First Episode of The Greatest Nostalgic Programme Ever?

Rainbow - the first ever episode part 1



This is the first ever episode from the classic Thames Television Children's TV series "Rainbow", from 1972. There's quite some difference you will see, from the iconic image and cast that stayed long in the memory of pre-school children and older, in the 70's, throughout the 80's, and into the 90's. First of all, no Geoffrey! This is brown-haired David Cook, who presented the first and second series of "Rainbow", but left to concentrate on his script and play writing. Geoffrey Hayes began presenting the show in 1973, and he came across as more fun, and had a great relationship with the camera, and the children at home. Not forgetting the rapport between the cast, just excellent.

Another major, major change is no George, the pink, camp-voiced pink hippo puppets only puppet Zippy(just what is he?) and Bungle(man dressed in bear costume), who look rather quite different, and their voices are different too. Both bungle and Zippy look rather distorted and skinnier to their later counterparts. Zippy, so named, as his mouth is really one big zip, a mouthy so-and-so, so Bungle or the presenter will shut him up by closing the zip. We see a more relaxed or the still-a-work-in-progress, as regards to Zippy's personality voiced and operated here, by Peter Hawkins. The famous voice that enscapulated the later ruder and cheekier version, was Roy Skelton, who is most famous elsewhere for voicing the Daleks in "Doctor Who". Skelton also voiced George, who would enter (skip and prance?) into the show by the second series in 1973.

Bungle looks completely sozzled in this early version. His eyes as wide as saucers, with a skinner body and face, he was still the more mature of the "children" to David Cook's father figure in the Rainbow house. His appearance was changed as it scared children in the first series. I mean, obviously, just look at him! Bungle was mainly voiced and played by Stanley Bates, but it is not him in this first episode. No Rod, Jane and Freddy, but a band by the name of "Telltale". In the first episode, we also have 2 much smaller puppets a purple and yellow duo by the name of Sunshine and Moody, but were dropped by 1973. The show ran from 1972-1992.

The reason I say, it's one of the best nostalgia programme ever, or best show of the 50s/60s/70s/80s/90s, is because, in UK nostalgia circle online, since the early days, "Rainbow" has been one of the more talked about and best remembered. Not only the fact, that it harboured a traditional family-element, but the much mirth that was brought by the characters themselves, and the bizarreness and triviality of, Bungle walking about naked all the time, but coming out the shower, he is wearing a towel around his unsuggestables! Not forgetting the adults-only "Twangers" episode. "Rainbow" has been a beacon for many adults who grew up in the 70's/80's and early 90's.