"Rainbow" (1972) TV series 1972-1992

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Creator:

Pamela Lonsdale
(more)

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)

(more)

Series Directed by
Daphne Shadwell		(2 episodes, 1981-1982)
Ingrid Duffell		(2 episodes, 1986)
Andrew Thomas		(1 episode, 1986)
John Darnell		(unknown episodes)
Rosalind Farrimond		(unknown episodes)
Dennis Kirkland		(unknown episodes)
Peter Yolland		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Geoffrey Hayes		(2 episodes, 1986)
Clara Ducann		(unknown episodes)
Pamela Lonsdale		(unknown episodes)
Freddy Marks		(unknown episodes)
Roy Skelton		(unknown episodes)
Janet Sorensen		(unknown episodes)
George Tarry		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Charles Warren	....	executive producer (3 episodes, 1982-1986)
Lesley Burgess	....	producer (2 episodes, 1985-1990)
Sheila Kinany	....	producer (unknown episodes, 1990-1992)
Vic Hughes	....	producer (unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
John Kershaw		(1 episode, 1972)

Series Production Design by
Roger Allan		(1 episode, 1972)
Michael Minas		(1 episode, 1972)
Brian Cosgrove		(unknown episodes)
Mark Hall		(unknown episodes)
Ian Russell		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Liz Dann		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Jane Scott	....	illustrator (2 episodes, 1981)
Andy Armstrong	....	props (unknown episodes)

Series Animation Department
Brian Cosgrove	....	animator: Lines and Shapes / animator: Sally & Jake and Curly & Straight (2 episodes, 1972)
Mark Hall	....	animator: Lines and Shapes / animator: Sally & Jake and Curly & Straight (2 episodes, 1972)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Tony Vasey	....	costume dresser (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Telltale	....	music performer (1 episode, 1972)

Series Other crew
Mazzi Jones	....	researcher (2 episodes, 1981-1982)
Ronnie Le Drew	....	puppeteer (2 episodes, 1982)
Malcolm Lord	....	puppeteer (2 episodes, 1982)
Bridget Appleby	....	story book illustrator (unknown episodes)
Mary Austin	....	researcher (unknown episodes)
Sandra Brett	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Stephanie Connell	....	educational advisor (unknown episodes)
Craig Crane	....	puppeteer (unknown episodes)
Clara Ducann	....	story book illustrator (unknown episodes)
Sally Gregory	....	story book illustrator (unknown episodes)
Sue Gwynn	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Susie Hart	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Tony Holtham	....	puppeteer (unknown episodes)
Jill Kent	....	educational advisor (unknown episodes)
Erica Langston	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)
John Walker Smith	....	stage manager (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Thames Television

Distributors

• Independent Television (ITV)

Other Companies

• Cosgrove Hall Films  animated titles (as Stop Frame Animations)

Runtime:

22 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

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:

Continuity: In an episode called Night Out, Zippy makes an arm gesture, which knocks over a bottle of washing up liquid and it rolls off the counter and onto the floor. This incident is ignored by all four characters and, after we cut back from Geoffery to Zippy, someone has replaced the prop, so that Zippy can then pick it up and start squeezing it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Extras: Ross Kemp (#1.2)" (2005)

A Great TV Show!

Rainbow was one of the best TV shows that I grew up with, and it was one of the jewels in the crown for ITV (Independant Television).

It was produced by Thames Television who were the operators of ITV in the London region during weekdays from 1968 to 1992. In 1992, Thames lost the London franchise to Carlton Communications, and they didn't want Rainbow, so it was axed.

There have been recent attempts to resurrect it, but none have been successful. Presenter Jeffrey, was recently revealed in a tabloid newspaper to be a trolley pusher at a supermarket in North London!