- Nina and the Neurons
-
Nina and the Neurons Country of origin Scotland Production Running time 15 minutes Broadcast Original channel CBeebies Nina and the Neurons is a programme shown on the CBeebies channel aimed at four to six-year-olds to help them understand basic science. Nina is a neuroscientist[1] who enlists the help of her Neurons (five animated characters representing the senses) in her brain to answer a scientific question.
The show is produced by Lucille McLaughlin, who has also produced the children's programmes Balamory and Me Too![citation needed]. The series is commissioned by CBeebies Controller, Michael Carrington[citation needed].
Contents
Synopsis
The beginning of the programme is based at Glasgow Science Centre where Nina conducts experiments in front of an audience of children. At the end of the lecture Nina is 'contacted' by a child, who appears on a television screen asking a science-related question. Nina then chooses one or more of five Neurons based upon which of the senses is most appropriate to answer the question. Nina then visits the child and with the help of their friends and family (called the 'experimenters') uses simple and fun experiments to answer the child's question. At the end of each show the Neurons discuss what they have done and the individual role they have played.
Characters and cast
The main character of Nina is played by Scottish actress Katrina Bryan. Nina wears either a white lab coat with brightly coloured cuffs and lapels in her lab, or one of a bright yellow coat or blue jacket when outside. In the programme, Nina drives either a pale blue 1970s Volkswagen Type 2 (Transporter) minibus or a New MINI, both bearing numberplates reading 'NINA', or rides a bicycle in the Go ECO! version.
The Neurons are computer animated characters (stylised with human facial features and body, but no legs) and are named to reflect the five senses which they represent:
Felix, voiced by James Dreyfus in the first series but subsequently by Lewis MacLeod represents touch. He speaks in a posh accent and is particular about his appearance.
Belle, voiced by Kelly Harrison represents hearing. She is loud and can be bossy.
Luke, voiced by Patrice Naiambana, represents sight and is the group leader. His character is laid back and relaxed.
Ollie, voiced by Siobhan Redmond represents smell. She is described as 'sweet, self assured and a bit of a goth.'[2] She is the elder sister of Bud.
Bud, voiced by Sharon Small represents the taste neuron. He is the youngest Neuron and can be enthusiastic and easily excited.
Bud and Ollie are often chosen together by Nina due to the way taste and smell work together.
Awards and nominations
- BAFTA Scotland 2007
- BAFTA Scotland 2008
-
- Nominated as Best Children's Programme[5]
Exhibits
There is a themed Nina & the Neurons activity trail at the Glasgow Science Centre.[citation needed]
Episodes
The show began on February 26, 2007 and ended on March 30, 2007. The 2nd series began airing on Cbeebies on March 31, 2008 and ended on May 2, 2008 it was followed by Nina and the Neurons Go Eco, on 13 June 2008 as part of CBeebies' year-long green initiative called EcoBeebies, the Eco series ended on August 15, 2008. A fourth series called Nina and the Neurons Go Inventing started on May 18, 2009 where Nina invites several young inventors to her lab to discover how things work by inventing their own versions, the series ended on June 19, 2009. The fifth series, In The Lab, was broadcast from 27th September 2010 to 10th December 2010.
(The titles for Series 1 and 2 are from Digiguide[6])
Series 1 (February 26, 2007- March 30, 2007)
- All Bunged Up
- Amazing Maze
- Birthday Surprise
- Bud Needs Help
- Colours
- Different Tastes
- Distance
- Do We All Smell Different?
- Echoes
- Eyebrows
- Granny's Glasses
- Making Music
- Monster Hunt
- Nina Needs A Wee
- Shadows
- Snowballs
- Spy Kit
- Stars
- Staying Cool
- Too Much Salt
- Trumpet
- Wakey Wakey
- What's Cooking?
- Where's The Bad Smell?
- Why Is My Tongue Wet?
