Chicken Man (theme tune)

Chicken Man is a tune composed by Alan Hawkshaw which is notable for its use in two popular British TV series since the 1970s. It was recorded in Munich and was part of the Themes International music library. Hawkshaw composed the tune in less than an hour, claiming he 'didn't really know what [he] was doing' and that 'he just wanted to do something quirky'.^[1]

It became well known as the theme to long-running children's series Grange Hill. In its original version it was used as the main title music between 1978 and 1988, when it was replaced by a re-recorded version. After being replaced by a completely different theme tune, it made a reappearance in the final series of Grange Hill in 2008.

Chicken Man was then also used as the theme to early series of quiz show Give Us A Clue, despite the fact that it was already being used on Grange Hill. It lasted as the theme tune from 1979 until 1982, when new producer/director commissioned an entirely new theme tune.

Most recently, the tune has been used as a jingle in the El Árbol supermarket chain in Spain throughout 2010.

References

1. ^ http://www.danielpemberton.com/thesoundofyourtv.html