Playbox
Encyclopedia
Playbox was a TV programme for pre-school children aged 2-5, which ran during the late 1980s and early 1990s in the United Kingdom
on ITV
and was produced by Central Independent Television
. It was the first ragdoll show to be made by ITV. It was created by Leslie Pitts, and Anne Wood (who had only recently founded the now famous Ragdoll Productions
).
The show took place inside a red, yellow and blue box, with the main characters, Cat and Dog, being controlled by puppeteers from inside the box. The puppets would draw pictures, tell stories, sing songs, and play jokes on one another (mainly typical slapstick
). The puppets were voiced by Pat Coombs
and Keith Chegwin
.
Playbox was part of the many other children's shows that would appear on weekday lunchtimes on ITV1 between midday and 12.30pm as well as Rainbow, Rod, Jane and Freddy, Allsorts, Rosie And Jim and The Riddlers.
Playbox began on air in 1987 and the show finished in 1992.
Episodes which were the chosen episodes from each series, In 1987 the first series of playbox was broadcast for 13 episodes, In the 1988 series of series two there were 10 episodes, Another 10 episodes from series three in 1989, Another 10 episodes from series 4 in 1990, 9 Episodes were shown in 1991 in series 5 and the final 8 episodes during series six in 1992 until the show was axed, All the series have got 60 episodes.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on ITV
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...
and was produced by Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television
Central Independent Television, more commonly known as Central is the Independent Television contractor for the Midlands, created following the restructuring of ATV and commencing broadcast on 1 January 1982. The station is owned and operated by ITV plc, under the licensee of ITV Broadcasting...
. It was the first ragdoll show to be made by ITV. It was created by Leslie Pitts, and Anne Wood (who had only recently founded the now famous Ragdoll Productions
Ragdoll Productions
Ragdoll Productions is a UK company that produces children's television shows. It was founded in 1984 by Anne Wood, who later devised many of their television series, seen in 111 countries and translated into 41 languages.Before 1984, Ragdoll's founder Anne Wood made children's programmes for...
).
The show took place inside a red, yellow and blue box, with the main characters, Cat and Dog, being controlled by puppeteers from inside the box. The puppets would draw pictures, tell stories, sing songs, and play jokes on one another (mainly typical slapstick
Slapstick
Slapstick is a type of comedy involving exaggerated violence and activities which may exceed the boundaries of common sense.- Origins :The phrase comes from the batacchio or bataccio — called the 'slap stick' in English — a club-like object composed of two wooden slats used in Commedia dell'arte...
). The puppets were voiced by Pat Coombs
Pat Coombs
Pat Coombs was an English actress. Coombs was considered one of Britain's great character actresses, specialising in the portrayal of the eternal downtrodden female — comically under the thumb of stronger personalities. She was known for many roles on radio, film and television sitcoms...
and Keith Chegwin
Keith Chegwin
Keith Chegwin is an English television presenter, former child actor and singer.-Early career:Chegwin's early roles were in works of the Children's Film Foundation, appearing as Egghead Wentworth in The Troublesome Double Egghead's Robot . He also appeared as a stowaway in Doomwatch episode...
.
Playbox was part of the many other children's shows that would appear on weekday lunchtimes on ITV1 between midday and 12.30pm as well as Rainbow, Rod, Jane and Freddy, Allsorts, Rosie And Jim and The Riddlers.
Playbox began on air in 1987 and the show finished in 1992.
Episodes which were the chosen episodes from each series, In 1987 the first series of playbox was broadcast for 13 episodes, In the 1988 series of series two there were 10 episodes, Another 10 episodes from series three in 1989, Another 10 episodes from series 4 in 1990, 9 Episodes were shown in 1991 in series 5 and the final 8 episodes during series six in 1992 until the show was axed, All the series have got 60 episodes.