ChuckleVision is a British children's comedy television series created and written by John Sayle and its stars Barry and Paul Elliot for the BBC. It ran for 292 episodes over twenty-one series, running from 1987 to 2009.
Plot[]
Episodes of ChuckleVision are usually independent. The basic plot to each show is the brothers undertaking a job, task or adventure. They are often employed by a character known as "No Slacking", who is a different character in every episode he appears in; however, he is always known by this name owing to the catchphrase he always says to get the bumbling brothers to work properly ("And remember, No Slacking!"). No Slacking usually appears several times in each series, although in recent years this number has been reduced to once or twice a series. In each episode his life is either ruined or otherwise inconvenienced by Paul and Barry. He is always played by one of their real life brothers, Jimmy Patton, who was also a comedy act called The Patton Brothers with his brother Brian who also appeared in various episodes mostly playing a villain with the catchphrase "Getoutofit!". A large amount of the comedy is based on slapstick.
On occasion, the jobs they carry out can be somewhat surreal or put them in surreal circumstances, this was very much enforced in the recent years of ChuckleVision. Once, they babysat for a boy who got out of his bed, leaving a football on his pillow, leading them to believe that his head had come off. Another episode involves Barry being able to see an invisible leprechaun which Paul cannot see.
The duo also often carry out jobs and tasks given to them by "Dan the Van", who is never seen, except in one episode where the Chuckle brothers take it upon themselves to make sure he arrives to a special meeting, However, Dan the Van's face cannot be seen, as he is covered in bandages all over, and wearing dark sunglasses. In other episodes we hear of, or sometimes see, relatives of Dan the Van, for example Grandmother Lettuce the Van appears in Chuckle and the Pea and his niece can be seen in "Dim Waiters".
Character | Actor | Episodes | Years |
---|---|---|---|
Paul Chuckle | Paul Elliott | 292 episodes | 1987–2009 |
Barry Chuckle | Barry Elliott | 292 episodes | 1987–2009 |
No Slacking | Jimmy Patton | 47 episodes | 1990–2009 |
Get Out Of It | Brian Patton | 21 episodes | 1995–2008 |
Paul is the dominant of the two; it's often due to his blind confidence that the two end up in bother. When he realises he has made a mistake, he often blames Barry and also tends to make Barry do the hard work and takes the credit for himself. Neither brother is particularly bright, however Paul appears at times to possess more common sense than Barry, and Barry seems to have more overall intelligence and is moreAWARE of the fact their work is not appreciated by other people. Normally when a third party character is on screen the two brothers display an equal lack of intelligence. However, by the end, poetic justice is usually done and if either brother is to come out on top at the end of the episode, it will invariably be Barry. However, this war between the brothers only happens in about half the episodes. The classic episodes of the show often ended with the brothers running away from some angered third party they had been trying to help.
Paul and Barry both have iconic northern accents and have a number of catchphrases, some of which involve one brother replying to the other brother's line. Thus "To me" receives the reply "To you", and "Silly you" is met with "'Course it is, silly me". The line "Oh dear" is regularly followed by "Oh dear, oh dear", and sometimes by "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear" when something goes wrong. This was inspired by the BBC comedyHi-de-Hi!, in which the character Spike used to say "oh dear, oh dear, oh dear" when something bad had happened.[citation needed]
There are often references made to Rotherham United F.C., whom the brothers support in real life.[3] In "Football Heroes", Paul and Barry play for Rotherham and Paul scores an own-goal and thinking it was a genuine goal, celebrates with Barry.
Series 1 (1987)[]
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title |
---|---|---|---|
1 – 1.1 | 26 September 1987 | NMRC749B | "Breakfast" |
2 – 1.2 | 3 October 1987 | NMRC752J | "Dance" |
3 – 1.3 | 10 October 1987 | NMRC750W | "Sport" |
4 – 1.4 | 17 October 1987 | NMRC753D | "Movies" |
5 – 1.5 | 24 October 1987 | NMRC751P | "Fitness" |
6 – 1.6 | 31 October 1987 | NMRC755R | "Halloween Special" |
7 – 1.7 | 7 November 1987 | NMRC754X | "Antiques" |
8 – 1.8 | 14 November 1987 | NMRC756K | "Travel" |
9 – 1.9 | 21 November 1987 | NMRC757E | "Fashion" |
10 – 1.10 | 28 November 1987 | NMRC758Y | "Magic" |
11 – 1.11 | 5 December 1987 | NMRC759S | "D.I.Y" |
12 – 1.12 | 12 December 1987 | NMRC760L | "Open Ear" |
13 – 1.13 | 19 December 1987 | NMRC767W | "Traditional Christmas" |
This series is available on DVD. The first six episodes are available on YouTube and there are also short clips.
