Why Don't You? (originally Wdyjsoytsagadslbi?: Why don't you just switch off your television set and go and do something less boring instead?) was a BBC children's television series created by producer/director Patrick Dowling and broadcast in 42 series between 20 August 1973 and 21 April 1995. The format consisted of groups or "gangs" of children responding to letters from viewers who wrote into the show suggesting games, 'makes' and days out. Typically these were arts-and-crafts activities or games and magic tricks children could learn to impress their friends.
The show was originally broadcast in the morning during the school summer holidays and once was shown during the weekday evening children's TV slot. Later it went out during the Easter and Christmas school holidays although it was also broadcast once on Saturday mornings.
Russell T Davies was at one time a producer and director for Why Don't You...? before going on to greater fame as writer of Queer as Folk and producer of the 2005 revival of Doctor Who. Under Davies's direction, the format of the series shifted from magazine show to drama, with plots frequently centring on harebrained young Welsh presenter Ben Slade and his increasingly elaborate inventions. Slade was the longest serving presenter in the show's 22-year run.[1] During the Russell T DaviesBen Slade era viewing figures rose from 0.9 to 3 million up against stiff competition on ITV. Slade and Davies reunited in 2019 in a BBC Radio Wales documentary, first broadcast in December of that year.
Geographical variationsedit
The 1972 pilot for Why Don't You was filmed in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, with a team of children from Valley Road Primary School. When the series proper launched in 1973, the gang's studio had been moved to Bristol and resembled a dusty basement; however, from 1980 the show also featured gangs from other parts of the United Kingdom, and these shows were made by the respective BBC regional centre, although all were broadcast nationwide.[2] The first "alternative" gangs came from a barn in Scotland and a church hall in Belfast, followed by a seaside café in Cardiff. As the 1980s continued, all four studio settings were abandoned and the gang became based in other UK locations.
Theme tuneedit
The original 1973 theme was "I Say, I Say, I Say", from the De Wolfe Music Library, written by Paul Lewis and credited to The London Studio Group. This theme was retained until 1975.[3][4][5]
By 1979 the opening theme had changed to the "Why Don't You?" song, written by Faron Brooks.[8] This series retained "Kings Road Raspberry Parade" as the closing theme, but by 1981 this had been replaced by a reprise of the opening song.
By 1984 the opening song had been re-recorded by a children's choir.[9]
By 1991 the theme tune had changed to one by Norman Cook.[10] The last theme tune was introduced in 1994.
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For the 2010 song by Gramophonedzie see Why Don t You song For the 1936 song by Kansas Joe McCoy see Why Don t You Do Right Why Don t You originally Wdyjsoytsagadslbi Why don t you just switch off your television set and go and do something less boring instead was a BBC children s television series created by producer director Patrick Dowling and broadcast in 42 series between 20 August 1973 and 21 April 1995 The format consisted of groups or gangs of children responding to letters from viewers who wrote into the show suggesting games makes and days out Typically these were arts and crafts activities or games and magic tricks children could learn to impress their friends Why Don t You StarringBen Slade Ant McPartlinNo of series42ProductionProducersPeter Charlton Patrick Dowling Catherine MacFarlane David J Evans Kirstie Fisher Russell T Davies Trevor Stephenson LongRunning time25 minutesOriginal releaseNetworkBBC1Release20 August 1973 1973 08 20 21 April 1995 1995 04 21 Contents 1 Broadcast history 2 Geographical variations 3 Theme tune 4 Notable presenters 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksBroadcast history editThe show was originally broadcast in the morning during the school summer holidays and once was shown during the weekday evening children s TV slot Later it went out during the Easter and Christmas school holidays although it was also broadcast once on Saturday mornings Russell T Davies was at one time a producer and director for Why Don t You before going on to greater fame as writer of Queer as Folk and producer of the 2005 revival of Doctor Who Under Davies s direction the format of the series shifted from magazine show to drama with plots frequently centring on harebrained young Welsh presenter Ben Slade and his increasingly elaborate inventions Slade was the longest serving presenter in the show s 22 year run 1 During the Russell T Davies Ben Slade era viewing figures rose from 0 9 to 3 million up against stiff competition on ITV Slade and Davies reunited in 2019 in a BBC Radio Wales documentary first broadcast in December of that year Geographical variations editThe 1972 pilot for Why Don t You was filmed in Henley on Thames Oxfordshire with a team of children from Valley Road Primary School When the series proper launched in 1973 the gang s studio had been moved to Bristol and resembled a dusty basement however from 1980 the show also featured gangs from other parts of the United Kingdom and these shows were made by the respective BBC regional centre although all were broadcast nationwide 2 The first alternative gangs came from a barn in Scotland and a church hall in Belfast followed by a seaside cafe in Cardiff As the 1980s continued all four studio settings were abandoned and the gang became based in other UK locations Theme tune editThe original 1973 theme was I Say I Say I Say from the De Wolfe Music Library written by Paul Lewis and credited to The London Studio Group This theme was retained until 1975 3 4 5 In 1976 the theme changed to Kings Road Raspberry Parade written by Roger Greenaway amp Roger Cook and performed by George Martin amp His Orchestra 6 7 By 1979 the opening theme had changed to the Why Don t You song written by Faron Brooks 8 This series retained Kings Road Raspberry Parade as the closing theme but by 1981 this had been replaced by a reprise of the opening song By 1984 the opening song had been re recorded by a children s choir 9 By 1991 the theme tune had changed to one by Norman Cook 10 The last theme tune was introduced in 1994 Notable presenters editThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Why Don t You news newspapers books scholar JSTOR July 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message Gideon Coe Andy Crane Daniel Evans Alexandra Fletcher Anthony McPartlin Pauline QuirkeSee also editWise UpReferences edit In praise of summer mischief Finlo Rohrer BBC news magazine 17 July 2008 Screen Online BFI 1973 Why Don t You First Edition Intro retrieved 17 February 2022 Why Don t You 1975 Ravensbourne University London Retrieved 17 February 2022 The London Studio Group Music Of The Victorian amp Edwardian Era retrieved 17 February 2022 Why Don t You 1976 Ravensbourne University London Retrieved 17 February 2022 George Martin And His Orchestra British Maid retrieved 17 February 2022 Why Don t You 1979 Ravensbourne University London Retrieved 17 February 2022 Why Don t You 1984 Ravensbourne University London Retrieved 17 February 2022 https www bbc co uk iplayer episode m001g4p1 why dont youExternal links editWhy Don t You opening title sequence at bbc co uk Screenonline Why Don t You Why Don t You at IMDb nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Why Don 27t You 3F amp oldid 1204024131, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
