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Kerwhizz
Genre Children's game show
Presented by Jacob Scipio (as the Kerwhizzitor)
Voices of Kriselle Basilio
Teika Donyai
Yasmin Garrad
Alex Velleman
Jermaine Woods
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of series 2
No. of episodes 41
Production
Executive producer(s) Alison Stewart
Producer(s) Stephen Cannon
Running time 22 minutes
Production company(s) Studio 100
CBeebies
Distributor Studio 100
Release
Original network CBeebies
Original release 3 November 2008 (2008-11-03) - 25 March 2011 (2011-03-25)

Kerwhizz (strapline: The Quiz with added Whizz) is a live-action animated British children's television game show which originally aired on CBeebies between 2008 and 2011. The series uses a mix of CGI and live-action, and is targeted towards four to six-year-olds.

Summary

The show is moderated by Kerwhizzitor (Jacob Scipio), the only regular live-action character. Three teams of CGI characters, each comprising a human child and a part-living, part-mechanical animal, must answer four rounds of questions, each featuring a regular 2-D animated character, to win a choice of pod mod for their respective racing pods. In addition, one round offers the chance to win a mystery mod. Each mod is an unconventional accessory that may or may not give its user a better chance of winning the race. The teams are cheered on by three groups of live-action children dressed in the teams' colours and waving team flags.

All of the questions are multiple-choice, with the answers colour-coded red, green, yellow or blue (not coincidentally, these are the standard colours of the function buttons on TV remote controls). Once the question rounds are complete, the teams' pods are assembled around them and the respective mods are installed. The pods are then raised through the roof of the studio into the CGI race world. Each race world is a themed environment (the questions usually include clues to the theme) containing three, or occasionally four, zones, and each race comprises two laps (except in "The Deserted Desert Dash", which is a novelty race with no set route and a hidden finish line). All of the teams are likely to encounter unexpected setbacks and opportunities along the way, making the outcome of each race unpredictable.

Characters

Questionmaster

  • Kerwhizzitor (Jacob Scipio) moderates the quiz, asks the questions, makes bad puns and rhymes and tries to keep the teams in order. In the race world sequences Kerwhizzitor commentates.

Contestants

  • Team Ninki comprises Ninki (CV: Kriselle Basilio), a dark-skinned girl with bunches and a singing voice that is commonly said to be "terrible" (although while introducing her team at the beginning of each episode she sings well); and Pip, a green-furred dog somewhat resembling a Scottish terrier with an extendable metal neck. Pip can't speak, but can often shape his barks and growls into an approximation of words. Despite this Ninki sometimes fails to hear him when he gets a question wrong and offers her own right answer instead, causing him to growl in frustration. Team colour: yellow. Team logo: yellow star.
  • Team Twist comprises Twist (CV: Alex Velleman), a highly confident, if not overconfident, blond boy with a fixation for style; and Snout (CV: Jermaine Woods, not credited on series 2) who resembles an orange-furred, two-legged woolly mammoth with a plastic trunk, and has a fixation of his own, with sprouts. In the episode "Planet Snout" the eponymous planet is revealed to be his homeworld and the origin of his vegetable obsession. It is also revealed that Snout has two nephews, Rocko and Ricko. Team colour: blue. Team logo: blue spiral.
  • Team Kit comprises Kit (CV: Telka Donyai), a fair-skinned girl with blue hair who is very brainy and good at thinking around problems. Though her confidence in her abilities is as great as Twist's, occasionally causing some girl-boy rivalry between them; and Kaboodle (CV: Yasmin Garrad), who is basically a furry ball with a face, two conical plastic ears/antennae, and a springy conical plastic leg. She appears to be less mature than the other racers and often requires emotional support from Kit. She is able to electrify anything after bouncing for long enough. Team colour: pink. Team logo: pink lightning bolt.

Question hosts

These characters appear in the flash-animated question sequences. None of them speak, since the questions are all read by Kerwhizzitor. In many episodes they, or characters based on their designs, also appear in CGI form in the race world sequences, where they are much bigger than the human contestants.

  • Natterjack the toad presents two questions per episode based on picture recognition. A typical question might involve the teams identifying one of four pictures that is identical to one that Natterjack has drawn.
  • Burping Herbert the burpasaur presents one question based on visual memory. This typically involves Herbert eating one of several objects and the teams having to choose which one it was from four alternatives.
  • King Pong the skunk presents "Hunt the Skunk", in which he hides in or behind four objects in rapid succession. Pip, Snout and Kaboodle have to decide which object was his last hiding place in order to win the Mystery Mod. King Pong's appearance is always heralded by a smelly green vapour. Occasionally he is replaced by his relatives, such as the pirate Long Pong Silver (who smells even worse), or by Queen Pong or Princess Pong (who both smell very nice and produce fragrant pink vapour).
  • Kat Kool the cat presents "Kat Kool's Sound Round", one question based on auditory memory. Typically Kat Kool or his band will play a tune, and the teams must then choose which of four alternative tunes matches.

