AGXStarseed
Well-Known Member
'Look and Read' was a set of various educational programs created by the BBC for Primary School children to learn English skills. The majority of each series had 10 episodes, although some had fewer episodes. Some of the serials would later be updated and re-broadcast.
The fictional story in each episode was divided into two installments by a teaching segment in the middle, which gave the children material to read and animated instructions on how to read it. Some of the most memorable moments of the programme were its educational songs. Each story had its own individual theme tune, many of which are well remembered among fans of the programme. Some of the more popular songs include Bill the Brickie, The Punctuation Song, I'm an Apostrophe and - perhaps the most popular - the 'Magic E' song (despite the parody of its double meaning in that 'Magic E' can also refer to the drug Ecstasy)
Although the series was primarily for education, the series remains popular among school children and has earned cult status. With the wide scope of the internet and video hosting websites such as YouTube, many people who grew up watching these shows often are able to nostalgically look back on them.
Here's a list of the various serials and some information about them:
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1. Bob and Carol Look for Treasure (January 1967 - March 1967)
This serial was divided into two parts: The first six episodes were called "The Lost Treasure" while the remaining four episodes were called "The Stolen Treasure". In the serial, two children - Bob and Carol - search for clues to find a hidden treasure. Upon finding it, they then have to follow clues left by some robbers (who have stolen it).
2. Len and the River Mob (January 1968 - March 1968)
Len Tanner, a young dock worker, begins to suspect that his boss and workmates are members of an infamous gang of thieves known as "The River Mob".
3. The Boy From Space (September 1971 - November 1971)
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 by an evil alien with his own agenda, it is up to the two children to follow a trail of clues to find their new friend.
4. Joe and the Sheep Rustlers (January 1973 - March 1973)
Joe, a shepherd boy, and his friend Jill decide to investigate the theft of some sheep from Castle Farm.
5. Cloud Burst (September 1974 - December 1974)
Whilst playing with a toy plane, Jenny Barber and her brother, Tim, meet a scientist, Ram Pandit, who is working on a secret invention. When Ram is kidnapped apparently by the mysterious Man on a Motor Bike who is working for rivals trying to get information on his work, it is up to the children to find them and stop his invention from falling into the wrong hands.
(This series was notable for including the character Wordy in it's education segments, whom would appear in several other Look and Read series).
6. The King's Dragon (January 1977 - March 1977)
Billy West, a fisherman's grandson, discovers some threatening messages made up from newspaper cuttings. When he and a local journalist go to investigate, they discover that they are targeted at an archaeologist working at a local castle whose life is suddenly under threat because of the long lost local treasure; King Harold's golden armoring known as "The King's Dragon".
7. Sky Hunter (September 1978 - November 1978)
Whilst on a boating holiday, three friends - Jackie, Butch and Trevor - must help stop the illegal theft and trading of birds and their eggs in the area.
8. The Boy From Space (January 1980 - March 1980)
A re-working of the 1971 serial, with the series been broadcast in colour and having a few other differences including a new title sequence.
9. Dark Towers (September 1981 - December 1981)
When Tracy chases her dog into the mysterious Dark Towers, she meets a boy called Edward and - along with the aid of a friendly ghost - becomes involved in a race to find the old house's hidden treasure.
10. Fair Ground! (January 1983 - March 1983)
Ozzie Watson loves the fair that comes to town at Easter, but when a series of disturbances and crimes occur there it is up to him to solve the problem.
11. Badger Girl (September 1984 - November 1984)
Three city children go on holiday to the country. Whilst there they meet various people out on the moor, some of whom are involved in pony-rustling. It is up to them to work out who is involved and how to stop it.
12. Geordie Racer (January 1988 - March 1998)
"Spuggy" Hilton loves spending time at the local pigeon lofts in his home of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. When he discovers secret messages being received by pigeon, he suspects Baz, a local pigeon trainer, of being involved in a series of local robberies. Spuggy and his friend Janie must link the clues to try to solve the case.
