Jigsaw (UK TV series)
Encyclopedia
Jigsaw was a Children's BBC
show, combining elements of puzzle solving & entertainment, which was broadcast from 16 July 1979 until 24 May 1984.
Written and directed by Clive Doig
, the show was presented by Adrian Hedley, Janet Ellis
and "Jigg" - a giant floating orange Jigsaw piece, voiced by John Leeson
.
Ellis would leave in 1983 to become a Blue Peter
presenter, at which point, she was replaced by Dot, aka Julia Binstead.
Featured supporting cast also included Paul Clayton
, Biggum the giant and Wilf Lunn
who appeared as a mad inventor. Other unusual characters included Pterry, a Pterodactyl, Hector The Hedgehog
, Dot
(played by Julia Binstead) - a pixel-come-to-life, the O-Men (Sylvester McCoy
and David Rappaport
), And Mr. Noseybonk, Performed by Headley in a dinner suit and a white face mask with a prominent nose and toothy grin, Mr. Noseybonk was included for light comic relief and to guide viewers through a puzzle that would contribute to the ongoing puzzle throughout the show.
Throughout the show, the presenters and supporting characters came together to solve a number of puzzles; these puzzles would then contribute to one larger conundrum that would be revealed at the end of the show. The viewer was encouraged to take part & solve the puzzles at home.
Jigg was a puppet - a lump of painted rubber that was manipulated from behind (to move his mouth & eyes) and was superimposed over the action.
CBBC
CBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...
show, combining elements of puzzle solving & entertainment, which was broadcast from 16 July 1979 until 24 May 1984.
Written and directed by Clive Doig
Clive Doig
Clive Doig is a retired British television producer.Early in his career he produced the series for deaf children Vision On before becoming known as the creator-producer of a large number of children's programmes. Working for the BBC, he created programmes such as Jigsaw, which ran from 1979 to...
, the show was presented by Adrian Hedley, Janet Ellis
Janet Ellis
Janet Ellis is a British television presenter and actress, who appeared on BBC children's television in the 1980s, including a four year period as a presenter on Blue Peter, a role she won after hosting the award-winning children's programme Jigsaw.- Early life :Ellis's father was a soldier,...
and "Jigg" - a giant floating orange Jigsaw piece, voiced by John Leeson
John Leeson
John Leeson is a British actor who is best known for voicing K-9 on the television series Doctor Who from 1977 to 1979, and again in the 1980–1981 season. He was called back to do the voice of K-9 again for the 2006 episode "School Reunion" and again for the 2008 Doctor Who episode "Journey's End"...
.
Ellis would leave in 1983 to become a Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
presenter, at which point, she was replaced by Dot, aka Julia Binstead.
Featured supporting cast also included Paul Clayton
Paul Clayton
Paul Clayton was an American folksinger and folklorist, who was prominent in the folk music revival of the 1950s and 1960s....
, Biggum the giant and Wilf Lunn
Wilf Lunn
Wilf Lunn is probably best known for his regular appearances on the 1960s and 1970s British television show Vision On demonstrating his latest inventions with Tony Hart and Sylvester McCoy....
who appeared as a mad inventor. Other unusual characters included Pterry, a Pterodactyl, Hector The Hedgehog
Hedgehog
A hedgehog is any of the spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae and the order Erinaceomorpha. There are 17 species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand . There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to the Americas...
, Dot
Dot
- Typography :* Full stop, also called period in American English, used as a sentence terminator and as a decimal separator in numerals - Typography :* Full stop, also called period in American English, used as a sentence terminator and as a decimal separator (decimal point) in numerals -...
(played by Julia Binstead) - a pixel-come-to-life, the O-Men (Sylvester McCoy
Sylvester McCoy
Sylvester McCoy is a Scottish actor. As a comic act and busker he appeared regularly on stage and on BBC Children's television in the 1970s and 80s, but is best known for playing the seventh incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who from 1987 to...
and David Rappaport
David Rappaport
David Stephen Rappaport was an English actor, probably one of the best known dwarf actors in television and film...
), And Mr. Noseybonk, Performed by Headley in a dinner suit and a white face mask with a prominent nose and toothy grin, Mr. Noseybonk was included for light comic relief and to guide viewers through a puzzle that would contribute to the ongoing puzzle throughout the show.
Throughout the show, the presenters and supporting characters came together to solve a number of puzzles; these puzzles would then contribute to one larger conundrum that would be revealed at the end of the show. The viewer was encouraged to take part & solve the puzzles at home.
Jigg was a puppet - a lump of painted rubber that was manipulated from behind (to move his mouth & eyes) and was superimposed over the action.
Transmissions
| Series | Start date | End date | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 July 1979 | 20 August 1979 | 6 |
| 2 | 20 May 1980 | 24 June 1980 | 6 |
| 3 | 21 September 1981 | 14 December 1981 | 13 |
| 4 | 10 January 1983 | 21 February 1983 | 7 |
| 5 | 17 January 1984 | 21 February 1984 | 6 |
| 6 | 12 April 1984 | 24 May 1984 | 7 |
External links
- Jigsaw at bbc.co.uk
- Jigsaw at UKgameshows.com
- Jigsaw Page at "The Chestnut" Fan-researched archive page