Xchange (TV series) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Xchange |
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| Created by | BBC |
| Presented by | Holly Willoughby Michael "Abs" Absalom Ade Adepitan Angellica Bell Dave Chapman Ortis Deley Gemma Hunt Rani Khanijau Anna Kumble Steve Wilson |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 2,012 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 60 mins & 2 x 30 mins |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC One (2000-01) BBC Two (2001-04) CBBC Channel (2002-06) |
| Original release | 24 July 2000 – 31 March 2006 |
Xchange was a fun and exciting TV show made by the BBC especially for kids. It was a mix of a game show and a show that taught you cool facts. The show first aired on BBC One and BBC Two. Later, it moved to the CBBC Channel. Most of the time, Xchange was broadcast live from the BBC Television Centre. This meant the presenters were talking to you in real-time! Towards the end of its run, the show was recorded the day before it was shown.
When Xchange Was On TV
Xchange first appeared on July 24, 2000. It was a special show for summer and Easter holidays on BBC One and BBC Two. This holiday format happened every year until the CBBC Channel started in 2002. The BBC planned to make 1,040 episodes over two years. This was a huge project for the BBC at the time!
When the CBBC Channel launched, Xchange became a daily show. It was an hour long and started at 7:30 AM. By March 2006, when the show ended, it was broadcast twice a day. Each episode was 30 minutes long.
The very last episode of Xchange aired on March 31, 2006. It ended with a special song! Vinnie J Ferret, a puppet on the show, sang his own version of "My Way," called "Our Way." The show's presenters and kids from Westlea Primary School helped him sing. The final presenters were Michael "Abs" Absalom, Ade Adepitan, Ortis Deley, Jez Edwards, Gemma Hunt, and Vinnie the ferret (Dave Chapman). After Xchange finished, a new show called Sam and Mark's Level Up took its place.
What Happened on Xchange
Xchange had its own website where viewers could sign up. You could collect points by being a caller on the show. If you earned 1,000 points, you could enter a draw. The prize was to appear on the show as a "Gold X-IDer" in the studio! In later seasons, you could also use your 1,000 points for something else. A presenter would come and host a part of the show from your house for a whole week!
The show featured lots of exciting things. There were famous people, live music performances, funny comedy sketches, and fun games. Some of the celebrities who appeared included Girls Aloud, Daniel Bedingfield, Hilary Duff, and Verbalicious.
Each week, there was a special discussion topic. It was called "The Big One," then "Backchat," and later "Sticky Situations." Viewers could share their thoughts and ideas on the topic. Another part of the show was "Xperts." Here, viewers would review new movies, games, books, and music. The "Dream On" section was all about making viewers' dreams come true.
Fun Games on Xchange
Xchange was known for its unique and often messy games! Here are a few examples:
- Snot Me - Two people competed to pull hairs out of a giant, gunge-filled nose. If you pulled the wrong hair, you got covered in gunge!
- Quiche Lorraine - This game involved an elderly lady named Lorraine. She walked across a field while quiche tarts were launched at her from a medieval catapult!
- Who's Bin Here? - Played in earlier episodes, a bin was emptied. The items inside gave clues about a famous person who owned them. Viewers had to guess who it was!
Xchange Merchandise
In 2001, you could buy three books related to Xchange. They were published by BBC Education Publishing. The books were called Head Strong, Microbe Makes, and Team Spirit.
When children appeared on the show, they received a special gift. The presenters would sign a photo of themselves and write a personal message to the child.
There were also other cool Xchange-branded items given away. These included alarm clocks, messenger bags, mousemats, and keyrings. The alarm clock was often the main prize for winning a game on the show.
