Programme as a whole still tolerable, though, until the 80s hoved into view and format was tweaked again to bring us oh dear god camp commandant stu francis. As someone said before the whole thing was pure joy from start to finish. Stu francis born 30 january 1951 in bolton, lancashire, england is a british comedian with a camp style of delivery who achieved celebrity as lead presenter on the childrens television programme crackerjack 19801984. So dad, if youre up there i used to be in a band called missing cat you probably saw our posters. Probably best known for its famous prize game double or drop and its comic sketches courtesy of peter glaze and co. This song was first brought out for bbc tvs crackerjack. Crackerjack hosted by stu francis with guests including limahl, touch and keith harris.
Stu francis, keith harris, the adventures, and the kids of orchard primary school, hackney. Crackerjack first aired on bbc one in 1955 and was hosted down the years by eamonn andrews, leslie crowther, michael aspel, ed stewart and stu francis. With bert hayes, peter glaze, jillian comber, leslie crowther. Bbc brings back crackerjack in 6pm slot because children. I can concur with their research showing youtube is the most popular platform for children. First came sedate desks n buzzers 60s incarnation with a few muted sketches and the crackerjack pencils as prizes you couldnt just write in and ask for one, yknow, you had to earn it. Ive since seen that clip on youtube although, unsurprisingly given its origin from a vhs tape in the early 1980s, the quality really wasnt great. The show, a staple of childrens television from 19551984, marked the start of the weekend with its mix of sketches, pop. Bbc bbc to bring back cult tv show crackerjack media centre. The new hosts have been announced as sam nixon and mark rhodes. Stu was born on 30 january 1951, the same day as pop star phil collins. The 80s era of crackerjack with stu francis maybe not as fondly remembered as a classic 70s episode with aspel or stewart, but this is still good festive fun. Grange hill properly scared the shit out of me as a kid.
Jan 07, 2020 the programme was initially hosted by eamonn andrews followed by leslie crowther, michael aspel, ed stewart and, finally, stu francis here femail reveals what they did next. Crackerjacks original presenter criticises revival airing on cbbc. His principal co hosts were initially the krankies and later, on alternating editions, basil brush and the great soprendo. Browse stu francis tour dates and order tickets for upcoming comedy shows near you. The programme was initially hosted by eamonn andrews followed by leslie crowther, michael aspel, ed stewart and, finally, stu francis here femail reveals what they did next. Crackerjack hosted by stu francis with guests including limahl,touch. Feb 12, 2019 tv crackerjack returning to childrens tv after 35 years off the box sam and mark will follow likes of michael aspel and stu francis as hosts. In this clip, the woman celeb wins the challenge but the wrong tank was activated. Crackerjack returning to childrens tv after 35 years off the. Childrens tv favourite crackerjack is to return to the bbc, 35 years after its last.
Crackerjack was originally presented by this is your lifes eamonn andrews. Stu francis has warned new crackerjack hosts sam nixon and mark rhodes to stay away from his catchphrases. Another where i remember the gunging if not the name, was a female assistantcohost who stu francis dragged into the booth so she got messy as well. The 80s era of crackerjack with stu francis maybe not as fondly remembered as a classic 70s episode with aspel or stewart, but this is still. Stu francis, with the krankies and jan michelle, was the last presenter of crackerjack credit. Update 251108 thanks to matjames for letting me know about the clips of stu francis era crackerjack on youtube. Mar 24, 2017 2017 pantomime confirmed at macron stadium.
Cue gunge, shouting, irritating meaningless catchphrases ooh, i could crush a graperip a tissuepummel a peach, the fucking krankies, the great soprendo admittedly the. The krankies with jan michelle and host stu francis in a 1980s edition of crackerjack credit. Stu francis, guest leo sayer and jan michelle on crackerjack in the 1980s. Hosted by stu francis guests include limahl, touch and keith harris. Well im firmly in the stu francis era, born in mid 70s so i was 10 when it ended, but it was my favourite show at that age. Feb 11, 2019 ian and jimmy krankie, jan michelle and stu francis on crackerjack in the 1980s. As well as his main catchphrase, ooh, i could crush a grape. Featuring competitive games for teams of children, a music spot and a comedy double act. Stu francis took the helm in 1979 or 80 and messy games became more a feature of the show possibly in response to the popular anarchy of tiswas although, of course, crackerjack was on fridays, the bbcs swap shop on a saturday morning was ironically. Tv series 19552020 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
Former presenter stu francis says the reboot should return to bbc one instead. Cbbc obviously isnt for me and crackerjack is a kids show, but it does seem hidden away and an early evening weekend slot on bbc one seems right for this. Stu francis born 30 january 1951 in bolton, lancashire, england is a british comedian with a camp style of delivery who achieved celebrity as lead presenter on the childrens television programme crackerjack 19791984. Ooh, i could crush a grape and other highlights of. The shows were broadcast live in front of an audience largely of children, originally at the kings theatre on hammersmith road until 1963, then at the bbc television theatre now the shepherds bush empire. Crackerjack s original presenter criticises revival airing on cbbc. Stewart francis stand up jokes my therapist says i have a preoccupation with vengeance. Presenting duo sam, 32, and mark, 37, are set to front a reboot of the classic kids tv. The weekly pop performance attracted some of the biggest names of the era, whether adam faith. Cbbc obviously isnt for me and crackerjack is a kids show, but it does seem hidden away and an early evening weekend slot. Boltonborn comic who featured on itvs the comedians in the 1970s, but is best known for fronting crackerjack and threatening to crush grapes. It wont be the same without stu francis and jan michelle. Crackerjack hosted by stu francis with guests including limahl,touch and keith harris.
