Go With Noakes
John Noakes and Shep explore Britain in outdoor adventures.
Go With Noakes is a BBC Television children's documentary series presented by John Noakes, broadcast from 28 March 1976 to 21 December 1980. The programme followed Noakes and his dog Shep on adventure-based outdoor activities around Britain, similar to his earlier work on Blue Peter.
- broadcast_dates
- 28 March 1976 – 21 December 1980
- network
- BBC Television
- presenter
- John Noakes
- series_count
- 6
- episode_count
- 31
- producer
- David Brown
- production_location
- BBC Manchester
Lore & Background
Go With Noakes began on 28 March 1976, initially airing while John Noakes was still a presenter on Blue Peter, from which he departed in 1978. The series was produced by BBC Manchester and ran for six series totaling 31 episodes, with the final edition transmitted on 21 December 1980. Each series featured Noakes travelling around Britain using a particular mode of transport, such as sailing, narrow boat, walking, or open top car. Noakes was accompanied on most installments by Shep the dog, who had left Blue Peter at the same time as Noakes. One episode featured the Blue Peter pony for the disabled named 'Rags'.
Reader's Guide
Go With Noakes is significant as a children's documentary series that extended John Noakes's on-screen persona as a man of action, following his departure from Blue Peter. The programme's format, made on film, allowed flexibility in shooting and editing. An example episode from the first series, broadcast 11 April 1976, showed Noakes meeting the RAF's Red Arrows aerial display team, participating in a simulated flying lesson, and riding in a practice display. The theme tune was 'On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at', referencing Noakes's Yorkshire heritage, while the end theme was a section of 'The Rovers Return' by Edrich Siebert. A series of repeats later aired under the title Look Back With Noakes. A similar series, Duncan Dares, hosted by Peter Duncan, followed in 1985.
Did You Know?
- The series was produced by BBC Manchester.
- The theme tune was 'On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at', a Yorkshire folk song.
- One episode featured the Blue Peter pony for the disabled 'Rags'.
- A series of repeats was later broadcast under the title Look Back With Noakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Go With Noakes?
Go With Noakes is a BBC children's documentary series in which presenter John Noakes and his dog Shep set off on outdoor adventures across Britain. It is essentially a spin-off style of the hands-on exploration segments Noakes was already known for on Blue Peter.
Who presents Go With Noakes?
John Noakes fronts the show, and his constant companion throughout every episode is his dog Shep. The pair tackle a range of outdoor activities together in locations around the UK.
When did Go With Noakes air?
The series premiered on 28 March 1976 and concluded with its final broadcast on 21 December 1980. It was shown on BBC Television throughout its run.
How many series and episodes of Go With Noakes were there?
The programme ran for six series and a total of 31 episodes. David Brown served as the producer behind the show.
What kind of activities does Go With Noakes cover?
Each episode revolves around adventure-based outdoor pursuits that Noakes and Shep carry out in different parts of Britain. The format mirrors the practical, get-out-there exploration style Noakes brought to Blue Peter.
More in part-1
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record