How (TV series)
Encyclopedia
How was a British
educational television show created by Jack Hargreaves
. It was produced from 1966 by Southern Television
, for whom Hargreaves was a presenter
and Deputy Programme Controller. It lasted until 1981, when the company lost its franchise to TVS
.
. A one-off pilot
was broadcast at 11.15pm on 22 March 1966, to viewers in the Southern Television
area only.
Following the pilot, Hargreaves felt the show might work better in an afternoon slot, aimed at making facts fun for children. Thus, at 5.25pm on 25 April 1966, Southern began live transmission of the first programme in the series of How, which would continue in a similar format for the next fifteen years.
Made in Southern's Southampton
studios, it provided answers to questions beginning with the word "How". Each episode began with the presenters all raising one hand and saying "How" simultaneously (mimicking the stereotypical Native American
greeting). Topics commonly covered included science, history, mathematics and simple puzzles. The formula proved so successful that it was soon broadcast to the whole ITV
network and given two slots per week.
The show was originally presented by Hargreaves alone. He was joined by Fred Dinenage
(1966–1981), Jon Miller
(1966–1981), Bunty James
(1966–1969 and 1970–1976), Dr Tom Gaskell (1969), Jill Graham (1969–1970) and Marian Davies (1977–1981). Occasional stand-ins for Hargreaves included Barry Bucknell
.
The series came to an end in 1981 when Southern Television
lost its ITV
franchise, but was revived as How 2
in 1990 by TVS
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
educational television show created by Jack Hargreaves
Jack Hargreaves
Jack Hargreaves OBE was an author and television presenter in the UK. His enduring interest was to comment without nostalgia or sentimentality on accelerating distortions in relations between the city and the countryside....
. It was produced from 1966 by Southern Television
Southern Television
Southern Television was the first ITV broadcasting licence holder for the south and south-east of England from 30 August 1958 until the night of 31 December 1981. The company was launched as Southern Television Limited and the title Southern Television was consistently used on-air throughout its life...
, for whom Hargreaves was a presenter
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
and Deputy Programme Controller. It lasted until 1981, when the company lost its franchise to TVS
Television South
Television South was the ITV franchise holder in the south and south east of England between 1 January 1982 and 31 December 1992. The company operated under various names, initially as Television South plc and then following reorganisation in 1989 as TVS Entertainment plc, with its UK...
.
History
How was originally devised by Hargreaves for an audience of adults returning from the pub. Its aim would be to give facts and demonstrations that could settle arguments or be used as pub tricksBar trick
The term bar trick refers to all optical and magical illusions performed in bars, taverns or similar establishments. The performer is often the bartender, with the recipient or audience of the trick being a patron...
. A one-off pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
was broadcast at 11.15pm on 22 March 1966, to viewers in the Southern Television
Southern Television
Southern Television was the first ITV broadcasting licence holder for the south and south-east of England from 30 August 1958 until the night of 31 December 1981. The company was launched as Southern Television Limited and the title Southern Television was consistently used on-air throughout its life...
area only.
Following the pilot, Hargreaves felt the show might work better in an afternoon slot, aimed at making facts fun for children. Thus, at 5.25pm on 25 April 1966, Southern began live transmission of the first programme in the series of How, which would continue in a similar format for the next fifteen years.
Made in Southern's Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
studios, it provided answers to questions beginning with the word "How". Each episode began with the presenters all raising one hand and saying "How" simultaneously (mimicking the stereotypical Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
greeting). Topics commonly covered included science, history, mathematics and simple puzzles. The formula proved so successful that it was soon broadcast to the whole ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
network and given two slots per week.
The show was originally presented by Hargreaves alone. He was joined by Fred Dinenage
Fred Dinenage
Frederick Edgar Dinenage, MBE is an English television host and newsreader, based in the south of England.Dinenage has appeared as presenter of many British television programmes , such as Gambit , Tell The Truth, How and its successor How...
(1966–1981), Jon Miller
Jon Miller (TV presenter)
Jon Miller was a British television presenter who was best known for his appearances on the educational children's television science programme How between 1966 and 1981 with Jack Hargreaves, Bunty James and Fred Dineage....
(1966–1981), Bunty James
Bunty James
Bunty James is a former British television presenter who is best known for her appearances on the educational children's television science programme How in the 1960s and 1970s with Jack Hargreaves, Jon Miller and Fred Dinenage.-Career:James attended Cheltenham Ladies College and was a radio...
(1966–1969 and 1970–1976), Dr Tom Gaskell (1969), Jill Graham (1969–1970) and Marian Davies (1977–1981). Occasional stand-ins for Hargreaves included Barry Bucknell
Barry Bucknell
Barry Bucknell [Robert Barraby Bucknell] was a BBC TV presenter who popularised Do It Yourself in the United Kingdom....
.
The series came to an end in 1981 when Southern Television
Southern Television
Southern Television was the first ITV broadcasting licence holder for the south and south-east of England from 30 August 1958 until the night of 31 December 1981. The company was launched as Southern Television Limited and the title Southern Television was consistently used on-air throughout its life...
lost its ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
franchise, but was revived as How 2
How 2
How 2 was an informative children's programme produced by TVS between 1990 and 1992, and STV Productions from 1993 to 2006....
in 1990 by TVS
Television South
Television South was the ITV franchise holder in the south and south east of England between 1 January 1982 and 31 December 1992. The company operated under various names, initially as Television South plc and then following reorganisation in 1989 as TVS Entertainment plc, with its UK...
.