Freetime
Encyclopedia
Freetime was a twice-weekly children's television programme shown on ITV
between 1981 and 1985. Produced by Thames Television
, it was a magazine format show devoted to hobbies and interests, and was designed to encourage viewers to get out and about rather than staying at home and watching television. It was hosted by the former Magpie
presenter Mick Robertson
.
Robertson was initially joined on set by Trudy Dance, but she was soon replaced by Kim Goody
, who co-presented the show with Robertson until it was axed by the network in 1985. The object of the show was to shed light on the manifold hobbies and interests that viewers might wish to pursue. However, not all of these were really possible. One famous show from the final season featured two teams of dogs playing football, with Robertson providing commentary, while Goody attempted to act as referee.
Following the show's finale, Robertson went on to help launch The Children's Channel
, and was briefly reunited with Goody a few years later when she joined him as a presenter on his show, Roustabout. However, after a year or so, she left to pursue a career in music.
On 16 September 1988, Thames Television briefly re-launched Freetime, this time fronted by Andi Peters
, but the series was cancelled after its fifteenth and final edition on 23 December 1988
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
between 1981 and 1985. Produced by Thames Television
Thames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
, it was a magazine format show devoted to hobbies and interests, and was designed to encourage viewers to get out and about rather than staying at home and watching television. It was hosted by the former Magpie
Magpie (TV series)
Magpie was a children's television programme shown on ITV from the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. It was a magazine format show intended to compete with the BBC's Blue Peter, but attempted to be more "hip", focusing more on popular culture...
presenter Mick Robertson
Mick Robertson
Michael "Mick" Robertson is a former presenter of the ITV children's television magazine programme Magpie.-Early career:...
.
Robertson was initially joined on set by Trudy Dance, but she was soon replaced by Kim Goody
Kim Goody
Kim Goody , is an English actress, composer, singer and song writer.She has starred in television shows such as Play Away and No. 73. She wrote the music for The Magic House and the 1994 revival of Rainbow with her husband Alan Coates...
, who co-presented the show with Robertson until it was axed by the network in 1985. The object of the show was to shed light on the manifold hobbies and interests that viewers might wish to pursue. However, not all of these were really possible. One famous show from the final season featured two teams of dogs playing football, with Robertson providing commentary, while Goody attempted to act as referee.
Following the show's finale, Robertson went on to help launch The Children's Channel
The Children's Channel
The Children's Channel, also known as TCC, was a television station in the United Kingdom, Benelux and Scandinavia, which was owned by Flextech . It began broadcasting on 1 September 1984, and was closed on 3 April 1998...
, and was briefly reunited with Goody a few years later when she joined him as a presenter on his show, Roustabout. However, after a year or so, she left to pursue a career in music.
On 16 September 1988, Thames Television briefly re-launched Freetime, this time fronted by Andi Peters
Andi Peters
Andi Eleazu Peters is an English television presenter and television producer.-Education:Peters was educated at Emanuel School, a co-educational independent school in Battersea, in south-west London.-Life and career:...
, but the series was cancelled after its fifteenth and final edition on 23 December 1988