Whirligig (TV series)

Whirligig was a BBC television programme for children broadcast from November 1950 until 1956.[1] It was the first children's programme to be broadcast live from the BBC's Lime Grove Studios, at 5:00 pm on alternate Saturdays.[2]


Premise

The show was conceived by producer Michael Westmore as the first children’s magazine programme, with linking scenes presented by Humphrey Lestocq, who was the stooge of the obnoxious puppet Mr. Turnip, voiced by Peter Hawkins.[3] Lestocq's catchphrase was "Goody, Goody Gumdrops" and Mr. Turnip's was "Lawky, Lawky, Lum".[2]

The series took the form of individual shows:

  • Box of Tricks: a magic show hosted by Geoffrey Robinson. (1950-1953, 1955-1956)
  • Hank the Cowboy - a cutout animated series, written, drawn, composed and voiced by Francis Coudrill. (1950-1954)
  • Mr. Lumber’s Shop - a series starring John Le Mesurier and Marcel Stellman. (1951)
  • In Search of the Shadow - a serial in six parts. (1951)
  • Stranger from Space - Britain’s first ever science fiction serial, which starred Brian Smith as Ian Spencer and Michael Newell as his alien friend Bilaphodorus, who had crashed on Earth. 17 episodes were produced.[2] (1951-1952)[4]
  • Big Top - a series starring Reginald Dyson as Charlie Carter, Clive Dunn as Sammy Smith, Phillip Coral as Bobbin and John Gabriel as Alf Harper. 7 episodes were produced. (1952)
  • The Steve Race Corner - hosted by Steve Race, pianist for the show. Later renamed Room For Music. (1952-1955)
  • The Highwayman’s Bargain - a serial in six parts starring John Franklyn as Dick Turpin. (1953)[5]
  • Secrets of the Centuries - a serial in five parts starring Alan Judd. (1953)
  • Sooty - presented by Harry Corbett. (1953-1954)
  • Colonel Crock - based on the book by Annette Mills, which moved to Associated-Rediffusion in 1959. (1953)
  • Jeremy Make-Believe - a series starring Colin Gibson as Jeremy and Peter Hawkins as Albert. (1955)
  • Willoughby - presented by Rolf Harris in his children’s television debut, Willoughby was a drawing board that came to life. (1955-1956)
  • Can We Help You? - a series starring Peter Hawkins, with James Ottaway as Clibber and Raymond Rollett as Sly. (1956)

None of the 91 episodes are believed to have survived in the form of recordings.

References
  1. Sharp, David, "Michelmore, Cliff (1919–)", BFI Screenonline, retrieved 28 February 2014
  2. "Whirligig", Whirligig-tv.co.uk, retrieved 28 February 2014
  3. "Peter Hawkins", The Telegraph, retrieved 24 March 2014
  4. "Whirligig - 20th December 1952". Retrieved 2 July 2023.
  5. "Whirligig - 28th March 1953". Retrieved 2 July 2023.
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