas for a potential third series next year.

A few months back I wrote a list of 10 UK Kids TV shows from the 90's and 00's which I feel are a bit forgotten (the article can be found here) and need bringing back to peoples memories. It's always nice when someone goes "I didn't even know I remembered this".

I decided it's high time I did a second round of shows which have fallen in to obscurity!

10. Roger and the Rottentrolls (CITV 1996-2000)

It actually grieves me that such a fantastic series is so completely underrated!

Roger and The Rottentrolls featured the adventures of 10 and 3/4 old Roger Beckett who accidentally discovers a group of crazy knee high trolls who live in an area called Trollers Ghyl in the Yorkshire Dales. Through a series of misunderstandings, the trolls declare Roger their king.

A hilarious and at times complete barking mad series, narrated by Martin Clunes and featuring puppetry talent such as Simon Buckley, Nigel Plaskitt, Ronnie Le Drew and Steve Nallon and voices provided by Ronni Ancona, Phil Cornwell and John Thompson.

I actually plan to do something in more detail about this show, maybe a more lengthly blog piece or a video in the future.

9. Timmy Towers (CITV 1998-2000)

Everyone who has grew up in the UK since the 1980's knows who Timmy Mallett is, known for his antics on Wacaday. However, I feel I am one of the few who remember his antics on Timmy Towers which turned out to be his final major children's television programme to date. In fact Timmy Towers was how I was introduced to the brash and garish word of Timmy Mallett as Wacaday was a bit before my time.

The show aired for a couple of one of specials in 1998 before getting it's own series in the summer of 2000. Slapstick comedy show in front of a live audience of children. Pretty much every episode featured Timmy trying to win the affections of Miss Thing (Alex Lovell), putting up with his nagging Auntie Knobbly Knees (Roger Bremble) and sabotaging the evil plans of The Abominable No Man (Mark Speight).

8. Bitesize (Playhouse Disney 1999-2000?) 

Nope, not the late night GCSE revision programme. A cookery show which aired on Playhouse Disney (Now called Disney Junior) where the presenter and glove puppet Mitzi (who happened to resemble an oven glove) cooked some culinary delight of some form. Presenters included Dave Benson Phillips and Sophie Aldred.

I think the only reason I ever watched this was because the library music track Keystone Chaos (Better known as the theme tune to Zzzap!) was used at the end of every episode when they cleaned up.

7. Tiny and Crew (The Children's Channel/Living TV 1996-2002)

Pre-school show presented by Sophie Aldred and a giant wigasaurus called Tiny. Originally aired on the now defunct Children's Channel on Satellite and Cable, before moving to the Tiny Living programme slot on Living TV in the early 2000's.

You can listen to my interview with Sophie Aldred where one the discussed topics is Tiny and Crew.

6. Dig and Dug (Channel 4 1994)

Dig and Dug (With Daisy) was a stop motion animation series about two hopeless and clumsy builders who always needed the assistance of Dug's niece Daisy to get them out of scrapes.

Originally aired on Channel 4 and I believe the show was later repeated on Channel 5 in the early 2000's. My introduction the show was through an old next door neighbour giving me a VHS of the show as a gift.

5. Archibald the Koala (CITV 1998-1999)

Based on a series of books by Paul Cox, the series featured an anthropomorphic koala called Archibald. A detective who investigated the strange goings on in a land called Rastepappe which is inhabited only by Koala's and Badgers!

Archibald was voiced by actor Richard Griffiths and had an insanely catchy kazoo based theme tune.

4. Against All Odds (CBBC 2000-200?) 

You may remember for many years a show called 999 which aired on BBC 1, hosted by Michael Buerk. Which struck fear in to the hearts of children with it's cold theme tune featuring ticking noises and blaring sirens and each episode featuring reconstructions of people being trapped in house fires or nearly drowning in the sea who were then saved by a heroic individual.

Well, someone thought it would be a good idea to have a junior version of the show on CBBC to give us more nightmares. Showcasing brave children who had saved people in a moment of crisis. The show was presented by Kate Sanderson and Jake Humphries.

I distinctly a remember an episode where a young girl wakes up to find the TV in her room on fire. I had a very similar TV in my own bedroom at the time and for months afterwards I always went to sleep with it unplugged, in fact I was pretty much afraid to turn it on at all! Well... I was 6.

