Little Gems - Wish List

I thought I would add an extra page on bits and pieces of information that I have gathered over the years but for which I have precious little else. The children's programs presented below represent some of the serials that I would love the BBC and ITV to bring back to our screens whether it be in the form of a repeat showing or an official DVD release. Anyone having similar material or requests can let me know at the usual address and I will upload it to these pages.

Jonny Briggs written by Joan Eadington - (one of my all time favourite children's dramas)

This was brilliant and why the BBC do not repeat it I will never know as it relates more to kids growing up, going to school, living with a family, arguing with brothers and sisters than all the other current so called dramas (Tracey Beaker being the main one) put together. Written by the brilliant talented Joan Eadington, a series of books were released in the 1970s. The BBC was quick to catch on to their popularity and at first had them read on Jackanory. Bernard Holley read the first story called simply "Jonny Briggs." This proved so popular that he then read another called "Jonny Briggs and the Whitby Weekend" (both book scans shown below). Eventually a series of short episodes were produced in 1985 & 1987 resulting in what was very much a children's soap of the day. Most of the action took place in either the classroom at Jonny's school or back in Jonny's home with mum and dad.

Jonny Briggs (played by Richard Holian) had a pet dog called Razzle who was the type of dog every school child wanted. Jonny's older brother was called Humphrey played by Jeremy Austin, he was more in touch with his feelings and liked getting involved in debating and literature. Albert played by Tommy Robinson was very much the idlest of the brothers and was always up to some scheme to either get out of doing jobs or trying to make money. The sister (there were several in the books) was called Rita and played by Sue Devaney (latterly Casualty and Dinner Ladies). Mum (played by Jane Lowe) and Dad (played by Leslie Schofield) have been seen in countless television productions and have a list of screen credits a long as your arm. Jonny was haunted by the twins, two girls at school who always seemed to be trying to get the better of him and his family. The girls were played by Adele Parry and Rachel Powell. There was also another girl in Jonny's class who was forever saying that according to her mum who is a nurse...and the whole class would groan.

There were two seasons of Jonny Briggs shown on Mondays and Tuesday (thanks to Radio Times here). Season one ran for 13 episodes whereas Season two (shown in 1987) ran for 20 or so episodes. In fact the show was so good that in 1987 it was nominated for a BAFTA in the Best Children's Programme (Entertainment/Drama) section.

These episodes could be so simply converted to DVD in the same way others have been (Shoebox zoo, The Railway Children etc.). But I guess they probably won't be, they'll continue gathering dust somewhere in the archives, lost but definitely not forgotten by some of us.

I'm afraid this is all I have from this wonderful children's drama from the BBC. Written by Brian Wright, this children's serial came to our screens on a Wednesday back in 1976. The series had six episodes and was set in the year of 1845. It is not very well remembered by children for that era which is a bit odd since it was a great piece of BBC children's drama. The story takes place around the canals of Warwick & Birmingham. The series was produced by Anna Home who was also executive producer on "Lizzie Dripping", producer on "The Changes", The Moon Stallion, The Strange Affair of Adelaide Harris, The Enchanted Castle, A Little Silver Trumpet...the list goes on and on and better and better. It is hard to believe that one individual could have been so involved with the development of such great children's titles.

Written by	Brian Wright

Betsy Russel	Maxine Gordon
Tom Brill	Andrew O'Connor
Dan Trugg	Peter Berry
Colonel Russell	Eric Porter
Aunt Sarah	Gwen Cherrell
Mary Brill	Barbara Hickmott
Walter Crumlow	Don McKillop
Joe Collingtree	Brian Hayes
Charlie the Mule	William Wilde

Music by	Jack Emblow
Designer	Geoff Powell
Producer	Anna Home
Director	John Prowse

This BBC serial was slightly different in its approach as it was a series of eight episodes made into four two parters. It was shown on BBC1 back in 1983 on a Tuesday and Friday. The four stories were called:

The idea for this series must have come from the band of street boys who were often seen in Sherlock Holmes dramas on the big screen. The idea was that the gang of kids would go around helping Sherlock Holmes sort out baffling cases whilst the super sleuth was never actually seen in full on the screen. Set in Victorian London the gang tackled several different types of mysteries including murder and theft. A great little adventure series but it only lasted for a short time.

Queenie played by Debbie Norris also played Mavis in "Jonny Briggs" as well as being "By the Sword Divided" and "Schoolgirl Chums."

Written by	Anthony Read & Richard Carpenter

Arnold Wiggins	Jay Simpson
Beaver	Damion Napier
Shiner	Adam Woodyatt
Sparrow	David Garlick
Queenie	Debbie Norris
Rosie	Suzi Ross
Sherlock Holmes	Roger Ostime
Dr. Watson	Hubert Rees
Professor James Moriarty	Colin Jeavons
Inspector Lestrade	Stanley Lebor

Music by	Alan Roper & David Epps
Designer	Barbara Gosnold
Producer	Paul Stone
Associate Producer	Anthony Gruner
Director	Marilyn Fox (eps 1, 2, 5 & 6 Michael Kerrigan (eps 3, 4, 7 & 8)

Be sure to check in soon as this section will be expanded as there are loads more dramas and children's serials to be covered.


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