''Jonny Briggs'' is a

Children's BBC BBC Children's and Education is the BBC division responsible for media content for children in the UK. Since the launch of specially dedicated television channels in 2002, the services have been marketed under two brands. CBBC (short for Chi ...

kitchen sink realism Kitchen sink realism (or kitchen sink drama) is a British cultural movement that developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s in theatre, art, novels, film and television plays, whose protagonists usually could be described as "angry young men" w ...

television programme first broadcast in 1985. It revolves around the exploits of a young boy, the eponymous hero (played by

Richard Holian Richard Holian (born 1975) is a Leeds-born actor most famous for playing the title role in the BBC children's television programme ''Jonny Briggs'', that ran for two series in 1985 and 1986. He subsequently had roles in: *'' All Creatures Great ...

), his pet dog, Razzle, and his eccentric family members: Mam (Jane Lowe) and Dad (

Leslie Schofield Leslie Schofield (born 12 December 1938) is an English actor who is most famous in the UK for his role as Jeff Healy in the soap opera ''EastEnders'', whom he played from 1997 to 2000. His character was famous for unsuccessfully proposing to P ...

), older sister Rita (

Sue Devaney Sue Devaney (born Susan Barber, 2 July 1967) is an English actress. Her roles include Debbie Webster in ''Coronation Street'', Rita in ''Jonny Briggs'', Liz Harker in '' Casualty'' and Jane in '' Dinnerladies''. Career Devaney has played variou ...

) and older brothers Albert (Tommy Robinson) and Humph (Humphrey) (Jeremy Austin). Another older sister, Marilyn, is mentioned but never seen. The stories often centre on Jonny's school life, where he and his best friend Pam are constantly in battle with the dreadful twins Jinny and Josie. Previously some of the Jonny Briggs books by

Joan Eadington Joan Eadington (born 1926), also known by the pen name Joan Eadith, is a British author best known for her books for children. Eadington lived in Middlesbrough and several of her books are set there.''Who is Jonny Briggs'', "Books for Young Child ...

were read on Jackanory. In the books Jonny has two older sisters—Pat and Sandra. The programme was filmed in

Bradford Bradford is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Bradford district in West Yorkshire, England. The city is in the Pennines' eastern foothills on the banks of the Bradford Beck. Bradford had a population of 349,561 at the 2011 ...

and set in

Middlesbrough Middlesbrough ( ) is a town on the southern bank of the River Tees in North Yorkshire, England. It is near the North York Moors national park. It is the namesake and main town of its local borough council area. Until the early 1800s, the a ...

The theme tune "The Acrobat" composed by J A Greenwood in 1936, is considered synonymous with the series. The piece of music chosen for the programme was recorded by trombonist Colin Buchanan.

Cast

* Jonny Briggs (

) * Rita Briggs (

) * Albert Briggs (Tommy Robinson) * Humphrey Briggs (Jeremy Austin) * Dad (

) * Mam (Jane Lowe) * Mavis (Debbie Norris) * Miss Broom (

Karen Meagher Karen Meagher, formerly Karen Lloyd, is an actress born in Rock Ferry, Birkenhead in Cheshire. Her family are originally from North Wales and what is now the Merseyside area. Her first acting role was playing a skivvy in the 1979 television s ...

) * Mr. Box (Harry Beety) * Mr. Hobbs (

Simon Chandler Simon Chandler (born 1953) is a British film, television and theatre actor. He often plays senior establishment figures such as Members of Parliament and senior civil servants. Biography Born in 1953 and educated at Bedford School, Chandler's ...

) * Mr. Badger ( John Forbes-Robertson) * Pamela Dean (Georgina Lane) * Jinny (Adele Parry) * Josie (Rachel Powell) * Nadine (Abigail Fisher) * Martin (Dexter Lynch) * Lily Spencer (Sophie Buckley) * Peter (Alex Moran) * Razzle (Fizzy)

Series guide

*Series 1: 13 episodes, broadcast 11 November 1985 – 23 December 1985 *Series 2: 20 episodes, broadcast 10 November 1986 – 20 January 1987

External links

* 1985 British television series debuts 1987 British television series endings 1980s British children's television series BBC children's television shows Television shows based on children's books Social realism English-language television shows {{BBC-tv-prog-stub