Zzzap! comes to Birmingham's MCM Comic Con.

Photo Credit: The Girl With The Glasses Cosplay

Once again it was time for MCM Comic Con to return to Birmingham's NEC during March. I had attended the previous one dressed as Neil Buchanan, complete with red Art Attack jumper and giant pencil. Made with toilet roll tubes, paper mache and paint. An effort I'm sure Neil would be proud of.

The cosplay actually went down a storm with numerous people approaching me for photos. A few people asked me if I remembered Zzzap! Not only do I remember the show. It's had a special place in my heart and nostalgic affections for quite some time. I watched it religiously back in the day. I'm still have to occasionally watch an episode now.

I was surprised I was asked as I didn't think many would remember the show. It finished in 2001 and hasn't had many repeats since. So the idea started brewing in my head.

The show had a few characters I'm sure you're aware. The natural choice after cosplaying as Neil would be his alter ego Smart Arty.

Now, I'm not a skilled costume maker, I haven't touched a sewing needle since primary school. So making a costume was a no and finding the right parts which look close to the real thing was difficult. Plus, someone else has already done a really good job.

So I chose Cuthbert Lilly. Complete with pink suit, yellow shirt and polka dot bow tie and pocket square. All of which were purchased easily online! The pink suit if you're wondering how to get one was available from Opposuits!

I also roped in a friend of mine to go as Daisy. She had to put up with me stressing for weeks that her costume looked right. But after much shopping around. We got there with a few days to spare.

I also created a comic for us to carry. I'd like to say I drew it free hand...that would be a bit of a lie. I actually traced it from the t-shirt available from Truffleshuffle which I own. But even that was a hard task. Tracing a t-shirt on to tracing paper. Imprinting it on to normal paper and then drawing the lines in with a pen before colouring.

I'm pleased to say the costume went down brilliantly with lots of good reactions and lots of pictures taken! Nice to hear from other people who enjoyed the show back when it was a staple of CITV's schedules.


On to the pictures!

As a Father Ted fan. These guys win it for me.

Photo Credit: Andrew English.

Jungle Run and My Parents Are Aliens Turn 20 This Year

Yes, you read the title correctly. Both Jungle Run and My Parents Are Aliens turn TWENTY YEARS OLD THIS YEAR.

Yes, I know it's not a photo with the original Sophie. I don't have one, sorry!

2019 is one of those years which despite only being three months in to at the time of writing. Has started to make me feel a bit old and not part of the young, hip and trendy crew (although some would argue I have never been hip or trendy).

2019 marked me turning a quarter of a century old. Which is still young frankly. But when so many elements of your childhood have started to turn two decades old. It becomes a bit depressing. For example one of my favourite childhood songs, Keep on Moving by Five. That hit the charts in November 1999.

Other little things as well from around that time...like children all around the country being addicted to Sunny Delight. Ah, simpler times!

Also I seemed to have a collection of those rubbish mini roll safes which didn't actually do anything to stop people robbing them.

Not only that but so many elements of my regular CITV watching that I remember, all happened twenty years ago. Such as the relaunch of Art Attack as Art Attack Twice Weekly (Which lasted all of five minutes before going back to the old format).

As well as Zzzap! having a lick of paint and an addition of a new character Minnie the Mini Magician. 

But what's even more scary, is two staple childhood shows of the Noughties. Both launched in 1999. One in September and the other November. Jungle Run and My Parents Are Aliens you could argue were some of the biggest kids TV shows in the UK during their time and are still fondly remembered. Both shows ended in 2006 but repeats continued for way longer.

Original Jungle Run host, Dominic Wood. Who presented
the first two series.

I'll have to try and some special posts about both shows over the course of the year. So far I have nothing planned. I'll at the very least, write in more detail, my memories of both.

Jack's Throwback Attack Podcast (Episode 6) - A Chat With Nikky Smedley (Teletubbies)

Or alternatively you can find the interview on Youtube.

Once again, it's interview time again. This one was actually recorded some time ago and I've only finally got round to uploading it. It's a chat with Nikky Smedley. Who worked with the fantastic Ragdoll Productions for 10 years. Most famously, playing Laa Laa in the original series of Teletubbies between 1997-2001. After that, she worked behind the scenes on the choreography and direction of Boobah and In The Night Garden. 

