Razzledazzle

Razzledazzle
Genre	Children's television series Education
Written by	Philip Hawthorn Tracey Hammett Bethan Marlow Steve Cannon
Directed by	Justine Hallside Champa Swift Emyr Roberts (voice) Siân Telfi (for Siânco)
Starring	Patrick Lynch Sarah Hope Bethan Marlow Mina Anwar Rachel Scorgie (Welsh version)
Theme music composer	Ben Lee Delisle
Ending theme	The "Not So Long Song"
Composer	Ben Lee Delisle
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Original language	English
No. of series	2
No. of episodes	20
Production
Executive producer	Clare Elstow
Producer	Steve Cannon
Cinematography	Unknown
Camera setup	Nigel Powell Bart Baker
Running time	20 minutes per episode (approx.)
Production companies	BBC The Hive (animation) Siânco (dubbing)
Original release
Network	CBeebies
Release	14 February (2005-02-14) – 11 March 2005 (2005-03-11)

Razzledazzle is a short-lived BBC television programme for kids aged between three and seven years old that aired on CBeebies between February and March 2005. It was an educational show that featured Razzledazzle, an orange CGI creature with two floppy ears and two big brown eyes, voiced by Bethan Marlow (who at the time also provided the voice of Mitzi (Mali) on the Welsh version of The Koala Brothers) and Rachel Scorgie in Welsh (who previously played Adie Lewis on Twin Town). The first episode, Kitty, originally aired on 14 February 2005 at 9:20 am.

Series overview

The programme itself was designed to get viewers to focus on sound. By riding magical slides directly from a blue-screen base, Razzledazzle visited four different areas, "Rhyme Time", "Chit Chat", "Bish! Bash! Bosh!" and "Once Upon A Tale".

Rhyme Time, always presented by Sarah Hope, invites audiences to recognise an everyday sound, which is then set to a poem and often repeated, allowing for interaction (hence why Razzledazzle usually says "Why don't you say it too?") to encourage reciting.

Chit Chat features some children involved in activities with their relations, focusing on natural communication skills.

Bish! Bash! Bosh! features a group of children acting out simple rhymes and sequences, sometimes set to music and beat. These rhymes are normally repeated once (hence why Razzledazzle says "Come on! Join in!") to encourage rhythm, syllables and rhyme.

Finally, "Once Upon a Tale", presented alternately by Mina Anwar and Patrick Lynch, is designed to create short stories using predictive and repetitive elements, widening the viewer's vocabulary and allowing for plenty of physicalisation of the narrator.

At the end of the programme, Razzledazzle, the kids who appeared in the "Bish Bash Bosh", "Chit Chat", and "Once Upon a Tale" sections of the programme and the presenters from the "Rhyme Time" and the "Once Upon a Tale" segments perform The "Not So Long Song", composed by Ben Lee Delisle. Ten episodes at a time are usually aired for four hours during the early morning within the BBC Schools slot.

Episodes

Twenty 20-minute episodes of Razzledazzle, which aired on BBC Two, CBeebies and within BBC Schools' output were produced. The series mixes CGI animation and live action.

In addition, some of the extras in the television series are produced using 2D Flash Animation. Most of the show (excluding the introduction) is filmed in front of a green screen, so that the host can communicate with the animated character. The "Chit Chat" segments are filmed on location at the chosen child's home.

• 1. Kitty (14 February 2005)
• 2. Ruby Rabbit (15 February 2005)
• 3. Dennis The Donkey (16 February 2005)
• 4. Don't Wake the Baby (17 February 2005)
• 5. Carry Harri (18 February 2005)
• 6. Dog (21 February 2005)
• 7. Fisherman Tim (22 February 2005)
• 8. Marvellous Monster (23 February 2005)
• 9. Bibble Bobble (24 February 2005)
• 10. Not Another Puddle (25 February 2005)
• 11. Carlton's Magic Trainers (28 February 2005)
• 12. King Bling (1 March 2005)
• 13. Farmer Louise (2 March 2005)
• 14. Molly in the Trolley (3 March 2005)
• 15. Mrs Mickle (4 March 2005)
• 16. Unfortunately (7 March 2005)
• 17. The School Run (8 March 2005)
• 18. The Big Beastie Thing (9 March 2005)
• 19. Why the Moon is Made of Cheese (10 March 2005)
• 20. The Chugga Chugga Bus (11 March 2005, last ever episode)

Awards

• Royal Television Society Educational Television Awards 2005

• Awarded Best Schools Programme – 0–5 Years (for the episode Drip Drop and Kitty)