Created by Mike and Mal Leyland Country of origin Australia No. of series 5 Network Nine Network Language English Cast Mal Leyland, Mike Leyland | Theme music composer Provist Brothers Original language(s) English First episode date 1976 Number of episodes 153 Number of series 5 | |
Opening theme Ask the Leyland Brothers Similar Here's Humphrey, Blankety Blanks, The Sullivans, The Young Doctors, Australian Story | ||
Ask the leyland brothers episode 1
Ask the Leyland Brothers was an Australian television show that screened between 1976 and 1980, covering 153 episodes. The series followed the Leyland brothers, Mike and Mal, who traveled across Australia and New Zealand in response to questions posed by viewers.
Contents
Development
Prior to embarking on Ask the Leyland Brothers, the Leylands had made three feature films and two previous television series. The films Down the Darling, Wheels across a Wilderness and Open Boat to Adventure were produced between 1963 and 1967, and followed the brothers on three journeys across different parts of Australia. The television series, Off the Beaten Track and Trekabout, were produced during the early to mid-1970s.
Inspiration for the new series came from You Asked for It, a US series in which Art Baker would fulfill requests from viewers that were sent in via postcards. The series was broadcast in Australia during the 1970s. Ask the Leyland Brothers was intended to follow a similar format, with viewers nominating places which the Leyland brothers would visit and cover in each episode. According to Mike Leyland, the plan was for readers to feel involved when their names were read out, thus causing them to encourage their "mates" to watch the show as well.
Production
In order to get things started, in 1976 the brothers filmed an initial preview episode which mapped out the format, and placed a full page advertisement in the popular TV Week magazine. The format proved to be successful, and one stage the show had 2.5 million viewers.
Initially the brothers traveled in an orange Volkswagen Kombi (later upgraded to a pair of 4WD vehicles), and the show was filmed in Super 8. The film format combined with their "Beatles's style" haircuts and onscreen manner gave the show a "home-spun" feel.