Beat The Kids
Encyclopedia
Beat the Kids is a spoof
game show
produced by BBC Radio 4
. The show is hosted by comedian Graeme Garden
, as "Dr G" the parentologist (Garden is actually a qualified MD
), and features a different cast of comedians, usually familiar from other Radio 4 comedies, each week. The show is a parody
of Ask The Family
, though the name is a reference to Graeme Garden and Tim Brooke-Taylor
's own Channel 4
game show, Beat the Nation
.
In the show the cast pose as the four members of a family, with parents and children, and sometimes a grandparent. The family are given silly tasks by Dr G, for example, in one case the teenage daughter had to persuade her parents to let her go backpacking alone in Thailand
, instead of taking GCSE
s, while in another the grandmother has to persuade the family that she's not too old to marry a 21-year-old.
There has so far been one series of the show, guests included Linda Smith
, Jeremy Hardy
, Tim Brooke-Taylor
, Sandi Toksvig
and Emma Kennedy
.
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
game show
Game show
A game show is a type of radio or television program in which members of the public, television personalities or celebrities, sometimes as part of a team, play a game which involves answering questions or solving puzzles usually for money and/or prizes...
produced by BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
. The show is hosted by comedian Graeme Garden
Graeme Garden
David Graeme Garden OBE is a Scottish author, actor, comedian, artist and television presenter, who first became known as a member of The Goodies.-Early life and beginnings in comedy:...
, as "Dr G" the parentologist (Garden is actually a qualified MD
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
), and features a different cast of comedians, usually familiar from other Radio 4 comedies, each week. The show is a parody
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
of Ask The Family
Ask the Family
Ask the Family is a British television quiz show originally made by the BBC and broadcast on BBC One between 1967 and 1984. In 1999, it was revived by UK Gold, and in 2005 again returned with a series on BBC2....
, though the name is a reference to Graeme Garden and Tim Brooke-Taylor
Tim Brooke-Taylor
Timothy Julian Brooke-Taylor OBE is an English comic actor. He became active in performing in comedy sketches while at Cambridge University, and became President of the Footlights club, touring internationally with the Footlights revue in 1964...
's own Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
game show, Beat the Nation
Beat the Nation
Beat The Nation was a quiz show on the UK commercial channel Channel 4 that ran for just one series and 120 episodes from 5 January to 2 July 2004...
.
In the show the cast pose as the four members of a family, with parents and children, and sometimes a grandparent. The family are given silly tasks by Dr G, for example, in one case the teenage daughter had to persuade her parents to let her go backpacking alone in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, instead of taking GCSE
General Certificate of Secondary Education
The General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is equivalent to a Level 2 and Level 1 in Key Skills...
s, while in another the grandmother has to persuade the family that she's not too old to marry a 21-year-old.
There has so far been one series of the show, guests included Linda Smith
Linda Smith (comedian)
Linda Helen Smith was a British stand-up comic and comedy writer. She appeared regularly on Radio 4 panel games, and was voted "Wittiest Living Person" by listeners in 2002...
, Jeremy Hardy
Jeremy Hardy
Jeremy James Hardy is a British alternative comedian who is also known for his socialist politics.-Career:Hardy was born in Farnborough, Hampshire. He attended Farnham College and studied Modern History and Politics at the University of Southampton...
, Tim Brooke-Taylor
Tim Brooke-Taylor
Timothy Julian Brooke-Taylor OBE is an English comic actor. He became active in performing in comedy sketches while at Cambridge University, and became President of the Footlights club, touring internationally with the Footlights revue in 1964...
, Sandi Toksvig
Sandi Toksvig
Sandra Brigitte “Sandi” Toksvig is a Danish comedian, author and presenter on British radio and television.-Career:...
and Emma Kennedy
Emma Kennedy
Emma Kennedy is an English actress, writer and television presenter....
.