So You Want to be Top? (British game show) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids So You Want to be Top? |
|
|---|---|
| Created by | John Langdon Ian White |
| Presented by | Gary Wilmot |
| Starring | Kate Copstick Bill Homewood (series 1) The Gemini Twins (scorers - series 1) Leni Harper (series 2 and 3) |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of series | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 18 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Judy Whitfield |
| Running time | 30mins |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC One |
| Original release | 7 November 1983 – 17 December 1985 |
So You Want to be Top? is a British children's television programme presented by Gary Wilmot. It aired for 3 series from 7 November 1983 until 17 December 1985 normally on a Friday afternoon.
Description
The show includes sketches and games that are slapstick in nature. The contestants were schoolchildren (except for series 3 - see Criticism). Much of the dialogue was pun-laden and tended to elicit groans from the audience. Scores were decided via a clapometer measuring the volume of the clapping/cheering of the children in the audience. Scores were recorded by The Gemini Twins in series 1 and Leni Harper in series 2 and 3.
One of the show's highlights was the spoof adverts for fake products used in pranks, most of them made by fictional company Top Kid.
Catchphrases
A number of catchphrases were associated with the show including:
- "So that means that the Creeps are top of being bottom and the Crawlers are bottom of being top!" (Gary Wilmot after the current scores have been announced)
- "Miss Harper - to the scoreboard, please!" (Gary Wilmot to Lena Harper - series 2 and 3)
- "Mark 'em, top kids!" (Leni Harper when asking the audience to score the contestants on the clap-o-meter - series 2 and 3)
