Remembering John Cunliffe

"Hello, I'm John. You saw me steering the boat earlier on. But that's not my real work. My real work is writing books. Books for children just like you..."

That was the opening line to every edition of Rosie and Jim presented by it's first host, John Cunliffe. In my opinion, John was the perfect face for children's television. A kind looking grandfather or uncle figure, with a softly spoken voice with a Yorkshire twang that you could listen to for hours and who never talked down to children.

Although his name is sadly not a household one. John was responsible with bringing two of the best known children's television shows to life. Alongside Rosie and Jim. John was responsible for Postman Pat. John had created Pat based on his childhood growing up in rural Cumbria (although he later moved to Ilkely in Yorkshire) and his previous work as a mobile librarian. John came up with the characters and wrote the original Postman Pat series which first aired in 1981. As well as writing numerous story books too. All these years later. Postman Pat is still widely recognised and enjoyed by many. Yet not so many people know the name behind the creation. Which I feel is a massive shame. In fact this article here sadly explains why.

My introduction to John Cunliffe came from Rosie and Jim. A show I enjoyed all through childhood. The series began in 1990. Before I was born. So I saw the early editions through repeats and borrowing the many VHS releases from my local library. I always enjoyed the gentle approach of those shows. It wasn't in your face.You were learning about the world and at the same time having a giggle at the antics of Rosie and Jim. I always enjoyed that fact that John was the only host of the show to talk directly to the camera and explain exactly what was going on. But like I said, it was never condescending. It felt engaging. How many children's shows are there where you could learn how glass was made? Or how canal locks work? Or how narrowboats are produced and that years ago horses were used to tow them? Hence the name towpath. You learnt all sorts from how things are made to bits of local history.

The very first episode of the show about canal locks was repeated in 2013 as part of CITV's 30th anniversary celebrations. I recall seeing tweets describing it as "boring". Which I found greatly annoying. It was just different. It was gentle. It wasn't trying to push merchandising in your face. It was an alternative to the American CGI cartoons and the manic gunge fueled gameshows of the time.

I guess my great affection for the show also comes from the very West Midlands feel of the show. Which is where I reside. There's a lot of canals around Birmingham and The Black Country and narrowboats are still very commonplace. So for those two things to be featured in a TV programme is incredibly cool to me. Also many of the editions (certainly the early ones) were filmed in locations I know very well. Even to this day if I am walking along Gas Street Basin, The Merry Hill Shopping Centre or Stourport Funfair, I think "Rosie and Jim and John were here".

So yeah, you could say I have a great affection for the show. Also of course Rosie and Jim was produced by the fantastic Ragdoll Productions based in Stratford-Upon-Avon who I credit as creating some of the best children's content out there during the 90's and 00's and should be up there with the other greats such as Cosgrove Hall and Small Films.

For whatever reason. John only presented the first two series of Rosie and Jim something I feel is a great shame. While both Pat Hutchins and Neil Brewer did a decent job. I don't think you could match those early editions personally. The show of course went on to run all the way until 2000. Clocking up 8 series.

I always wanted to meet John and interview him. In fact a few months back I emailed the company which represents his literary works. But had no response. Sadly it's not to be now. From what I gather online John was a very kind and humble man. Something I am not surprised to learn as that always shone through for me. It also appears that John didn't make a fortune from either of his famous works or any of the other books he wrote. Which is a shame. But that didn't bother him. He did it for love and not the money. He enjoyed making children happy and teaching them and that is a really awesome thing to do.

Episodes are easy to watch. Plenty of them online. Most of which ripped from the VHS tapes released in the 1990's. A few DVD's of the later series exist but are now deleted. In 2016, a DVD with a few of the John Cunliffe editions was released. Hopefully more come out in time.

John's death was incredibly sad news to me. But it gives me a great excuse to watch a few editions of Rosie and Jim again and remember the good times. With the death of Pat Hutchins in 2017. That leaves only Neil Brewer as the sole surviving presenter of the show.

John Cunliffe 1933-2018

Jack's Throwback Attack Podcast (Episode 1) - David Peachey (Bernard's Watch)

Alternatively. You can find the chat on Youtube. 

