The Slammer

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The Slammer is a CBBC children's television series broadcast on BBC One.

The Slammer
Format Talent show
Starring Ted Robbins, Ian Kirkby, Dave Chapman, Melvin Odoom, Lee Barnet
Country of origin United Kingdom
No. of episodes 26 (up to 06/06/08)
Production
Running time 28 min
Broadcast
Original channel BBC One (2006)
Repeats on BBC Two and CBBC Channel
Picture format 16:9
1080i (HDTV)
Original run 22 September-29 December 2006 (Series One)
28 March 2008 – ongoing (Series Two)
External links
IMDb profile


Set in a fictional prison called HM Slammer, this programme follows a variety show format where “prisoners” (who have been arrested for “showbiz” related crimes) compete, by performing to an audience, who decide which act should be released.

The show is produced by Steve Ryde, who also produced CBBC's Dick and Dom in da Bungalow and Harry Batt. It was based on an item from Dick and Dom called 'The Strangely Talented': a game in which contestants performed their specialised acts in front of the Bungalow Heads to try and win the title of Strangely Talented Champion.

The supporting cast of Dick and Dom in da Bungalow all appear in The Slammer. They are Lee Barnett, Dave Chapman, Ian Kirkby and Melvin Odoom.


Contents

[edit] Overview

The Slammer is a fictitious prison where entertainers who have committed crimes against show business are imprisoned, and given the chance to be freed by performing to a jury of children in the Freedom Show. The titles introduce the show’s format by showing prisoners inside The Slammer remembering how they were incarcerated due to their performances going wrong (eg. a ventriloquist who accidentally throws his puppet off his arm, and tap dancers who all trip over one another). Accompanied by the lyrics of the theme tune narrating, we watch the incarcerated entertainers ‘polishing up their acts’ and then performing in front of an audience of 8-12 year olds. The tap dancers win and dance out through The Slammer’s gate.

The Slammer is headed by “The Governor” played by comedian Ted Robbins. “The Governor always wears a white suit with a golden bow tie, and fulfills his duties by hosting the Freedom show. Besides introducing the acts he asks some of the audiences’ views about the “Performing Prisoners”.

Supporting the Governor are prison wardens Mr. Burgess, played by Ian Kirkby and the Governor’s nephew, Jeremy Gimbert (Lee Barnett). The characters are complete opposites to one another; Mr. Burgess is intelligent, trustworthy and follows procedure and instructions carefully. Gimbert is not the sharpest tool in the box, and Mr. Burgess’ frustration with his colleague’s stupidity is often obvious.

Dave Chapman returns from da Bungalow to play new character Peter Nokio, whilst Melvin Odoom returns to play a character who shares his name, called Melvin Odoom. Peter Nokio is a long term resident of the Slammer who shares a cell with Melvin. He is a poor ventriloquist (his mouth moves when the puppet is speaking), having several puppets (including Titch, Alistair and Cheeky Charlie) which he keeps personified at all times, allowing the puppets to make rude comments and often tell the truth when Peter is telling a lie. Melvin Odoom is a former dancer who's act once went badly wrong in front of none other than the Queen, at the royal variety performance, resulting in him suffering from seemingly incurable stage-fright.

The show begins with 5-10 minutes of a storyline which includes all the above characters. The Slammer also includes celebrity guests on many occasions who often play themselves or assume characters in this section. For example, *Keith Harris and Orville once starred in a story where a performance had gone so badly that they froze and were taken to the Slammer. The supporting cast managed to revive them and they performed later in the show.

After this, the performances begin. In-between each performance, the Governor and Mr. Burgess ask a few children on their thoughts. Traditionally Mr. Burgess asks a child to sum up the act with one word, before shouting it back to the Governor, addressing him as ‘Sir’ in a military fashion. This is often found amusing and has let to children frequently combining adjectives such as ‘brilliant’ and ‘fantastic’ to make words like ‘Brillitastic’, to which Mr. Burgess would then shout “Brillitastic, Sir!”

Sometimes the stories are continued into the performance section. Between acts the television audience cut away to very short segments of the stories. This usually is done to create tension on stories where one of the prisoners is being devious (a prisoner is trying to escape while the guards are distracted by the Freedom Show for example).

Four acts perform each episode, and the act who gets the most support through applause and cheering (measured by a Clap-o-meter when a vote is taken at the end of the show) is released.

[edit] Production

The Slammer is recorded at the Three Mills Studios in East London, by the BBC in high definition.

A computer generated image of the outside of the Slammer is used, which feature London's Wormwood Scrubs Prison.

[edit] Theme Tune

Like Dick and Dom in da Bungalow, Andy Blythe & Marten Joustra were commissioned to write the theme. The tune itself (in E flat) is built around the blues scale, presumably chosen because prisoners are meant to feel unhappy and blue. But a fast tempo, staccato notes and the use of modulation into B major ensures a fun, fast and lively piece. Its chord progression is not typical of a blues’ piece neither, so it doesn’t sound too much like a blues song. It is sung in the same style as da Bungalow’s piece using at least two voices more so shouting the lyrics.

[edit] Awards

On November 25th, 2007 The Slammer won the Children's BAFTA for Best Entertainment Program. An award that Steve Ryde won back in 2004 for his highly acclaimed and controversial Saturday morning children’s show Dick and Dom in da Bungalow.

[edit] Celebrity Guests

The Slammer has featured many celebrity guests (usually entertainers) who either play themselves or characters in the storyline, perform or do both.

Series One included:

Series Two included:

[edit] Contestants in the Slammer

[edit] External links