How 2

So, you've finished school. You've had a full day of education. All you want to do is sit in front of the telly and zone out. The last thing you want is to be shown more educational stuff, right?

Well How 2 was so popular on CITV. It ran for 16 years! The only other CITV show I can think of that ran longer is Art Attack. So that's no mean feat!

How 2 was an educational show presented throughout by the awesome duo of Fred Dinenage and Gareth Jones.

Over the years different female presenters also co-presented with the pair. First off, Carol Vorderman of Countdown fame who stayed on the show for the first six years between 1990-1996.

Siân Lloyd and Gail Porter joined the team for one series each in 1997 and 1999 respectively (There was no series in 1998, just a best of compilation called How Goes 2).

Before Brilliant Creatures presenter Gail McKenna became a mainstay on the show for the last six years until the show ended in 2006.

I should point out at this stage that the reason it was called How 2 is because it was a revival of the popular ITV show How. It was exactly the same format to How 2 and ran from 1966-1981. It was presented by Jack Hargreaves, Bunty James, Jon Miller and Fred Dinenage himself. So that means Fred presented How and How 2 for a combined total of 31 years!

The show taught you interesting facts about everything from science, engineering, technology, art and history. All posing questions beginning with the word "How..." such as.

"How can crisps keep you warm?"

"How can you tell where someone comes from. From the shape of their ears?"

"How can you hang a picture with a fork?"

Oh and we can't forget the fact that in both versions of the show. Each episode began with the team doing the How hand signal!

Those three questions and many others were all answered on the show. Featuring fun demonstrations. Often with large oversized props.

Also there were little table top games and tricks you could do at home with your friends. I'm still no good at balancing a spoon on my nose though.

This was before the days of being able to research anything via the internet or on Youtube. How 2 was an encyclopaedia for children on television and certainly presented in way where you remember the information because it's taught with very fun and visually exciting methods.

If you would like to learn more about the show. May I recommend the excellent 30 Years of CITV documentary which aired in 2013. It's pretty easy to find on Youtube and part of the show features a look back at How 2 with Fred and Gareth sharing their memories. It's actually my favourite part of the whole documentary. You can tell how massively proud they are of what they achieved and so they should be. Countless children, including myself. Absolutely loved watching that show and remember it fondly.

Childhood heroes. Both of them.

There's actually an interesting point that Gareth makes in the documentary. "Fred Dinenage is the single reason that How 2 was so successful and ran for 16 years". Although I feel there's a few other reasons. I get what Gareth means. Fred Dinenage is one of those underrated national treasures. He just comes across as warm and friendly. He's just got a way about him that when he's explaining a How to you. You listen carefully and intently. His long career in television is very well deserved. At the time of writing this, Fred is still presenting local news in the ITV Meridian region. Something he has been doing for over 50 years.

Plenty of episodes are on Youtube to watch back. Here's one from the Carol Vorderman era and one from the Gail McKenna era

Personally, I believe the show should be brought back. It's been successful twice, surely it can be a third time? For a whole new generation of kids. It would make sense now we live in a world with more technology than ever before. That's how for now... but hopefully not forever.

Coming up next on the blog. Some exciting interviews!