Series 2 (1988–1989)[]
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title |
---|---|---|---|
14 – 2.1 | 19 November 1988 | NMRC847P | "Clean Up" |
15 – 2.2 | 26 November 1988 | NMRC848J | "Australia" |
16 – 2.3 | 3 December 1988 | NMRC849D | "Nature Watch" |
17 – 2.4 | 10 December 1988 | NMRC850X | "Music" |
18 – 2.5 | 17 December 1988 | NMRC851R | "Hobbies" |
19 – 2.6 | 24 December 1988 | NMRC852K | "Christmas Special" |
20 – 2.7 | 7 January 1989 | NMRC853E | "Farming" |
21 – 2.8 | 14 January 1989 | NMRC854Y | "U.F.O" |
22 – 2.9 | 21 January 1989 | NMRC855S | "Invention" |
23 – 2.10 | 28 January 1989 | NMRC856L | "Hi-Tech" |
24 – 2.11 | 4 February 1989 | NMRC857F | "Puppets" |
25 – 2.12 | 11 February 1989 | NMRC859T | "Fishing" |
26 – 2.13 | 18 February 1989 | NMRC859T | "Circus" |
This series is available on DVD. The first six episodes are available on YouTube.
Series 3 (1989–1990)[]
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title |
---|---|---|---|
27 – 3.1 | 2 December 1989 | NMRC990N | "Stand and Deliver" |
28 – 3.2 | 9 December 1989 | NMRC991H | "Parks and Wreck-Reations" |
29 – 3.3 | 16 December 1989 | NMRC993W | "Stop That World...!" |
30 – 3.4 | 23 December 1989 | NMRC994P | "Home Helpless" |
31 – 3.5 | 30 December 1989 | NMRC992B | "Shipshape Less" |
32 – 3.6 | 6 January 1990 | NMRC996D | "Window Wind-Ups" |
33 – 3.7 | 13 January 1990 | NMRC400K | "Trouble In Store" |
34 – 3.8 | 20 January 1990 | NMRC997X | "Poster Pranks" |
35 – 3.9 | 27 January 1990 | NMRC995J | "On the Move" |
36 – 3.10 | 3 February 1990 | NMRC998R | "Car Carnage" |
37 – 3.11 | 10 February 1990 | NMRC999K | "Hotel Hostilities" |
38 – 3.12 | 17 February 1990 | NMRC401E | "Cabbies and Chips" |
39 – 3.13 | 24 February 1990 | NMRC402Y | "Cycle Crazy" |
- Episode 11 was the first appearance of "No Slacking" played by Paul and Barry's real life brother Jimmy Patton.
Series 4 (1991)[]
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title |
---|---|---|---|
40 – 4.1 | 21 September 1991 | LCKL003N | "Plumb Crazy" |
41 – 4.2 | 28 September 1991 | LCKL005B | "Cafe Chuckles" |
42 – 4.3 | 5 October 1991 | LCKL002T | "The Perils of Porters" |
43 – 4.4 | 12 October 1991 | LCKL012K | "Telephone Traumas" |
44 – 4.5 | 19 October 1991 | LCKL009D | "Goofy Golfers" |
45 – 4.6 | 26 October 1991 | LCKL010X | "Market Forces" |
46 – 4.7 | 2 November 1991 | LCKL001A | "The Great Outdoors" |
47 – 4.8 | 9 November 1991 | LCKL004H | "Bowl-Derdash" |
48 – 4.9 | 16 November 1991 | LCKL008J | "Careless Caretakers" |
49 – 4.10 | 23 November 1991 | LCKL014Y | "Carpet Capers" |
50 – 4.11 | 30 November 1991 | LCKL013E | "Shore Thing" |
51 – 4.12 | 7 December 1991 | LCKL015S | "In the Doghouse" |
52 – 4.13 | 14 December 1991 | LCKL006W | "On the Trail" |
53 – 4.14 | 21 December 1991 | LCKL007P | "Oddball Inventors" |
54 – 4.15 | 28 December 1991 | LCKL011R | "Movie Moguls" |
Series 5 (1992–1993)[]
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title |
---|---|---|---|
