Created by John Langdon
Ian White Original language(s) English No. of episodes 18 Final episode date 17 December 1985 Presented by Gary Wilmot Language English | Country of origin United Kingdom No. of series 3 First episode date 7 November 1983 Network BBC One Number of episodes 18 Cast Gary Wilmot | |
 | ||
Starring Kate Copstick
Bill Homewood (series 1)
The Gemini Twins
(scorers - series 1)
Leni Harper
(series 2 and 3) | ||
So You Want to be Top? was 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.
Contents
Description
The show included sketches and games that were 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 highlights of the show was the spoof adverts for fake products used in pranks, most of which were made by fictional company Top Kid.
Catchphrases
A number of catchphrases were associated with the show including:
Production
The show was co-created by John Langdon and a 17-year-old schoolboy Ian White. The producer Judy Whitfield would later go on to produce The Tweenies.
Criticism
The programme could be seen as an inferior re-formulation of the long-running Crackerjack BBC TV series. In fact it aired in the same Friday afternoon slot when Crackerjack was off air.
In series 1 and 2 the contestants were real school children with their dialogue unscripted. However the final series was more fully scripted with young actors (many from the popular children's drama of the time Grange Hill) only pretending to compete.