Look and Read/Spywatch

From LookingAndSeeing.co.uk - a website about schools broadcasting

Look and Read's modern era begins with this thoroughly satisfying story which successfully blends the classic L&R format with topical curriculum requirements. Seriously.

The story bits are skillfully balanced with the in-between bits, and both segments share the main narrative: In modern times (the in-between bits) 60-something Norman Starkey returns to the village to which he was evacuated in the Second World War, and writes the story of his previous adventures with the help of the librarian, Miss Lee. These adventures (the story bits) involve Starkey and two other evacuees, Dennis and Mary, plus a local girl called Polly. Between them they have to keep Polly's gran's farm running in tough times, and keep out of the way of the bullying owner of the local Hall and his strange housekeeper. They think they're on the trail of spies when a suspicious-looking woman arrives in the village, but also have to deal with prisoners-of-war, downed enemy pilots, rationing and the black market.

Also in the in-between bits was Professor C. D. Rom, a computer program whose grammar knowhow and arrogance was more than a little reminiscent of Wordy, and some nice character-based educational songs.

I really like Spywatch.

[edit] Episodes

Episode listings from the old BBC Online Schedules.

1. Sent Away
   • Norman Starkey goes to Westbourne Library and Museum to do some research for a book he is writing about his experiences as an evacuee in World War II.
2. Grainger Danger
   • The evacuees are finding it hard to settle down and Mary has to earn her keep by working as a maid. In the present day, Starkey explains rationing to Miss Lee and discusses why children were evacuated from the towns.
3. Spies All Around
   • Amy's cows have escaped and it looks as if the fence has been cut deliberately. Polly thinks Grainger wants to drive them off the farm, but Norman reckons he's a spy.
4. Trouble For Mary
   • An Italian POW arrives to help on the farm and Starkey looks back on some wartime posters. Miss Millington accuse Mary of stealing.
5. The Poster Comes to Life
   • Norman goes fishing and befriends an American GI called Mike Johnson. Polly and Dennis make contact with Mary at Westbourne Hall, and then meet Vivienne Belling, who looks just like the spy on the poster. Joan the goat has got loose and has eaten Amy's vegetables. Meanwhile, Norman gets a letter from his mum and feels homesick.
6. Bombs in the Country
   • Belling claims she is a government photographer but the children are convinced she is a spy. Mary overhears a suspicious conversation between Miss Millington and Grainger. Dennis and Polly spot a German plane.
7. Surprise
   • Mary searches Westbourne Hall for evidence that Grainger is a spy and there's a surprise in store for the children in the hideout.
8. The Pilot
   • The children capture a German pilot.
9. The Secret Quarry
   • The children discover a tunnel leading from an abandoned quarry to Westbourne Hall. Grainger catches the boys, but they are rescued by Luigi. The children's confidence in their GI friend is misplaced.
10. Captured
    • The children discover Grainger's secret.

[edit] Credits

Starring

Raymond Pickard as Norman Starkey Russell Tovey as Dennis Sealey Sophie Ward as Polly Hobbs Josie McCabe as Mary Parker Rosemary Leach as Aunty Amy Lesley Joseph as Miss Millington Guy Henry as Phillip Grainger Norman Bird as Cyril Jenkins Joseph Alessi as Luigi Balzoni Abigail Thaw as Vivienne Belling Terence Maynard as Mike Johnson Rab Christie as Private Wilson Pauline Delaney as Mrs Calver Victoria Hasted as Ethel Higson Carol Harvey as Mrs Starkey Reinhard Michaels as the German pilot Colin Starkey as Dr Simpson Vincent Pickering as Harrison Keith Barron as adult Starkey Josephine D'Arby as Miss Lee Roger Kitter as CD Rom Andrew Tansey as bald-headed man / spiv Jeannie Crowther as Polly Peters

Singers

Janie Dee Tony Timberlake

Written by	Derek Farmer
Music by	Peter Howell
Designer	Alan Spalding
Executive producer	Frank Flynn
Producer/Director	Nicholas Whines

Programme consultant	Wendy Body
Education officer	Chris Hughes
Casting advisor	Jane Deitch
First assistant director	Alexandra Bridcut
Location manager	Robert Tomlinson
Unit manager	Jennie Watson
Third assistant director	Olivia Spencer
Production assistants	Faith Harris Miriam Jones
Graphic designer	Peter Wane
Video effects	Malcolm Dalton Maeve Stephens
Animations	Animation People
Art director	Norah Marshall
Properties buyer	Nick Barnett
Make-up designers	Sheila Werry Sarah Grispo
Costume designers	Annie Moon Colin Lavers
Stunt pilot	Mark Hanna
Aerial co-ordinator	Alan Walker
Visual effects designer	Steve Bowman
Stunt co-ordinator	Nick Powell
Sound	Tom Hodge
Location lighting	Mark Brennan
Grip	Andy Young
Lighting cameraman	Desmond Seal
Videotape editors	John Billingham Hugh Parson David Smith
Dubbing mixer	Phill Barrett
Studio director	Nicci Crowther
Studio facilities	Hillside Studios

[edit] Broadcasts

Here is a list of all of the broadcasts of this story on the BBC. Unless your teachers managed to get the video recorder to work, this is when you would have seen it in school. See the Schedules section for precise dates and times.

• Spring 1996, BBC2
• Autumn 1997, BBC2
• Autumn 1999, BBC2
• Autumn 2000, BBC2
• Spring 2002, CBBC
• Autumn 2002, BBC2
• Autumn 2003, CBBC
• Summer 2004, CBBC
• Spring 2005, CBBC
• Summer 2005, BBC2
• Summer 2005, CBBC
• Autumn 2005, CBBC
• Spring 2007, BBC2