Juke Box Jury
Contents |
Host
Noel Edmonds (1979)
Jools Holland (1989-90)
Co-hosts
Vox pop interviews: Adrian John (1979)
Broadcast
BBC, 1959-67
BBC, 16 June 1979-18 August 1979 (9 programmes)
BBC, 24 September 1989-25 November 1990 (21 programmes)
Synopsis
Famous panel game which reviewed the latest records that had been released that week - classics like Ol MacDonald by Frank Sinatra and Eeney Meeney Miney Mo by Pinky and Perky [ah, they don't make them like they used to - Ed]. The only prize on offer, if it could be described as that, is whether the record under review was a HIT or a MISS (with appropriate sound effect awarded too). If there was a 2-2 tie in the votes, the attention would then swing into the audience where three members of the public gave the casting vote.
A running total of the number of Hits (ding!) and Misses (wrwrrwr!) was kept, as if that was some kind of MORI poll-style indication of the national taste in music.
In the original series there was one DJ plus others from any area of showbiz plus "a typical teenager", the sum total was always being two men and two women. Later the entire panel tended to have a musical bent of some description.
One feature of the show was that one of the stars who they were talking about was actually behind the scenes and would be brought out afterwards. So if the panel really slagged off the record, they might have to explain themselves to the artist afterwards.
And no, it didn't feature Janice Nicholls. You'd be thinking of Thank Your Lucky Stars there.
Inventor
Peter Potter
Theme music
Famously, "Hit Or Miss" by the John Barry Seven Plus Four. Later editions of the original run featured a version by Ted Heath (the bandleader, not the former Prime Minister). The 1989 revival used a cover version by Courtney Pine.
Trivia
On the 7th December 1963 edition, the guest panel were the Beatles. They would swap their name plates around on the front of their desks, and producer Cecil Korer tried but failed to get them back in the right order. They voted most records a MISS. On 4th July 1964, the Rolling Stones were on the show - unusual as that meant there were five panellists.
The BBC programme notes for the 30th June 1979 edition read: "NB:Johnny ROTTEN smokes thru'out & drinks beer. Alan FREEMAN also smokes. FREEMAN & ROTTEN argue during review of The Monks record, & FREEMAN tells ROTTEN to shut up. ROTTEN walks out at end." The next week also notes: "Jonathan KING wears multi coloured wig thru'out programme." Marvellous.
