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class="tvmastbg" valign="bottom"> <div class="mastheadtv">Record Breakers (1973-2001)</div> </td> </tr> </table> </td></tr> <tr><td width="30"> </td> <td valign="top"> <table width="740" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr><td colspan="3"></td></tr> <tr><td width="435" valign="top"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr><td colspan="2"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="435" height="20" border="0"/></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" height="24"><p class="smg">Courtesy of BBC</p></td></tr> <tr><td class="underline" colspan="2"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0"/></td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="149"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" width="417"> <tr> <td colspan="3" height="2"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="10" alt="" border="0"/></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="32" valign="top" rowspan="2"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/files/1011064.jpg" alt="Main image of Record Breakers (1973-2001)"/></td> <td><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/spacer.gif" width="10" height="10" alt="" border="0"/></td> <td valign="top" width="366" height="12"> <table width="95%" border="0" style="font-size: 0.6em;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="credsum"> <tbody><tr style="display: none;"><td colspan="2"> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">BBC, 1972-2001</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2">276 episodes in 30 series, colour</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2"> </td></tr> <tr><td>Producers</td><td>Alan Russell</td></tr> <tr><td> </td><td>Michael Forte</td></tr> <tr><td> </td><td>Sally Fraser</td></tr> <tr><td> </td><td>Eric Rowan</td></tr> <tr><td> </td><td>Greg Childs</td></tr> </tbody> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2"> <div class="castsum"> <p>Presenters: Roy Castle; Norris McWhirter; Ross McWhirter; Fiona Kennedy (Series 12-15); Cheryl Baker (Series 16-26); Kriss Akabusi (Series 22-26); Ronald Reagan Jnr (Series 25-26); Linford Christie (Series 27-29); Jez Edwards (Series 27-30)</p><a href="credits.html" class="smg-link" style="color:#6F7E55">Show full cast and credits</a> </div> </td></tr> <tr><td class="underline" colspan="2"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0"/></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2"> <div class="plotsum" style="color:#6F7E55"> <p>The tallest, shortest, fastest and slowest of everything, with facts and figures from the Guinness Book of Records.</p><a href="synopsis.html" class="smg-link" style="color:#6F7E55">Show full synopsis</a> </div> </td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2"> <p>The great British schoolboy is well known as a lover of useless facts and in the 1970s was often found perusing the more oddball entries in the world-famous <em>Guinness Book of Records</em>. <cite>Record Breakers</cite> translated the book to TV - quirky, comic records alongside tales of sporting achievement were its mainstay.</p> <p><cite class="party">Roy Castle</cite> was more than mere presenter - the all-round entertainer broke several records, including fastest tap dance, playing the most instruments on one song (including a kettle and a kitchen sink) and the River Thames bridge parascending record. His trumpet playing on the end theme 'Dedication' closed each show. <cite class="party">Castle</cite>'s enthusiasm and have-a-go pluck characterised the series.</p> <p><cite class="party">Roy</cite> was initially joined by <em>Guinness Book</em> founders, twins <cite class="party">Ross</cite> and <cite class="party">Norris McWhirter</cite>. The former athletes were always identical in blazers and flannels. In November 1975 <cite class="party">Ross</cite>, like his brother active in far-right politics, was shot dead by <cite class="party">IRA</cite> gunmen after offering a 拢50,000 reward for their capture. Brother <cite class="party">Norris</cite>' recall of world records continued to amaze in the 'On The Spot' quiz. Only one question stumped him: 'Which tree has the most leaves?'</p> <p>Largely studio-based for the first few series, from 1974 the series took its lead from <cite>Blue Peter</cite>'s (BBC, 1958-) expeditions and annually travelled as far as New York, California, Canada, Hawaii and Australia to gather location reports.</p> <p>From 1974, Christmas light entertainment specials grew to become huge spectaculars, featuring all of the BBC Children's programme stars. The 1977 <cite>All-Star Record Breakers</cite> included perhaps the series' biggest item - the world's largest tap troupe dancing in formation outside BBC Television Centre.</p> <p><cite class="party">Roy Castle</cite> died from lung cancer in 1994. He was succeeded - but never replaced - by presenters including British athletes <cite class="party">Kriss Akabusi</cite> and <cite class="party">Linford Christie</cite>. <cite class="party">Norris McWhirter</cite> died in April 2004.</p> <p>Falling audiences meant the series was quietly rested in 2001. Thirty series is not quite a record in children's television, but certainly shows dedication.