Xchange (TV series)
Encyclopedia
Xchange was a factual entertainment BBC
television
programme for children. It was broadcast initially on BBC Two
and later the CBBC Channel
. The programme was (mostly) transmitted live
from studio TC2 at BBC Television Centre
. Towards the end of the show, it was recorded the day before broadcasting.
The first era of the programme came in 1998 when it was designed as a programme shown on BBC Two in the summer holidays. This format was repeated annually until the launch of the CBBC Channel in 2002. As a result, 1,040 episodes over two years were initially ordered. At that time, it was the BBC's biggest ever single in-house commission.
On the CBBC Channel, it was a continuous, daily, hour-long format broadcast from 7:30am. Although, by the time the programme ended in March 2006, it was being broadcast twice daily in thirty minute durations.
The show featured a website
where users can sign-up to collect points, and also could gain points for being a caller on the show. People who obtained 1000 points could enter a draw to appear on the show and be a "Gold X-IDer" in the studio. In a later series, the 1000 points could also be traded in to have a presenter host a part of the show from an X-IDer's house for a week.
Xchange featured celebrities, music performances, comedy and games. Featured celebrities included Girls Aloud
, Daniel Bedingfield
, Hilary Duff
and Verbalicious . A weekly discussion point, branded sequentially as "The Big One" / "Backchat" / "Sticky Situations", was where viewers gave their thoughts and opinions on a topic. The "Xperts" item featured viewers who reviewed new movies, games, books and music. The "Dream On" strand endeavoured to make the dreams or ambitions of some of the programme's viewers come true.
The last edition of Xchange was broadcast on 31st March 2006 ending with Vinnie J Ferret's (the "J" initial was also revealed to be "Jebadiah") own version of classic song "My Way" as "Our Way" with a little vocal help from the presenters of the show. Michael "Abs" Absalom
, Ade Adepitan, Ortis Deley
, Jez Edwards, Gemma Hunt
and puppet "Vinnie" the ferret (Dave Chapman
) were the show's last presenters. The programme was replaced by Sam and Mark
's Level Up
.
When children appeared on the show, the presenters of that show would sign a photo of themselves and personalise it to the child.
Also, the main game that would appear on the show would have the prize of an Xchange-branded alarm clock and a few more goodies were given away behind the scenes such as messenger bags, mousemats and keyrings.
BBC
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...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
programme for children. It was broadcast initially on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
and later the CBBC Channel
CBBC Channel
CBBC is a BBC television channel aimed at 6 to 12 year olds. It complements the CBBC programming that continues to air on BBC One and BBC Two. Launched on 11 February 2002, it broadcasts from 7am to 7pm on Freeview, cable, IPTV and digital satellite, occupying the same bandwidth as, but a different...
. The programme was (mostly) transmitted live
Live television
Live television refers to a television production broadcast in real-time, as events happen, in the present. From the early days of television until about 1958, live television was used heavily, except for filmed shows such as I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke. Video tape did not exist until 1957...
from studio TC2 at BBC Television Centre
BBC Television Centre
BBC Television Centre at White City in West London is the headquarters of BBC Television. Officially opened on 29 June 1960, it remains one of the largest to this day; having featured over the years as backdrop to many BBC programmes, it is one of the most readily recognisable such facilities...
. Towards the end of the show, it was recorded the day before broadcasting.
The first era of the programme came in 1998 when it was designed as a programme shown on BBC Two in the summer holidays. This format was repeated annually until the launch of the CBBC Channel in 2002. As a result, 1,040 episodes over two years were initially ordered. At that time, it was the BBC's biggest ever single in-house commission.
On the CBBC Channel, it was a continuous, daily, hour-long format broadcast from 7:30am. Although, by the time the programme ended in March 2006, it was being broadcast twice daily in thirty minute durations.
The show featured a website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
where users can sign-up to collect points, and also could gain points for being a caller on the show. People who obtained 1000 points could enter a draw to appear on the show and be a "Gold X-IDer" in the studio. In a later series, the 1000 points could also be traded in to have a presenter host a part of the show from an X-IDer's house for a week.
Xchange featured celebrities, music performances, comedy and games. Featured celebrities included Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London. They were created through the ITV1 talent show Popstars The Rivals in 2002. The group consists of Cheryl Cole , Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. They are signed to Fascination Records, a Polydor...
, Daniel Bedingfield
Daniel Bedingfield
Daniel John Bedingfield is a British singer-songwriter. He is the brother of pop singers Natasha Bedingfield and Nikola Rachelle.-Music career:...
, Hilary Duff
Hilary Duff
Hilary Erhard Duff is an American actress, singer-songwriter, entrepreneur, and author. After working in local theater plays and television commercials in her childhood, she achieved fame playing the title role in the Disney Channel television series Lizzie McGuire. She also reprised her role in...
and Verbalicious . A weekly discussion point, branded sequentially as "The Big One" / "Backchat" / "Sticky Situations", was where viewers gave their thoughts and opinions on a topic. The "Xperts" item featured viewers who reviewed new movies, games, books and music. The "Dream On" strand endeavoured to make the dreams or ambitions of some of the programme's viewers come true.
The last edition of Xchange was broadcast on 31st March 2006 ending with Vinnie J Ferret's (the "J" initial was also revealed to be "Jebadiah") own version of classic song "My Way" as "Our Way" with a little vocal help from the presenters of the show. Michael "Abs" Absalom
Michael Absalom
Michael Absalom , more commonly known as Abs, was a regular presenter on CBBC from 2002 to 2004.-Biography:Born on 13 April 1980 in Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland, he has lived in many different areas including Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria; Rowlands Castle, Hampshire and the south west counties of...
, Ade Adepitan, Ortis Deley
Ortis Deley
Ortis Deley is a British television presenter, radio DJ and actor of Ghanaian/Nigerian descent. He went to Ernest Bevin College in Tooting Bec, London. He is currently one of the presenters of The Gadget Show and presenter of Choice FM on Sunday mornings....
, Jez Edwards, Gemma Hunt
Gemma Hunt
Gemma Hunt is a CBBC presenter who also used to be on the TV series Xchange.-CBBC:Gemma joined the CBBC continuity team in 2002, since then she has presented on the CBBC Channel and also on BBC One and BBC Two. In 2004 she was noticed by CBBC series Xchange and later became a presenter until its...
and puppet "Vinnie" the ferret (Dave Chapman
Dave Chapman
Dave Chapman is an English actor, television presenter, puppeteer and voice artist.-Career:Dave Chapman trained at The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and The Jim Henson Company...
) were the show's last presenters. The programme was replaced by Sam and Mark
Sam and Mark
Sam Nixon and Mark Rhodes, known collectively as Sam & Mark, or simply Smark, are an English popular music and television presenting duo. They previously competed on the second series of Pop Idol in 2003, where they finished third and second, respectively, behind winner Michelle McManus...
's Level Up
Level Up
Level Up was a UK children's TV programme that was broadcast on CBBC. It was launched on the 3rd April 2006, replacing Xchange. The show was an hour long and during the school year broadcasting from 7:30am until 8:30am...
.
Games
Snot Me - two people go gead to head picking hairs out of a gunge filled nose. The loser would get gunged if the trigger hair was pulled.Merchandise
In 2001, three books published by BBC Education Publishing under the Xchange banner went on sale: Head Strong, Microbe Makes and Team Spirit.When children appeared on the show, the presenters of that show would sign a photo of themselves and personalise it to the child.
Also, the main game that would appear on the show would have the prize of an Xchange-branded alarm clock and a few more goodies were given away behind the scenes such as messenger bags, mousemats and keyrings.