Teletubbies I think is one of those shows that anyone of a certain age will remember watching. Even people who were parents at the time, will probably never forget the impact the show had. It became Ragdoll Productions most internationally successful show worldwide. I, for one. Remember really wanting a Tubby Custard Machine!

In the chat, we discuss her background in dancing and choreography and how she got the role in Teletubbies. Alongside how physically demanding playing Laa Laa was. With an update on her current activities.

Nikky Smedley (Laa Laa), Pui Fan Lee (Po),
Simon Shelton (Tinky Winky) and John Simmit (Dipsy)

Nikky's website can be found here and you can also follow her on Twitter.

Enjoy!

10 Lesser Remembered Retro Kids TV Shows

One of the things I enjoy writing about are those old kids TV shows which are perhaps not as widely remembered as the likes of Art Attack, Fun House or Tots TV. The shows where you feel like you're the only person who saw them or remembers them.

Here is a list of 10 such shows for me. I plan to write a few of these lists eventually and write about most of the shows featured in more details. There are bound to be some online nostalgia enthusiasts out there, like me. Who do remember these shows. But I like to think these have been forgotten by the wider general public at least.

10. Crazy Cottage (CITV 1996-1998)

Barmy kids gameshow which ran for three series on CITV. Two teams of kids played games with a backwards or back to front gimmick in the various rooms of the Crazy Cottage. Presented at first by The Big Breakfast host Rick Adams and later by Jez Edwards. Who went on to present Saturday morning show Mashed. 

9.  It's a Mystery (CITV 1996-2002)

Nothing to do with Toyah Wilcox. Investigative show presented by Neil Buchanan and a range of different co-hosts. Which explored the world of paranormal and strange goings on. Trying to solve some of the UK's biggest mysteries. The show was renamed as Mystery for it's final series. With Steve Wilson and Shiarra Juthan taking over hosting duties.

8. Jamboree (CITV 1998-2000)

Pre-school educational programme presented by children's television legend Floella Benjamin and a series of Tweenies style characters called The Bopkins.

7. Insides Out (CBBC 1999-2000)

Gameshow centred around body parts and bodily functions. With tons of gunge thrown in for good measure. Presented by Mark Speight and Marsali Stewart alongside Otis The Aardvark.

6. Snug & Cozi (CITV 1996-1997)

Comedy slapstick series about two clumsy spacemen who accidentally crash land on earth and have to adapt to human life. Causing chaos wherever they go. Much to the annoyance of the people around them.

5. Beachcomber Bay (Milkshake 2001-2003)

Puppet series set on a boat (which always seemed to be in dry dock and never actually in the sea). Featuring Salty Dog, Sam the Seagull and Bertha (A cat). Alongside co-host Jenny played by Casey-Lee Jolleys. 

4. Cats Eyes (CBBC 1994-1995. Repeated until 2003)

Part of BBC's educational schools programmes but often shown on CBBC in the mornings. You wouldn't think a back alley pizza shop would be the setting for a show about Science. Featuring cats Jimmy and Juke and pizza shop owner Alf. Played by Rowland Rivron. 

3. Pump It Up (CITV 1999-2000)

Awesome gameshow centred around inflatables. Featuring a large assault course at the end. Oh and like every kids gameshow of the time. Lots of gunge had to be featured. Presented throughout by Andy Collins. Joined in the first series by Julia Bradbury and in the second by Fearne Cotton. The show only got two series. A shame. 

2. Twister (CITV 2001)

Another gameshow! (I seemed to watch a lot of them). A show which was basically like Fun House but on a smaller budget (well it was the exact same production crew). Featuring gunge fueled games, a race around the studio on mini quad bikes and a race around a large play area. With lots of cheap looking weather CGI effects dubbed on during the games. Fronted by Nigel Mitchell. 

1. Bug Alert! (GMTV Kids 1996-1997. Channel 4 2000)

Wonderfully surreal series about a group of "ugly bugs" that live inside someones kitchen and only come out then they are gone (Someone call Rentokil). Featured songs, makes, sketches, jokes. That kind of thing. 

So there's ten lesser remembered kids TV shows from the 90's and 00's. I'll definitely compile a few more lists over time as there's tons more shows that I remember that could qualify. Watch this space!

Hard to find nostalgic oddities

One of the things I liked to do on this blog is take a retrospective look at children's television shows from my childhood which have fallen in to the realms of obscurity. The only problem is, there are occasionally shows out there which I first saw something like 20+ years ago and there's little to no footage or information out there on the internet.

