Jack's Throwback Attack Podcast - S3 E2 - A Chat With Leah Charles-King

Once again it's podcast time. For the second episode of series three I present to you a chat with Leah Charles-King. 

 

Jack's Throwback Attack · S3 E2 - A Chat With Leah Charles-King

You can also listen via Youtube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. 

Leah presented the continuity links (or the bits in-between the programmes) on CITV between 2001 and 2003. Along side Michael Underwood, Stephen Mulhern, David Leon and Leigh Morrison. This was before the days of the CITV channel, when it was a block of programmes that went out on the main ITV channel between 3:25pm and 5:00pm. 

I was really pleased to finally get a CITV presenter on the podcast as I was always more a CITV watcher. Leah presented the links very much in the era I watched, back when links were broadcast from ITV Central's studios in Gas Street, Birmingham. In this hour long chat she talks about how she went from being in a girl band called Kleshay to presenting on CITV and all the great moments she had along the way including presenting the CITV 20th Birthday Bash. 

The CITV 20th Birthday Bash - 3rd January 2003

Leah also talks about her departure from CITV in 2003 when numerous changes were brought in, Leah then went on to present for The Disney Channel. Soon after this CITV left Birmingham after broadcasting live links there since the 1980's and continuity eventually went to voiceover only for the second time which has remained ever since. 

Leah is on Twitter and Instagram. She also runs the Red Carpet Academy where she teaches people how to improve their presenting skills on camera. 

Brum and Bob The Builder - Now available on BBC iPlayer

 Earlier this year I wrote about how some 90's Children's TV classics were appearing on Britbox. In a continuing trend for old content to be made available on demand. The BBC have now released Brum and Bob The Builder on BBC iPlayer. 

All three series of Brum are available, 56 episodes in total. This is the original Ragdoll Productions version. The first and second series were made in 1991 and 1994 respectively. The show was revived for a third series in 2001. 

All nine series of the original series of Bob the Builder are available to stream which originally aired between 1998 and 2004. This doesn't include Project Build It or Ready Steady Build or any of the other spin off's or recent revival. 

I did have a watch of the first episode of Brum, living fairly close to Birmingham and visiting regularly it always interests me to see places I recognise on TV shows. Maybe one day I'll document the great 90's Kids TV that came from the UK's second biggest city. 

I for one, welcome these shows being made available. I wonder if this is now the future? Instead of DVD releases and repeats on TV, classic shows can be made available to stream whenever. I certainly hope that over time more content is posted. Bodger & Badger and Chucklevision certainly get my vote to be made available on demand. 

Jack's Throwback Attack Podcast - S3 E1 - A Chat With James Mackenzie

 

After a break I'm pleased to announce that my podcasts are back for a brand new series. I've been busy over the summer recording a new batch. I have to say when I started this project I didn't think I'd get one series, let alone three! The first chat is with James Mackenzie.

James will be best known to a generation of children as Raven from the CBBC game show of the same name.

 

Jack's Throwback Attack · S3 E1 - A Chat With James Mackenzie

You can also listen via Youtube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

A big thanks to James for taking time out of his day to chat with me, it all started at a comic con in Wolverhampton in 2019 that James was appearing at. I asked him if he'd like to take part and he said yes, it took a while for us to find a day we were both free but we did in the end and it was certainly worth the wait. Enjoy this joyous nostalgic chat which covers all Raven bases from James's audition for the show to his favourite Challenges. As well as his thoughts on the likes of Game of Thrones and other adventure gameshows like The Crystal Maze. 

You can currently see James on Cbeebies Molly and Mack. You can find him on Twitter as well. 

What have I been up to lately?

I haven't written a blog post in ages so thought I best change that and provide some updates on my recent activities.

The good news is... the podcast is coming back! I've been recording some new interviews and I hope to have the third series start around September time. 

I've always been working on some more video content. I spent about four weeks creating a look back at Art Attack for the 30th anniversary of the show which has gone down very well. I'd like to do more videos looking back at specific shows but they are time consuming to do, so they won't be very often due to me juggling work and other hobbies. I hope to do at least a few down the line. 

I also spent some time creating a full episode guide to Zzzap!, which can be found here!

Enjoy and stay safe!

Retro CITV Favourites Coming To Britbox Soon

Just a quick blog post as I'm pleased to hear the news that Britbox is soon going to be putting a range of old CITV shows from the 1990's on the streaming subscription service.

It lists the likes of The Worst Witch, Jungle Run, Wizadora, Children's Ward and Tots TV will be available from May 7th. The full story can be found here.

https://www.itv.com/presscentre/britbox/press-releases/classic-kids-tv-coming-britbox-uk?fbclid=IwAR0D_9k2W5IqU9e9qdou_d241kbeN9Uo_LEi_HQBkx3ST9w1U4FqnjThXgI

The first episode of Jungle Run is to be added. Which was
originally presented by Dominic Wood. 

I don't have Britbox but it makes me very tempted to sign up. I wonder if this will be an incentive to upload some more old CITV shows. Only time will tell, but this is a great step in the right direction not only for nostalgic old fools like me, but it's also an opportunity to introduce these shows to a new audience too.

Another show listed to be added is Tots TV. A popular
preschool show which originally aired between 1993-1998
on CITV.

Jack's Throwback Attack Podcast - S2 E7 - A Chat With Rebecca Nagan

It's the final podcast of this series and to wrap things up nicely, I am enormously proud to present a chat with puppeteer Rebecca Nagan.


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

Rebecca's best known work is being the hands and voice behind Rosie in the popular 90's kids TV show Rosie and Jim which she did for 10 years. A role she actually fell in to with no prior puppeteering experience! We chat at length about what it was like on that show and also about some of her other puppeteering work on the likes of Bug Alert!, Live and Kicking, Barnaby Bear and The Hoobs. 

A big thanks to Rebecca for taking the time out to chat with me and for saying my accent reminds her of Frank Skinner! 😂

Enjoy!

As this is the last in the series, I'm going to be taking a break from the blogging, podcasting and youtubing for a bit. I shall be back soon though.

Jack's Throwback Attack Podcast - S2 E6 - A Chat With Simon Buckley

In the penultimate episode of this series of podcasts, I am joined by puppeteer Simon Buckley. Who has a puppetry CV longer than the M6 motorway.



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

OK, maybe a slight exaggeration but a look at his website shows that he has worked on some of the most popular TV shows, films and adverts over the last thirty five years or so.

Simon started out on the likes of the film Labyrinth and TV comedy Spitting Image. Before landing roles in the educational programme You and Me and entering the world of Saturday morning TV, being both the hands and voice behind Nobby the Sheep on Ghost Train and also Gimme 5 for six years. This wasn't Simon's only foray in to Saturday mornings as he also operated Jarvis the Monkey on Mashed for two years.

A show which I love and think is hugely underrated is Roger and The Rottentrolls which Simon worked heavily on. Being the puppet co-ordinator for the show. His roles included operating characters Yockenthwaite and Commander Harris (voiced by John Thompson and Phil Cornwall respectively).

Simon operating Yockenthwaite
on Roger and The Rottenrolls

Through the 2000's Simon worked on the likes of Ripley and Scuff, The Fimbles, Bear Behaving Badly and the revival of Emu.

More recently Simon has changed careers and become an Anglican priest and runs St.Anne's church in Soho, London. He still occasionally can be seen using some of his puppetry talent in his current work as well!

Simon's website can be found here