Series 2 (March 31, 2008- May 2, 2008)
- Baby
- Brilliant Bones
- Bubble Trouble
- Digging Dogs
- Finding Flowers
- Fun In The Sun
- Funny Honey
- Getting Goosebumps
- Hide And Seek
- I Can See A Rainbow
- In A Spin
- Let's Hear It For Ears
- Lovely Lollies
- Making Waves
- Nina Gets Nosey
- Nina's Cake Bake
- Rumbling Thunder
- Smelly Feet
- Splish Splash
- Terrific Teeth
- Touching Clouds
- Tremendous Toes
- Tummy Rumbles
- What A Fright
- When The Wind Blows
Go Eco series (June 15, 2008- August 15, 2008)
- Brancing Out
- Every Drop Counts
- Food Glorious Food
- Flying High
- Furry Old Mould
- Keeping Cosy
- Monkey Business
- Mouldly Food
- Recycling
- Something Fishy
- Super Slimy Slugs
Go Inventing (May 18, 2009- June 19, 2009)
- Bouncy Beds
- Buckle Up
- Clean It Up
- Cooking With Waves
- Dirty Dishes
- Extraordinary X-Rays
- Eyes in The Dark
- Get Wet
- Handy Handles
- Hot and Cold
- Hubble Bubble
- In a Flush
- In The Box
- Keys
- Lift Off
- Loud and Clear
- Mirror Mirror
- Near and Far
- Pen and Paper
- Round and Round
- Sliding Doors
- Swish Swish
- Time For Cogs
- Top Taps
- Wheels
In The Lab (September 27, 2010 - December 10, 2010)
- Melty Chocolate
- Sleepy Dust
- Rattling Pan
- Episode 4
- Sugar and Teeth
- Super Sand
- Ferocious Fire
- Soap Suds
- --
- Grass Stains
- Salty Sea
- Wobbly Jelly
- Steamy Mirrors
- Fragrant Flowers
- Noisy Foods
- Popcorn Pops
- Sniffing Smells
- Mighty Metal
- Sticky Jam
- Bubbles Burst
- Onions Make Us Cry
- Wrinkly Fingers
- Glow Stars
- Wet Paint
- Marvellous Milk
References
- ^ [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ "The Lloyds TSB BAFTA Scotland Awards 2007". BAFTA Scotland. http://www.baftascotland.co.uk/archive/scotland-awards-2007/nominations-winners. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
- ^ "Last King rules at Scots Baftas". BBC News. 19 November 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7101198.stm. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
- ^ "The Lloyds TSB BAFTA Scotland Awards 2008". BAFTA Scotland. http://www.baftascotland.co.uk/awards/Awards-2008/nominations. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
- ^ "Nina and The Neurons Episode Guide". Digiguide. 2009. http://library.digiguide.com/lib/episodes/Nina+and+The+Neurons-592432. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- ^ "Nina and The Neurons Go Eco! Episode Guide". Digiguide. 2009. http://library.digiguide.com/lib/episodes/Nina+and+The+Neurons+Go+Eco%21-650208. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- ^ "Nina and The Neurons Go Inventing Episode Guide". Digiguide. 2009. http://library.digiguide.com/lib/episodes/Nina+and+The+Neurons+Go+Inventing-702824. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- ^ "Nina and The Neurons In The Lab - Episodes from 2010". BBC. 2010. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00v4vwl/episodes/2010. Retrieved 2010-01-07.
External links
BBC Scotland current television programmes Drama Comedy Limmy's Show · Legit · Only an Excuse? · Rab C. Nesbitt · Empty · The Old Guys · Gary: Tank Commander · Happy HollidaysNews & current affairs Reporting Scotland · Newsnight Scotland · BBC Scotland Investigates · The Politics Show Scotland · Holyrood LiveHistory Lifestyle Game shows Gaelic (BBC Alba) Air Bhàrr nan Tonn · Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail · An Là · Seachd Là · Can Seo · Cunntas · Dè a-nis? · Dotaman · Eòrpa · Rapal · Spòrs · Rugby Beo · Rathad an Sutha · Cuide ri CathyChildren's Music Sport See also: List of BBC Scotland programmesCategories:- BBC children's television programmes
- Science education television series
- BBC television programme stubs
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