PROGRAMMES: 1980s
Swim1980 Andrew Harvey is best known as a newscaster but years ago he donned a tracksuit to present this instructional show, designed for swimmers of all abilities. Although broadcast mainly as a schools programme, Swim did gain a few adult education slots and was last seen on BBC2 in the late 80s/early 90s.
Maths Topics1980 One of the first schools programmes designed for use with video recorders. Stewart Hardy Films produced the animations which explained mathematical concepts to older students. A fearsome Northern voice narrated.
Maths Topics would follow Look And Read on Tuesday mornings during Spring Term 1981.
Maths File1980
A mathematical comedy-drama featuring the exploits of Inspector Fred Newton (Tony Hughes) of the Maths Squad. Each week Newton would solve a number-related mystery with WPC Susan Jones and the lab assistant. On the right no less than 90 seconds of the theme tune.
Look And Read: The Boy From Space1980 Perhaps the most famous of all the Look And Read stories. The Boy From Space was first shown in 1971; although made in colour its first broadcast was in black and white. In 1980 the film inserts were repackaged and could be seen in their full glory. Wordy presented from his space probe, WordLab 1, with his assistant Cosmo.
So who was this boy from space? He was Peep-Peep, named by the two children who discover him, Dan and Helen. He's crashed to earth after the Thin Space Man tries to steal Peep-Peep's father's meteorite collection. Soon Dan and Helen and taken hostage by The Thin Man aboard the space ship. Helen was played by a very young Sylvestra le Touzel, with Stephen Garlick as Dan.
Look And Read: Dark Towers1981 Dark Towers followed the adventures of Tracy, her dog Towser, and the ghosts of Dark Towers. Christopher Biggins also appeared. This clip is from the CBBC channel.
It's Your Choice1981 A careers advice series for school-leavers. Download if only to hear a great orchestral version of "Lord Of The Dance"!
Heute Direkt1982 News in English from the German Democratic Republic. Programme TX (transmission) on BBC Schools on BBC1 was the following morning of Heute Direkt being shown. The series reflected German news and current affairs from across the region.
Exploring Science1982 Exploring Science is very similar in concept to the other science programmes on this page. This series covered general science. The series was aimed at primary school children. The mechanical countdown clock in the titles takes me back to my primary days!
Words And Pictures1982 Are you a Cool Cat or a Lazy Lion? Whichever you are, you'll remember with fondness the legendary pre-school series which introduced these characters and more. The series continues today, a pale shadow of its former self and sanitized to fit in with National Curriculum targets.
Maths Help1982 Advice for teenagers taking maths exams - not sure whether this was a series for A-level or O-level pupils.
Everyday Maths1982 More maths for you! A series applying mathematical problems to everyday situations; such as saving up for a new guitar.
Watch1983 Just a few bits of plasticine were needed for this memorable sequence in the 1980s. The theme music, "Prima Ballerina", was also used for ITV Schools intervals.
Look And Read: Fair Ground!1983 The next Look And Read was the last before Schools moved to BBC2. It's Easter and Thurston's Fair comes to town, but it's under threat from the evil Mr Turnbull who wants to buy the field where it is held and turn it into an office block. Can Ozzie Watson, whose mum owns the land, stop him?
Wayne Laryea (Pipkins' Johnny) presented the teaching inserts. Handling Wordy was a doddle compared to Hartley Hare!
Look And Read: Badger Girl1984
Another Look And Read classic. The story followed the adventures of city girl Debbie (nicknamed Badger Girl because of her hairstyle) on a farm holiday in Dartmoor. She befriends a badger named Stripey and gets caught up in a pony rustling scam. Julia Millbank played Debbie. The series was shown continuously until 1992, and since 2003 has enjoyed reruns on the CBBC channel.
Landmarks1985 Another long runner - a history series first seen in the 1980s covering everything from the Gunpowder plot to environmental concerns.
Junior Craft, Design and Technology1985 Not to be confused with ITV's "Craft, Design & Technology" made by Thames. In an attempt to avoid confusion, the BBC referred to their show by the subtitle, in this case "Up And Down The Hill".
Realidades de Espana1985 A documentary series for advanced Spanish students. It might also have been shown on Sunday mornings on BBC1.
You And Me1986 A radical overhaul and a politically correct - sorry, multicultural, feel for You and Me, with chart-toppers UB40 performing the theme tune. Gary Wilmot presented with puppets Cosmo and Dibs, who in time would introduce some of their relatives.
The Geography Programme1986 This one does what it says on the tin. From a 1986 recording but the programme may pre-date this.
Science Workshop1987 Science Workshop was the replacement for Science All Around, with Fergus O'Kelly. Children were introduced to some of the processes, skills and concepts of science at their level. Practical work was encouraged through the series to help children grasp scientific ideas. Programme support material was supplied. The series changed its name to Search Out Science for term beginning 1988/89.
Investigating Science1987 Programmes were arranged in groups of three, which adopted a scheme of work that was process-led. Each group of programmes focused on these processes - observation, classification, measurment, prediction and modelling. Programmes were twenty minutes in duration. A special programme for teachers was also produced to introduce the series, its concepts and aims.
Look, Look and Look Again1988 The premise that observation and recording is the basis of good art work is the starting point for this series. A variety of subject matter, technique and medium, as used in classroom and by adult artists, is explored throughout the series. Eight programmes were produced.
Look And Read: Geordie Racer1988 The more memorable schools TV series from the BBC. The programmes were aimed at lower end primary school children (7-9 +). Pupils with some reading ability but lack of fluency and motivation to read are stimulated to do so by the programme topics. Dramatised for television, the original stories were supplied in the resource packs that accompanied the series (sold seperately). Books and software were also availble.
Logo1988 A series aimed at total beginners in computer programming. Ten to eleven year olds presented the programmes, sharing their experiences with the audience. Logokids was also produced for the BBC Micro, which was found in most UK schools. The series begain life in 1987 and was repeated in 1988 - 89 term. The usual teacher's notes were available for a modest 90p.
Textile Studies1989 Five programmes about the uses of fabric and thread. It is presented by Keith Chegwin and is aimed at boys and girls of all abilities. Note the guy?? on the far right of the image - LOL.