Nina and the Neurons
Encyclopedia
Nina and the Neurons is a programme shown on the CBeebies
channel aimed at four to six-year-olds to help them understand basic science
. Nina is a neuroscientist who enlists the help of her Neurons (five animated characters representing the senses) in her brain to answer a scientific question.
The show is produced by Lucille McLaughlin, who has also produced the children's programmes Balamory
and Me Too!. The series is commissioned by CBeebies Controller, Michael Carrington
.
where Nina conducts experiments in front of an audience of children. At the end of the lecture Nina is 'contacted' by a child, who appears on a television screen asking a science-related question. Nina then chooses one or more of five Neurons based upon which of the senses is most appropriate to answer the question. Nina then visits the child and with the help of their friends and family (called the 'experimenters') uses simple and fun experiments to answer the child's question. At the end of each show the Neurons discuss what they have done and the individual role they have played.
. Nina wears either a white lab coat with brightly coloured cuffs and lapels in her lab, or one of a bright yellow coat or blue jacket when outside. In the programme, Nina drives either a pale blue 1970s Volkswagen Type 2
(Transporter) minibus or a New MINI
, both bearing numberplates reading 'NINA', or rides a bicycle in the Go ECO! version.
The Neurons are computer animated characters (stylised with human facial features and body, but no legs) and are named to reflect the five senses which they represent:
Felix, voiced by James Dreyfus
in the first series but subsequently by Lewis MacLeod
represents touch
. He speaks in a posh accent and is particular about his appearance.
Belle, voiced by Kelly Harrison
represents hearing
. She is loud and can be bossy.
Luke, voiced by Patrice Naiambana, represents sight
and is the group leader. His character is laid back and relaxed.
Ollie, voiced by Siobhan Redmond
represents smell
. She is described as 'sweet, self assured and a bit of a goth.' She is the elder sister of Bud.
Bud, voiced by Sharon Small
represents the taste
neuron. He is the youngest Neuron and can be enthusiastic and easily excited.
Bud and Ollie are often chosen together by Nina due to the way taste and smell work together.
.
2, 2008 it was followed by Nina and the Neurons Go Eco, on 13 June 2008 as part of CBeebies' year-long green initiative called EcoBeebies, the Eco series ended on August 15, 2008. A fourth series called Nina and the Neurons Go Inventing started on May 18, 2009 where Nina invites several young inventors to her lab to discover how things work by inventing their own versions, the series ended on June 19, 2009. The fifth series, In The Lab, was broadcast from 27 September 2010 to 10 December 2010.
(The titles for Series 1 and 2 are from Digiguide
)
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)
)
CBeebies
CBeebies is the brand used by the BBC for programming aimed at children 6 years and under. It is used as a themed strand in the UK on terrestrial television, as a separate free-to-air domestic British channel and used for international varients supported by advertising, subscription or both...
channel aimed at four to six-year-olds to help them understand basic science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
. Nina is a neuroscientist who enlists the help of her Neurons (five animated characters representing the senses) in her brain to answer a scientific question.
The show is produced by Lucille McLaughlin, who has also produced the children's programmes Balamory
Balamory
Balamory was a live action television series on British television for pre-school children, based around the fictional small island community of Balamory in Scotland. It was produced between 2002 and 2005 by BBC Scotland, with 254 episodes made...
and Me Too!. The series is commissioned by CBeebies Controller, Michael Carrington
Michael Carrington (TV)
Michael Carrington is Chief Content Officer, EMEA at Turner Broadcasting System Europe.-Early life:Born in 1961, in Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia, his father is a direct descendant of Jacob Weins, a co-founder of the Mennonites....
.
Synopsis
The beginning of the programme is based at Glasgow Science CentreGlasgow Science Centre
Glasgow Science Centre is a visitor attraction located on the south bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland. It is a purpose-built science centre composed of three principal buildings which are the Science Mall, an IMAX cinema and the Glasgow Tower...
where Nina conducts experiments in front of an audience of children. At the end of the lecture Nina is 'contacted' by a child, who appears on a television screen asking a science-related question. Nina then chooses one or more of five Neurons based upon which of the senses is most appropriate to answer the question. Nina then visits the child and with the help of their friends and family (called the 'experimenters') uses simple and fun experiments to answer the child's question. At the end of each show the Neurons discuss what they have done and the individual role they have played.