13. Through the Dragon's Eye (September 1989 - November 1989)
Three children, Jenny, Amanda and Scott, are painting a mural on a school wall. When a dragon in the painting winks at them they are pulled into the land of Pelamar. The children are asked by this magical world's inhabitants to help them gather together different parts of the mysterious "Veetacore" and help repair it in order to save their home.
14. Sky Hunter II (January 1992 - March 1992)
Despite the title, Sky Hunter II is in fact a reworking of the 1978 serial. It was also the last Look and Read serial to feature the character Wordy in its educational segments.
15. Earth Warp (January 1994 - March 1994)
Three children, Martin, Amina and Jenny, befriend an alien named Ollie who they must help in his task of saving the local Southbeach from being destroyed due to pollution.
16. Spywatch (January 1996 - March 1996)
When Norman Starkey returns to the village where he was evacuated to as a child during World War II, he recalls the adventures he had with his friends Dennis, Mary and Polly.
17. Captain Crimson (April 1997 - June 1997)
Jeff is a comic book artist whose most popular creation is the super hero Captain Crimson. When Jeff's son Tom and his friend Amy make up the ending to one of the comics it causes Captain Crimson to appear in the real world, forcing the two friends to find ways of hiding the hero and get him back home whilst he goes on a series of adventures.
18. The Legend of the Lost Keys (January 1998 - March 1998)
Whilst on holiday, twins, Mark and Lisa, discover that their Uncle George is the guardian of an ancient box which is a gateway to the world of Heritron. When the box is stolen by a group known as 'The Watchers', George worries that the evil leaders of Heritron are trying to break through to Earth to capture children and take them back to be used as slaves - with it now been up to the twins to help get the box back and seal it for good.
19. Zzaap and the Word Master (January 2001 - February 2001)
Josie and Peter get transported into an educational computer game at their school. Once inside they discover that the game is being controlled by the evil Victor Virus who is intent on finding a way to take over the world. The Children, assisted in the real world by Simon and Frances and in the virtual world by a creature called Zzaap, must stop Virus by completing the various levels of the game.
20. Shadow Play (March 2004)
Whilst on holiday, Ben discovers a Victorian diary written by a girl named Hester. He finds out what growing up was like in the nineteenth century and, as the story goes on, he becomes progressively more involved in Hester's situation.
The fictional story in each episode was divided into two installments by a teaching segment in the middle, which gave the children material to read and animated instructions on how to read it. Some of the most memorable moments of the programme were its educational songs. Each story had its own individual theme tune, many of which are well remembered among fans of the programme. Some of the more popular songs include Bill the Brickie, The Punctuation Song, I'm an Apostrophe and - perhaps the most popular - the 'Magic E' song (despite the parody of its double meaning in that 'Magic E' can also refer to the drug Ecstasy)
Although the series was primarily for education, the series remains popular among school children and has earned cult status. With the wide scope of the internet and video hosting websites such as YouTube, many people who grew up watching these shows often are able to nostalgically look back on them.
Here's a list of the various serials and some information about them:
---
1. Bob and Carol Look for Treasure (January 1967 - March 1967)
This serial was divided into two parts: The first six episodes were called "The Lost Treasure" while the remaining four episodes were called "The Stolen Treasure". In the serial, two children - Bob and Carol - search for clues to find a hidden treasure. Upon finding it, they then have to follow clues left by some robbers (who have stolen it).
2. Len and the River Mob (January 1968 - March 1968)
Len Tanner, a young dock worker, begins to suspect that his boss and workmates are members of an infamous gang of thieves known as "The River Mob".
3. The Boy From Space (September 1971 - November 1971)
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 by an evil alien with his own agenda, it is up to the two children to follow a trail of clues to find their new friend.
4. Joe and the Sheep Rustlers (January 1973 - March 1973)
Joe, a shepherd boy, and his friend Jill decide to investigate the theft of some sheep from Castle Farm.
5. Cloud Burst (September 1974 - December 1974)
Whilst playing with a toy plane, Jenny Barber and her brother, Tim, meet a scientist, Ram Pandit, who is working on a secret invention. When Ram is kidnapped apparently by the mysterious Man on a Motor Bike who is working for rivals trying to get information on his work, it is up to the children to find them and stop his invention from falling into the wrong hands.
