Go With Noakes

Go With Noakes
Genre	Children's Documentary
Directed by	Daniel Wolf Chris Clough Cyril Gates Claire Walmsley Alan Walsh
Presented by	John Noakes
Theme music composer	Thomas Clark
Opening theme	On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at
Composer(s)	Thomas Clark
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of seasons	6
No. of episodes	31
Production
Executive producer(s)	David Brown
Producer(s)	David Brown
Running time	25 minutes
Release
Original network	BBC 1
Picture format	4:3
Original release	28 March 1976 – 21 December 1980
Chronology
Related shows	Blue Peter Blue Peter Special Assignment Look Back With Noakes Duncan Dares

Duncan Dares
Genre	Children's Documentary
Presented by	Peter Duncan
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	12
Production
Executive producer(s)	Roy Thompson
Producer(s)	Rob Benfield Alex Leger
Running time	25 minutes
Release
Original network	BBC 1 BBC 2
Picture format	4:3
Original release	24 April 1985 – 2 June 1987
Chronology
Related shows	Go With Noakes Blue Peter

Go With Noakes was a BBC Television children's programme, broadcast between 28 March 1976 and 21 December 1980.

A documentary series, it was presented by John Noakes initially alongside, then following his departure from, Blue Peter in 1978. Broadly similar to the reports he made for that programme, each episode had an adventure-based outdoor theme in keeping with Noakes's reputation on Blue Peter as a man of action. Noakes was accompanied on most installments by Shep the dog, who had left Blue Peter at the same time. One episode featured the Blue Peter pony for the disabled 'Rags'. Travelling around the country, they got involved in diverse activities like motor racing, rowing, aerobatics and painting. In each series Noakes was featured travelling around Britain in a particular mode, e.g. sailing, narrow boat, walking, open top car, etc.

The series was produced by BBC Manchester and began on 28 March 1976, running for six series and 31 episodes. The last edition was transmitted on 21 December 1980.^[1] Being made on film allowed great flexibility with the shooting and editing of each week's subject matter. An example of the first series run was where Noakes met the RAF's Red Arrows aerial display team (first broadcast 11 April 1976). This edition is available to view ^[2] on the BBC iPlayer on the BBC's website and shows Noakes sitting in on the teams' debriefing, taking part in a simulated flying lesson as well as being a passenger in a practice display before helping the ground crew prepare the team for a big show. In the programme, Noakes references his former occupation where he trained as an aircraft engine fitter for the RAF and BOAC before deciding to become an actor.

The theme-tune for the series was 'On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at' ('On Ilkley Moor, without a hat'), a popular Yorkshire folk song sung to the tune of the hymn 'Cranbrook'. It was a reference to Noakes's own Yorkshire heritage. The end theme though was a different tune.^[3]

A series of repeats was later broadcast under the title Look Back With Noakes.

A similar series entitled Duncan Dares hosted by one of Noakes's successors on Blue Peter, Peter Duncan, followed in 1985.

Go With Noakes

Series 1

Six episodes broadcast Sundays on BBC1 (except episode 5 broadcast Tuesday) Producer: David Brown

Total #	Series #	Title	Director	Original airdate
1	1	"The Lakeland Games"	Daniel Wolf	28 March 1976 – 4:30PM
John Noakes of Blue Peter comes to grips with The Lakeland Games: “They told me the Cumberland and Westmorland style wrestling was due to finish at three o'clock. The Fell Race up and down Butter Crag was fixed for 3.25. So why not enter both?”
2	2	"The Oxford Bumps"	Daniel Wolf	4 April 1976 – 5:00PM
John Noakes of Blue Peter puts his oar in The Oxford Bumps: “When I asked Balliol College if I could row in one of their Eights they warned me I was a bit underweight for an oarsman. But they said they'd see what they could do with me.”
3	3	"The Red Arrows"	Daniel Wolf	11 April 1976 – 4:40PM
John Noakes of Blue Peter flies high with The Red Arrows: “I used to be an engine-fitter with the RAF, so I guessed what I was in for. But I hadn't bargained on the Arrows giving me the full treatment, and 16 minutes of aerobatics proved a bit too much.”
4	4	"The Milk Race"	Daniel Wolf	25 April 1976 – 4:05PM
John Noakes of Blue Peter has a spin with The Milk Race: “To take part in a marathon like the Round Britain Cycle Race you've got to be utterly fit - and I wasn't.”
5	5	"Formula 5000"	Daniel Wolf	4 May 1976 – 4:40PM
John Noakes of Blue Peter takes to the pits with Formula 5000: “It wasn't until we got to Oulton Park that one of the other mechanics told me the unwritten law of motor-racing – ‘You can reckon that if nothing goes wrong, you're not trying’. "
6	6	"The Guernsey Handicap"	Daniel Wolf	9 May 1976 – 4:35PM
John Noakes of Blue Peter sails away to The Guernsey Handicap: ‘It was Bob Fisher who suggested we went to race in the Channel Islands." Great yachting there," he said - "fresh winds, strong tides, lots of nasty rocks and currents and after all it's your boat we're taking ".'

