Wacaday (summer 1991) - near-full episode

It's rare in the nostalgia business for something to be a lot better that you remember, but I think Wacaday may just fit that description. This episode from the end of the 1991 summer holidays is so much better than I thought it would be.

One thing that's surprising is how educational the show was. Of course was all remember Timmy Mallett for being several bricks short of a load, but that report about South African apartheid is unbelievably good. Not preachy, no anger, not even especially political; but the way he explains it simply and concisely enough for children to understand, before pausing and looking down the barrel and asking, "It's not fair, is it?" really got me. I wonder what kids today would make of it.

But anyway, the theme of the show was obviously South Africa, and there are plenty of silly visual puns that were par for the course: wearing a Cape (of Good Hope), a twin-peaked cap, the Table (Mountain) etc. etc. Then there's Mallett's Mallett, the word association game where you mustn't pause and mustn't hesitate, the phone-in quiz Chat and Splat, and all manner of other WAC-iness, ably assited by the guests of the day Jane ("Pandelli"? - can't make it out) of Harrow and David from Darlington.

I'm afraid the very beginning of the episode is missing, but you do get some retro ads in the middle. (Dizzy Dizzy Dinosaur, McDonalds, Shreddies, "Splat!", Butterkist popcorn, Sylvanian Families, Ribena.)

Major shout out to Neil for providing this recording. You can view his fantastic Sooty-related channel here:    / thesootyshoworg   - highly recommended.

(Please remember that this is an off-air video recording, so don't go expecting 1080p HD quality. Also, apologies for the one-legged sound. I'm fairly certain that this video isn't commercially available, and I've uploaded it for its historic interest only. That said, if you are a copyright holder and object, please don't hesitate to contact me.)