(This series was notable for including the character Wordy in it's education segments, whom would appear in several other Look and Read series).
6. The King's Dragon (January 1977 - March 1977)
Billy West, a fisherman's grandson, discovers some threatening messages made up from newspaper cuttings. When he and a local journalist go to investigate, they discover that they are targeted at an archaeologist working at a local castle whose life is suddenly under threat because of the long lost local treasure; King Harold's golden armoring known as "The King's Dragon".
7. Sky Hunter (September 1978 - November 1978)
Whilst on a boating holiday, three friends - Jackie, Butch and Trevor - must help stop the illegal theft and trading of birds and their eggs in the area.
8. The Boy From Space (January 1980 - March 1980)
A re-working of the 1971 serial, with the series been broadcast in colour and having a few other differences including a new title sequence.
9. Dark Towers (September 1981 - December 1981)
When Tracy chases her dog into the mysterious Dark Towers, she meets a boy called Edward and - along with the aid of a friendly ghost - becomes involved in a race to find the old house's hidden treasure.
10. Fair Ground! (January 1983 - March 1983)
Ozzie Watson loves the fair that comes to town at Easter, but when a series of disturbances and crimes occur there it is up to him to solve the problem.
11. Badger Girl (September 1984 - November 1984)
Three city children go on holiday to the country. Whilst there they meet various people out on the moor, some of whom are involved in pony-rustling. It is up to them to work out who is involved and how to stop it.
12. Geordie Racer (January 1988 - March 1998)
"Spuggy" Hilton loves spending time at the local pigeon lofts in his home of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. When he discovers secret messages being received by pigeon, he suspects Baz, a local pigeon trainer, of being involved in a series of local robberies. Spuggy and his friend Janie must link the clues to try to solve the case.
13. Through the Dragon's Eye (September 1989 - November 1989)
Three children, Jenny, Amanda and Scott, are painting a mural on a school wall. When a dragon in the painting winks at them they are pulled into the land of Pelamar. The children are asked by this magical world's inhabitants to help them gather together different parts of the mysterious "Veetacore" and help repair it in order to save their home.
14. Sky Hunter II (January 1992 - March 1992)
Despite the title, Sky Hunter II is in fact a reworking of the 1978 serial. It was also the last Look and Read serial to feature the character Wordy in its educational segments.
15. Earth Warp (January 1994 - March 1994)
Three children, Martin, Amina and Jenny, befriend an alien named Ollie who they must help in his task of saving the local Southbeach from being destroyed due to pollution.
16. Spywatch (January 1996 - March 1996)
When Norman Starkey returns to the village where he was evacuated to as a child during World War II, he recalls the adventures he had with his friends Dennis, Mary and Polly.
17. Captain Crimson (April 1997 - June 1997)
Jeff is a comic book artist whose most popular creation is the super hero Captain Crimson. When Jeff's son Tom and his friend Amy make up the ending to one of the comics it causes Captain Crimson to appear in the real world, forcing the two friends to find ways of hiding the hero and get him back home whilst he goes on a series of adventures.
18. The Legend of the Lost Keys (January 1998 - March 1998)
Whilst on holiday, twins, Mark and Lisa, discover that their Uncle George is the guardian of an ancient box which is a gateway to the world of Heritron. When the box is stolen by a group known as 'The Watchers', George worries that the evil leaders of Heritron are trying to break through to Earth to capture children and take them back to be used as slaves - with it now been up to the twins to help get the box back and seal it for good.
19. Zzaap and the Word Master (January 2001 - February 2001)
Josie and Peter get transported into an educational computer game at their school. Once inside they discover that the game is being controlled by the evil Victor Virus who is intent on finding a way to take over the world. The Children, assisted in the real world by Simon and Frances and in the virtual world by a creature called Zzaap, must stop Virus by completing the various levels of the game.
20. Shadow Play (March 2004)
Whilst on holiday, Ben discovers a Victorian diary written by a girl named Hester. He finds out what growing up was like in the nineteenth century and, as the story goes on, he becomes progressively more involved in Hester's situation.