There are two 90's CITV shows which fall in to this.

The first one is It's Not Fair. A CITV gameshow which ran for a single series in 1997. Shown in the middle of Saturday morning show Scratchy & Co. The fairground themed show was hosted by Mike McClean and co-hosts Candy & Floss. One of whom was portrayed by Andrea Green who would later go on to host continuity links on CITV in 2000.

My only real memory of this show featured the contestants doing some kind of assault course which I seem to remember involved going down a slide in to a ball pool.

The only footage available online at the time of writing is via the CITV 20th Anniversary Birthday Bash where a few short clips were shown.

The second being an even more obscure show is Energize. A sports themed children's gameshow which aired on CITV for one series in 1999. It's surprising that I watched this show as I have never really taken a keen interest in sport. It was presented by athlete Jamie Baulch and according to the UKGameshows.com article. Three teams compete in a range of challenges, such as an archery competition, as well as battling it out on the Energize Challenge Course.

The one vivid mental image I have of this show is at the the very end of each episode. Where the winning team would crack open a bottle of fizzy pop (in the same way a Formula 1 driver would with champagne) and proceed to spray it all over Jamie.

All that exists online is two low res images.

If you can help out with footage or memories of these shows. Let me know!

Jack's Throwback Attack Podcast (Episode 5) - A Chat With Richard O'Brien

Or alternatively. Listen to the chat on Youtube. 

The third and final interview I have related to The Crystal Maze. Seeing as it's Christmas, it has to be quite a special one I'm incredibly proud to present an interview with original maze master Richard O'Brien.

Richard is one of my heroes. Being a long time fan of both The Crystal Maze and The Rocky Horror Show. I never thought in a million years our paths will cross, but they have. I am incredibly lucky and never did I think when I started this blog earlier this year. Such a thing would happen.

But how did it happen? Well the whole idea of doing a series of Crystal Maze interviews never dawned on me after I interviewed David G. Croft. I thought that would be the only interview I'd ever get. With Richard being a native of New Zealand now and Ed Tudor-Pole known for being reluctant to talk about his time on the show.

But Richard was on my list of names of people I'd like to interview. I thought the idea of recording an overseas phone or skype call would be possible. So with the help of a friend, I acquired his agents details and sent off an email. I got a reply back within 48 hours. Richard was due to visit the UK later in the year I was told by his (incredibly helpful and polite. I have to say) agent and could I message back sooner to the time.

So about 3 months later, I emailed again. I explained who I was and what I was doing and that I am able to record a telephone conversation quite easily. The email response I got back, knocked me back and I had to re-read it a number of times to take it in. Richard had asked his agent to ask me if I'd like to do it IN PERSON at his hotel in London when he was back in the country for a few weeks.

I pretty much agreed to do it before even asking if I could have the time off work (I run this blog as a hobby). So three weeks later, I set off to London incredibly early in the morning. I arrived about two hours before the interview was due to take place. So I sat in a Wetherspoons and had breakfast while writing what I was going to ask him. I figured it would be nice to chat about his life and Rocky Horror as well as The Crystal Maze. I decided to write more questions about the latter as there are already several interviews with Richard purely about The Rocky Horror Show and very few about The Crystal Maze.

Half an hour before we're due to meet and the nerves start kicking in. I slowly walk to the hotel Richard was staying at. I turn up about ten minutes early, so stand outside a few minutes, pacing back and forth. I then enter the hotel. Just as I am asking the hotel receptionist for Richard. There he comes walking down the stairs. Smiling at everyone in the lobby. He walks straight past me (well he didn't know what I looked like) and begins looking around for me. I chase after him going "Richard! Richard!".

He turns around "Oh hello! Are you Jack?". "Yes I am" I respond. He shakes my hand and tells me to come upstairs and he takes me to a communal sitting room in the hotel. A very cosy one. Complete with big chairs and sofas. Old books on shelves and a big fire place. Richard tells me to make myself comfy. Asks if I want a drink and if I want the fire on. Being a bit lost for words that RICHARD O'BRIEN is bending over backwards for me. I respond "Erm.....tea please!".

This. Is. Surreal.