So it's time to announce a really cool interview I managed to grab recently. You may remember my last blog post talked about Bernard's Watch. Well I'm pleased to present an interview with David Peachey who played Bernard Beasley in the original series of the show.

David was a joy to speak to and I thank him greatly for taking time out of his busy schedule to speak with me. In this chat he discusses how he became Bernard, how and where the show was filmed alongside discussing how embarrassing it was to be recognised in public back then. He also tells us about the death hoax that was created about him online a few years ago and updates us on what he's up to these days.

Enjoy!

Bernard's Watch

One of the great British kids TV shows of the late 90's/early 00's and perhaps certainly one of the best remembered has to be Bernard's Watch.

It's no surprise really as the show did run for quite a long time. The original series aired between 1997-2001 spanning 5 series and there was also a revival that aired for a further 2 series between 2004 and 2005.

The fondness for the show may be down to the fact it features a magic power that I think we all dream about from time to time. Whether you're an adult or a child. We'd all like to freeze time sometimes. I mean, it would be pretty useful. You'd never be late to anything again. Every morning you could have a lie in. It would be fab!

Well this series featured the adventures of Bernard Beasley. Who, as we find out in the very first episode. Is incredibly poor at time keeping and is late for everything. He wishes he had more time and his wish is granted. A magic postman arrives and gives him a pocket watch (Although confusingly the opening sequence always featured Bernard finding the watch in a field under a rainbow). But not any ordinary pocket watch. The watch could stop and start time. Allowing Bernard more time for whatever he wanted to do. Providing it was within the law. The very first episode can be viewed here

Every episode Bernard would use the watch to solve one of life's many problems. Whether it be using it so he had more time to finish school work, improve his ability at goal keeping at football matches or even in once case. Using the watch's powers to save an old lady and some puppies from a house fire.

Bernard kept the watch secret from most people. But over time, Bernard allowed the watch to be borrowed by trusted people. His best friend Karen, cousin Lucy and girlfriend Sam all ended up borrowing the watch at some point.

I enjoyed this show very much as a child and looking back it doesn't seem to have aged a great deal. I was always impressed with the special effects. Bernard being able to move while everybody else around him is frozen. Or objects staying in mid air. The wonders of modern technology!

The show also had a good moral message as well. The watch was never used for personal gain. There was always a message of helping others, being nice and not taking thing that don't belong to you.

Oh and what's my favourite episode? I remember finding the episode Gnome Time hilarious as a child. The story line being Bernard using the watch and some ugly looking garden gnomes to scare off a pair of burglars that had broken in to his home. Unbeknownst to the burglars that Bernard was still inside the house.

Bernard's Watch was written by writer Andrew Norriss, who has also written TV shows such as Woof, Matt's Million, Aquila and The Brittas Empire. Bernard was played in the original series by David Peachey.

As I mentioned earlier, a revival did happen. A few years later a new Bernard's Watch series appeared on CITV. This time with Ryan Watson playing the role of Bernard. Personally, I didn't enjoy this series as much. Each episode took place in the same setting. Bernard's school. With Bernard regularly getting one up on a group of bullies and his teachers with help from the watch. It felt a bit samey to me. But then again, by the time the revival came around. I was on the borderline of growing out of children's television programmes. Someone a bit younger, no doubt would have enjoyed it. But I guess that's a sign that Bernard's Watch was so well enjoyed. The fact it had a revival.

The revived Bernard's Watch series title card

Both the original and revival series were repeated occasionally. Up until around 2010. A few VHS tapes were released of the original series but are now extremely difficult to find. Sadly no DVD's have been released as of yet. But you can find some episodes and clips on Youtube.

I hope you've enjoyed my little look back at Bernard's Watch. Look out for my next blog post, which will include some very exciting Bernard's Watch news...

My Top 10 Favourite Retro Kids TV Shows

Well for this first post I guessed I'd list my top 10 favourite shows when I was growing up. Actually picking just 10 is extremely difficult for me as I loved so many. But after much thinking I've whittled it down.

