Jackanory

Lore & Background

Jackanory was first transmitted on 13 December 1965, with the fairy-tale 'Cap-o'-Rushes' read by Lee Montague. The programme's title comes from an old English nursery rhyme first recorded in the publication The Top Book of All, for little Masters and Misses, which appeared about 1760. The format varied little over the decades: an actor reading from children's novels or folk tales, usually seated in an armchair, with occasional still drawings by illustrators such as Quentin Blake. In 1983, Malou Bonicos was commissioned to provide illustrations for one story. Usually a single book would occupy five daily fifteen-minute episodes, from Monday to Friday.

The final story, The House at Pooh Corner by A. A. Milne, was read by Alan Bennett and broadcast on 24 March 1996. The programme was briefly revived on 27 November 2006 for two one-off stories, narrated by John Sessions and Sir Ben Kingsley. A version for younger children, Jackanory Junior, aired on CBeebies between 2007 and 2009. The CBeebies Bedtime Stories strand continues the tradition of well-known actors reading stories directly to camera.

Reader's Guide

Jackanory holds significance as a long-running BBC children's series that encouraged reading through the simple format of an actor telling a story. Over its 30-year run, it produced around 3,650 episodes, featuring readers such as Bernard Cribbins, Victoria Wood, and Rik Mayall. The programme's cultural influence is evident in references by bands like Blur and Elastica, and in the phrase 'Jackanory, jackanory' used to imply someone is stretching a story. The 2006 revival sparked criticism for adding animation and multiple voices, which some felt departed from the original's minimalistic spirit. The series also inspired a spin-off, Jackanory Playhouse, and later an adult version, Crackanory, on UK TV network Dave in 2013. Its legacy endures through the CBeebies Bedtime Stories strand and its role in promoting literacy.