Studio E

1 9 5 7 – 1 9 5 8 (UK)
74 x 57 minute episodes

Launched on 7 January 1957, this BBC magazine show for children – in many ways, the prototype for Blue Peter – was hosted by Vera McKechnie (pictured) and broadcast live from Studio E (hence the name) at Lime Grove Studios in London on Monday afternoons.

Featured segments included “Pop of the Week”, with Ted Taylor introducing a current hit record; “The Adventures of Charlie Quick”, with Clive Dunn appearing as Stage Doorkeeper and amateur sleuth Charlie Quick (Dunn revived the character of Quick in 1979 for the series Grandad); “Peter’s Troubles” with Peter Butterworth (as a well-meaning bungler); “Uncle Stan’s Workshop” with Stanley Unwin; “Miss Nutts” starring Ethel Revnell in the title role with Judy Raymond and Arthur English; and “Willoughby” with Rolf Harris telling stories in pictures, with Rolf drawing the characters and Peter Hawkins and Iris Tulley providing the voices.

Studio E also had a resident dog – Kim the Keeshond (a Spitz-type breed from Holland) who acted as “host” to various visiting animals and their owners.

Amongst the stories presented on the show were “Eight Little Tadpoles”, “Ladybird Ladybird”, “Three Little Butterflies”, “Seven Little Crabs” (all illustrated by Gwen White) and “The Emperor’s New Clothes” (illustrated by Tony Hart). Hart (who went on to fame with Vision On and Take Hart) also presented stories featuring “Packi the White Elephant” – whose name was derived from “pachyderm”, not a racial slur – and his keeper, Tipu.

Shirley Abicair also told stories about “Tumbarumba, the Australian boy” and presented songs from Australia, often accompanying herself on the zither.

There were regular guest spots from Johnny Morris, Percy Thrower, Barry Bucknell, Gerald Durrell, and George Cansdale (from London Zoo) and his animals. The show was also visited by young Princess Anne and Prince Charles, who loved the programme as children and were introduced on the show to a cockatoo named Cocky by David Attenborough.