Numberjacks

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Numberjacks
Format	Children's
Starring	Dylan Robertson (voices of 0 and 1), Robert Watson (voice of 2), Alice Baker (voice of 3), Jonathan Beech (voice of 4), Laura Maasland (voice of 5), Oliver Keogh (voice of 6), Roz Ellis (voices of 7 and 9), Harry Munday (voice of 8), Bob Golding (voices of the Problem Blob and the Puzzler), Rachel Preece (voices of the Shape Japer and Spooky Spoon), Ross McMullan (the Numbertaker), Alex Liang (side characters)
Country of origin	UK
Production
Running time	15 minutes
Broadcast
Original channel	BBC2
Original run	October 16, 2006 – March 30, 2007

Numberjacks is a children's television series for 4-5 year olds which is shown regularly on CBeebies and occasionally on BBC2 in the UK. ^[1] It is produced by Open Mind Productions for the BBC and features a mixture of computer-generated animation and live action.

1 Synopsis
2 Characters
- 2.1 Protagonists
- 2.2 Antagonists
3 Episode List
4 Trivia
5 DVD Releases
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Synopsis

The Numberjacks are animated characters - the numbers zero to nine - who live in an ordinary sofa and solve problems outside. Each episode has the same structure. At the beginning of the episode, some of the Numberjacks will be engaged in an activity that will have relevance to the problem that is later discovered. Then an "agent" (a live-action child) will call in and describe the problem that is occurring. One or two of the Numberjacks will go out into the real world to solve the problem, while the remaining Numberjacks stay in their base and watch their progress on a screen. As soon as the problem is understood, 5 imagines what else could go wrong if it wasn't solved (often worrying about what would happen to the Dancing Cow).

Once outside, the Numberjacks are shown in a live-action setting (although still animated themselves). They diagnose the problem by examination and with help from additional ideas from the agents, who call into the base. Problems are solved by using "Brain Gain", a magical force of power.

Once solved, the Numberjacks return to their base, replay what happened on a screen and then challenge the viewer to think about a related problem.

The problems encountered are all based around simple mathematical concepts and the programme is intended to stimulate young children's interest in mathematics.

[edit] Characters

[edit] Protagonists

The Numberjacks are the heroes. Each of the numbers 0-9 is an individual character and each is broadly the age of his or her number. 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 are male, while 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 are female. The gender of each Numberjack can be found out by applying the mathematical statement, Odd numbers and even numbers. The male Numberjacks are even numbers and the female Numberjacks are odd numbers.

0 (lime green), 1 (purple), and 2 (orange) are too young to participate in the problem solving and are usually only seen in the Numberjacks' base, although occasionally they get out and cause problems of their own.
3 (pink), 4 (blue), 5 (turquoise) and 6 (yellow) are the main characters and are the ones that solve the problems, either going out into the real world or staying and monitoring things at the base. In the past, 4 has turned into a symmetrical 4, a 5, a 6 and a 14, 3 once turned into a 4, and 6 once turned into two 3s.
7 (red), 8 (sky blue) and 9 (green) are older and have their own tasks, seen every now and then if they become involved in a problem.

[edit] Antagonists

There are five "Meanies" who often cause trouble for people. The Problem Blob, the Puzzler and the Numbertaker are male, while the Shape Japer and Spooky Spoon are female.

The Problem Blob spits out lumps of green slime that cause anything they touch to suffer from a particular problem.
The Shape Japer causes problems by changing the shape of objects.
The Puzzler traps the Numberjacks inside a puzzle bubble or causes other problems and sets mathematical puzzles that must be solved before the problems will go away. He is arguably the most fearsome enemy of the Numberjacks, as any Numberjack unable to solve one of his puzzles would be trapped in a puzzle bubble for eternity.
Spooky Spoon mixes things up, which the Numberjacks have to sort out.
The Numbertaker is a white-coated live action man with an exaggerated top hat who removes numbers or numbers of things. As numbers themselves, the Numberjacks must be particularly careful when dealing with him. He uses a number sucker upper, a number grabber, a net, a magnet and a hook to take things. He rarely speaks.

[edit] Episode List

The series is comprised of 45 15-minute episodes, which are listed here:

