It's been a while since I've wrote a lengthly anoraky blog post about something I watched on the TV some years ago. To be fair, the anorak is firmly on today as I am writing about my memories of the educational programmes that the BBC made for schools.
BBC schools programmes is actually not purely a 90's phenomenon. The beeb actually started airing educational programmes way back in 1957!
These shows were produced through the decades until 2015 when the BBC closed down the overnight Learning Zone block. The BBC does not air school programmes on TV anymore, but does still produce online content.
So I was one of the many British school children that were subjected to watching these shows during lessons when the teachers couldn't be bothered to do a proper lesson. Or if it was absolutely bucketing down with rain outside, forcing us to have break times indoors in front of the TV. Many 90's nostalgia groups bleat on about how exciting it was when the schools TV and VCR player was wheeled in. I will admit there is some truth to that, it meant you had an easy hour's lesson. Even if you were watching something educational.
The funny thing is. The BBC actually released most of these shows on VHS that schools could order. But I seem to remember my infant school were cheapskates who taped them off the telly themselves.
The thing is, I was one of those sad children that actually watched some of these shows on my own accord outside of lessons. Often when I was off sick from school or couldn't sleep at night. To be fair, I only had terrestrial TV until the early 00's and then Freeview, so sometimes it was the only children's content on air during the day.
Ah yes fond memories indeed. So I thought I'd write about the BBC schools programmes from my era that I remember watching. Either at school, during the early morning schools block on BBC 2 or on BBC Learning Zone which aired in the early hours of the morning. In fact, all though some of these shows were only produced for a short time, the beeb often repeated them for donkeys years afterwards.
Numbertime (1993-2001)
An educational show unsurprisingly about numbers.
But instead of being half an hour of mind numbing sums. This was a show which taught you maths with a series of songs and sketches.
Each series had a different theme. Early episodes were specifically about numbers, but later episodes were about things like telling the time and counting money. Early editions of the show were presented by Lolita Chakrabati.
I remember more strongly the later series. Like I said a lot of sketches were used in the show. Like the animated duo Bill and Bernie. Bill had the bizarre skill of spitting out giant letters and numbers when needed (I'm not making this up).
There was also a segment which involved characters which lived inside a dolls house. For some reason we always used to whoop and cheer when this bit came on... lord knows why. This bit usually featured something revolving around telling the time.
But I think the part that has stuck in most peoples minds is El Nombre.
Which is an odd choice of name really, as that means "The Name" in Spanish. It should really have been El Numero to mean "The Number".
El Nombre was an animated segment in the show set in a stereotypical Mexican setting. With cactuses everywhere and the characters all wearing sombreros and saying "Olé" a lot. Except the characters were all gerbils. One particular gerbil called "Little Juan" would be having difficulty understanding numbers.
Just like that El Nombre, who was basically a Zorro rip off. Would fly in and save the day. By literally "Writing numbers in the desert sand" as the theme tune would go.
To be fair. I quite liked the El Nombre segments and so must have many other people. As he eventually got his own spin off series.
Watch Numbertime Here
Words and Pictures (1970-2006)
Yes, Words and Pictures started way before my time. But the show was very much still around when I were a lad!
Words and Pictures was centered around literacy. Sophie Aldred was the presenter I remember. Originally presenting from a colourful studio but I remember later on the setting changed to a lighthouse.
The show had something of a revamp in the late 90's and was re-named Words and Pictures Plus. Hosted by Paul Ewing and his computer generated friend Jim.
Oh and of course, Words and Pictures featured The Magic Pencil. Teaching us how to write letters. To this day I still wonder how they did it!
The Experimenter (1994-1996)
I have already written about this in a previous blog post. But a brief synopsis is this...
Science based show featuring Sarah (Nadia Williams) and her alien chum XP (Richard Braine) complete with amusingly naff looking futuristic outfit. XP would have many questions about planet earth and would seek to investigate. Often wrecking havoc as he went along.
Watch The Experimenter Here
Space Ark (1995)
Another science show. But this one was entirely CGI animated.
The programme was set on The Space Ark. A garbage retrieval craft which had accidentally begun orbiting planet earth.
The crafts inhabitants included Ponder and Zippy with talking computer A.I . As well as travelling investigator Luca.
I would describe this show as nightmare fuel. I remember finding this show somewhat unsettling as a young child. Maybe it's the fact it was early CGI. The characters looked a bit bizarre and the whole feel of the show was rather cold.