Characters and cast
The main character of Nina is played by Scottish actress Katrina BryanKatrina Bryan
Katrina Bryan was born and raised in Gatehouse of Fleet, Dumfries and Galloway, South West, Scotland in 1980. She is a Scottish actress who has starred in Taggart, Nina and the Neurons, See you, See me and Sea of Souls. She has been active since 1999. Bryan has a BA in Acting from Queen Margaret...
. Nina wears either a white lab coat with brightly coloured cuffs and lapels in her lab, or one of a bright yellow coat or blue jacket when outside. In the programme, Nina drives either a pale blue 1970s Volkswagen Type 2
Volkswagen Type 2
The Volkswagen Type 2, officially known as the Transporter or Kombi informally as Bus or Camper , was a panel van introduced in 1950 by German automaker Volkswagen as its second car model – following and initially deriving from Volkswagen's first model, the Type 1 , it was given the factory...
(Transporter) minibus or a New MINI
MINI (BMW)
Mini is a British automotive marque owned by BMW which specialises in small cars.Mini originated as a specific vehicle, a small car originally known as the Morris Mini-Minor and the Austin Seven, launched by the British Motor Corporation in 1959, and developed into a brand encompassing a range of...
, both bearing numberplates reading 'NINA', or rides a bicycle in the Go ECO! version.
The Neurons are computer animated characters (stylised with human facial features and body, but no legs) and are named to reflect the five senses which they represent:
Felix, voiced by James Dreyfus
James Dreyfus
- Early life and career :Born in London, Dreyfus was educated at Harrow School and then trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. His parents divorced when he was very young. He is openly gay....
in the first series but subsequently by Lewis MacLeod
Lewis MacLeod
Euan Lewis MacLeod is a prolific Scottish character actor, who can be heard as the voice of a huge number of television commercials, movie trailers and cartoons in his native UK. He voices characters such as Sebulba from Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace and Postman Pat...
represents touch
Somatosensory system
The somatosensory system is a diverse sensory system composed of the receptors and processing centres to produce the sensory modalities such as touch, temperature, proprioception , and nociception . The sensory receptors cover the skin and epithelia, skeletal muscles, bones and joints, internal...
. He speaks in a posh accent and is particular about his appearance.
Belle, voiced by Kelly Harrison
Kelly Harrison
Kelly Harrison is a British actress, educated at Hungerhill School, Edenthorpe, Doncaster..Harrison was a model for four years but was soon cast in BBC's Saturday night programme, Casualty, as paramedic Nikki Marshall...
represents hearing
Hearing (sense)
Hearing is the ability to perceive sound by detecting vibrations through an organ such as the ear. It is one of the traditional five senses...
. She is loud and can be bossy.
Luke, voiced by Patrice Naiambana, represents sight
Visual perception
Visual perception is the ability to interpret information and surroundings from the effects of visible light reaching the eye. The resulting perception is also known as eyesight, sight, or vision...
and is the group leader. His character is laid back and relaxed.
Ollie, voiced by Siobhan Redmond
Siobhan Redmond
Siobhan Redmond is a Scottish actress.Originally from Tollcross, Glasgow, Redmond's first television appearances were in the early 1980s. Her first TV appearance was in 1982 in a sketch show called "Nothing to worry about!" which then lead to the sketch show Alfresco...
represents smell
Olfaction
Olfaction is the sense of smell. This sense is mediated by specialized sensory cells of the nasal cavity of vertebrates, and, by analogy, sensory cells of the antennae of invertebrates...
. She is described as 'sweet, self assured and a bit of a goth.' She is the elder sister of Bud.
Bud, voiced by Sharon Small
Sharon Small
Sharon Small is a Scottish actress acclaimed for her dramatic work in film, radio, theatre and television. Her best-known TV role is that of Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers in the BBC television adaptation of the Inspector Lynley Mysteries by Elizabeth George.-Education and personal life:Small...
represents the taste
Taste
Taste is one of the traditional five senses. It refers to the ability to detect the flavor of substances such as food, certain minerals, and poisons, etc....
neuron. He is the youngest Neuron and can be enthusiastic and easily excited.
Bud and Ollie are often chosen together by Nina due to the way taste and smell work together.
Awards and nominations
- BAFTA ScotlandBAFTA ScotlandBAFTA in Scotland is the Scottish branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Formed in 1997, the branch holds an annual awards ceremony, the British Academy Scotland Awards , to recognise achievement by performers and production staff in Scottish film, television and video games...
2007 - Awarded Best Children's Programme
- BAFTA ScotlandBAFTA ScotlandBAFTA in Scotland is the Scottish branch of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Formed in 1997, the branch holds an annual awards ceremony, the British Academy Scotland Awards , to recognise achievement by performers and production staff in Scottish film, television and video games...
