Magpie
Magpie was a carbon-copy of Blue Peter but appealed to
a completely different type of kid.
ITV wanted to do something the same as the hugely successful BP
but perhaps in a more modern way - The result was presented live from
Thames Studio 3 at Teddington. It began on 30 July 1968 (Thames' first
day on ITV), and was initially broadcast on Tuesdays. The cartoon magpie
mascot was called Murgatroyd.
The popular 'Captain Fantastic' segment was brought across from
Do Not Adjust Your Set starring David Jason (as the
raincoated and
moustachioed Captain) and Denise Coffey (as The Evil Mrs Black).
The Magpie format changed in 1969 to a twice weekly, 25 minute show which
aired on Tuesdays and Thursdays. A further change came in August 1972
when the broadcast days were altered to Tuesdays and Fridays.
The first presenters were Susan Stranks (who had been the 'typical
teenager' on the maiden panel of Juke Box Jury), Tony Bastable
and former disc jockey Pete Brady. Sue Stranks holds a very important
place for English males of a certain age. For a start she rarely wore a
bra (it was the fashion) and she was gorgeous when I was 13.
The Magpie Sixpence Appeal was an annual charity fund raising
exercise and during the appeal the running total was shown each program,
indicated by the length of a red line running first around Studio 3,
then out into the corridor and, potentially, around the entire
Teddington Studio complex.
While Blue Peter appeals asked for silver foil, brown paper or
old socks, Magpie simply asked for plain old cash . . .
In total, Magpie lasted 12 years. Other hosts included Jenny
Hanley, Mick Robertson, Tommy Boyd and Douglas Rae. The final program,
broadcast on 6 June 1980, invited the original three presenters back to
compete in a 'Table Cloth Removing' contest!?!
While the show was popular with a certain type of kid, it never had
anyone to compare with Blue Peter's John Noakes. If Noakes was
haring around the Isle of Man TT course, the Magpie team would be
in the studio playing with their Scalextric, and if he was scaling the
north face of the Eiger you had the feeling they would answer it by
purchasing a return ticket on the Snowdon mountain railway.
Presenter Jenny Hanley is the daughter of the late Jimmy Hanley, who
was the presenter of ITV's popular Admag show Jim's Inn from 1957
to 1963, and one of the regulars on The Five O' Clock Club (1963
- 1966).
The Magpie badges were One for sorrow, Two for joy, Three for
a girl, Four for a boy, Five for silver, Six for gold, Seven for a
secret never to be told, Eight to wish, and Nine to kiss - while Ten (a
bird you must not miss) was a giant enamel badge with a TV set on it.
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