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Ridgey Didge facts for kids

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Ridgey Didge
Genre Children's television series
Presented by Jared Robinsen
Rebecca Hetherington
Simon Watt
Danny Carretti
Chris Harriott
Ashley Paske
Theme music composer Chris Harriott
Country of origin Australia
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 3
No. of episodes 39
Production
Executive producer(s) Ian Fairweather
Producer(s) Penni-Anne Smith
Production location(s) TEN Studios, North Ryde, New South Wales
Running time 52 minutes (excluding commercials)
Release
Original network Network Ten
Picture format 4:3 (PAL)
Audio format Stereo
Original release 7 September 1987 (1987-09-07) – 24 February 1989 (1989-02-24)
Chronology
Preceded by Off the Dish
Followed by Double Dare Australia

Ridgey Didge was a popular Network Ten magazine television programme for children in Australia. The name is an Australian slang term meaning honest, true or the real thing.

Format

A long-running series of 52-minute programmes, each studio-based episode was intended to be an entertaining voyage of adventure and discovery for the viewers, constantly covering new topics reflecting Australian life and culture. Location segments added to the mix. One episode recorded sealing a time capsule to commemorate Australia's bicentennial in 1988; the capsule was opened in 2001.

Presenters

A team of presenters hosted each programme:

  • Jared Robinsen
  • Rebecca Hetherington (daughter of Norman Hetherington)
  • Simon Watt
  • Danny Carretti
  • Chris Harriott
  • Ashley Paske

They were joined by puppet characters:

  • Shaun the Sheep (operated by Danny Carretti), and
  • Buzz the Blowfly (operated by Simon Watt).

Other presenters of regular segments:

  • Dr. Glenn Singleman (medicine)
  • Dean Taylor (art)

Catchphrase

The lyrics in the signature tune repeated the words ridgey didge several times which became a catchphrase amongst the target audience. This was accompanied with a hand gesture. The three middle fingers of the right hand were closed, leaving the thumb and little finger extended; the hand was then twisted from side to side in time with the rhythm of the music.

Transmission

The show aired between 1987 and 1989, Monday to Friday at 4 p.m. on Network TEN!

The competition

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