CRACKERFACTS
back at us with a bang. One audience yelled back ‘Crackerjack!’ every time we said it, and from there on, that was the custom.
“In fact, it was often very funny to see somebody by mistake mention the word Crackerjack then see them jump almost a couple of feet off the ground when the audience suddenly picked it up and yelled it right back at them.” ■
A highlight of the show were the Don and Peter sketches with Peter Glaze and Don Maclean with their catchphrases “Don’t get your knickers in a knot” or “Don’t get your tights in a twist”. ■ Stu Francis, who appeared on the show from 1979 to 1984, had honed this catchphrase in working men’s club.
THE STARS
Ronnie Corbett was just 26 and had only a few minor film roles to his name when he joined Crackerjack, fitting it in around his job as a barman. He stayed for three series.
But as he confessed to Roy Plomley on Desert Island Discs in 1971, he hadn’t been happy on Crackerjack for some time: “I always had the feeling it never quite worked. I’m not extremely fond of having flour put over my head, or falling a lot, or things like that.”
Other regulars who went on to achieve fame included comedians Little and Large, The Krankies, Basil Brush, and the late Victoria Wood’s husband Geoffrey Durham, appearing as his magician act The Great Soprendo with his catchphrase “Piff Paff Poof ”. Crackerjack also launched Bernie Clifton’s career.
THE SCANDALS
■ Crackerjack hostess Suzette St Clair caused outrage when she appeared in a top shelf magazine wearing platform shoes, stockings, a fur coat and not a lot else. She did not appear on the show again.
■ In January 1964, the Mirror broke the story of Eamonn Andrews leaving the BBC for ITV after 14 years on the channel. His €136,600 a year fee made him the highest-paid TV personality.
■ After a few too many drinks, producer Robin Nash told a Mirror journalist Crackerjack was replacing presenter Ed Stewart. But the producer hadn’t yet told Ed.
In his autobiography, Ed told how he learned the news in a late-night phone call: “‘Hello ... Ed Stewart?’ I could just make out a crackly and slightly inebriated voice.
“‘It’s the Mirror here. I’m just calling to tell you that you won’t be presenting Crackerjack any more ...’
“I distinctly heard a loud cry of ‘CRACK-ER-JAAACK’ in the background. ‘How do you know that?’ I asked in a shaky voice. ‘Robin Nash, your producer, just told me. We’re all at the Montreux Film Festival. Just a moment, I’ll pass him on to you’.
“Robin’s unmistakeable voice confirmed everything. ‘Yessh, darling Ed. You’re all too old and we’re putting some new blood in’.”
LITTLE-KNOWN SECRETS
■ Off screen Peter Glaze wore glasses with thick lenses. On TV, lenses reflect the studio lights so his round-framed specs had no lenses.
■ Jan Michelle, who joined Crackerjack as a co-host in 1978, was asked to ramp up her Scouse accent. She said: “I’m from a normal council Scouse estate in Liverpool. And presenter Jan Michelle when somebody says to you, ‘Can you make your accent stronger?’ it’s really difficult.”
■ Commons Speaker John Bercow made his TV debut as a Crackerjack contestant in 1975, aged 12.
HIGHLY PRIZED PRIZES
Every child who competed was given a Crackerjack pencil. If you own a wooden pencil with Crackerjack on the side, it is a worthless forgery. The genuine article is an elegant Burnham propelling pencil with a green marbled design and the word Crackerjack in gold lettering. It came with its own case. In time it would be superseded by the Crackerjack pen.
ROYAL APPROVAL
In 1961, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first BBC broadcast, the Queen visited the Crackerjack set.
Eamonn Andrews reached into the Double or Drop prizes and gave the Queen two silver Crackerjack pencils, one for Prince Charles and one for Princess Anne, and an Andy Pandy doll for Prince Andrew.
The Queen told Eamonn she and her children were regular viewers: “I watch it. It moves quickly, I enjoy it.”
Let’s just hope the new show gets the royal seal of approval, too. ■ It’s Friday, It’s Crackerjack by Alan Stafford, published by Fantom. fantompublishing.co.uk