Episodes

Series 1 and 2 (2008-2011)

/ 3 // 1 // Friday News Takeaway // Ninki // n/a // Yes News World [Ninki] [Kat Kool Special] // 5 March 2021

In other languages

  • Polish: Kwizerr
  • Dutch (Flanders): Kwiskwat
  • Hebrew: Ready, Quiz, Hop! (In Hebrew Version, Kerwhizzitor was replaced by Israeli Host named Ron Quiz (Ron Chidon))
  • Hungarian: Csűrcsavarosdi

Lawsuit

In 2011 cartoonist Michael Mitchell sued the BBC, claiming that Kerwhizz's human CGI characters were based on his own designs for a proposed series called The Bounce Bunch. The BBC denied these claims. In the England and Wales Patents County Court in December 2011, His Honour Judge Birss, QC found that the Kerwhizz characters did not infringe Mr Mitchell's copyright.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Kerwhizz para niños

Series Episode Title Winner Route Podmods Original Air Date
1 1 Vegetable Valley Alley Twist Pumpkin Parade

Fruit Falls

Corn Cob Corners

Pong's Patch

Radish Road
Gleaming Garden Snippers (Kit)

Spade (Twist)

Packet of Seeds (Ninki)

Giant Sprout (Mystery, Twist)
3 November 2008
1 2 The Slip and Slide Snow Ride Kit Snow Stretch

Glacier Gully

Snow Drift Rift

Don't Sink Rink
Crampon Claws (Kit)

Supersonic Skis (Ninki)

Expander Specs (Twist)

Bobble Hat (Mystery, Ninki)
10 November 2008
1 3 Castle Kingdom Ninki Drawbridge Gate

Field of Shields

The Knight's Table
Lance (Ninki)

Plastic Fantastic Sword (Kit)

Tur-bow (Twist)

Egg (Mystery, Ninki)
17 November 2008
1 4 Bedroom Zoom Kit Mobile Junction

Under Bed

Cosy Comfy Corner

Sweet Dream Street
Mega Moonbeam Super Torch (Ninki)

Shooting Star (Twist)

Teddy Bear Tim (Kit)

Giant Alarm Clock (Mystery, Twist)
24 November 2008
1 5 The Daring Dino Dash Twist Fossil Forest

Dino Egg Gulch

Old Crusty
Musical Conch Shell (Ninki)

Diviner (Kit)

Daffodactyl Flower (Twist)

Scarf (Mystery, Twist)
1 December 2008
1 6 Hat-Trick Highway Ninki Top Hat #1

Top Hat #2

Top Hat #3
Future Ball (Ninki)

Wonder Wand (Kit)

Natterjoker (Twist)

Corrector (Mystery, Twist)
8 December 2008
1 7 Funfair Freeway Kit Helter Skelter Felter

Bumper Car Bypass

Faster Than Moster Roller Coaster
Balloons (Ninki)

Rubber Bumpers (Kit)

Candy Flosser (Twist)

Free Ride (Mystery, Twist)
15 December 2008
1 8 The Great Space Race Ninki The International Space Station

Asteroid Felter

The Mysterious Rings of Saturn

The Hyper-Space Toll Booth
Keryptonite (Kit)

Faster Feather Duster (Ninki)

Comet Catcher Net (Twist)

Time-Travelling Clock (Mystery, Kit)
5 January 2009
1 9 Bowling Alley Rally Twist The Twisty Turny Tunnels

Skittle Forest

King Pong's Shoe Room

Bowling Alley Alley
Lucky Bowling Arm Charm (Ninki)

Super Speakers (Twist)

Quicker-Sticker Sticky Stuff (Kit)

Skittle Stopper (Mystery, Kit, not taken)
12 January 2009
1 10 The Ace Choc Chase Race Ninki Choco Way

The Choco Block

The Chocolate Drop

Chocolate Fountain Mountain

Home Sweet Home Street
Bubbler (Kit)

Marshmallow Maker (Twist)

Fruit-and-Nutter (Ninki)

Gripper-Dipper (Mystery, Twist)
19 January 2009
1 11 Underwater Whizzway Kit The Avenue of Arches

The Sunken Ship Wreck

The Vortex

The Weed Way
Rusty Anchor (Kit)