Bbc bbc to bring back cult tv show crackerjack media. Boltons own stu francis to star in aladdin panto at macron. He was followed by leslie crowther, michael aspel, ed stewart and stu francis. It has been announced that kids tv show crackerjack is coming back to tv. Bbc brings back crackerjack in 6pm slot because children are. Stu francis ooh i could crush a grape 7 single 1983. I kind of remember the end of the ed stewart era but was a big stu francis era fan.
Gerry is delighted to be invited back to bolton and macron stadium, the home of pantomime in bolton, to produce this years panto offering aladdin starring boltons own stu francis crackerjack, border tvs crush a. In this southern fairy tale narrated by jeff foxworthy, loveable loser, bill crackerjack bailey iv, inadvertently commits himself to a softballobsessed mens ministry following the news that his girlfriend is pregnant and expects him to growup. Feb 11, 2019 the bbc is reviving cult classic childrens tv show, crackerjack. Boltons stu francis might have been late to the crackerjack party, he was the shows final presenter from 1980 to 1984 but its his many catchphrases that people remember most. The most well known was ooooo, i could crush a grape.
Crackerjack returning to childrens tv after 35 years off. Salutary lesson in how to piss away the goodwill of an entire nation of kids. Bbctelevision stills anita singh, arts and entertainment editor 11 february 2019 5. The format of the programme included competitive games for teams of children, a music spot, a comedy double act, and. So its a bit like an old friend coming back, i just just remember the double or drop era of ed stewpot stewart, but talking down the pub after work with friends from that era with kids now the kids loved it and my mates enjoyed it as well not bad for a cynical group. Take a letter was a game of questions and stunts for the children. Take a chance was a game to gunge stu francis and star guests. A ive popped one on below of take a chance, the game where stu and guests get gunged at the end of the show. Bbc the shows executive producer, sid cole, told radio times that the bbc hopes to attract a wider. It then became the theme song for the spin off series crush a grape made by itv. Mar, 2014 to me, stu francis embodied the eighties. Crackerjack was cancelled in 1984 at the same time as many other longrunning series, in an overhaul of the bbc childrens department. For generations of british schoolchildren, if it was friday, five to.
Peter glaze was the master of the art, the stooge who served twenty years, having his pomposity burst each week by leslie crowther and don maclean and bernie clifton. A chicago policeman, vacationing with his brothers family, is catapulted back into action when their rocky mountain resort is taken. Then do the big announcement at the right time its friday, its 5 to 5 and its crackerjack, and start the show there and simultaneously with cbbc, do all the stuff with the old stars first. Crackerjack star has warning for new hosts of the rebooted. Image caption sam left and mark right will host the show, which stu francis centre last presented. Stu francis ooh i could crush a grape 7 single 1983 youtube. Crackerjack was the long running kids tv comedyvariety show that ran for a mammoth 29 years and over 400 shows. I wonder what jan michelle looks like nowadaysshe was one of my first crushes. Faced with losing his true love or confronting impending fatherhood, crackerjack does what any man would do. I saw a documentary on how ships are kept together. The bbc is to revive the childrens tv show crackerjack, 35 years after it was last aired. Custard pies had been a comedy staple of crackerjack since it began, but gunge and slime and muck didnt arrive in the games until the early 1980s. Apr 07, 2008 the only thing revealing at the moment is two inches of arse crack poking out the top of my pants.
Boltons own stu francis to star in aladdin panto at. Take a chance, the game that replaced double or drop to boost flagging ratings for crackerjack. Feb, 2019 stu francis has warned new crackerjack hosts sam nixon and mark rhodes to stay away from his catchphrases. Crackerjacks original presenter criticises revival airing on. Crackerjack to return, with comedy and sitcom news. Presenting duo sam, 32, and mark, 37, are set to front a. Basically training camp for a life of crime and, eventually, prison. The bbc is reviving cult classic childrens tv show, crackerjack.
Crackerjack hosted by stu francis with guests including limahl,touch and. Crackerjacks original presenter criticises revival airing. Stewart francis jokes stewart francis one liners jokes. Tv crackerjack returning to childrens tv after 35 years off the box sam and mark will follow likes of michael aspel and stu francis as hosts. So when i was offered the chance to interview him i was curious to discover what stu had been up to over the last 30 years crackerjack. The shows were broadcast live in front of an audience largely of children. Ooh, i could crush a grape and other highlights of children. The programme, which originally ran from 1955 until 1984, will be made at mediacityuk in salford by bbc childrens inhouse productions and will be available to watch on cbbc and iplayer. His principal co hosts were initially the krankies and later, on alternating editions, basil brush and. Still does the club circuit and appears in panto every year.
Crackerjack is coming back with sam and mark presenting. Crackerjack hosted by stu francis with guests including. Jan 07, 2020 the krankies with jan michelle and host stu francis in a 1980s edition of crackerjack credit. Boltons stu francis might have been late to the crackerjack party, he was the shows final presenter from 1980 to 1984 but its his. I used to have a job as a pantomime horse, but quit while i was a head. The krankies, jan michelle and stu francis could also return for a slot on the beebs crackerjack relaunch credit. Bbc the shows executive producer, sid cole, told radio times that. The bulk of crackerjack was its comedy performances, a mixture of bad puns, physical slapstick, silly catchphrases, song and dance. In 1987 stu francis hosted crush a grape on itv, which followed a similar format to his era of crackerjack. Then do the big announcement at the right time its friday, its 5 to 5 and its crackerjack, and start the show there and simultaneously with cbbc, do all the stuff with the old stars first the interviews and the gallery sketch. Ian and jimmy krankie, jan michelle and stu francis on crackerjack in the 1980s.
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