Gigglebiz
Encyclopedia
Gigglebiz is a children's television programme (a 'live action comedy sketch show') made in the UK. There have been two series, first broadcast on CBeebies
, the BBC's younger children's channel, in 2009 and 2011.
The programme's star and creator is Justin Fletcher
, who plays the chief characters in all the comic sketches. Some sketches are filmed in the studio; one regular external location is Portmeirion
, used for the town of Wiggyville where the Captain Adorable sketches are set. The sketches are interspersed with 'Giggle Box' - film segments of children viewers telling Justin jokes.
The first series was broadcast in September 2009 and comprised 25 15-minute episodes. The second series of 15 episodes was shown in January 2011 (with a Christmas Special on Wednesday December 15, 2010). The new series saw some characters disappear to make way for new ones.
CBeebies
CBeebies is the brand used by the BBC for programming aimed at children 6 years and under. It is used as a themed strand in the UK on terrestrial television, as a separate free-to-air domestic British channel and used for international varients supported by advertising, subscription or both...
, the BBC's younger children's channel, in 2009 and 2011.
The programme's star and creator is Justin Fletcher
Justin Fletcher
Justin Fletcher, MBE is an English children's TV personality in the United Kingdom.Fletcher is most associated as a presenter and actor on the BBC pre-school television channel CBeebies, both speaking and performing in various often self-created roles.-Biography:Born in Reading, Berkshire, he is...
, who plays the chief characters in all the comic sketches. Some sketches are filmed in the studio; one regular external location is Portmeirion
Portmeirion
Portmeirion is a popular tourist village in Gwynedd, North Wales. It was designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975 in the style of an Italian village and is now owned by a charitable trust....
, used for the town of Wiggyville where the Captain Adorable sketches are set. The sketches are interspersed with 'Giggle Box' - film segments of children viewers telling Justin jokes.
The first series was broadcast in September 2009 and comprised 25 15-minute episodes. The second series of 15 episodes was shown in January 2011 (with a Christmas Special on Wednesday December 15, 2010). The new series saw some characters disappear to make way for new ones.
Characters
All of these characters are played by Justin FletcherJustin Fletcher
Justin Fletcher, MBE is an English children's TV personality in the United Kingdom.Fletcher is most associated as a presenter and actor on the BBC pre-school television channel CBeebies, both speaking and performing in various often self-created roles.-Biography:Born in Reading, Berkshire, he is...
- Anna Conda: a reptile expert, with thick glasses who can be a bit zany. (Series 1)
- Ann Teak : a careless antiques expert who doesn't know much about antiques. (Series 1 - present)
- The Berrito Brothers: Three circus performers. The youngest always ruins the show in some way. (Series 1 - present)
- Packed Lunch Pete : who keeps trying to eat his packed lunch, but is prevented from doing so in any number of ways. (Series 1)
- Arthur Sleep : a regional newsreader with a taste for very bad jokes. (Series 1 - present)
- King Flannel : a naughty, childish monarch, who needs to be constantly kept in line by his butler. (Series 1 - present)
- Rapids Johnson : an explorer who never quite manages to spot the prey. (Series 1 - present)
- Chip Munk : pet shop worker who avoids selling the pets. (Series 1)
- D.I.Y. Dan : a clumsy and accident prone DIY enthusiast - a children's version of Reg Prescott. (Series 1)
- Doctor Doctor : In which Justin tells doctor doctor jokes. (Series 2 - present)
- Captain Adorable : a rather less than super superhero who tries to help the people of Wiggyville. (Series 1 - present)
- Gail Force : a weather presenter, constantly at the mercy of events, usually involving water - also works as an outside presenter to combine Arthur Sleep segments. She mainly does her reports at a fictional village called Little Bottom. (Series 1 - present)
- The Lost Pirate : who is always on the look out for his lost treasure. (Series 1 - present)
- Nana Knickerbockers : a pantomime dame who lives her entire life as if she were still in on stage, she lacks common sense in the modern world. (Series 1)
- Professor Muddles : a zany scientist who gets a bit muddled. (Series 1 - present)
- Farmer Dung : an incomprehensible farmer and lacks common sense. (Series 1 - present)
- Humphrey : a man who obliviously causes trouble wherever he is. Drives a Morris MinorMorris MinorThe Morris Minor was a British economy car that debuted at the Earls Court Motor Show, London, on 20 September 1948. Designed under the leadership of Alec Issigonis, more than 1.3 million were manufactured between 1948 and 1971...
permanently hitched to a Teardrop trailerTeardrop trailerA teardrop trailer, also known as a teardrop camper trailer, is a streamlined, compact, lightweight travel trailer, which gets its name from its teardrop profile. They usually only have sleeping space for two adults and often have a basic kitchen in the rear....
, and dotes on his dog Woody. (Series 1) - Dina Lady : a not-so-hot cook, with her assistant Tommy Tummy. (Series 1 - present)
- Major Boogie : an old tin soldierTin soldierTin soldiers are miniature figures of toy soldiers that are extremely popular in the world of collecting. They can be bought finished or in a raw state to be hand-painted. They are generally made of pewter, tin, lead, other metals or plastic...
who dances when no one is around. (Series 1 - present) - Simon Pieman : A delivery man who always has trouble delivering his pies. (Series 2 - present)
- Postie : a hapless postman, always trying to deliver the mail on time. (Series 1)
- Milkshake Jake : zany, excitable sundae bar tenderSoda jerkA soda jerk was a person — typically a youth — who operated the soda fountain in a drugstore, often for the purpose of preparing and serving ice cream soda. This was made by putting flavored syrup into a specially designed tall glass, adding carbonated water and, finally, one or two scoops of ice...
who unwittingly sprays his customers with the ingredients of their orders. (Series 1) - Keith Fit : a Geordie sports instructor who's "20 year" experience hasn't gained him any skills. (Series 2 - present)
- Opera Oliver : a opera singing waiter who always makes his customers leave. (Series 2 - present)
- Rod and Annette Rod is a fisherman who catches something but loses it. Annette thinks he never catches anything and it makes him happy.
Additional Characters
- Botham: Captain Adorable's Butler who does most of the work for Captain Adorable, who always calls him "Bottom".
- Q.T: Captain Adorable's sidekick, an 11 year-old girl.
- Woody: Humphrey's dog.
- Tommy Tummy: (Richard SuttonRichard Sutton (actor)Richard Sutton is a British stage and screen actor.- Early Life :Richard "Rich" Sutton began acting very early on in his life, making his theatrical debut aged just twelve months old. He was born half a mile from the Jaguar plant in a very industrial part of Birmingham called Castle Vale...
) Dina Lady's assistant who knows more about cooking than Dina Lady. - Giant Panda: The frequent and elusive subject of Rapids Johnson's search.
- King Flannel's Butler: Long suffering, and tries to keep King Flannel in line - not always successfully..
- Captain Cuddles: Superhero and saves the day in his little town, Daisytown. Could have saved the missing vase in Series 1.
Locations
- Little Bottom: A fictional village where Gail Force mainly presents my weather and strange forecasts. The villagers of Little Bottom are often the victims of unusual outbreaks like fleas or sneezing. The village's railway station is unusually large with 47 platforms (Series 2, Episode 8).
- Wiggyville: the home of Captain Adorable. Outside shots of the town show it to be PortmeirionPortmeirionPortmeirion is a popular tourist village in Gwynedd, North Wales. It was designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975 in the style of an Italian village and is now owned by a charitable trust....
in North Wales.