''Ridgey Didge'' was a popular
Network Ten
Network 10 (commonly known as Ten Network, Channel 10 or simply 10) is an Australian commercial television network owned by Ten Network Holdings, a division of the Paramount Networks UK & Australia subsidiary of Paramount Global. One of five ...
magazine television programme for children in Australia. The name is an Australian slang term meaning honest, true or the real thing.
Format
A long-running series of 52-minute programmes, each studio-based episode was intended to be an entertaining voyage of adventure and discovery for the viewers, constantly covering new topics reflecting Australian life and culture. Location segments added to the mix. One episode recorded sealing a time capsule to commemorate Australia's bicentennial in 1988; the capsule was opened in 2001.
Presenters
A team of presenters hosted each programme:
*
Jared Robinsen
* Rebecca Hetherington (daughter of
Norman Hetherington
Norman Frederick Hetherington (29 May 1921 – 6 December 2010) was an Australian artist, teacher, cartoonist (known as "Heth"), puppeteer, and puppet designer.
He is best remembered as the creator of one of Australia's longest running childre ...
)
* Simon Watt
* Danny Carretti
* Chris Harriott
*
Ashley Paske
They were joined by puppet characters
* Shaun the Sheep (operated by Danny Carretti)
* Buzz the Blowfly (operated by Simon Watt)
Other presenters of regular segments:
* Dr. Glenn Singleman (medicine)
* Dean Taylor (art)
Catchphrase
The lyrics in the signature tune repeated the words ''ridgey didge'' several times which became a catchphrase amongst the target audience. This was accompanied with a hand gesture. The three middle fingers of the right hand were closed, leaving the thumb and little finger extended; the hand was then twisted from side to side in time with the rhythm of the music.
Transmission
The show aired between 1987 and 1989, Monday to Friday at 4 p.m. on Network TEN!
The competition
* Wombat —
Seven Network
The Seven Network (commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is a major Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by Seven West Media Limited, and is one of five main free-to-air television networks in Australi ...
* C'mon Kids —
Nine Network
The Nine Network (stylised 9Network, commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of five main free-to-air television ne ...
*
Play School
Play School or Playschool may refer to:
Television
* ''Play School'' (British TV series), a BBC production aimed at preschool children
* ''Play School'' (Australian TV series), an Australian Broadcasting Corporation production based on the Briti ...
—
ABC Television
Production crew
Produced by the in-house production department based at the TEN studios in
North Ryde
North Ryde is a suburb located in the Northern Sydney region of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. North Ryde is located 15 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the ...
,
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
, Australia:
* Executive producer — Ian Fairweather
* Producer — Penni-Anne Smith
* Production manager — Dawn Aronie
* Writers — Tammy Burnstock, Simon Watt
* Location director — Lou Petho
* Production assistant —
Michael Carrington
* Production assistant — Deborah Kingsford
External links
*
* {{youTube, eqZaDEuVtSA, Time Capsule Video 1988
*
wiktionary:ridgy-didge
Facebook page
Network 10 original programming
Australian children's television series
Australian non-fiction television series
1987 Australian television series debuts
1989 Australian television series endings