</p> <p class="bricksrc">Alistair McGown</p> <img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="10" border="0" alt=""/> </td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2"></td></tr> </table></td> <td width="1" class="verticaldots"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0"/></td> <td width="312" valign="top"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr><td colspan="2"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="312" height="20" border="0"/></td></tr> <tr><td><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="3" height="1" border="0"/></td><td><p class="smg">Click titles to see or read more <img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/tv/icon_arrow.gif" class="noblock" border="0" alt=""/></p></td></tr> <tr><td class="underline" colspan="2"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0"/></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="rh-item"><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="15"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/gt/GT_tv_clips.jpg" class="rh-thumbpic" alt="" border="0"/></td> <td class="rh-headcell-TV"><span class="thumbhead-tv">Video Clips</span></td> </tr> <tr><td><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="3" border="0"/></td></tr> <tr><td><a href="/web/20080529135219/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/media/stream.jsp?id=1010060" class="clipmenu-link"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/icon_film.gif" alt="" vspace="2" class="clipmenu-icon-right" border="0"/>1, The world's biggest blanket (3:05)</a></td></tr> <tr><td><a href="/web/20080529135219/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/media/stream.jsp?id=1009988" class="clipmenu-link"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/icon_film.gif" alt="" vspace="2" class="clipmenu-icon-right" border="0"/>2. Test Norris (3:31)</a></td></tr> <tr><td><a href="/web/20080529135219/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/media/stream.jsp?id=1009999" class="clipmenu-link"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/icon_film.gif" alt="" vspace="2" class="clipmenu-icon-right" border="0"/>3. 100 yards backwards record (02:15)</a></td></tr> <tr><td><a href="/web/20080529135219/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/media/stream.jsp?id=1009963" class="clipmenu-link"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/icon_film.gif" alt="" vspace="2" class="clipmenu-icon-right" border="0"/>Complete episode (25:02)</a></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/spacer.gif" width="10" height="25" alt=""/></td></tr> </table></td></tr> <tr><td class="underline" colspan="2"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0"/></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="rh-item"><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="10"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/gt/GT_articles.jpg" class="rh-thumbpic" alt="" border="0"/></td> <td class="rh-headcell-TV"><span class="thumbhead-tv">GALLERY / SCRIPTS / AUDIO</span></td></tr> <tr><td><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="3" border="0"/></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/spacer.gif" width="10" height="25" alt=""/></td></tr> </table></td></tr> <tr><td class="underline" colspan="2"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0"/></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2"> <table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="rh-item"> <tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="20"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/gt/GT_tv_clips02.jpg" alt="" class="rh-thumbpic" border="0"/></td> <td class="rh-headcell-TV"><span class="thumbhead-tv">SEE ALSO</span></td></tr> <tr><td><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="3" border="0"/></td></tr> <tr><td><a href="/web/20080529135219/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/898446/index.html" class="clipmenu-link"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/spacer.gif" alt="" vspace="2" class="clipmenu-icon-right" border="0"/>Factual Children's Television</a></td></tr> <tr><td valign="top"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/spacer.gif" width="10" height="25" alt=""/></td></tr> </table></td></tr> <tr><td class="underline" colspan="2"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0"/></td></tr> </table> </td></tr> </table> </td> <td width="8"> </td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="778" height="20" border="0"/></td></tr> <tr><td colspan="3"><table width="778" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr class="upperfoot"> <td width="465" align="right" class="upperfoot"></td> <td class="upperfoot"><div class="footer-txt">  <a href="/web/20080529135219/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/help/terms.html" class="copylink">2003-08 © BFI Screenonline </a> | <a href="/web/20080529135219/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/help/credits.html" class="copylink">credits</a></div></td> <td align="right" class="upperfoot"><img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/nav/lowernav_right_mask.gif" alt="" border="0"/></td> </tr></table> </td></tr> </table> </div></center> <img src="/web/20080529135219im_/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/images/white.gif" width="772" height="20" border="0" alt=""/> <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? 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