Breakfast Serials
A 1990 BBC1 children's anthology with puppet hosts.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Breakfast Serials was a 25-minute children's anthology series that ran for a single series on BBC1 in 1990. It featured a collection of short pieces spanning several genres, including dialogue comedy (Cheapo TV), drama (Runners and NiceChap), stand-up comedy (Zounds), and narrative (Single Tales). Each segment began with a chat among three puppet characters—a Teapot, a Tin can, and a Tomato, collectively called The Kitchen Crew—who sometimes interacted with the characters in the serials. The episode concluded with a discussion that led to a song performed by the trio, which played over the closing credits. All voices and acting roles in the series were handled by Caroline Berry, John Biggins, Lucy Jenkins, and William Petrie.
One recurring segment, Nice Chap, was an adventure-drama about a cartoon strip character brought to life. It consisted of three connected "series," each viewable as a standalone storyline. In the first, Nice Chap—a perpetually upbeat, curious man-child who speaks in rhyme—is the creation of a depressed female illustrator named Suzie, who runs Cozicomix and whose only friends are plants, including a yucca called Peter. Nice Chap comes to life when lightning strikes Suzie’s drawing board. The pair are endangered by a rival comics company, Megacomix, run by Joyce (nicknamed "Clench") and Norris, and aided by a megalomaniacal supercomputer (It) and another computer (Chuck). Clench and Norris eventually befriend Suzie. In the second installment, set six months later, the supercomputer takes control of Norris and lays siege to a TV station called Norris Vision; Nice Chap and Suzie thwart its plans. In the third, another six months later on the anniversary of his creation, Nice Chap turns evil after Suzie, in anger, draws dark eyebrows on him. The rogue Nice Chap is killed by a doppelganger, and Suzie, in despair, uses a Crash Machine to send herself into Nice Chap’s dimension to be with a positive version of him forever.
Critical reaction was negative. TV Cream described Cheapo TV as "unfunny TV parodies," Zounds as "terrible drama school style surrealism," and criticized other strands for being boring or unoriginal.
- format
- Anthology series for children
- runtime
- 25 minutes
- network
- BBC1
- series count
- 1
- year
- 1990
- voice cast
- Caroline Berry, John Biggins, Lucy Jenkins, William Petrie
Lore & Background
Breakfast Serials was a children's anthology series that aired on BBC1 for a single series in 1990. Each episode featured a variety of short segments, including dialogue comedy (Cheapo TV), drama (Runners and NiceChap), stand-up comedy (Zounds), and narrative (Single Tales). The segments were introduced by The Kitchen Crew, a trio of puppets consisting of a Teapot, a Tin can, and a Tomato, who would sometimes interact with the characters in the serials. The episode concluded with a song performed by the three puppets over the end credits. All voices and acting roles in the series were performed by Caroline Berry, John Biggins, Lucy Jenkins, and William Petrie.
Reader's Guide
One notable segment of Breakfast Serials was Nice Chap, an adventure/drama about a cartoon strip character brought to life. The serial comprised three connected storylines. In the first, Nice Chap, a permanently positive man-child who speaks in rhyme, is created by a depressed illustrator named Suzie. He is brought to life by a lightning strike, and the two face danger from a rival comics company. In the second, six months later, a supercomputer takes control of a character named Norris and lays siege to a television station. In the third, another six months later, Nice Chap is turned evil when Suzie draws dark eyebrows on him in anger; he is killed by a doppelganger, and Suzie uses a Crash Machine to enter his dimension. Critical reaction from TV Cream was negative, calling Cheapo TV 'unfunny TV parodies' and Zounds 'terrible drama school style surrealism', and criticizing other strands for boredom or lack of originality.
Did You Know?
- Breakfast Serials aired on BBC1 for one series in 1990.
- Each episode was introduced by a puppet Teapot, Tin can, and Tomato known as The Kitchen Crew.
- All voices and acting roles in the series were performed by Caroline Berry, John Biggins, Lucy Jenkins, and William Petrie.
- One segment, Nice Chap, featured a cartoon character brought to life by a lightning strike.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Breakfast Serials?
Breakfast Serials was a half-hour anthology programme for young viewers that aired on BBC1 during 1990. It stitched together several short-form segments of different genres into a single episode.
Who are The Kitchen Crew?
The Kitchen Crew is the trio of puppet hosts—a Teapot, a Tin can, and a Tomato—who introduced each segment and occasionally broke the fourth wall to comment on the stories. They also wrapped up every episode with a group song played over the closing credits.
What kinds of segments appeared in Breakfast Serials?
The show mixed several genres within its 25-minute runtime, including a dialogue comedy called Cheapo TV, a drama titled Runners and NiceChap, a stand-up bit called Zounds, and a narrative piece known as Single Tales.
Who provided the voices for Breakfast Serials?
The puppet hosts and other characters were voiced by Caroline Berry, John Biggins, Lucy Jenkins, and William Petrie.
How many series of Breakfast Serials were made?
Only one series was produced, making it a brief but distinctive entry in BBC1's 1990 children's schedule. Its single-season run means all episodes exist within that one 25-minute format.
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