TISWAS

4 Conversations

THE REGULAR CAST MEMBERS

Chris Tarrant

Sally James

Bob Carolgees

John Gorman

Lenny Henry


IF YOU KNOW OF ANY MORE REGULAR CAST MEMBERS THE LET ME KNOW

THE SHOW


In the cold winter months from 1974 until 1982, there was only one1 Saturday morning childrens show to watch. From 10am until midday, it was TODAY IS SATURDAY- WAKE UP AND SMILE!... or TISWAS.


What will most people remember about this show though, Buckets of Water, the Pies, The Cage, Compost Corner, The Dying Fly or maybe Spit The Dog. It was all done in good fun and bad taste, everybody having fun, adults and children alike.


JUST THE FACTS MA'AM

THE PHANTOM FLAN-FLINGER2
No one ever knew the identity of this black garbed and hooded menace. His job was to flan, or throw custard pies3 at anyone unfortuanate to get in his way, guest or cast alike.

As time went on he developed a family, who all dressed the same as he. A wife4and two children.


THE BUCKETS OF ?????5
Water was the most used substance in the buckets that were thrown liberally over everyone. But baked beans, rice pudding, spaghetti, 'Wunda Gloo' and the occasionally mushy pea were amongst the many other substances used.

Useful for cleaning up guests after they had been flaned (See above)


SPIT THE DOG6
The side kick of Bob Carolgees, a hand puppet with a rather disgusting habit of spitting. He even had his own song, 'The Funky Spitting Punk Dog'.

Bob Carolgees also introduced us to Charlie the peanut-catching monkee and Koff the Cat, but it's Spit that everyone remember's and loves7.

THE FOUR BUCKETEERS
This group was made up of the core presenters, Chis, Sally, Bob and John. Released by CBS records in the summer of 1980, 'The Bucket of Water Song reached number 26 in the charts.

The B side of the above single was a wonderful song called 'SMELLO (The Incredible Stinking Man), which was sung by John Gorman, with help from the other three bucketeers of course.

Words Of The Bucket Of Water Song

THE DYING FLY
Lie on the floor, wave your arms up and down and kick your legs in time to some crazy violin music and a typewriter sound effect. Please remember to keep absolutely still when the typewriter sound effect is heard until the violin music restarted. This was supposed to resemble a dying fly.

The comedian Jasper Carrott discovered this odd behaviour at a gig in Newcastle, and Tiswas adopted it as there very own.

RoSPA8 put The Dying Fly, on the list of the 'Most Dangerous Activities Of The 1980's'.


THE RIVAL
The Muli Coloured Swap Shop was the BBC's rival for Tiswas. Noel Edmonds headed a varied cast, including John Craven (who read the news), Keith Chegwin and others.

The main point of this show was that children could 'swap' unwanted articles they pocessed for articles they wanted. Quite a good idea, and it caught on in a big way.


THE H2G2 TISWAS POLL


Please use the below forum's to vote for the one you watched most, Tiswas or The Multi Coloured Swap Shop.

TISWAS FANS
SWAP SHOP FANS
TISWAS FAN Greebo T. Cat

Mike A.

Demon Drawer

SWAP SHOP FAN Demon Drawer




With thanks to...


TISWAS FOREVER

1Well there was that Swap Shop thingy, but who watched that??2Sometimes spelt 'Phlan Phlinger'3Mostly made of shaving-foam.4Complete with blond wig.5WATER6KERRRRRRR-SPLAT!!!7What do you mean you've never heard of him8Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents

Bookmark on your Personal Space


Entry

A290260

Infinite Improbability Drive

Infinite Improbability Drive

Read a random Edited Entry


Written and Edited by

References

External Links

Not Panicking Ltd is not responsible for the content of external internet sites

Disclaimer

h2g2 is created by h2g2's users, who are members of the public. The views expressed are theirs and unless specifically stated are not those of the Not Panicking Ltd. Unlike Edited Entries, Entries have not been checked by an Editor. If you consider any Entry to be in breach of the site's House Rules, please register a complaint. For any other comments, please visit the Feedback page.

Write an Entry

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a wholly remarkable book. It has been compiled and recompiled many times and under many different editorships. It contains contributions from countless numbers of travellers and researchers."

Write an entry
Read more