Balamory

From Freepedia

Balamory is a live action television series on UK TV (BBC Two and CBeebies) for preschool children based around the small (fictional) island community of Balamory in Scotland. The series was created by Brian Jameson, and is mostly filmed in the Scottish port town of Tobermory, with the exceptions of scenes in the nursery which are filmed at a television studio in Glasgow, and Archie's castle (which is in fact at Fenton Tower in North Berwick). Balamory is considered by many to be the most politically correct show on the BBC.

The show has quite a few similarities to The Singing Kettle. They are both Scottish. The Singing Kettle asks which coloured kettle they open, whereas in Balamory they ask which coloured house they are going to. In one episode of Balamory, Miss Hoolie had a problem with a singing kettle.

The series can now be seen in the United States on the Discovery Kids channel, and on TLC.

Contents

Main characters

Other than Suzie Sweet and Penny Pocket, who share a building, each main character has their own house in the town, and each house has a distinctive colour (which is the same as the clothes they wear) (except for Penny Pocket, who lives in the Red House but wears blue!):

Character Actor Role House
Miss Hoolie Julie Wilson Nimmo Nursery schoolteacher Green house
Archie Miles Jupp Inventor Pink castle
Josie Jump Kasia Haddad; previously Buki Akib Fitness instructor Three-story yellow house
Edie McCredie Juliet Cadzow Bus driver Blue garage/house
PC Plum Andrew Agnew Policeman White police station
Spencer Rodd Christiansen American painter/musician Orange house
Suzie Sweet Mary Riggans Shop and café operators Red building
Penny Pocket Kim Tserkezie

Typical episode

A typical episode begins with Miss Hoolie opening the nursery and telling the audience what the weather is like in Balamory today, and then meeting one of the other main characters who has a "problem" that can be solved by visiting another main character. The main character with the problem sings and dances to a calypso-style song to decide which of the coloured houses "is the one for me" (i.e. is the one where the helpful character lives), and then makes a procession of visits to various characters until the problem is solved.

At each visit, the progress of the story to date is summarised by drawing a rainbow of balloons in the air with the hands. The balloons burst to reveal a flashback summary of today's "story in Balamory" narrated by the visitor. The entire story is also summarised at the end of each programme by Miss Hoolie.

Each episode of Balamory contains at least four songs;

  • Opening song (What's The Story In Balamory?)
  • Miss Hoolie Song (Nursery Song or a Day Off song depending on if it is a working day or a day off)
  • Which Coloured House Are We Going To?
  • One or more character songs

Audience

In addition to its intended pre-school audience, Balamory has attracted a somewhat more aged viewership in the form of university students and other "grown-ups" keen to spot innuendo (perceived or otherwise) and story-lines more commonplace in adult soap operas. (Indeed, the shows creator had intended it as a "soap opera for children" [1].) There is an unspoken sexual tension between Miss Hoolie and PC Plum, something played upon in several episodes; for example, the pair share a kiss during a wedding. Further innuendo is implicit in the "friendship" between PC Plum and Archie The Inventor. The two hold hands in one episode; in another, Archie makes an arguably loaded comment, possibly referring to Plum's sexuality ("Ah yes, he's in Venice visiting his..." (with raised eyebrows) "...'Policeman Chum'."). Another episode involving a pantomime horse lead Archie to say (to Eadie Mcreadie) "You go in the front and I will take up the rear"

The show can also be seen in a humourous light. The characters in Balamory are somewhat naive and light-hearted; often appearing to be children trapped in adult bodies with adult roles. The entire storyline often revolves around problems which seem obvious and simple to older viewers.

Music in Balamory

There are many songs in Balamory, mainly sung by the actors. These songs are used consistently throughout the series when characters or circumstances are introduced to the episode. In the run starting from October 2004, new songs were introduced. These songs are longer and take up more time in the episode, so the old versions are still used often.

Standard Songs

  • What's The Story In Balamory?
  • Nursery Song (Everybody, Everyone)
  • What Do You Want To Do Today? (Day Off Song One)
  • Strike Up The Band (Day Off Song Two)
  • Coloured House Song (several slightly different versions, depending on who is singing it)

Character Theme Songs

Archie
  • "I'm Archie, The Inventor"
  • Great Inventions, Groovy Solutions
PC Plum
  • "I'm PC Plum"
  • Follow The Clue
Spencer
  • "Climbing Up My Musical Ladder"
  • If You Need A Little Rhythm
Josie
  • Jump A Little Higher (starring Buki Akib)
  • Jump A Little Higher (starring Kasia Haddad)
  • Cheer You Up
Penny
  • "Penny's Song"
  • Sort It
Suzie
  • Suzie's Cooking
Suzie & Penny
  • I'm Suzie Sweet, I'm Penny Pocket
Edie
  • "When I Honk My Horn"
  • Let Me Take You On A Journey

Some of these songs are available on a CD named Balamory: Strike Up The Band.

Trivia

References

  1. ^  The Sunday Herald talks to the Balamory cast and production team

External links

Retrieved from "http://en.freepedia.org/Balamory.html"


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