Razzledazzle is a short-lived British live action/animated television programme for children ages three to seven that aired on CBeebies between February and March 2005. It was an educational show that featured Razzledazzle, an orange CGI creature with two floppy ears and two big brown eyes, voiced by Bethen Marlow (who at the time also provided the voice of Mitzi (Mali) on the Welsh version of The Koala Brothers and Arita Schaeffer on the Welsh dub of Code Lyoko) and Rachel Scorgie in Welsh (who previously played Adie Lewis on Twin Town). The first episode, Kitty, originally aired on 14 February 2005 at 9:20 am.

Razzledazzle
GenreChildren's television series
Education
Written byPhilip Hawthorn
Tracey Hammett
Bethen Marlow
Steve Cannon
Directed byJustine Hallside
Champa Swift
Emyr Roberts (voice)
Siân Telfi (for Siânco)
StarringPatrick Lynch
Sarah Hope
Bethen Marlow
Mina Anwar
Rachel Scorgie (Welsh version)
Theme music composerBen Lee Delisle
Ending themeThe "Not So Long Song"
ComposerBen Lee Delisle
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Original languageEnglish
No. of series2
No. of episodes20
Production
Executive producerClare Elstow
ProducerSteve Cannon
CinematographyUnknown
Camera setupNigel Powell
Bart Baker
Running time20 minutes per episode (approx.)
Production companiesBBC
The Hive (animation)
Siânco (dubbing)
Original release
NetworkCBeebies
Release14 February (2005-02-14) –
11 March 2005 (2005-03-11)

Series overview

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The programme itself was designed to get viewers to focus on sound. By riding magical slides directly from a blue-screen base, Razzledazzle visited four different areas, "Rhyme Time", "Chit Chat", "Bish! Bash! Bosh!" and "Once Upon A Tale".

Rhyme Time, always presented by Sarah Hope, invites audiences to recognise an everyday sound, which is then set to a poem and often repeated, allowing for interaction (hence why Razzledazzle usually says "Why don't you say it too?") to encourage reciting.

Chit Chat features some children involved in activities with their relations, focusing on natural communication skills.

Bish! Bash! Bosh! features a group of children acting out simple rhymes and sequences, sometimes set to music and beat. These rhymes are normally repeated once (hence why Razzledazzle says "Come on! Join in!") to encourage rhythm, syllables and rhyme.

Finally, "Once Upon a Tale", presented alternately by Mina Anwar and Patrick Lynch, is designed to create short stories using predictive and repetitive elements, widening the viewer's vocabulary and allowing for plenty of physicalisation of the narrator.

At the end of the programme, Razzledazzle, the kids who appeared in the "Bish Bash Bosh", "Chit Chat", and "Once Upon a Tale" sections of the programme and the presenters from the "Rhyme Time" and the "Once Upon a Tale" segments perform The "Not So Long Song", composed by Ben Lee Delisle. Ten episodes at a time are usually aired for four hours during the early morning within the BBC Schools slot.

Episodes

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Twenty 20-minute episodes of Razzledazzle, which aired on BBC Two, CBeebies and within BBC Schools' output were produced. The series mixes CGI animation and live action.

In addition, some of the extras in the television series are produced using 2D Flash Animation. Most of the show (excluding the introduction) is filmed in front of a green screen, so that the host can communicate with the animated character. The "Chit Chat" segments are filmed on location at the chosen child's home.

  • 1. Kitty (14 February 2005)
  • 2. Ruby Rabbit (15 February 2005)
  • 3. Dennis The Donkey (16 February 2005)
  • 4. Don't Wake the Baby (17 February 2005)
  • 5. Carry Harri (18 February 2005)
  • 6. Dog (21 February 2005)
  • 7. Fisherman Tim (22 February 2005)
  • 8. Marvellous Monster (23 February 2005)
  • 9. Bibble Bobble (24 February 2005)
  • 10. Not Another Puddle (25 February 2005)
  • 11. Carlton's Magic Trainers (28 February 2005)
  • 12. King Bling (1 March 2005)
  • 13. Farmer Louise (2 March 2005)
  • 14. Molly in the Trolley (3 March 2005)
  • 15. Mrs Mickle (4 March 2005)
  • 16. Unfortunately (7 March 2005)
  • 17. The School Run (8 March 2005)
  • 18. The Big Beastie Thing (9 March 2005)
  • 19. Why the Moon is Made of Cheese (10 March 2005)
  • 20. The Chugga Chugga Bus (11 March 2005, final episode)

Awards

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  • Awarded Best Schools Programme – 0–5 Years (for the episode Drip Drop and Kitty)[1]

References

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  1. ^ "Educational Television Awards 2005". Royal Television Society. 24 January 2011. Retrieved 9 February 2016.