- Crackerjack (TV series)
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This article is about the BBC television series. For crackerjack, see Crackerjack (disambiguation).
Crackerjack 
Prizegiving on Crackerjack with Eamonn Andrews c1958Format Entertainment Created by John Downes Presented by Eamonn Andrews (1955 - 1964)
Leslie Crowther (1964 - 1968)
Michael Aspel (1968 - 1974)
Ed Stewart (1975 - 1979)
Stu Francis (1980 - 1984)Country of origin United Kingdom No. of series 29 No. of episodes 400+ Production Location(s) BBC Television Theatre Running time 40 minutes Broadcast Original channel BBC1 Picture format 4:3 Original run 14 September 1955 – 21 December 1984 Crackerjack was a British children's comedy/variety BBC television series. It started on 14 September 1955 and ran for over 400 shows, first in B&W and later in colour, until 21 December 1984.
Contents
Presenters
Through its long run it featured Eamonn Andrews, Max Bygraves, Leslie Crowther, Ed "Stewpot" Stewart, Joe Baker, Jack Douglas, The Balloon Man, Stu Francis, Peter Glaze, Don Maclean, Michael Aspel, Jacqueline Clarke, Rosko, Little and Large, Jan Hunt, The Krankies, Basil Brush, Geoffrey Durham, Bernie Clifton, Rod McLennan and Ronnie Corbett amongst many others. Among the women who appeared as singers/dancers, assisting the host with games, were Julie Dorne-Brown (later MTV VJ "Downtown" Julie Brown); Sally Ann Triplett (who as a member of the duo Bardo represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1982); Leigh Miles (also a popular "Hills Angel" in the Benny Hill show); Jillian Comber and Sara Hollamby (now a television news and travel reporter).
Introduction
The show was introduced with the phrase "It's Friday, it's five o'clock. . . It's Crackerjack!", or sometimes with "It's Friday, it's five to five. . . It's Crackerjack!"
Format
The shows were filmed in front of an audience largely of children, at the BBC Television Theatre (now the Shepherds Bush Empire) and were quite frantic. The format of the programme included competitive games for teams of children, a music spot, a comedy double act, and a finale in which the cast performs a short comic play, adapting popular songs of the day and incorporating them into the action. One of the highlights of the show was a section called Don and Pete, being Don Maclean and Peter Glaze in a silent comedy style section which saw the lead actors playing different parts each week, for example fishing, as sweepers, barbers, at a riding school, on a building site, on a farm, at a circus, window cleaners, bellboys, removals, etc.
One of the most memorable games was a quiz called "Double or Drop", where each contestant is given a prize to hold for each question answer correctly, but given a cabbage if they answer incorrectly. They are out of the game if they drop any of the items they are holding or receive a third cabbage.
In 1982, in a bid to try and boost flagging ratings, Crackerjack introduced gunge into its games and launched a new game called 'Take a Chance' in which the celebrity guests could score extra points for the contestant they teamed up with. Failure to answer questions correctly would lead to Stu Francis and/or the celebrity guest being covered in gunge.
Catchphrases
Crackerjack may also have been the originator of the popular English phrase "Don't get your knickers in a twist".[original research?] In the Don and Pete sketches, Peter Glaze, who usually played a pompous or upper-class character, would always get exasperated with his comedy partner Don Maclean's wisecracks or apparent stupidity. Maclean would then give an alliterative reply, such as "Don't get your knickers in a knot" or "Don't get your tights in a twist", the combination of which has passed into popular culture. Peter Glaze often uttered "Doh!" to Don's wisecracks. Peter appeared in the show from 1960, in a double act with later presenter Leslie Crowther. In 1978, Bernie Clifton (and his ostrich) took Don McClean's place for the final two series with Ed Stewart. The stand-up routine was briefly replaced by that of Little and Large in the early 1970s, when there was a series briefly hosted by Radio 1 DJ Emperor Rosko.[citation needed] When Stu Francis took over in 1980, The Krankies provided the stand-up wisecracks. Stu Francis also did a stand-up routine on occasion, using such catchphrases as "Ooh I Could Crush A Grape/Jump Off A Doll`s House" etc. Later series had similar stuff with Basil Brush, and magic performed by "The Great Soprendo" (Geoffrey Durham). During the earlier years (1955–63), both Ronnie Corbett, and Leslie Crowther had separate stand-up routines. Jo Baker & Jack Douglas also had similar roles when the show started, as well as the Balloon Man, making all sorts of things from balloons. Ed Stewart (much used to entertaining the kids on radio's Junior Choice) also used his catchphrase "Byee!" at the end too. Perhaps the most famous catch phrase was "It's Friday, it's five to five and it's Crackerjack" used at the beginning of each show.
It was an accepted unwritten rule that whenever a presenter spoke the word 'Crackerjack', the audience would shout "Crack-er-jack!" loudly. This custom has passed into popular culture.
Prizes
A standard consolation prize to children who appeared on the show was the Crackerjack Pencil (later upgraded to a Crackerjack pen). These were kept in a special locked cabinet[citation needed] and only handed out to people who had won them and when an official[who?] asked for one once, he was refused.[citation needed]
Talent
In the mid to late seventies (c.1977) a talent contest element was added to the show. The strand was called "Crackerjack Young Entertainer of The Year" and featured children from throughout the UK who had successfully passed audition stages, get their shot at stardom on the small screen. Also around this time the series embraced the digital era with contestants playing Pong for prizes. One contestant of note was Don Ward who performed a series of magic tricks. Today he anchors the evening newscasts on KKTV in Colorado Springs, Colorado U.S.A. Although Ward did not move into the semi-finals it was his first appearance on TV ever.
Cancellation
Crackerjack was cancelled in 1984 at the same time as many other long running series, in an overhaul of the BBC Children's department. In 1987 Stu Francis hosted Crush a Grape on ITV, a remake of his era of Crackerjack in all but name. It lasted for two series.
Transmissions
Series Start date End date Episodes 1 14 September 1955 ?? ?? 2 ?? ?? ?? 3 ?? 19 March 1958 ?? 4 ?? ?? ?? 5 1 October 1959 31 March 1960 13 6 29 September 1960 27 April 1961 16 7 19 October 1961 3 May 1962 15 8 13 September 1962 25 April 1963 16 9 10 October 1963 7 May 1964 16 10 9 October 1964 26 March 1965 23 11 1 October 1965 25 March 1966 26 12 7 October 1966 31 March 1967 26 13 6 October 1967 16 February 1968 20 14 13 September 1968 14 March 1969 26 15 26 September 1969 13 February 1970 19 16 7 January 1972 31 March 1972 13 17 2 February 1973 20 April 1973 12 18 4 January 1974 29 March 1974 13 19 3 January 1975 31 March 1975 13 20 24 December 1975 26 March 1976 14 21 7 January 1977 1 April 1977 13 22 6 January 1978 7 April 1978 14 23 29 September 1978 15 December 1978 12 24 28 September 1979 14 December 1979 13 25 26 September 1980 19 December 1980 13 26 2 October 1981 18 December 1981 12 27 22 October 1982 24 December 1982 10 28 30 September 1983 23 December 1983 13 29 28 September 1984 21 December 1984 13 External links
- Crackerjack at BBC Online
- Crackerjack at the Internet Movie Database
- Crackerjack at BFI
- Crackerjack at UKGameshows.com
Categories:- BBC children's television programmes
- BBC television game shows
- 1955 in British television
- 1955 television series debuts
- 1984 television series endings
- 1950s British television series
- 1960s British television series
- 1970s British television series
- 1980s British television series
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