55 – 5.1 | 26 September 1992 | LCKR571X | "Caravan Capers" |
56 – 5.2 | 3 October 1992 | LCKR576S | "Crimebusters" |
57 – 5.3 | 10 October 1992 | LCKR583B | "Up in the Air" |
58 – 5.4 | 17 October 1992 | LCKR577L | "Ducks and Grouses" |
59 – 5.5 | 24 October 1992 | LCKR582H | "A Lazy Day" |
60 – 5.6 | 31 October 1992 | LCKR575Y | "Rock a Bye Baby" |
61 – 5.7 | 7 November 1992 | LCKR579A | "In the Ring" |
62 – 5.8 | 14 November 1992 | LCKR572R | "Romany Days" |
63 – 5.9 | 21 November 1992 | LCKR578F | "On the Radio" |
64 – 5.10 | 28 November 1992 | LCKR580T | "Rich for a Day" |
65 – 5.11 | 5 December 1992 | LCKR573K | "Runners and Riders" |
66 – 5.12 | 12 December 1992 | LCKR574E | "Wrong Number" |
67 – 5.13 | 19 December 1992 | LCKR585P | "The Art Dealers" |
68 – 5.14 | 26 December 1992 | LCKR581N | "Spooks and Gardens" |
69 – 5.15 | 2 January 1993 | LCKR584W | "Minibus Madness" |
Series 6 (1994)[]
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title |
---|---|---|---|
70 – 6.1 | 8 January 1994 | LCKT494H | "Under Lock and Key" |
71 – 6.2 | 15 January 1994 | LCKT500L | "Gala Performance" |
72 – 6.3 | 22 January 1994 | LCKT496W | "Pizza the Action" |
73 – 6.4 | 29 January 1994 | LCKT499D | "Mystery Tour" |
74 – 6.5 | 5 February 1994 | LCKT497P | "The Bells" |
75 – 6.6 | 12 February 1994 | LCKT491A | "Party Planners" |
76 – 6.7 | 19 February 1994 | LCKT490F | "Men in White Coats" |
77 – 6.8 | 26 February 1994 | LCKT493N | "Mind Over Marrow" |
78 – 6.9 | 5 March 1994 | LCKT503T | "Headline News" |
79 – 6.10 | 12 March 1994 | LCKT492T | "Time Travellers" |
80 – 6.11 | 19 March 1994 | LCKT498J | "Treasures of the Deep" |
81 – 6.12 | 26 March 1994 | LCKT495B | "Airport Assistance" |
82 – 6.13 | 2 April 1994 | LCKT501F | "Grand Hotel" |
83 – 6.14 | 9 April 1994 | LCKT502A | "Chucklemart" |
84 – 6.15 | 16 April 1994 | LCKT504N | "Record Breakers" |
Series 7 (1995)[]
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title |
---|---|---|---|
85 – 7.1 | 7 January 1995 | LCKU572S | "Spilt Milk" |
86 – 7.2 | 14 January 1995 | LCKU567X | "The Hunt for Chalky White" |
87 – 7.3 | 21 January 1995 | LCKU569K | "Not In Our Back Yard" |
88 – 7.4 | 28 January 1995 | LCKU571Y | "Another Fine Ness" (or "Loch Ness") |
89 – 7.5 | 4 February 1995 | LCKU563W | "Power Play" |
90 – 7.6 | 11 February 1995 | LCKU561H | "Health Farm" |
91 – 7.7 | 18 February 1995 | LCKU570E | "A Clean Sweep" |
92 – 7.8 | 25 February 1995 | LCKU564P | "The Missing Piece" |
93 – 7.9 | 4 March 1995 | LCKU562B | "The Barge" |
94 – 7.10 | 11 March 1995 | LCKU568R | "Pick Your Own" |
95 – 7.11 | 18 March 1995 | LCKU575A | "Final Frontier" |
96 – 7.12 | 25 March 1995 | LCKU573L | "My Lucky Number’s Nine" |
97 – 7.13 | 1 April 1995 | LCKU566D | "Clueless Chuckles" |
98 – 7.14 | 8 April 1995 | LCKU565J | "What’s Cooking?" |
99 – 7.15 | 15 April 1995 | LCKU574F | "Monkery Business" |
- Episode 2 was the first appearance of "Getoutofit" played by Paul and Barry's real life brother Brian Patton.
