Go4It
Go4Itwas a British children's magazine programme broadcast on Sunday evenings at 7.15pm onBBC Radio 4,and one of the few speech-based shows on British national radio aimed at younger listeners. It was broadcast between 2001 and 2009.
History
[edit]Children's radio had been provided byListen with Motherfrom 1950 to 1982 and subsequently by a weekday lunchtime programme calledListening Corner.From 1990, there were Children's BBC radio serials onBBC Radio 5.When that station closed in 1994 CBBC serials moved to Radio 4 on Sundays from 7 to 7.30pm until Easter 1998 when it was replaced by another episode ofThe Archers.
"Go4It" started in 2001 and was originally produced by Jo Daykin and hosted byMatt Smithand included Cromarty the space cat and many jokes. Smith was replaced one year later byCBBCpresenterBarney Harwoodon 5 May 2002.[1]With Harwood's arrival the show became less patronising with the theme tune changed toDanger Man.When Harwood was off on holiday there were guest presenters likeKirsten O'Brien,Natalie Barrassand David McFetridge.
The show typically centred on themes of books, poetry and literature. A typical episode featured a guest author or poet and often a trip 'on location' to an event related to children's literature. It could be considered a junior version of Radio 4's Book Club with an author being asked questions by the young fans in the studio: the 'g4it-ers'. Also included were games and competitions. Some shows were also themed, for instance anArthuriantheme (27 May 2007) orEnid Blyton(3 June 2007). The programme included readings of serialized stories although this was later dropped as the show 'matured'; instead listeners were encouraged to listen to sister programmeBig Toe BooksonBBC7.
The 4 May 2008 episode was a special oncomics.Featured wasPhilip Pullman's new comic strip andEagle.[2]
During the first year the show was extensively parodied on the Radio 4 impressionist satireDead Ringersfor being about 'what people at Radio 4thinkyoung people want to listen to', for instanceDylan Thomaspoetry read byRichard BurtonandWill Selfstories. Matt Smith was singled out for what could be seen as a patronising attitude towards the audience, including excessive use of the word 'ace'.
Cancellation
[edit]In March 2009, it was announced thatGo4Itwould be cancelled. The last episode was broadcast on 24 May 2009. The reason given was that it did not attract enough young listeners. The show attracted an average of 450,000 listeners, but only 20,000 were aged between 4-14. The average age of the listeners was between 52-55. The decision to axeGo4Itmeans that there are now no children's programmes on BBC analogue radio.
Guests on the programme
[edit]Studio guests and people Natalie Barrass interviewed:
- Philip PullmanandDakota Blue Richardsinterviewed on her debut in the recently released filmThe Golden Compass(based on Pullman's "His Dark Materials") as the lead characterLyra Belacqua.[3][4]
- Michael Morpurgo- Former Children's Laureate
- Terry Deary- Author ofHorrible Historiesseries, was interviewed on his trilogy,The Fire ThiefandGreek Mythology
- Morris Gleitzman- Author ofDoubting Thomas[5]
- Rainer Hersch- Musician
- Lynne Reid Banks- Author of 1980s seriesThe Indian in the Cupboard[6]
- Paul Jennings- An Australian author
- Michael Rosen- Author of theSad Book,written to cope his grief of losing his son Eddie at 18.[7]
- Jacqueline Wilson-Author of children's books, most famouslyThe Story of Tracy Beaker
- Raymond Briggs- Cartoonist behindThe Snowman
- Steve Jackson- A British game designer
- Daniel Radcliffe- PlayedHarry Potterin the famous films, and spoke about his favourite books
- Nick Tocjek.- Poet, who wrote a new poem with the help of the Go4it guests.[citation needed](20 May 2007)
- Kevin Crossley-Holland,- Author of a series on the Arthurian legend.
- Philip Reeve- Author of books about King Arthur, and theMortal EnginesSeries.(27 May 2007)
- Imogen Smallwood -Enid Blyton's daughter. (3 June 2007)
- Eva Rice- Author of Who's Who in Enid Blyton.
- Jam - a member of the all-girl computer experts, theFrag Dolls.
- Dan Freedman- Author of "The Kickoff", about a boy who works hard to become a top footballer, but also includes some tips for budding footballers. (17 June 2007)
- Nick Green - Author ofThe Cat Kin.
- Andrew CopeAuthor ofSpy Dog.(24 June 2007)
- Catherine Lamb,- Author ofPenguin Problems,on how they can help the environment.
- David Gilman,Author of "The Devil's Breath", in which the hero, Max Gordon, fights to protect the environment in some of the most dangerous places on earth.(3 June 2007)
- Anthony Horowitz- Author of "Alex Rider"and"The Power of Five"Series.
- Philip Ardagh- Author of the "Eddie Dickens"Trilogy(8 July 2007)
- Louise Rennison- Author of teenage fiction.[8]
- Shirley Hughes- Author and Illustrator behind the hugely popularDogger
- Minne Gray- Author ofThe Adventures of The Dish and The Spoon,which picks up where the nursery rhyme "Hey Diddle Diddle" left off. (22 July 2007)
- Thomas Daley- Diver and Teen Olympian
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"BBC - Press Office - Barney Harwood".bbc.co.uk.Retrieved8 February2018.
- ^"04/05/2008, Go4it - BBC Radio 4".BBC.Retrieved8 February2018.
- ^"Lyra cast in Dark Materials film".CBBC Newsround. 29 June 2006.Retrieved5 December2007.
- ^Higgins, Charlotte (30 June 2006)."Dark Materials film gets green light".The Guardian.London.Retrieved5 December2007.
- ^Natalie Barrass interviews author Morris Gleitzman about his latest bookDoubting Thomas–http:// bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008m3w2
- ^This page refers to her appearing on go4it (again interviewed by Natalie)http:// bbc.co.uk/radio4/womanshour/2004_08_fri_06.shtml
- ^BBC."BBC - Radio 4 - Go4it - Best Bits".bbc.co.uk.Retrieved8 February2018.
- ^15 July 2007 19:15pmBBC Radio 4http:// bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007sngv