No. of series 11 Original network ITV Network (CITV) First episode date 8 December 1981 Language English Genres Child, Entertainment | Original language(s) English Running time 25 minutes Picture format 4:3 Final episode date 23 December 1988 | |
Nominations British Academy Television Rediffusion Star Awards: Harlequin Similar Magpie, Wise Up, No 73 | ||
Freetime thames television
Freetime was children's television programme shown on ITV between 1981 and 1988. Its premiere episode debuted as part of the first Watch It! afternoon on 29 December 1980 and was listed as "Free Time" in the TV Times. But the series did not properly start until later in 1981. Produced by Thames Television, it was a magazine format show devoted to hobbies and interests, and was designed to encourage viewers to get out and about rather than staying at home and watching television. It was hosted by the former Magpie presenter Mick Robertson.
Contents
Robertson was initially joined on set by Trudi Dance, but she was soon replaced by Kim Goody, who co-presented the show with Robertson until it was axed by the network in 1985, at which time the show was being broadcast bi-weekly. The object of the show was to shed light on the manifold hobbies and interests that viewers might wish to pursue. However, not all of these were really possible. One famous show from the final season featured two teams of dogs playing football, with Robertson providing commentary, while Goody attempted to act as referee.
Following the show's finale, Robertson went on to help launch The Children's Channel, and was briefly reunited with Goody a few years later when she joined him as a presenter on his show, Roustabout. However, after a year or so, she left to pursue a career in music.
On 16 September 1988, Thames Television briefly re-launched Freetime, this time fronted by Andi Peters, but the series was cancelled after its fifteenth and final edition on 23 December 1988