Runaround (British game show) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Runaround |
|
|---|---|
| Genre | Children's game show |
| Created by | Merrill Heatter & Bob Quigley |
| Presented by | Mike Reid (1975-6, 1978–81) Leslie Crowther (1977) Stan Boardman (1977–78) Gary Crowley (Poparound) |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 12 (Runaround) 2 (Poparound) |
| No. of episodes | 100 (inc. 3 specials) (Runaround) 12 (Poparound) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 30 minutes (inc. adverts) |
| Production company(s) | Southern Television (Runaround) Central (Poparound) |
| Distributor | Renown Pictures (Runaround) ITV Studios (Poparound) |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV |
| Picture format | 4:3 |
| Original release | 2 September 1975 – 7 September 1981 (Runaround) – 19 June 1985 – 4 June 1986 (Poparound) |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | Runaround |
Runaround was a super fun children's game show from the UK! It aired on ITV from 1975 to 1981. The show was made by Southern Television. It became even more popular than the original American version.
The first host was comedian Mike Reid. Later, Leslie Crowther and Stan Boardman hosted for a bit. Mike Reid then came back in 1978.
Contents
About Runaround
Runaround was a game show where kids answered questions. It was known for its unique scoring system. This system used coloured balls in a tube.
How the Game Worked
The scoring system was quite clever. Contestants earned points by choosing the right answer.
- A red ball meant one point for a correct answer.
- A yellow ball meant two points. You got two points if you were the only one to pick the right answer!
- In later series, the points for red and yellow balls were swapped.
Meet Metal Mickey
A famous robot called Metal Mickey first appeared on Runaround. He became a popular character. He was discovered by the show's researcher, Tim Edmunds.
The End of Runaround
The show ended in 1981. This happened because Southern Television's broadcasting license finished. The game also appeared in Saturday Banana. This was a Saturday morning show hosted by Bill Oddie in 1978.
Poparound Spin-Off
A new version of the show was created later. It was called Poparound. This spin-off was made by Central. It aired from 1985 to 1986. Gary Crowley was the host for Poparound.
Show Transmissions
Here's a look at when the different series of Runaround and Poparound aired.
Runaround Series
| Series | Start date | End date | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 September 1975 | 7 October 1975 | 6 |
| CS1 | 26 December 1975 | 1 | |
| 2 | 13 January 1976 | 24 February 1976 | 7 |
| 3 | 31 March 1976 | 5 May 1976 | 6 |
| 4 | 18 August 1976 | 29 September 1976 | 7 |
| CS2 | 27 December 1976 | 1 | |
| 5 | 12 April 1977 | 12 July 1977 | 13 |
| 6 | 23 November 1977 | 4 January 1978 | 7 |
| 7 | 28 March 1978 | 2 May 1978 | 5 |
| 8 | 4 August 1978 | 8 September 1978 | 6 |
| 9 | 22 May 1979 | 31 July 1979 | 10 |
| CS3 | 24 December 1979 | 1 | |
| 10 | 13 June 1980 | 19 September 1980 | 13 |
| 11 | 25 December 1980 | 25 March 1981 | 14 |
| 12 | 27 July 1981 | 7 September 1981 | 6 |
Poparound Series
| Series | Start date | End date | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19 June 1985 | 24 July 1985 | 6 |
| 2 | 30 April 1986 | 4 June 1986 | 6 |