Series 8 (1995–1996)[]
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title |
---|---|---|---|
100 – 8.1 | 20 December 1995 | LCKW565S | "The Exterminators" |
101 – 8.2 | 2 January 1996 | LCKW570N | "Monkey Business" |
102 – 8.3 | 9 January 1996 | LCKW562K | "Marquee Madness" |
103 – 8.4 | 16 January 1996 | LCKW572B | "Out of Sight" |
104 – 8.5 | 23 January 1996 | LCKW567F | "Football Heroes" |
105 – 8.6 | 30 January 1996 | LCKW568A | "Chucklestein" |
106 – 8.7 | 6 February 1996 | LCKW563E | "Oh Brother" |
107 – 8.8 | 13 February 1996 | LCKW564Y | "Lottery Lunacy" |
108 – 8.9 | 20 February 1996 | LCKW574P | "Lock In" |
109 – 8.10 | 27 February 1996 | LCKW571H | "Charm School" |
110 – 8.11 | 5 March 1996 | LCKW561R | "Traction Attraction" |
111 – 8.12 | 12 March 1996 | LCKW566L | "Finders Keepers" |
112 – 8.13 | 19 March 1996 | LCKW575J | "Costa Lotta" |
113 – 8.14 | 26 March 1996 | LCKW569T | "Dear Diary" |
114 – 8.15 | 29 March 1996 | LCKW573W | "Steeple Chucks" |
Series 9 (1996–1997)[]
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title |
---|---|---|---|
115 – 9.1 | 4 December 1996 | LCKX527W | "Bats in the Belfry" |
116 – 9.2 | 11 December 1996 | LCKX530D | "High Jinx" |
117 – 9.3 | 18 December 1996 | LCKX521F | "Chuckles In Charge" |
118 – 9.4 | 8 January 1997 | LCKX525H | "Digging for Dinosaurs" |
119 – 9.5 | 15 January 1997 | LCKX523T | "Wheels of Misfortune" |
120 – 9.6 | 22 January 1997 | LCKX526B | "Paint Drips" |
121 – 9.7 | 29 January 1997 | LCKX533K | "The Big Day" |
122 – 9.8 | 5 February 1997 | LCKX528P | "Loch Aye" |
123 – 9.9 | 12 February 1997 | LCKX534E | "Lord Chuckle" |
124 – 9.10 | 19 February 1997 | LCKX529J | "Oh Dear What Can the Mattress Be?" |
125 – 9.11 | 26 February 1997 | LCKX524N | "Shipwrecked" |
126 – 9.12 | 5 March 1997 | LCKX535Y | "Put Up Job" |
127 – 9.13 | 12 March 1997 | LCKX532R | "Tailor’s Dummies" |
128 – 9.14 | 19 March 1997 | LCKX531X | "Clowning Around" |
129 – 9.15 | 26 March 1997 | LCKX522A | "Kidnapped" |
Series 10 (1997–1998)[]
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title |
---|---|---|---|
130 – 10.1 | 17 December 1997 | LCNA530F | "The Perils of Petrovich" |
131 – 10.2 | 7 January 1998 | LCNA528S | "Gold Rush" |
132 – 10.3 | 14 January 1998 | LCNA525K | "New Pages" |
133 – 10.4 | 21 January 1998 | LCNA524R | "Outward Bounders" |
134 – 10.5 | 28 January 1998 | LCNA527Y | "The Shout" |
135 – 10.6 | 4 February 1998 | LCNA526E | "Flat Broke" |
136 – 10.7 | 11 February 1998 | LCNA531A | "Safari Park Keepers" |
137 – 10.8 | 18 February 1998 | LCNA533N | "Stop That Stamp" |
138 – 10.9 | 25 February 1998 | LCNA532T | "A Night at the Theatre" |
139 – 10.10 | 4 March 1998 | LCNA534H | "Auto-Manics" |
140 – 10.11 | 11 March 1998 | LCNA523X | "Indiana Chuckles" |
141 – 10.12 | 18 March 1998 | LCNA529L | "Sleepwalker" |
142 – 10.13 | 25 March 1998 | LCNA521J | "Bigfoot" |
143 – 10.14 | 1 April 1998 | LCNA522D | "Waiting for Dan" |
144 – 10.15 | 2 April 1998 | LCNA535B | "The Gathering" |
Series 11 (1998–1999)[]
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title |
---|---|---|---|
145 – 11.1 | 22 December 1998 | LCNC193N | "Breakdown" |
146 – 11.2 | 23 December 1998 | LCNC192T | "Garden Pests" |
147 – 11.3 | 6 January 1999 | LCNC204N | "Matchstick Men" |
148 – 11.4 | 13 January 1999 | LCNC191A | "One Man and His Barry" |
149 – 11.5 | 20 January 1999 | LCNC197P | "Brothers In Law" |
150 – 11.6 | 27 January 1999 | LCNC194H | "Brazil Nuts" |
151 – 11.7 | 3 February 1999 | LCNC199D | "Chairmen Chuckles" |
152 – 11.8 | 10 February 1999 | LCNC200L | "Stargazing" |
153 – 11.9 | 17 February 1999 | LCNC198J | "All At Sea" |
154 – 11.10 | 24 February 1999 | LCNC201F | "Getting the Bird" |
155 – 11.11 | 3 March 1999 | LCNC196W | "Chuckle and Hide" |
156 – 11.12 | 10 March 1999 | LCNC205H | "Mountain Excitement" |
157 – 11.13 | 17 March 1999 | LCNC203T | "Optical Illusions" |