10. Tots TV - CITV and later repeated on CBBC (1993-1998)

The adventures of Tilly, Tom and Tiny in their secret cottage. Yep, I was pretty much obsessed with this show as a nipper. Had numerous VHS cassettes of the show. A Tots TV towel (which has long since disappeared), books and even a rag doll of Tiny.

9. Sooty & Co - CITV (1993-1998)

Sooty has been running on British TV since the dawn of time (Well, since 1952). Sooty has gone through various changes and show formats in those years. My favourite being Sooty & Co. With Matthew Corbett and the gang running a shop in Manchester. The slapstick, aside glances to camera and double entendres were ramped up to 11 in this series. It had a mixture of jokes for kids and adults. So I've been able to watch it as a child and as an adult and still find it amusing.

8. Bodger and Badger - CBBC (1989-1999)

If it was slapstick and full of gunge. I was sold. Bodger and Badger certainly catered for that. Silly knockabout fun with Simon Bodger and his pet pal Badger who loved mashed potato.

7. How 2 - CITV (1990-2006)

One of ITV's long running stalwarts of Kids TV. Not once but twice. Starting off as How in the 60's and 70's. Before being revived as How 2 in the 1990's. A fun educational show presented by Fred Dinenage and Gareth Jones. Alongside Carol Vorderman and later on (depending on the series) Sian Loyd, Gail Porter and Gail McKenna.

6. Chucklevision - CBBC (1987-2009)

Yes, really. Chucklevision ran for an amazing 22 years on CBBC and it never got any less funnier. The Chuckle Brothers are national treasures in my opinion.

5. Mike and Angelo - CITV (1989-2000)

When people think of children's comedy sci-fi. Most people would think of My Parents Are Aliens. But Mike and Angelo was slightly before that and despite also enjoying MPAA. I preferred Mike & Angelo. I just found it funnier and the cheap and outdated special effects seem to add to it's charm. Featuring the goofy humanoid alien Angelo and his human friend Mike. Creating havoc wherever he went. As well as walking on the ceiling a lot.

4. Dick and Dom In Da Bungalow - CBBC (2002-2006)

Since this show ended, I haven't got up early on a Saturday since. It was two hours packed with surreal humour, innuendos, nanny knob knobs, dirty norris, The Neighbours Cat, Stoke-On-Trent, creamy muck muck and of course, BOGIES!. All held together (just about) by the legendary duo.

3. Jungle Run - CITV (1999-2006)

I think anyone who grew up around this time, wanted to be on this show. An adventure gameshow set in a huge jungle set with some slight influences from The Crystal Maze.

2. Art Attack - CITV (1990-2007) 

The original series of Art Attack was amazing. I loved the show so much. Neil Buchanan is a hero of mine! Every week he'd show you how to make just about anything from a load of rubbish and gallons of PVA Glue. Great kids telly. Since the show has ended, Disney Junior have revived it with a different host. But it's just not the same without Neil.

1. Zzzap! - CITV (1993-2001)

Yep, this show was my all time favourite. The crazy world of Zzzap! The Television Comic. Featuring the antics of Cuthbert Lilly, The Handymen, Smart Arty and Daisy Dares. I was obsessed with this show. It was 15 minutes of pure hyperactive entertainment.

So that's a brief run down of my top 10. There's so many more I could include but the list would go on forever. I will, in time, write about all these shows more in depth.

Hello and Welcome!

Hello there! Welcome to my blog.

So what is Throwback Attack all about? Well first off, my name's Jack (Hello!) and this blog is all about my love of nostalgia. I spent a lot of my childhood being glued to the TV. Perhaps too much time some would say. CITV, CBBC, Milkshake, Cartoon Network...I watched them all! Since growing up (apparently) and gaining internet access. I have spent a lot of time researching these shows, wanting to know everything about them.

This blog will primarily be looking at various retro children's TV shows that I remember watching. Some shows will be well known and some will be extremely obscure. But I hope these posts will bring back some great memories. The span of the shows featured on this blog is the 90's and early 00's.

Oh and the name of the blog? Yeah, I was a huge fan of Art Attack.

I also have some exciting audio interviews and written Q&A's to share with you over the coming months with some people who worked or featured on various shows. Who have very kindly spared their free time to talk with me. So watch out for those.

Enjoy the nostalgia trip!