1. The Trouble With Nothing (air date October 16, 2006) 0 makes things disappear and 6 flies out to sort everything out.
2. Going Wrong, Going Long (October 17, 2006) Things get longer thanks to the Problem Blob. 4 is on the way!
3. Sphere Today, Gone Tomorrow (October 18, 2006) The Shape Japer turns spheres into cubes - 6 has a scare on the marble run.
4. In, Out, Shake It All About (October 19, 2006) Things that should be inside end up outside - 5 takes 3 out there to help sort the Puzzler out.
5. One More Time (October 20, 2006) When 1 goes out alone there's one more of everything - 4 rides the railway to the rescue.
6. Forward Thinking (October 23, 2006) The Problem Blob is back - and things go backwards and forwards. 6 hitches a lift.
7. Seven Wonders (October 24, 2006) 4 finds things add up to 7 when the Puzzler's about.
8. Getting Heavy (October 25, 2006) Spooky Spoon is making light things heavy - 5 and 3 fly out.
9. Belongings (October 26, 2006) Things don't belong when Spooky Spoon mixes things up - another problem for 5!
10. 4 He's A Jolly Good Fellow (October 27, 2006) The Numbertaker is taking all the fours he can find - will 4 be able to escape his clutches?
11. Boxing Day (October 30, 2006) Boxes go wrong when the Shape Japer plays tricks - but 6 can do the trick too!
12. Out Of Order (October 31, 2006) Spooky Spoon makes sure things are well out of order - until 5 sorts her out.
13. Nine Lives (November 1, 2006) The Puzzler has 9 trapped in a puzzle bubble - 6 and 3 to the rescue.
14. Takeaway (November 2, 2006) Not just a few problems, lots of them - 4 makes the Numbertaker take more than he wants to.
15. The Cuck-Cuck-Cuck-Oo-Oo-Oo Bird (November 3, 2006) There's a pattern to the problems the Puzzler causes - and 5 has to break that pattern!
16. Stop And Go (February 19, 2007) Things don't move when they should - 6 has got to sort Spooky Spoon out.
17. Off Colour (February 20, 2007) Spooky Spoon wants to be the most colourful character around - 4 is out to stop her.
18. A Game Of Two Halves (February 21, 2007) The Shape Japer makes half a load of trouble, and 4 has to make things whole again.
19. Out For The Count (February 22, 2007) 2 is out and about and making everyone count wrongly - 6 is after him!
20. The Container Drainer (February 23, 2007) Everything is empty thanks to the Puzzler - 3 helps 5 to fill things up again.
21. Tens Moments (February 26, 2007) 1 and 0 get out and about and make ten of everything - 5 has got more work to do.
22. 3 Things Good (February 27, 2007) 3 is out on her own trying to do battle with the Shape Japer, who doesn't like things in threes.
23. Say What You Mean (February 28, 2007) Be clear what you mean or the Problem Blob will make trouble for you, as 4 finds out.
24. One Won (March 1, 2007) There's only one of everything, thanks to the Numbertaker - 6 sorts things with help from 1.
25. Tricky Sixes (March 2, 2007) The Numbertaker likes two lots of three today - 6 is the Numberjack to sort him out.
26. May The Fours Be With You (March 5, 2007) The Shape Japer is after things that come in eights - 4 is on the mission.
27. Best Estimate (March 6, 2007) The Problem Blob makes things go wrong when people can't estimate - 5 to the rescue!
28. On And Off (March 7, 2007) Spooky Spoon is mixing things again - 4 is on the case.
29. Zero The Hero [1] (March 8, 2007) 0 to the rescue when just for once, the Numberjacks are the problem, not the answer!
30. Bad Circles (March 9, 2007) The Shape Japer is making bad circles - 6 is ready to sort her out!
31. Famous Fives (March 12, 2007) The Puzzler sets the problem - and 5 is just the right Numberjack to sort it out!
32. Fair Shares (March 13, 2007) Things aren't being shared fairly, thanks to the Problem Blob - 6 makes everything all right.
33. Being 3 (March 14, 2007) The Numbertaker is taking threes today – but he can’t take Numberjack 3!
34. Into The Teens (March 15, 2007) 1 and 0 get together to make 10 things - 4 has to sort out the chaos.
35. Slide And Turn (March 16, 2007) The Shape Japer is moving things and causing problems - 5 goes out there.
36. Six Of One (March 19, 2007) The Problem Blob is making trouble with sixes - Numberjack 6 to the rescue.
37. Time Trouble (March 20, 2007) Time passes very strangely - thanks to Spooky Spoon. 5 investigates.
38. 1, 2, 3, Go (March 21, 2007) It's 1 - 2 - 3 - pattern time! 3 battles with the Puzzler.
39. More 4 [2] (March 22, 2007) The Shape Japer makes trouble with symmetry - 4 goes out there to sort things out.
40. Almost Human (March 23, 2007) The Problem Blob causes trouble - and 4 tries out being a human!
41. Two, Four, Six, Eight (March 26, 2007) The Numbertaker takes all the even numbers - 6 flies out to put things right.
42. Round And Round (March 27, 2007) The Problem Blob has got people going round in circles - can 5 restore things to normal?
43. Square Dancing (March 28, 2007) The Shape Japer's about - and 1, 4 and 9 sort out problems with squares.
44. Data Day (March 29, 2007) Spooky Spoon is mixing things up - 3 is ready to take her on.
45. How? What? Check! (March 30, 2007) 5 solves the problems caused by the Puzzler - and checks to make sure!

Numberjacks will return later this year for another series.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines.
The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

On a CBeebies height chart, Numberjack 6 is the wrong way round.
On little shorts on CBeebies before a show, Sid Sloane shows a blue blackground with 6 characters from different shows. Whenever Numberjack 5 appears as one of the six characters, she is green instead of turquoise.
On the episode "How? What? Check!", the Puzzler's double is not identical as the second Puzzler (the double) had a small mark on his glasses. In the real Puzzler's first appearance he has a black spot on his glasses but in the next appearance he has a blue spot instead.
On the episode "Zero The Hero", 3 said "0! 0! Oh, where is she? Oh, I just can't find him..." (0 is actually male)
In the "Going Wrong, Going Long" episode, while the cleaner mops the floor, a middle aged lady walks into the men's toilet in the background.