Cheggers Plays Pop, 1978
The late great Keith Chegwin leads contestants in a barrage of fun and pop music in this classic kids show.
By 1978, thanks to Multi Coloured Swap Shop Keith Chegwin, or Cheggers as he became known, was a household name, particularly to younger viewers.
Cheggers Plays Pop was a gameshow aimed at younger viewers providing a combination of mental and physical challenges with pop music.
The teams comprised of school children. For the most part the participating schools were from the North West area of the UK due to the choice of studio (BBC Manchester).
Generally broadcast on a Monday teatimes as part of BBC’s kids schedules. It was must see TV in the day and clocked up an impressive 77 episodes over 9 series.
Summary
In the show two teams of children representing their respective schools compete in a series of physical and mental challenges. This would be combined with studio performances by pop music acts of the time.
There were two teams. Reds and Yellows. Team captains were popular based celebrities of the time.
Games involving balls and inflatables were played by the teams and a pop quiz too. Each episode also had a current chart single being performed in it.
The beginning game was always quite eye catching. For a while the first game was called Space Invaders. At the end of the show, Cheggers would always blow his whistle and jump onto the inflatable that the final game had been played on; he led the children who all jumped on it in mayhem style to end the show.
Clips
Hosted By
Keith Chegwin
Details
Channel: BBC1
Produced By: BBC Manchester
Original Transmission Dates: 10th April 1978 – 7th November 1988