I should add that although I may jokingly make jibes about it scaring children, both 999 and Against All Odds were great shows giving brave people the recognition they deserve. They also featured educational items on how to save peoples lives in an emergency. They should bring something like that back.

3. Dr Zitbag's Transylvania Pet Shop (CITV 1994-1997)

Animated series about Dr. Sidney Zitbag who runs a pet shop in Transylvania alongside his companion Horrifido (a talking skeleton of a dog).

That's about the scope of it really. The first series is available to download on Amazon!

2. Whizziwig (CITV 1998-2000)

Science fiction series written by children's author Malorie Blackman. The series featured Ben and his best friend Steve who befriend an alien creature called Whizzwig who resembled a floating rugby ball with hands. Whizziwig had the ability to grant wishes which could at times cause complete chaos.

Wizziwig was voiced by Rebecca Nagan who is best known for voicing and operating Rosie in Rosie & Jim. 

1. The Adventures of Dawdle the Donkey (CITV 1996-1998)

Animated series a donkey who funnily enough is called Dawdle. Dawdle is looking for somewhere to live after their orchard home was used to build houses on. During Dawdle's journey, they befriend Rola Polar Bear (Why a polar bear is living in the English countryside is never explained but hey 90's Kids TV didn't need any explanations, just accept it) and Archie (A Cat) who are also looking for a new home.

Featured the voices of David Jason and Josie Lawrence and a theme tune sung by Chris De Burgh. The series was created by Elizabeth Beresford who also created The Wombles. 

There we go, ten more lesser remembered oddities. I may write about more in future or even do a video about some of them!

Jack's Throwback Attack Podcast - S2 E3 - A Chat With Jez Edwards

Episode three of the second series of my podcast and I’m extremely happy to present a chat with the awesome Jez Edwards!



You can also listen to the interview on Youtube, iTunes and Spotify

Jez was a familiar face on Kids TV in the late 90’s-Mid 00’s. Starting off on CITV presenting the backwards gameshow Crazy Cottage. As well as hosting Mashed on Saturday mornings and the live magazine show Sticky. 

Jez on Crazy Cottage. Alongside Vera the Cuckoo
and puppeteer Steve Nallon

A jump to CBBC involved Jez being part of the presenting team of the long running show Record Breakers. As well as being part of the daily magazine show Xchange. This then lead to a career in acting, starting off with a part in Chucklevision! 

More recently Jez’s career has involved him acting in Coronation Street and in the famous Sainsbury’s Christmas armistice advert. The latter of which completely blew my mind as I didn’t recognise him originally! 

 Jez also continues to perform in panto every year at the Leeds Carriageworks Theatre. 

Jez was a joy to talk to and I thank him massively for taking the time out of his Saturday spent with his daughter to chat with me and reminisce about the likes of doing a cookery item with Las Ketchup and trying present a gameshow full of hyperactive kids on a set deliberately built at a steep angle for comedic effect. 

You can follow Jez on Twitter 

Jack's Throwback Attack Podcast - S2 E2 - A Chat With Sophie Aldred

It's interview time again and I'm enormously proud to present a discussion with the "Ace!" Sophie Aldred.


You can also listen to the interview on Youtube, iTunes and Spotify

It was great to chat to Sophie who first appeared on our TV screens way back in 1987. Presenting the children's show Corners and of course playing Ace in Doctor Who alongside Sylvester McCoy.

Following this, Sophie went in to a lot of children's television roles. Appearing in the likes of Melvin and Maureen's Music-a-Grams and Words and Pictures for the BBC. As well as appearing on The Children's Channel presenting It's Droibee Time and Tiny and Crew. 

She also did a lot of work with The Media Merchants for CITV. Presenting the Saturday morning show Wow, as well as presenting the first series of It's a Mystery alongside Neil Buchanan. This lead her to being asked to play a new character on Zzzap! called Minnie the Mini Magician, replacing Neil's Smart Arty character. She played this role for the final three series of the show.

In more recent years, Sophie has leant her voice to the likes of the US dub of Bob The Builder as Muck. As well as voicing Dennis the Menace and Tree Fu Tom.

You can still see Sophie regularly at various comic cons around the country and she recently reprised her role as Ace. Also you can follow her on Twitter.

For any Doctor Who fans that may wonder. You may notice no mention is made in the interview to the Season 26 collection trailer. This chat was recorded before the release. I assume that is the project Sophie mentions being not allowed to talk about :)

Enjoy the interview!