Get Fresh


Get Fresh is a children's television programme that originally aired from 1986 to 1988 in the United Kingdom.

Format

A Saturday-morning kids' TV show, broadcast on the Children's ITV block, the show featured Gareth Jones, Charlotte Hindle, and, for the first year of its run, Gian Sammarco, the British child actor best known for his portrayal of the character 'Adrian Mole'. Sammarco was replaced for the 2nd and 3rd series by a puppet named Gilbert the Alien.
Each week the series would be broadcast from a different UK location and centred on the Millennium Dustbin, a fictional space ship in which the presenters would travel the country. The show invited a live audience to attend and give vox-pop comments, to give presentations on local community activities, and to participate in games and challenges. Pop stars would also appear to perform on the show.
The weekly music strand of the show featured musical guest interviews and pop gossip. The segment was hosted each week by Nino Firetto and David "Kid" Jensen.
The show featured a unique play-by-phone challenge, using the Atari ST video game Xenon, where viewers would call in and shout "left, left, right, shoot" commands to a blindfolded player. Get Fresh also featured the animated series The Centurions and The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers.

Spin-offs

Get Fresh Sunday was a pre-recorded Sunday morning edition of the show also presented by Gaz, Charlotte and Gilbert. This spin-off featured The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin and Gummi Bears and studio-based interviews and features, and was more item-based than the activity driven Saturday live show.
Gilbert later featured in a further two series for Tyne Tees Television, Gilbert's Fridge and Gilbert's Late.

Production notes

The series was administrated by Tyne Tees Television from a Central Unit based at their London office, but was produced in conjunction with the local ITV station from where the series was to broadcast that week.
Get Fresh Sunday was produced solely by Border Television.
The theme music for the programme was written by Mick Jones of The Clash and Big Audio Dynamite fame.

Series 1 – 1986

  • 3 May – The Glebe, Boness-on-Windermere
  • 10 May – Coney Beach Pleasure Park, Porthcawl
  • 17 May – Tuxedo Princess, Newcastle
  • 24 May – Glasgow Mayfest
  • 31 May – Carmunnock Highland Games
  • 7 June – Portrush
  • 14 June – Cardiff Castle
  • 21 June – Colchester Zoo
  • 28 June – Bath Festival of Steam
  • 5 July – Weymouth Beach
  • 12 July – Bellahouston Park, Glasgow
  • 19 July – Aberdeen
  • 26 July – Swaffham
  • 2 August – Whitehaven Harbour
  • 9 August – Scone Palace, Perth
  • 16 August – Ashton Court Park, Bristol
  • 23 August – Tyne Tees Studios, Newcastle
  • 30 August – Carlisle Castle
  • 6 September – Beamish Open Air Museum, County Durham
  • 13 September – Plymouth Hoe

    Series 2 – 1987

  • 25 April and 2 May – "Get Ready for Get Fresh"
  • 9 May – Sheepmount Athletics track, Carlisle
  • 16 May – Yeovil
  • 23 May – Duxford Air Museum
  • 30 May – Edinburgh Castle
  • 6 June – Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre
  • 13 June – Lakeland Forum, Enniskillen
  • 20 June – Ulster Folk Museum
  • 27 June – New Lanark Old Mill Town
  • 4 July – Cardiff Ice Rink
  • 11 July – Plymouth
  • 18 July – Newquay
  • 25 July – Kelso Agricultural Fair
  • 1 August – Clydebank
  • 8 August – Northumberland Scout and Guide Camp, Gosforth Park
  • 15 August – Border TV, Carlisle
  • 22 August – Norwich
  • 29 August – Bristol

    Series 3 – 1988

  • 9 April – Newcastle, County Down
  • 16 April – Giant's Causeway
  • 23 April – Maritime Museum, Exeter
  • 30 April – Lord Montagu's Transport Museum, Beaulieu
  • 7 May – St Austell
  • 14 May – Great Yarmouth
  • 21 May – Galloway Games, Stranraer
  • 28 May – Ferry Meadows Country Park, Peterborough
  • 4 June – Roman fort, South Shields
  • 11 June – Dundee
  • 18 June – Killington Lake services
  • 25 June – Glasgow Show, Bellahouston Park
  • 2 July – Summerlee Heritage Trust, Coatbridge
  • 9 July – Eden Court Theatre, Inverness
  • 16 July – Glasgow Garden Festival
  • 23 July – Teignmouth
  • 30 July – Douglas, Isle of Man
  • 6 August – Metrocentre, Gateshead
  • 13 August – Tropicana, Weston-super-Mare
  • 20 August – Tavistock Meadows
  • 27 August – Margam Country Park, Port Talbot

    Transmission guide

  • Series 1: 20 editions from 3 May 1986 – 13 September 1986
  • Series 2: 19 editions from 25 April 1987 – 29 August 1987
  • Series 3: 21 editions from 9 April 1988 – 28 August 1988