Jackanory

Between 1965 and 1996 the BBC produced several thousand episodes of a series based around a wonderfully simple idea; an actor / author reading a story in 15 minute chunks directly to camera.  The series, 'Jackanory', became a staple of children's television featuring many key books, authors and actors during it's long run.

Alongside folktales, classic fairy tales and long established writers such as Roald Dahl, Lewis Carroll, Beatrix Potter and P.L. Travers it also featured stories by less recognisable or less mainstream authors such as J. G. Ballard, Joan Aiken and Richard Hughes.

The list of those who signed up to read stories speaks volumes about the regard that the programme was held in; from the programmes most prolific reader Bernard Cribbins (who read some 114 different stories) and other well known British TV icons such as Spike Milligan, Kenneth Williams, Brian Cant, Thora Hird and Joyce Grenfell through 7 different incarnations of The Doctor (numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 & War) to royalty (Prince Charles) and international superstars like Peter Sellers, Michael Palin, Ian McKellen, Liam Neeson, Patrick Stewart and Judi Dench.

In 2006, 10 years after the original series ended, the BBC produced two new stories, dedicated several hours of BBC4 to a celebration of the show (Jackanory Night) and created an hour long documentary celebrating it's history.

Enjoy.