Plug (Twist)

Fish Food (Ninki)

Muncher Fish (Mystery, Kit)
26 January 2009
1 12 The Supershape Showdown Twist The Polygon Pass

The Round and Round-a-bout

The Triangle Tangle

The Star Jump
Prankstar (Ninki)

Super-Springy Thingy (Twist)

Totally Triangular Shape Cutter (Kit)

Stumbling Block (Mystery, Kit)
2 February 2009
1 13 Egypt World Ninki & Kit The Giant Pyramid

The Tunnel of Cheops Chambers

Crazy Colonnades
Really Useful Relic (Ninki)

Papyrus Password (Kit)

Eat-My-Duster (Twist)

Ancient, Light-Reflecting Gem (Mystery, Kit)
9 February 2009
1 14 Supermarket Sprint Ninki Trolley Dash Turn

Fresh Food Freeway

Silly Isles

Cheddar Gorge

Checkpoint Checkout
Tip-Top Trolley Dodger (Twist)

Label Enabler (Kit)

Shopping Bag (Ninki)

Cheap-at-Half-the-Price Super Stacker (Mystery, Twist)
16 February 2009
1 15 Goldfish Gulp Twist Pipe Wipeout

Weedy Way

Fishy Fortress
Big, Bouncy Bubble (Ninki)

Propellor (Twist)

Rubber Ring (Kit)

Fishy Fin (Mystery, Twist)
23 February 2009
1 16 Whiffy World Ninki Stinky Sock Street

Queen Pong's Pungent Patch

Putrid Pipes
Super Socker (Twist)

Super Sucker (Kit)

Pongy Plunger (Ninki)

Giant Pepper Pot (Mystery, Twist)
2 March 2009
1 17 Opposite World Kit
[NB slowest pod wins]
The Upside-Downs

The Arrow Route

Floating Freeway
Faster Blaster (Ninki)

Goer Slower (Kit)

Flashlight (Twist)

Swapsie (Mystery, Ninki)
9 March 2009
1 18 Crazy Racy Golf Twist Hole #1: Natterjack Sphinx Street

Hole #2: Pong's Parade

Hole #3: Kat Kool's Causeway
Right-On Cue (Twist)

Putt-Putt-Putter (Kit)

Plug Mod (Ninki)

Mega Bouncing Ball (Mystery, Twist, not taken)
16 March 2009
1 19 Daredevil Dreamway All Boodle's Bounce-a-bout

Snout's Amazing Maze

Pip's Place
Sniffertron (Kit)

Practical Pointer (Twist)

Pip's Perfect Pod Mod (Ninki)

Pod-in-a-Box (Mystery, Kit)
23 March 2009
1 20 The Fairy Tale Trail Kit The Beanstalk

Cloud Pass

The Giant's Castle
One Wish (Kit)

Two Wishes (Twist)

Three Wishes (Ninki)

Nattertoad (Mystery, Ninki)
30 March 2009
1 21 The Marvellous Musical Marathon Ninki Kat Kool's Nifty Notes

Tuba Tunnel

Thumper Jumper

Cymbal Straight
Mega megaphone (Ninki)

Cool Conductor (Kit)

Super Speakers (Twist)

Wonderhorn (Mystery, Ninki)
6 April 2009
1 22 Party Paradise Kit King Pong's Parcel Pass

The Balloon Room

The Dancing Disco
Food Finding Fork (Twist)

Power Party Popper (Kit)

Pressing Presser (Ninki)

Parcel (Mystery, Twist)
13 April 2009
1 23 The Four Season Freeway Twist Spring Fling

Summer Daze

Automatic Alley
Nibbling Gnashers (Ninki)

Brumbrella (Kit)

Lead Guitar (Twist)

Ticket to Boys for All Seasons concert (Mystery, Kit)
20 April 2009
1 24 The Super Ace Rainbow Race Kit Panorama Rama

Loop-the-Loop Land

White World
Top Drawer (Kit)

Fade-Away Vanishing Block (Twist)

Splatter (Ninki)

Colour-Me-Wonderful Paint Set (Mystery, Ninki)
27 April 2009
1 25 Moonlight Night Flight Twist Starlight Expressway

Dark Park

Moonlight Parade
Clouder-Outer (Ninki)

Cool Cat's Eyes (Kit)

Shooting Starburst Boost (Twist)

Flight of Fireflies (Mystery, Kit)
4 May 2009
1 26 Fun Food Freeway Ninki The Big Cheese

The Wedge of Veg

Pudding Lane
Frisky Whisk (Ninki)