158 – 11.14 | 24 March 1999 | LCNC195B | "In the Soup" |
Special – 11.X | 26 March 1999 | "Comic Relief Special" | |
159 – 11.15 | 31 March 1999 | LCNC202A | "King of the Castle" |
Series 12 (1999–2000)[]
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title |
---|---|---|---|
160 – 12.1 | 21 December 1999 | LCND476X | "No Pets Allowed" |
161 – 12.2 | 22 December 1999 | LCND489W | "Lotta Bottle" |
162 – 12.3 | 5 January 2000 | LCND477R | "Spaced Out" |
163 – 12.4 | 12 January 2000 | LCND481S | "Well Suited" |
164 – 12.5 | 19 January 2000 | LCND478K | "King of the Mill" |
165 – 12.6 | 26 January 2000 | LCND475D | "The Maltby Falcon" |
166 – 12.7 | 2 February 2000 | LCND486N | "Mayor Today, Gone Tomorrow" |
167 – 12.8 | 9 February 2000 | LCND482L | "Where’s Auntie?" |
168 – 12.9 | 16 February 2000 | LCND480Y | "Out for the Count" |
169 – 12.10 | 23 February 2000 | LCND487H | "Fete Accompli" |
170 – 12.11 | 1 March 2000 | LCND484A | "Double Trouble" |
171 – 12.12 | 8 March 2000 | LCND483F | "Watch the Birdie" |
172 – 12.13 | 15 March 2000 | LCND485T | "Food For Fort" |
173 – 12.14 | 22 March 2000 | LCND479E | "The Real Dan" |
174 – 12.15 | 29 March 2000 | LCND488B | "The Good, the Bad, and the Chuckles" |
All these episodes were originally 20 minutes long. In 2004 the BBC cut them down to 15 minutes. The original Series 12 (1999–2000) is very rarely broadcast.
Series 13 (2000–2001)[]
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title |
---|---|---|---|
175 – 13.1 | 19 December 2000 | LCNE149F | "Lollipop, Lollipop" |
176 – 13.2 | 20 December 2000 | LCNE153H | "Dim Waiters" |
177 – 13.3 | 3 January 2001 | LCNE145E | "Wrong Number" |
178 – 13.4 | 10 January 2001 | LCNE150A | "Fowl Play" |
179 – 13.5 | 17 January 2001 | LCNE146Y | "Prize Exhibits" |
180 – 13.6 | 24 January 2001 | LCNE152N | "Cousins At War" |
181 – 13.7 | 31 January 2001 | LCNE140J | "Lets Get Quizzical" |
182 – 13.8 | 7 February 2001 | LCNE143R | "Knights to Remember" |
183 – 13.9 | 14 February 2001 | LCNE151T | "Buzz Off" |
184 – 13.10 | 21 February 2001 | LCNE147S | "Hairs Apparent" |
185 – 13.11 | 28 February 2001 | LCNE148L | "Grounds for Complaint" |
186 – 13.12 | 7 March 2001 | LCNE154B | "Lost and Floundering" |
187 – 13.13 | 14 March 2001 | LCNE141D | "Ghillie Me, Ghillie You" |
188 – 13.14 | 21 March 2001 | LCNE144K | "Send In the Clones" |
189 – 13.15 | 28 March 2001 | LCNE142X | "Silence Is Golden"^ |
^This episode is the only silent ChuckleVision episode in the entire series. All episodes of series 13 were originally 20 minutes long but in 2004 the BBC cut them down to 15 minutes to suit their schedule.
Series 14 (2002)[]
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title |
---|---|---|---|
190 – 14.1 | 2 January 2002 | LCNF140N | "Safe and Sound" |
191 – 14.2 | 9 January 2002 | LCNF141H | "Trouble At the Mill" |
192 – 14.3 | 16 January 2002 | LCNF142B | "Flat and Apartmental" |
193 – 14.4 | 23 January 2002 | LCNF143W | "On the Hoof" |
194 – 14.5 | 30 January 2002 | LCNF144P | "Out of This World" |
195 – 14.6 | 6 February 2002 | LCNF145J | "All Clued Up" |
196 – 14.7 | 13 February 2002 | LCNF146D | "Chips That Pass In the Night" |
197 – 14.8 | 20 February 2002 | LCNF147X | "Mission Implausible" |
198 – 14.9 | 27 February 2002 | LCNF148R | "Barry the Spider" |
199 – 14.10 | 6 March 2002 | LCNF149K | "The Hidden Genius" |
200 – 14.11 | 13 March 2002 | LCNF150E | "Run Robot Run" |
201 – 14.12 | 20 March 2002 | LCNF151Y | "Do As You Are Bid" |
202 – 14.13 | 27 March 2002 | LCNF152S | "That Ol’ Chuckle Magic" |
203 – 14.14 | 3 April 2002 | LCNF153L | "The Men From the Monastery" |
204 – 14.15 | 10 April 2002 | LCNF154F | "A Change In the Weather" |
All these episodes are with the ruby snatcher. This was the only series where all the episodes are linked together, following the tale of a missing ruby throughout.
