Скачать или смотреть Words, Words, Words (1985) - FULL EPISODE

Your first mission here is to get through possibly the cheesiest opening sequence of any television show ever. Honestly - that extended theme tune and dance just reeks of the 80s! But stick at it, because what follows is a really quite good semi-educational sketch show for children. It's fair to say that not all the gags are quite up to scratch, and it's certainly not in the same league as the likes of its contemporary Play Away, but if you're a fan of puns and wordplay that make you roll your eyes and groan (including a couple on the phrases "sexy" and "X-certificate", believe it or not), there's more than enough here to keep you entertained for a quarter of an hour. Just as long as you can get through that theme tune.

Despite being practically forgotten, Words, Words, Words played quite a pivotal role in the history of children's TV at Thames. To paraphrase large parts of the excellent High-T website:

*******************************************
The head of children’s output at Thames Television, Marjorie Sigley, wanted an educational series to teach youngsters about words and letters of the alphabet. The first programme of this project turned out to be Words, Words, Words, which was a sketch show featuring songs and rhymes. Requests were sent to a host of writers as material was rather thin on the ground, and both Lee Pressman and Grant Cathro got involved. Because of this, the pair met properly for the first time.

After Words, Words, Words, Marjorie wanted Lee to come up with a series about the letters of the alphabet, and he suggested a young girl travelling through various lands of a board game, each featuring a certain letter. Wonders in Letterland - the first series of T-Bag - was born. When Majorie gave it the green light, Lee asked Grant if he would like to co-write the series, and the partnership responsible for numerous other children’s classics (including Spatz and Mike and Angelo) was formed.

http://hight.50webs.com/makingof/orig...
*******************************************

From tiny acorns and all that. Anyway, what of the performers? Well...

Andrie Reid (the girl in yellow) doesn't have many credits to her name, but went on to play Stella in an episode of T-Bag. By far her most prominent role, though, was as one of Cleo Rocos's mates in The Kenny Everett Television Show. (You can do your own 'didn't recognise her with her clothes on' joke.)

Donald Waugh (the guy in blue) was something of a child star, appearing in Bugsy Malone as Snake Eyes and regularly in Grange Hill as Joseph "Hughsey" Hughes. His IMDB also lists the Look and Read series Sky Hunter.

I gather that Matilda Thorpe (the girl in pink) is still in the biz, but more on stage than screen. Her most famous role is probably as Mandy in Desmonds. She is the sister of Harriet Thorpe, and I swear I recognise her from another kids' show of the era - can anyone help me out there?

Paul Venables (the guy in green) went on to play a prince in T-Bag, but most impressively boasts a credit in Skyfall. Loads of other things on his IMDB: The Bill, Holby City, Lewis, Silent Witness, Doctors... He's done all right for himself.

Which leaves Aaron Shirley (the guy in whatever colour that is). He had a central role in the Dick Gherkin episode of T-Bag, plus a semi-regular part as Lennie in Boon, but I'm sorry to say that according to IMDB he's sadly no longer with us, having passed away in 2014. I'm not 100% certain this is how he'd want to be remembered, but let's do so anyway.

The year at the end says 1984, but I'm reliably informed that this particular episode was broadcast in 1985. The Number 73 promo at the start implies February of that year, but to be honest, the exact original air date is anyone's guess. If you can help, please leave a comment.

Many thanks to Lee for providing this recording.

(This is a transfer from an old videotape, so please don't expect full HD quality. To the best of my knowledge, this material is not available commercially anywhere in the world, and has been uploaded for its historic interest. That said, if you are a copyright holder and object, please don't hesitate to contact me.)