Grater-Scraper (Twist)

Cheese Board (Kit)

Chef's Hat (Mystery, Kit)
11 May 2009
2 1 Building Block Rock Kit Crane Corner

Turning Tunnel

The Working Herberts
Brick Basher (Ninki)

Dino Demolition Ball (Twist)

Foghorn (Kit)

Mega Cone (Mystery, Ninki)
7 March 2011
2 2 The Ker-razy Cave Caper Twist The Looping Lava Tube

Glacier Gully

Stalactite Slalom
Rockin' Rocket Boosters (Kit)

Hyper Heater (Twist)

Picky (Ninki)

Superstar Night Light (Mystery, Twist)
8 March 2011
2 3 The Play Place Race Ninki The Bouncy Castle

Slippy Slope/The Musical Tubes

Roller Squeeze Straight

Ball Pond Plunge
Super Suckers (Twist)

Big Wide Wedge (Kit)

Blow-Up Bouncers (Ninki)

De-tangler (Mystery Twist)
9 March 2011
2 4 Spooky Speedway Twist Hairy Scary Hallway

Room of Choices

The Web Way
Bat Wings (Kit)

Lending Hand (Ninki)

Glower (Twist)

Spooky Sheet (Mystery, Ninki)
10 March 2011
2 5 The Speedy Greedy Bake Race Kit Steady Bready Bridge

Donut Tunnel

Bumpy Bun Jumps
Frisky Whisk (Kit)

Getaway Tray (Twist)

Icing Bag (Ninki)

Dreamy Creamy Fondant Fancy (Mystery, Twist, not taken)
11 March 2011
2 6 Wild West World Ninki Tumble Weed Trail

Tin Can Canyon

Old Pine Gold Mine
Sheriff's Badge (Ninki)

Lasso (Twist)

Burpalo Nickel (Kit)

Cowboy Hat (Mystery, Kit)
14 March 2011
2 7 Overgrown Garden Getaway Twist Long Forgotten Lawn

Park and Glide Pond

Tree-mendous Avenue
Hopping-glad frog legs (Twist)

Creaky-Squeaky Lawnmower (Kit)

Long Stick (Ninki)

Hairdressing Set (Mystery, Ninki)
15 March 2011
2 8 City Speedway Kit The Statue of Ribbity

The Subway

Skyscraper Caper

The Showtime Shimmy
Beat Bop Baton (Kit)

Subway Tickets (Twist)

Big Onion (Ninki)

Year's Supply of Popcorn (Mystery, Ninki)
16 March 2011
2 9 Giant Jungle Jetway Ninki Undergrowth Expressway

Tree Trunk Trail

The Leaves
Leaping Lizard Legs (Ninki)

Frog's Tongue (Twist)

Zapper (Kit)

Rain Cloud (Mystery, Ninki)
17 March 2011
2 10 Arty Crafty Caper Twist Origami Forest

Glitter Falls

Natter Stamp Street

Paper Plane Pass
Safety Scissors (Ninki)

Super Sticker (Twist)

Perfect Painter (Kit)

Ball of Super String (Mystery, Twist)
18 March 2011
2 11 Treasure Island Trail Kit Pirate Ship Wreck

Coconut Grove

Quick Sand Land
Hook (Twist)

Main Sail (Ninki)

Rope (Kit)

Treasure Map (Mystery, Twist)
21 March 2011
2 12 The Toy Factory Track Ninki Toy Toad Travelator

Burpalloon Way

Toy Pong Parade
Quick and Slick Oil Can (Twist)

Top Popper (Ninki)

Spanner (Kit)

Toy Model of Kerwhizzitor (Mystery, Ninki, not taken)

"Thingamajig" (extra mystery item, Ninki)
22 March 2011
2 13 Planet Snout Twist Sprout Wood

Crackle Crater

Snoutsville
Fantastic Fan (Kit)

Which-Way Dish (Ninki)

Pepper Pot (Twist)

Sprout Recipe Book (Mystery, Ninki, not taken)
23 March 2011
2 14 The Zoom Around the Moon Ninki
[NB Kit drops out of race]
Lunar Lane

The Spaceship

The Crater

The Dark Side
Fiery Flare (Ninki)

Force Field (Twist)

Space Helmets (Kit)

Super Duper Boosters (Mystery, Kit)
24 March 2011
2 15 The Deserted Desert Dash All n/a Eye Spy (Ninki)

Big Ears (Twist)

Nifty Nose (Kit)

Magic Lamp (Mystery, shared by all)
[NB all teams score equal points and are allowed to choose Mods cooperatively]
25 March 2011
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