Watch Space Ark Here
Magic Grandad (1993-Early 00's?)
A history series starring Geoffrey Balydon (Best known for playing Catweazle in the series of the same name and the mad professor on the UK version of Fort Boyard). Grandad had magic powers which meant he could transport his two grandchildren Gary (Georgi Fisher) and Kimberly (Kirsty Bruce) back in time to visit historically significant figures and learn about how people lived before technology became more advanced.
The two episodes I specifically remember watching are the ones about Louie Braille and Florence Nightingale.
Watch Magic Grandad Here
Revisewise (1999-2000)
I will admit that in my nocturnal pre-teen to teenage years I was sad enough to watch BBC Learning Zone in the middle of the night (Well, what else is on the telly at 3am?). Which would repeat it's back catalogue of educational shows.
Revisewise would be aired a fair bit. Complete with funky electronic theme tune. It was a series of 2 hour programmes designed to help kids with their English, Maths and Science in preparation for the Key Stage 2 SATS tests.
Each 2 hour show was divided in to 10-15 minute segments about different topics. There was a timer counting up in the top right of the screen. This was designed so that if you were watching Revisewise on VHS. You could fast forward or rewind to the relevant segment you needed.
There were three presenters. All of whom wore colour co-ordinated sweatshirts which represented which SAT's subject they were covering. As their sweatshirt colour also matched the colour of the test papers.
Former CBBC continuity presenter Simeon Courtie (In yellow) presented the shows about English. Playdays presenter Simon Davies (In blue) did the Maths shows and Tomorrow's World's Lindsey Fallow (In red) represented the science programmes.
The mascot for the show was an animated purple owl. I don't think it had a name. Correct me if i'm wrong!
There was a similar show produced around the same time called Bitesize which was exactly the same format but for Key Stage 3 GCSE revision. Again, repeated over and over again for years in the early hours.
Watch Revisewise Here
Cats Eyes (1994-1996)
I seem to remember watching this one in school a lot.
Cats Eyes followed the adventures of Jimmy and Juke (Steve Nallon and William Todd Jones). Two alley cats that lived behind a pizza shop run by Alf (Roland Rivron). Who were always devising some kind of scheme to steal food that featured some kind of scientific edge.
Watch Cats Eyes Here
Science in Action (1997-1998?)
Not related to a similar show of the same name from the 1980's.
This show seems to be really obscure. Featuring scientific explorer Stella (Kate Maravan) investigating questions put to her by a group of kids. The setting for each series seems to change. With Stella living in an underwater base, a crashed airplane in the jungle and maybe a space rocket in one series?
Watch Science In Action Here
Look and Read (1967-2004)
Well, what nostalgia nerd doesn't remember Look and Read?
Running for an incredible 47 years. Look and Read featured a new story each series. Split up in to around 10 episodes. The idea was that these shows could help you with your reading. If you watched these shows at school. You were given a book which had the exact same story inside it. So you could read along as the story played out on the TV.
There was usually a new Look and Read story every couple of years and the old one were repeated on a constant loop. In total 21 different stories were produced. The ones I remember in particular are...
Geordie Racer - This one first aired in 1988, but I didn't see it until some years later and is probably one of the best known of the lot. A story about Richard "Spuggy" Hilton. A lad from Newcastle who enjoys pigeon racing. Who ends up foiling a robbery plot devised by a rival pigeon racer.
Earthwarp - First aired in 1994. Featuring the adventures of Martin, Amena and Jenny who befriend an alien called Ollie. The main theme around this series was pollution and saving the planet. I always found the theme tune to this one quite grating.
Spywatch - The first Look and Read story I can remember. Telling the story of Norman Starkey and his time living in the country side as an evacuee. During the height of the Second World War.
Come Outside (1993-1997)
Well I had to finish off with this one. Like I've said before in a previous blog post. Depending on your age, Lynda Baron is one of two things to you. Either Nurse Gladys Emmanuel or Auntie Mable!
If you lived in a cave during the 90's. It was a schools programme about Auntie Mable and her dog Pippin. Who would fly off in their spotty aeroplane to investigate how things are made. Such as toothpaste, paper and crisps!
Thank you for reading this nostalgic look back at 90's BBC Schools programmes. If you want to find out more. May I recommend the excellent Broadcast For Schools website which details pretty much every single educational programme made in the UK!