Richard runs off and a few minutes later returns with a hotel staff member to put the fire on for us both. Before we start the interview we make the usual small talk. Richard had landed in the UK the previous day and was still tired and jet lagged (he is also, as of 2018, 76 years of age!).

Actually by complete coincidence. Just before I arrived at the hotel. I walked past a chocolate shop which has a Rocky Horror inspired advert in the window (Halloween was coming up).

I decided to take a photo to show Richard. Which I did. He smiled and said his daughter had seen a similar thing in Brighton. A chocolate shop with chocolate statues of all the Rocky Horror characters!

Richard explained he was in the UK for a theatre play. Whether it was to be in it, or be a part in the production. He didn't say. I don't think he even said which play come to think of it and that there'd been a bit of a mix up and a theatre hadn't even been booked!

So I'm setting up my recording device (a Tascam which I had bought especially for this) and decide to set my mobile phone to record too. Just as a back up. I start my phone recording and Richard responds "Oh, I don't like that". I ask him what he meant. He didn't like seeing the recording timer on my phone counting up. "When you get to my age, you don't want to see time passing like that". A fair point. So I turn the phones screen off.

So I start recording and we start chatting. About 10 minutes in to the chat. A staff member appears with the tea I had asked for and sets it on the table. Richard asks if I'd like to pause so I could drink it and remarks "Oh, how lovely, they've event brought you a little cake!".

So after a few quick sips of tea. I start recording again. In fact, I recorded this chat in three blocks. Just in case any part were to screw up in the recording process. I'd rather part of it be screwed than the whole thing. We must have chatted for well over an hour.

Once we'd finished. I asked Richard if he wouldn't mind signing some things for me. Which he happily agreed too. I had brought with me. An original Crystal Maze book called Crystal Maze Challenge. He signed that for me. As he was signing the book he looked at the photos of himself on the Crystal Maze set and said to me "You know, I was 50 when I did that! I could still run faster than the contestants!" We also had a photo together. Admittedly I'm not a great selfie taker.

After that. He left a tip for the staff member who brought the tea. Going through a handful of coins, he remarks to me "What coins that? Is it tuppence? They've changed the design!".

After that, he kisses the back of my hand and we say goodbye to each other and with that he was gone. Very quickly, some hotel guests appeared wanting to use the seating area we had been sat at. So I very hurriedly packed my things and left. Checking my bag constantly that my Tascam was definitely in there.

I actually almost went straight home. Apart from popping in to a Forbidden Planet store. Where I spent a good 10 minutes walking around. Not even taking in what I'm looking at as it hits me that I've just interviewed a living legend. Responsible for writing one of the most successful musicals in the world and presenting a cult game show which has remained a favourite for almost 30 years. After that, I headed home.

So what was Richard like in person? They often say "Never meet your heroes, you'll be disappointed". In this case, that is so far from the truth. Richard comes across as nothing but charming. He didn't have to make that much time for me. Especially with the severe jet lag he was probably going through at the time. But he did. Despite being someone who had enjoyed some big successes in his life and is regarded as something of a national treasure. None of that has gone to his head and he comes across as very humble and told me a few times he's incredibly lucky to be where he is. I didn't see the Richard O'Brien known for his flamboyance and extrovert nature that day. I saw a different side to him. A quiet, shy and gentle man. Who reflected with great nostalgia and a warm smile. His life and extraordinary career which he felt he'd just stumbled in to.

It's a day I'll never forget.

Thank you Richard and thank you to his agent Helen too!

Jack's Throwback Attack Podcast (Episode 4) - A Chat With David G. Croft

Alternatively. You can listen to the chat on Youtube. 

Following on from my chat with former Crystal Maze contestant Bob Lishman. Which can be found here. The second interview I have is a chat with David G. Croft.

Image Credit - David G. Croft

David worked on the original series of The Crystal Maze for the whole six series run. Being responsible for co-creating it and creating some of the games for the show. As well as directing the first two series. Producing Series 3 and 4. Before being both the director and producer for Series 5 and 6.

In this chat. We discuss how The Crystal Maze format was devised. Why Richard O'Brien and Ed Tudor-Pole were chosen to present. The process of how the show was filmed as well as discussing those infamous Christmas tapes which have been leaked on to Youtube.

David G. Croft has an impressive list of credits to his name. From working on the original Live Aid concert as well as Top of the Pops and Shooting Stars. He is now the Head of Television at the Nation Film and Television School. His website can be found here.