Television TV

Zzzap

Zzzap! was a fantastic TV show. It ran from 1993-2001 on Children's ITV and is now being sorely missed. Series One of Zzzap! was just excellent and featured Cuthbert Lily, Daisy Dares You, Smarty Arty, The Handymen and Tricky Dicky as just some of the weird and wonderful characters contained in this giant comic.

Zzzap! was basically comic sketches come to life. Each character's antics would be watched through the panels of a comic frame. Zzzap! was originally designed for deaf children, so it has a much wider visual appeal, ensuring all of the story lines key elements are portrayed through the characters movements and through big comical words popping up on the screen.

Cuthbert Lily was a fantastic slapstick legend. He was dead silly, and always ended up getting into mishap or trouble! Daisy Dares was a ragtag young woman who would get kicks out of making a crowd of schoolchildren complete a practically impossible task; usually involving cold baked beans, old milkshake, or anything mouldy, rancid, old and gunky. The Handymen were expert craftsmen in the form of two silk-gloved arms. These arms would make games, food, drinks and toys right before your very eyes, in a clear and concise manner, in a way that makes it easy for children both deaf and hearing to remember how to make.

Then, there was Smarty Arty (played by the fantastic Neil Buchanan of No.73 fame), a fantastically funny artist, who could draw things such as cars and people, and make them come to life! In the most recent series there was also a goof-ball character Minnie the Mini Magician - an irritating, boring character; but don't let her put you off of this unmissable television show. Two thumbs up!


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Do You Remember Zzzap?

Do You Remember Zzzap?

  • Anonymous user
    on
    YES!!!!! I watched this ALL THE TIME as a child in the 90s and have mentioned it to many many people since...none of which know what I'm talking about! There was a painter who would paint on the walls and they would come to life. He was my favourite. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS UP, I thought I had been imagining it!!
  • Anonymous user
    on
    It's ZZZap!, and its Smart Arty,not Smarty Arty. Lily has two l's so its cuthbert lilly. Great show though!
  • campkillgemma
    on
    Zapp was an amazing show. My sister and I used to race home from school to watch it.