Series 15 (2002–2003)[]
2002 Christmas Specials
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title |
---|---|---|---|
205 – 15.1 | 24 December 2002 | LCNG348Y | "Messy Xmas" |
206 – 15.2 | 24 December 2002 | LCNG349S | "Christmas Chuckle" |
The Series
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title |
---|---|---|---|
207 – 15.3 | 3 January 2003 | LCNG350L | "Keeping It Under Wraps" |
208 – 15.4 | 10 January 2003 | LCNG351F | "In A Class of Their Own" |
209 – 15.5 | 17 January 2003 | LCNG352A | "Magnetic Distraction – Part 1" |
210 – 15.6 | 24 January 2003 | LCNG353T | "Magnetic Distraction – Part 2" |
211 – 15.7 | 31 January 2003 | LCNG354N | "Magnetic Distraction – Part 3" |
212 – 15.8 | 7 February 2003 | LCNG355H | "On Your Pike" |
213 – 15.9 | 14 February 2003 | LCNG356B | "Bookshop Chuckles" |
214 – 15.10 | 21 February 2003 | LCNG357W | "Music of Time" |
215 – 15.11 | 28 February 2003 | LCNG358P | "The Purple Pimple – Kidnap" |
216 – 15.12 | 7 March 2003 | LCNG359J | "The Purple Pimple – Mutiny" |
217 – 15.13 | 14 March 2003 | LCNG360D | "The Purple Pimple – Escape" |
218 – 15.14 | 21 March 2003 | LCNG361X | "Storm In A Teashop" |
219 – 15.15 | 28 March 2003 | LCNG362R | "War of the Hoses" |
Series 16 (2004)[]
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title |
---|---|---|---|
220 – 16.1 | 9 January 2004 | LCNR621Y | "For Peat’s Sake" |
221 – 16.2 | 16 January 2004 | LCNR622S | "No Getting Away" |
222 – 16.3 | 23 January 2004 | LCNR623L | "On the Verge" |
223 – 16.4 | 30 January 2004 | LCNR624F | "Incredible Shrinking Barry – Part 1" |
224 – 16.5 | 6 February 2004 | LCNR625A | "Incredible Shrinking Barry – Part 2" |
225 – 16.6 | 13 February 2004 | LCNR626T | "Which Witch Is Which?" |
226 – 16.7 | 20 February 2004 | LCNR627N | "Bedlam and Breakfast" |
227 – 16.8 | 27 February 2004 | LCNR628H | "Mocha Ado About Nothing" |
228 – 16.9 | 5 March 2004 | LCNR629B | "The Return of the Purple Pimple" |
229 – 16.10 | 12 March 2004 | LCNR630W | "The Whole Tooth" |
230 – 16.11 | 19 March 2004 | LCNR631P | "Cross Country Chuckles" |
231 – 16.12 | 26 March 2004 | LCNR632J | "Can of Worms" |
232 – 16.13 | 2 April 2004 | LCNR633D | "Bringing Home Dan" |
233 – 16.14 | 16 April 2004 | LCNR634X | "Paul of the Ring" |
234 – 16.15 | 23 April 2004 | LCNR635R | "Sherlock Chuckle" |
Series 17 (2005)[]
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title |
---|---|---|---|
235 – 17.1 | 6 January 2005 | LCNA101W | "Crocodile McChuckle" |
236 – 17.2 | 13 January 2005 | LCNA102P | "A Job Well Done" |
237 – 17.3 | 20 January 2005 | LCNA103J | "Who’s Minding the Store?" |
238 – 17.4 | 27 January 2005 | LCNA104D | "Funny Money" |
239 – 17.5 | 3 February 2005 | LCNA105X | "The Chuckle and the Pea" |
240 – 17.6 | 10 February 2005 | LCNA106R | "The Vengeful Viking" |
241 – 17.7 | 17 February 2005 | LCNA107K | "Grande Fromage" |
242 – 17.8 | 24 February 2005 | LCNA108E | "Pride and Prejudice" |
243 – 17.9 | 3 March 2005 | LCNA109Y | "Highway Robbery" |
244 – 17.10 | 10 March 2005 | LCNA110S | "Smugglers" |
245 – 17.11 | 17 March 2005 | LCNA111L | "The Real Purple Pimple" |
246 – 17.12 | 24 March 2005 | LCNA112F | "The Lift" |
247 – 17.13 | 31 March 2005 | LCNA113A | "The Diva" |
248 – 17.14 | 7 April 2005 | LCNA114T | "Let Them Beat Cake" |
249 – 17.15 | 14 April 2005 | LCNA115N | "One’s Bitten, Two’s Shy" |
Series 18 (2006)[]
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title |
---|---|---|---|
250 – 18.1 | 6 March 2006 | LCNW924W | "Barryella" |
251 – 18.2 | 7 March 2006 | LCNW925P | "Off the Cuff" |
252 – 18.3 | 8 March 2006 | LCNW926J | "Skipshape" |
253 – 18.4 | 9 March 2006 | LCNW927D | "Don’t Lose Your Rag" |
254 – 18.5 | 10 March 2006 | LCNW928X | "Alien Antics" |
255 – 18.6 | 13 March 2006 | LCNW929R | "Sushi and Sumo" |
256 – 18.7 | 14 March 2006 | LCNW930K | "Oompah Oompah" |
257 – 18.8 | 15 March 2006 | LCNW931E | "Pretty Polly" |
258 – 18.9 | 16 March 2006 | LCNW932Y | "Tennis Menace" |
259 – 18.10 | 17 March 2006 | LCNW933S | "Hippy Isle" |
260 – 18.11 | 20 March 2006 | LCNW934L | "Caterpillar Crisis" |
261 – 18.12 | 21 March 2006 | LCNW935F | "Chuck Bodgers" |
262 – 18.13 | 22 March 2006 | LCNW936A | "The Picnic" |
263 – 18.14 | 23 March 2006 | LCNW937T | "Cable Fable" |
264 – 18.15 | 24 March 2006 | LCNW938N | "In A Pickle" |
Series 19 (2007)[]
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title |
---|---|---|---|
265 – 19.1 | 5 February 2007 | LCQD475J | "Et Tu Chuckle" |
266 – 19.2 | 6 February 2007 | LCQD480E | "Spook When You’re Spooken To" |
267 – 19.3 | 7 February 2007 | LCQD473W | "Big Break" |
268 – 19.4 | 8 February 2007 | LCQD474P | "Henry VIII and his 5th Chuckle" |
269 – 19.5 | 9 February 2007 | LCQD481Y | "Strictly Chuckle" |
270 – 19.6 | 12 February 2007 | LCQD478R | "Sherwood Chuckle" |
271 – 19.7 | 13 February 2007 | LCQD476D | "Oil’s Well That Ends Well" |
272 – 19.8 | 14 February 2007 | LCQD483L | "In-Console-Able" |
273 – 19.9 | 15 February 2007 | LCQD482S | "Our Latest Model" |
274 – 19.10 | 16 February 2007 | LCQD472B | "Tomorrow’s News" |
275 – 19.11 | 19 February 2007 | LCQD484F | "Pandamonium" |
276 – 19.12 | 20 February 2007 | LCQD479K | "A Case for the Chuckles" |
277 – 19.13 | 21 February 2007 | LCQD470N | "Driving Ambition" |
278 – 19.14 | 22 February 2007 | LCQD471H | "Muscling In" |
279 – 19.15 | 23 February 2007 | LCQD477X | "Hanging Round" |
Series 20 (2008)[]
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title | Plot |
---|---|---|---|---|
280 – 20.1 | 28 January 2008 | LCQD477G | "Mind Your Manors" | |
281 – 20.2 | 29 January 2008 | LCQD477Z | "I Scream Men" | |
282 – 20.3 | 30 January 2008 | LCQD477X | "Super Heroes, Super Zeroes" | |
283 – 20.4 | 31 January 2008 | LCQD477Y | "Jumping Jackpot" | |
284 – 20.5 | 1 February 2008 | LCQD477U | "Galloping Grandads" | |
285 – 20.6 | 4 February 2008 | LCQD477V | "Raven Mad" |
Christmas Special (2008)
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title |
---|---|---|---|
286 – 20.7 | 21 December 2008 | LCQD477X | "The Mystery of Little Under Standing" |
Series 21 (2009)[]
# | Original Airdate | Prod. Code | Title | Plot |
---|---|---|---|---|
287 – 21.1 | 11 December 2009 | 1.1 | "Prank'd" | |
288 – 21.2 | 14 December 2009 | 1.2 | "Top of The Cops" | |
289 – 21.3 | 15 December 2009 | 1.3 | "In a State Agents" | |
290 – 21.4 | 16 December 2009 | 1.4 | "Cops and Jobbers" | |
291 – 21.5 | 17 December 2009 | 1.5 | "Dishing up Trouble" | |
292 – 21.6 | 18 December 2009 | 1.6 | "See How They Run" |
Production[]
Series 14 saw ChuckleVision feature a continuous storyline for the first time in its history. The main writer is John Sayle, who writes the majority of each series, however the series has featured episodes written byRussell T Davies and The Chuckle Brothers themselves. Also, for Series 14 onwards, the runtime was reduced from 20 minutes to just 15, with the BBC editing series 12 and 13 to match the new runtime. This series and Series 17-21 used the film look, Series 15 and 16 used a semi-film look and the 2008 Christmas special reverted to the video look.
In the 8th episode of Series 4, entitled "Bowl-derdash", the theme tune was changed fromMONO to NICAM stereo. This theme tune has remained ever since, but was shortened in Series 17 and also edited for the shortened versions of Series 12 and 13. All the episodes in Series 14 display the BBC logo on the title scene centred, and the original versions of Series 13 display the BBC logo on the bottom left-hand corner, but none of the episodes from other series show this logo. Since Series 14 during the endCREDITS, outtakes and goofs are usually shown instead of images from the episode.
A 3D movie was also in production and was set to possibly be released in late 2012, however it has since been confirmed that theFUNDING for this is no longer available.[4] Series twenty and twenty-one only featured six episodes due to Paul and Barry having other commitments.
After twenty-one series and over twenty-two years in production, ChuckleVision finally ended its run at the end of 2009 with the final series airing over Christmas 2009. The reason cited was that due to a lowering of viewing figures, the BBC had decided to turn their attention to other programmes. Repeats occurred regularly until the end of 2011, with now only the 2008 Christmas special being repeated annually (at least until 2013). There are talks of a new television pilot being commissioned entitled The Adventures of the Chuckle Brothers,[5] however it is unclear whether this has started production, or when it will air.
In 2018 Barry Elliot passed away after a long battle with bone cancer.
In 2001 This Show Was Came on Nick Jr. and Channel 5 in UK.
Longevity[]
ChuckleVision is one of the longest running British children's television programmes, surpassed only by Blue Peter and Grange Hill. Throughout the twenty-one series that were produced, the Chuckle Brothers remained the main protagonists. The series ran between 1987 to 2009, being repeated regularly until 2011. The Brothers also tour the country yearly with regular stage shows and television appearances and have been children's entertainers since the 1970s.
Catchphrases[]
- Barry/Paul: "To me." "To you."
- Barry/Paul: "'Course it is, silly me." "Silly you."
- Barry and Paul: "Hellooooo"
- Barry/Paul: "Oh dear" "Oh dear, oh dear" (sometimes followed by "Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear")
- Paul: "Adadadadada!" (usually said to Barry to stop him from doing something)
- Paul: "Stupid thing!" (when something he is using breaks or doesn't work)
- Paul: "Leg it!" (usually said to Barry to get away from someoneCHASING them)
- Paul: "Now look what you've done!" (to Barry, although it is usually Paul's fault and Barry usually responds with "Me?")
- Paul/Barry: "It isn't!" "It is!" "It isn't!" "It is!" "Is it?"
Done by Jimmy and Brian when they star in the shows:
- No Slacking: "And remember... no slacking!"
- Get out of it: "Hey, stop doing that!"
DVD releases[]
Delta Music released three DVDs in 2011. There has been one VHS released entitled "Goofy Golfers" featuring three episodes.
TV Series[]
DVD Title | Discs | Year | Ep. No, | DVD releases | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Region 2 | ||||||
The Complete Series 1 | 4 | 1987-1988 | 13 | 24 October 2011 | Includes Christmas Special | |
The Complete Series 2 | 4 | 1988-1989 | 13 | 29 October 2012 |
In 2014, Dave Cooke, composer throughout the entire series, released 'Volume 1.' of ChuckleVision soundtracks and cues. These were released as a digital download, with a Volume 2 underway.[6]
Stage Productions[]
There have been four DVD releases of the brothers on stage: Pirates of the River Rother, Spooky Going's On, Indiana Chuckles and the Kingdom of the Mythical Sulk and The Chuckle Brothers In Trouble. All these feature live performances of the brothers, one filmed at Blackpool, one at Scarborough, one at Darlington, and the other at York. The Chuckle Brothers In Trouble DVD filmed at York was a "rehearsal" performance. There is also a box set of Pirates of the River Rother and Spooky Goings On released in 2008, and an annual is due to be released in 2012 (another was published in small amounts, supposedly, in 1995).
Repeats[]
ChuckleVision has been shown on BBC1. BBC2 and BBC Choice, CBBC on Choice showed ChuckleVision at weekends from Saturday December 4th 1999 - Sunday 10th February 2002 at 10.00am, It was one of the regular weekend shows on CBBC on Choice along with Teletubbies (Double-Bill), Tweenies (Double-Bill), Playdays and Bob the Builder although the only time round it wasn't scheduled to be broadcast was Christmas and Boxing Day 1999, throughout Its finished line-up on 10th February 2002 and the last episode they showed was King of the Castle which was the last episode of Series 11 and was replaced by CBBC and CBeebies the following day. ChuckleVision continued to be shown on the CBBC Channel after this from August 31st 2002 as well as showings on BBC1 and BBC2.