Geordie Racer
Encyclopedia
Geordie Racer was an educational BBC
Look and Read
production, which was first aired on BBC Two
in 1988
and has been shown regularly ever since.
The story was set in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and the surrounding area, and featured pigeon racers
and runners
competing in the Great North Run
. The main character is Spuggy Hilton (Spuggy being a nickname - the Geordie
word for sparrow
), who isn't a runner like the rest of his family, but is a keen pigeon fancier and owns 'Blue Flash' - one of the best birds in Newcastle. He and his friend Janie observe some suspicious activity, and link a spate of local art robberies with obscure messages they find on some of the pigeons, but find they have even more problems when they go to spy on the crooks.
Geordie Racer was praised for attempting to bring a grittier edge to educational programmes shown in primary schools. The series also featured Geordie
actor Kevin Whately
as Spuggy's father. Whately, who went on to star in Inspector Morse
, was joined on screen by his real-life wife, Madelaine Newton
, who played his on-screen wife. This was not an intentional decision, but merely an accidental coincidence.
It also featured the classic tune, 'Build yourself a wall with -ed'.
. The lyrics are:
Flying free, flying high,
Flashing wings across the sky,
Geordie racer, Geordie racer.
On the road, in the street,
Hear the sound of pounding feet,
Geordie racer, Geordie racer.
Don't wait, don't stop,
You're heading home.
Don't rest, don't drop,
You're heading home.
In the air, on the ground,
See them moving all around.
Running hard, flying fast,
See them all go rushing past,
Geordie racer - fly!
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
Look and Read
Look and Read
Look and Read is a BBC television programme for primary schools, aimed at improving children's literacy skills. The programme presents fictional stories in a serial format, the first of which was broadcast in 1967 and the most recent in 2004, making it the longest running nationally broadcast...
production, which was first aired on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
in 1988
1988 in television
The year 1988 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1988.For the American TV schedule, see: 1988-89 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:...
and has been shown regularly ever since.
The story was set in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and the surrounding area, and featured pigeon racers
Pigeon racing
Pigeon racing is the sport of releasing specially trained racing pigeons, which then return to their homes over a carefully measured distance...
and runners
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
competing in the Great North Run
Great North Run
The Bupa Great North Run is the world's largest half marathon, taking place annually each September. Participants run between Newcastle upon Tyne and South Shields in England. The run was devised by former Olympic 10,000 m bronze medallist and BBC Sport commentator Brendan Foster.The first Great...
. The main character is Spuggy Hilton (Spuggy being a nickname - the Geordie
Geordie
Geordie is a regional nickname for a person from the Tyneside region of the north east of England, or the name of the English-language dialect spoken by its inhabitants...
word for sparrow
Sparrow
The sparrows are a family of small passerine birds, Passeridae. They are also known as true sparrows, or Old World sparrows, names also used for a genus of the family, Passer...
), who isn't a runner like the rest of his family, but is a keen pigeon fancier and owns 'Blue Flash' - one of the best birds in Newcastle. He and his friend Janie observe some suspicious activity, and link a spate of local art robberies with obscure messages they find on some of the pigeons, but find they have even more problems when they go to spy on the crooks.
Geordie Racer was praised for attempting to bring a grittier edge to educational programmes shown in primary schools. The series also featured Geordie
Geordie
Geordie is a regional nickname for a person from the Tyneside region of the north east of England, or the name of the English-language dialect spoken by its inhabitants...
actor Kevin Whately
Kevin Whately
Kevin Whately is an English actor.Whately is known for his starring role as Neville Hope in the British television comedy Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, his role as Dr Jack Kerruish in the drama series Peak Practice, and as Robert "Robbie" Lewis in the crime dramas Inspector Morse and...
as Spuggy's father. Whately, who went on to star in Inspector Morse
Inspector Morse (TV series)
Inspector Morse is a detective drama based on Colin Dexter's series of Chief Inspector Morse novels. The series starred John Thaw as Chief Inspector Morse and Kevin Whately as Sergeant Lewis. Dexter makes a cameo appearance in all but three of the episodes....
, was joined on screen by his real-life wife, Madelaine Newton
Madelaine Newton
Madelaine Newton is a British actress best known for her portrayal of Dolly in 1970s BBC television drama When the Boat Comes In. She is married to actor Kevin Whately, with whom she has two children....
, who played his on-screen wife. This was not an intentional decision, but merely an accidental coincidence.
It also featured the classic tune, 'Build yourself a wall with -ed'.
Cast
- Leon Armstrong as Spuggy Hilton
- Lien Lu as Janie Chung
- Lesley Casey as Cath Hilton
- Brian Hogg as Victor
- Madelaine NewtonMadelaine NewtonMadelaine Newton is a British actress best known for her portrayal of Dolly in 1970s BBC television drama When the Boat Comes In. She is married to actor Kevin Whately, with whom she has two children....
as Bev Hilton - Fred Pearson as Baz Bailey
- Peter RowellPeter RowellPeter Rowell is a television presenter, newsreader and radio presenter from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, who has been working since the 1980s in Bristol.-Career:Rowell presented The Sunday Show and The Afternoon Show for BBC Radio Bristol....
as Mickey Stone - Kevin WhatelyKevin WhatelyKevin Whately is an English actor.Whately is known for his starring role as Neville Hope in the British television comedy Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, his role as Dr Jack Kerruish in the drama series Peak Practice, and as Robert "Robbie" Lewis in the crime dramas Inspector Morse and...
as Ray Hilton - Bungo as Plod
- Charles CollingwoodCharles Collingwood (actor)Charles Henry Collingwood is a British actor.Born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, and educated at Sherborne School in Dorset, England, he trained at RADA. He is best known for playing the role of Brian Aldridge in the long-running BBC Radio 4 soap opera The Archers since March 1975...
as Wordy - Katie Hebb as Wordy puppeteer
- Rachel Mackay as Bug-Bopper
- Mary Edwards as Bug-Bopper puppeteer
Theme Tune
The theme tune was sung by Derek GriffithsDerek Griffiths
Derek Griffiths is a British actor who appeared in numerous British children's television series in the 1960s to 1980s and more recently has played parts in TV drama.- Career :...
. The lyrics are:
Flying free, flying high,
Flashing wings across the sky,
Geordie racer, Geordie racer.
On the road, in the street,
Hear the sound of pounding feet,
Geordie racer, Geordie racer.
Don't wait, don't stop,
You're heading home.
Don't rest, don't drop,
You're heading home.
In the air, on the ground,
See them moving all around.
Running hard, flying fast,
See them all go rushing past,
Geordie racer - fly!