"Rainbow" (1972) TV series 1972-1992

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Creator:

Pamela Lonsdale

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | unknown

Release Date:

16 October 1972 (UK)

Genre:

Family

Plot:

Children's puppet programme featuring music and stories.

Plot Keywords:

One Word Title

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Geoffrey Hayes	...	Presenter / ... (10 episodes, 1973-1992)
Rod Burton	...	Rod (singer) / ... (10 episodes, 1977-1986)
Jane Tucker	...	Jane (singer) / ... (10 episodes, 1977-1986)
Roger Walker	...	Singer (6 episodes, 1977-1981)

Runtime:

22 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:U

Company:

Thames Television

Trivia:

The show was created with the notion of its being a British equivalent of American children's hit "Sesame Street" (1969), complete with puppet characters and animated inserts between the story as in the US show.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Throughout "The Show-Offs", Stanley Bates' eyes can be seen through the Bungle costume.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Comic Relief: Red Nose Night Live 05 (2005) (TV)

Up above the streets and houses rainbow climbing high...

Rainbow ran for years and years, It spawned loads of merchandise and a whole collection of videos. Yet I doubt it will ever be shown or mentioned again. It had absolutely everything; stories, songs, nursery rhymes, comedy, and it's own mini-series programs within the program, such as portland bill and cockelshell bay.

The main cast of Rainbow were Geoffrey who was the narrator/presenter/adult of the house who kept the others in line. Zippy, the strange creature with a zip for a mouth, which became very useful as he was also the loudest and naughtiest of the bunch and served for teaching moral lessons. George the pink hippo, who was quite bashful and always giggling. And finally Bungle a large guy dressed in a bear costume that was the bossiest, but also very camp. Rainbow also had a resident group of singers, Rod, Jane and Freddy, who made cameo appearances and were used for songs etc. but eventually got their own spin-off series and videos.

Each show was different, and I never really grew out of it, despite it being aimed at 4-7 year olds. Classic children's variety television from the eighties.