Showing posts with label BBC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BBC. Show all posts

Monday, 18 October 2010

The Broom Cupboard



Simple in concept but highly entertaining in execution, The Broom Cupboard with its cosy but colourful and energetic presentation is an icon of British children's television. Of course, synonymous with The Broom Cupboard is the double act pictured above.

Youthful and fun, Andy Peters was accompanied by the character of Edd the Duck. This was a clever addition as Andy had limited movement in the Broom Cupboard but Edd could burst on and off the screen in a flood of quacks adding an extra layer of dynamism. Moreover, as with the equally beloved pairing of Phillip Schofield and Gordon the Gopher, there was great interplay between Andy and the unruly, childish character of Edd. Finally, a guy called Wilson dressed in a black dinner suit and white gloves would appear from the right; however, you only ever saw, at most, hands, arms and a bit of body - never his face. This was another clever move as Wilson's hidden identity added mystery to the presentation that caught my over-active imagination hook, line and sinker.

Anyway, here are some YouTube videos capturing Andy and Edd in action:








Children's BBC Idents



I feel very lucky to have grown up in what was the brief golden age for children's programming (80's and 90's) when, in particular, Children's BBC was in its prime from its presentation to the programming it featured. I genuinely feel sorry for kids these days as the quality of children's programming has plummeted to inconceivable lows with the likes of CBBC and CITV but poor imitations of their mighty predecessors.

One of my memories of children's programming was the ident which flew on to our screens with colour, funky tunes and a feeling of fun. The ident pictured above is the one I remember most vividly but there are lots more so I thought you might enjoy the following YouTube video: