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Look and Read (1967-2004)
Look and Read (1967-2004)
Look and Read was a BBC Television programme for primary schools, aimed at improving children's literacy skills. The programme presented fictional stories in a serial format, the first of which was broadcast in 1967 and the most recent in 2004, making it the longest-running nationally broadcast programme for schools in the United Kingdom.
Each serial's episodes were divided into two instalments with an educational section in the middle to teach children the relevant material. Teachers were also provided with story books, or "pupil pamphlets", for each serial, from which they could provide their pupils the story as well as exercises and games. The plots of the stories were written to appeal to children, initially inspired by adventure serials, and often featured puzzles for the characters to solve using their reading skills, which was also reflected in the material given to pupils. Each serial was also written with a limited vocabulary in mind, each of the keywords paced through the piece a certain number of times so they held a certain relevance above other words.
During the 1970s the programme began to bring in many new elements for a new generation of viewers. Popular new educational songs were introduced which would remain until into the 90s as well as the character Wordy (or Mr Watchword, voiced by Charles Collingwood). When The Boy From Space was revised in 1979, Wordy (redesigned) was joined by Cosmo (Phil Cheney) aboard the space station Wordlab 1.
In the 1980s and early 1990s the plots also started to contain contemporary issues such as pollution. Towards the latter part of the 1990s the programme began to steer away from some of the elements of the past by, in some cases, removing songs and combining teaching elements with the story segment of the programme. The producers also began making use of the internet as a teaching aid for the programme, allowing children to access games and material through a dedicated website, although the BBC have since removed the sites due to dwindling use, to the dismay of some teachers.
Richard Carpenter and Wordy
Cosmo and Wordy
The Boy From Space (1971)
The Boy From Space (1971)
Dan and Helen
Thin spaceman
The boy from space: Peep-Peep
Helen and her brother Dan spot a light in the sky one night that they decide to investigate. Upon discovering a meteorite they meet a young alien child, who they name Peep-Peep. When the alien boy and his father are kidnapped it is up to the two children to follow a trail of clues to find their new friend.
Produced in 1971 and first broadcast between September 21 and November 30, 1971.
The serial was was repeated between September 19 and December 1, 1972. Oddly, episode 6 was listed separately as being broadcast on April 4, 1972 and October 30, 1973.
In 1979, the serial was revised with new teaching segments, a filmed prologue with the adult Helen and Dan, new narration by Helen, and a new synthesizer score by Paddy Kingsland. This version was first broadcast between January 15 and March 25, 1980. It was repeated January 12 - March 23, 1982, and January 17 - March 27, 1984.
The serial was broadcast for the last time in the 20th century from January 7 to March 21, 1986. In 2004 it was shown again as part of Class TV on CBBC.
The Meteorite
When brother and sister Dan and Helen build an observatory in their shed they see a mysterious object falling from the sky.
The Spinning Compass
When Dan and Helen go in search of the object that fell from space, they find themselves coming face-to-face with danger.
The Man In the Sand-Pit
Dan and Helen encounter a strange thin man, and discover a boy called Peep-peep who speaks a bizarre alien language.
In Danger!
Dan and Helen take Peep-peep to meet Mr Bunting at the observatory, where they try to understand his alien writing.
The Hold Up
When Peep-peep is taken ill, Mr Bunting drives him to the hospital in his car, but the country roads are full of danger...
Where Is Tom?
Mr Bunting and Peep-Peep are taken captive. Meanwhile, Dan and Helen make a break-through. But where has Tom gone?
The Hunt For The Car
While Dan and Helen tell a confused Tom all about what's been going on, Mr Bunting and Peep-peep encounter trouble.
The Lake
Dan, Helen and Tom set out to find Peep-peep and Mr Bunting, but their search takes them closer and closer to danger.
Captured!
When Tom and Helen are captured by the thin space man, it is up to Dan to set them free.
In The Spaceship
Will Dan succeed in rescuing the others?
Cast
Helen: Sylvestra Le Touzel
Dan: Stephen Garlick
Thin spaceman: John Woodnutt
Peep-Peep: Michael Guest
Mr Bunting: Anthony Woodruff
Tom: Loftus Burton
Production
Writer: Richard Carpenter
Director: Pat Farrington
Music: Paddy Kingsland (vocals on theme tune by Derek Griffiths)
Helen and Dan meet Peep Peep
Helen and Dan encounter the thin spaceman
Cloud Burst (1974)
Cloud Burst (1974)
WATCH on
Two kids go looking for their crashed toy plane on the fens and meet a foreign scientist - Ram Pandit - who is working on a secret invention. The kids step in to help when some baddies, including one very familiar face, resort to subterfuge and kidnapping in their attempts to get hold of the invention.
Produced in 1974 and first broadcast between September 24 and December 3, 1974, the serial was interspersed with commentary by writer Richard Carpenter and learning inserts presented by Wordy (voiced by Charles Collingwood). Jane Carr and Derek Griffiths sang songs about events in each episode.
The serial was first repeated between September 23 and December 2, 1975.
Out Of Control
Ram Pandit
Rav 1
The Gas-Gun
In The Hut
The Secret
To The Mill!
The Signal
Escape!
Fire The Rockets!
Cast
Jenny Barber: Tina Heath
Mrs Green: Anne Ridler
Dick Turner: Miles Anderson
Tim Barber: Nigel Rathbone
Ram Pandit / Ravi Pandit: Renu Setna
Number Two: Maichael Sheard
Mr Barber: Kenneth Watson
Sir Robert Blain: Bill Gavin
Production
Writer and presenter: Richard Carpenter
Music: Roger Limb
Producer: Sue Weeks
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