2008 - Nominated as Best Children's Programme
Exhibits
There is a themed Nina & the Neurons activity trail at the Glasgow Science CentreGlasgow Science Centre
Glasgow Science Centre is a visitor attraction located on the south bank of the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland. It is a purpose-built science centre composed of three principal buildings which are the Science Mall, an IMAX cinema and the Glasgow Tower...
.
Episodes
The show began on February 26, 2007 and ended on March 30, 2007. The 2nd series began airing on Cbeebies on March 31, 2008 and ended on May2, 2008 it was followed by Nina and the Neurons Go Eco, on 13 June 2008 as part of CBeebies' year-long green initiative called EcoBeebies, the Eco series ended on August 15, 2008. A fourth series called Nina and the Neurons Go Inventing started on May 18, 2009 where Nina invites several young inventors to her lab to discover how things work by inventing their own versions, the series ended on June 19, 2009. The fifth series, In The Lab, was broadcast from 27 September 2010 to 10 December 2010.
(The titles for Series 1 and 2 are from Digiguide
DigiGuide
DigiGuide is a digital TV guide in the UK.Digiguide creates TV guides which cut through the clutter and which are customised to your tastes and needs....
)
Series 1 (February 26, 2007- March 30, 2007)
- All Bunged Up
- Amazing Maze
- Birthday Surprise
- Bud Needs Help
- Colours
- Different Tastes
- Distance
- Do We All Smell Different?
- Echoes
- Eyebrows
- Granny's Glasses
- Making Music
- Monster Hunt
- Nina Needs A Wee
- Shadows
- Snowballs
- Spy Kit
- Stars
- Staying Cool
- Too Much Salt
- Trumpet
- Wakey Wakey
- What's Cooking?
- Where's The Bad Smell?
- Why Is My Tongue Wet?
Series 2 (March 31, 2008- May 2, 2008)
- Baby
- Brilliant Bones
- Bubble Trouble
- Digging Dogs
- Finding Flowers
- Fun In The Sun
- Funny Honey
- Getting Goosebumps
- Hide And Seek
- I Can See A Rainbow
- In A Spin
- Let's Hear It For Ears
- Lovely Lollies
- Making Waves
- Nina Gets Nosey
- Nina's Cake Bake
- Rumbling Thunder
- Smelly Feet
- Splish Splash
- Terrific Teeth
- Touching Clouds
- Tremendous Toes
- Tummy Rumbles
- What A Fright
- When The Wind Blows
Go Eco series (June 15, 2008- August 15, 2008)
(Titles from DigiguideDigiGuide
DigiGuide is a digital TV guide in the UK.Digiguide creates TV guides which cut through the clutter and which are customised to your tastes and needs....
)
- Brancing Out
- Every Drop Counts
- Food Glorious Food
- Flying High
- Furry Old Mould
- Keeping Cosy
- Monkey Business
- Mouldly Food
- Recycling
- Something Fishy
- Super Slimy Slugs
Go Inventing (May 18, 2009- June 19, 2009)
(Titles from DigiguideDigiGuide
DigiGuide is a digital TV guide in the UK.Digiguide creates TV guides which cut through the clutter and which are customised to your tastes and needs....
)
- Bouncy Beds
- Buckle Up
- Clean It Up
- Cooking With Waves
- Dirty Dishes
- Extraordinary X-Rays
- Eyes in The Dark
- Get Wet
- Handy Handles
- Hot and Cold
- Hubble Bubble
- In a Flush
- In The Box
- Keys
- Lift Off
- Loud and Clear
- Mirror Mirror
- Near and Far
- Pen and Paper
- Round and Round
- Sliding Doors
- Swish Swish
- Time For Cogs
- Top Taps
- Wheels
In The Lab (September 27, 2010 - December 10, 2010)
(Titles from BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
)
- Melty Chocolate
- Sleepy Dust
- Rattling Pan
- Episode 4
- Sugar and Teeth
- Super Sand
- Ferocious Fire
- Soap Suds
- --
- Grass Stains
- Salty Sea
- Wobbly Jelly
- Steamy Mirrors
- Fragrant Flowers
- Noisy Foods
- Popcorn Pops
- Sniffing Smells
- Mighty Metal
- Sticky Jam
- Bubbles Burst
- Onions Make Us Cry
- Wrinkly Fingers
- Glow Stars
- Wet Paint
- Marvellous Milk