The Big Bang (TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Big Bang is a CITV
science show that broadcast from April 15, 1996 - September 8, 2004, produced by Yorkshire Television
. It is notable for being one of CITV's longest-running science programmes. The aim of the programme was to make science fun and interesting for children.
and Kate Bellingham
. Kate Bellingham left after the second series to care for her new child. Gareth Jones's long-time friend and now partner Violet Berlin
was her replacement for the third series in 1998. The show essentially stayed the same before a new logo and set design was introduced for the fifth and sixth series in 2000 and 2001. Both Gareth and Violet left the show after the sixth series as they were, as said by ITV at the time, "concentrating on running their own company [WhizzBang] and looking after baby Indigo". However, Gareth Jones later revealed on his website that they left because "when we were asked to do the 2002 series it looked like many of the people who usually make the programme with us wouldn't be doing it any more. There were lots of changes planned for the Big Bang which Violet & I didn't agree with, so we said thank you for the last 6 series and wished them all the luck for the future."
For the seventh series the show had another rebrand, notably a new theme tune, the first since the beginning of the show, however the old theme tune was brought back for the final two series. There was also a new logo, and new presenters Kate McIntyre and Michael Underwood were introduced. The set stayed remained mainly unchanged, however the neon The Big Bang sign in the kitchen was not replaced with the new logo until series 8. Michael and Kate presented the show together for two series, until Michael left to present Ministry of Mayhem, and for the ninth and last series he was replaced with Sam Pinkham.
In 2003, a shorter 5-minute version of the show, The Little Bang, was introduced at weekends. It took one section from a normal Big Bang episode and displayed what was needed for the make at the beginning of the show.
After the show ended, it was repeated daily on Discovery Kids UK, who started showing it with the first series and all the way up until the sixth before the channel closed in 2007. Nowadays, series 7 can be seen repeated on the CITV
channel.
In Vietnam from 2003, all series of the show was originally aired on HTV7, later on HTV1 (public) and HTV4 (education & science).
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
science show that broadcast from April 15, 1996 - September 8, 2004, produced by Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television
Yorkshire Television, now officially known as ITV Yorkshire and sometimes unofficially abbreviated to YTV, is a British television broadcaster and the contractor for the Yorkshire franchise area on the ITV network...
. It is notable for being one of CITV's longest-running science programmes. The aim of the programme was to make science fun and interesting for children.
History
Starting in 1996, The Big Bang was originally presented by Gareth JonesGareth Jones (presenter)
Gareth Jones is a Welsh television presenter and celebrity. He began his broadcasting career under the name Gaz Top....
and Kate Bellingham
Kate Bellingham
Kate Bellingham is a British engineer and television presenter most widely known for her role presenting popular BBC science show Tomorrow's World from 1990-1994...
. Kate Bellingham left after the second series to care for her new child. Gareth Jones's long-time friend and now partner Violet Berlin
Violet Berlin
Violet Berlin is a Turkish born English television presenter, writer and producer best known for her coverage of video games.-Career:Berlin began presenting in the early 1990s when she presented WildBunch on BBC One, and Cool Cube on BSkyB...
was her replacement for the third series in 1998. The show essentially stayed the same before a new logo and set design was introduced for the fifth and sixth series in 2000 and 2001. Both Gareth and Violet left the show after the sixth series as they were, as said by ITV at the time, "concentrating on running their own company [WhizzBang] and looking after baby Indigo". However, Gareth Jones later revealed on his website that they left because "when we were asked to do the 2002 series it looked like many of the people who usually make the programme with us wouldn't be doing it any more. There were lots of changes planned for the Big Bang which Violet & I didn't agree with, so we said thank you for the last 6 series and wished them all the luck for the future."
For the seventh series the show had another rebrand, notably a new theme tune, the first since the beginning of the show, however the old theme tune was brought back for the final two series. There was also a new logo, and new presenters Kate McIntyre and Michael Underwood were introduced. The set stayed remained mainly unchanged, however the neon The Big Bang sign in the kitchen was not replaced with the new logo until series 8. Michael and Kate presented the show together for two series, until Michael left to present Ministry of Mayhem, and for the ninth and last series he was replaced with Sam Pinkham.
In 2003, a shorter 5-minute version of the show, The Little Bang, was introduced at weekends. It took one section from a normal Big Bang episode and displayed what was needed for the make at the beginning of the show.
After the show ended, it was repeated daily on Discovery Kids UK, who started showing it with the first series and all the way up until the sixth before the channel closed in 2007. Nowadays, series 7 can be seen repeated on the CITV
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
channel.
In Vietnam from 2003, all series of the show was originally aired on HTV7, later on HTV1 (public) and HTV4 (education & science).
Series guide
| Series | Episodes | Broadcast | Presenters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | 15 April - 24 June 1996 | Gareth Jones Gareth Jones Gareth Jones may refer to:* Gareth Stedman Jones , British historian* Gareth Jones * Gareth Jones * Gareth Jones * Gareth Jones... and Kate Bellingham Kate Bellingham Kate Bellingham is a British engineer and television presenter most widely known for her role presenting popular BBC science show Tomorrow's World from 1990-1994... |
| 2 | 9 | 7 April - 16 June 1997 | |
| 3 | 9 | 6 April - 6 July 1998 | Gareth Jones and Violet Berlin Violet Berlin Violet Berlin is a Turkish born English television presenter, writer and producer best known for her coverage of video games.-Career:Berlin began presenting in the early 1990s when she presented WildBunch on BBC One, and Cool Cube on BSkyB... |
| 4 | 8 | 10 May - 5 July 1999 | |
| 5 | 13 | 18 April - 18 July 2000 | |
| 6 | 13 | 30 April - 17 May 2001 | |
| 7 | 15 | 11 June - 30 July 2002 | Michael Underwood Michael Underwood Michael Paul Underwood is a British television presenter. He famously won a six week CBBC presenting contract on Gaby Roslin's BBC television show Whatever You Want.-Career:... and Kate McIntyre Kate McIntyre Kate McIntyre is a British television presenter who presented The Core between 2000 and 2002 on Channel 5, the children's science show The Big Bang from 2002 to 2004. She also co-hosted the BBC home makeover show DIY SOS in 2003. Kate also hosted 'I Want That House', 'Bootsale Treasure Hunt' and... |
| 8 | 10 | 7 July - 18 August 2003 | |
| 9 | 10 | 28 April - 8 September 2004 | Sam Pinkham and Kate McIntyre |
External links
- The Big Bang at itv.com/citvItv.comitv.com is the main website of ITV plc, the UK's largest commercial television broadcaster which operates 11 out of 15 regions on the ITV network under the ITV1 brand. The website offers on-line streaming, ITV archive, news, sport, entertainment, games, soaps, lifestyle, drama and an interactive TV...
(Series 7)
- The Big Bang at itv.com/citvItv.comitv.com is the main website of ITV plc, the UK's largest commercial television broadcaster which operates 11 out of 15 regions on the ITV network under the ITV1 brand. The website offers on-line streaming, ITV archive, news, sport, entertainment, games, soaps, lifestyle, drama and an interactive TV...
(Series 5 & 6)