Series 2

Five episodes broadcast Sundays on BBC1. Producer: David Brown

Total #	Series #	Title	Director	Original airdate
7	1	"Doing The Show's The Easy Bit"	Daniel Wolf	20 February 1977 – 4:30PM
John joins the Austen Brothers' Circus to sample the travelling life of the Big Top.
8	2	"Castleford Rules, OK?"	Daniel Wolf	27 February 1977 - 5:00PM
John tackles a week of training with the Castleford Rugby League team, as they prepare for a season of success.
9	3	"Paddlers Must Wear Life Jackets"	Daniel Wolf	6 March 1977 –5:00PM
John enters the toughest canoe race in Ireland, over ten weirs on the swollen River Liffey.
10	4	"The Walk Will Do You Good"	Daniel Wolf	13 March 1977 – 4:45PM
John and his dog Shep stride out on the 250-mile Pennine Way.
11	5	"The Lakeland Games"	Daniel Wolf	20 March 1977 – 5:00PM
John takes on Cumbria's toughest athletes at the annual Grasmere Sports.

Series 3

Two episodes broadcast Fridays on BBC1. Producer: David Brown

Total #	Series #	Title	Director	Original airdate
12	1	"You Might Win A Wee Prize!"	Daniel Wolf	11 November 1977 – 5:10PM
John visits the Pitlochry Highland Games.
13	2	"Blaenau Ffestiniog Here We Come!"	Daniel Wolf	18 November 1977 - 5:10PM
John joins the volunteer navvies on Britain's oldest narrow-gauge railway, in their two-year struggle to blast a new tunnel in the mountains of Wales.

Series 4

A series of six holiday trips broadcast Sundays on BBC1. Producer: David Brown

Total #	Series #	Title	Director	Original airdate
14	1	"Down To Land’s End"	Daniel Wolf	12 November 1978 – 5:25PM
John Noakes and Shep follow the ups and downs of the south-west coastal path.
15	2	"By Caravan Through Kerry"	Daniel Wolf	19 November 1978 - 5:30PM
John Noakes and Shep get taken for a ride along the lanes of south-west Ireland.
16	3	"Up The Road To The Isles"	Chris Clough	26 November 1978 - 5:30PM
John and Shep hitch their way through the highlands and islands.
17	4	"Along The South Downs"	Chris Clough	3 December 1978 - 5:25PM
John Noakes and Rags, the Blue Peter pony, ride out on the trail to Beachy Head.
18	5	"From Coast To Coast"	Chris Clough	10 December 1978 - 5:30PM
John and Shep take a bee-line across the lakes, dales and moors of Northern England.
19	6	"Around The Cheshire Ring"	Cyril Gates	17 December 1978 - 5:30PM
John Noakes and Shep take to the water for an inland voyage of discovery.

Series 5

A six-part voyage of discovery around the coasts of Britain with John Noakes and Shep broadcast Sundays on BBC1. Producer: David Brown

Total #	Series #	Title	Director	Original airdate
20	1	"Southampton to Penzance"	Daniel Wolf	21 October 1979 – 4:30PM
The good ship Pleiades sails west, Shep meets 400 donkeys, John tries his first water-ski jump, and everyone makes for Helston in time for the Flora Dance.
21	2	"Fishguard to Porthmadog"	Cyril Gates	28 October 1979 – 4:35PM
The crew of Pleiades take shore leave in the land of song. John fishes from a coracle, scales a sheer rock face and discovers he's a baritone.
22	3	"Port St Mary to Rathlin Island"	Cyril Gates	4 November 1979 – 4:35PM
John explores the Millennium Way on the Isle of Man, and the Causeway coast in Co Antrim. Shep develops a taste for ice-cream and plays his first round of golf.
23	4	"Lamlash to Inverness"	Claire Walmsley	11 November 1979 – 4:30PM
Pleiades navigates the Corryvreckan whirlpool and the Caledonian Canal. John goes in search of the White Stag on the Isle of Arran, and Shep keeps an eye open for the Loch Ness Monster.
24	5	"Queensferry to Whitby"	Claire Walmsley	18 November 1979 – 4:35PM
John takes a stroll up the Forth Bridge, Shep takes a lesson in shepherding, and David Bellamy challenges them both to a marathon Pooh-stick race.
25	6	"Wells-Next-The-Sea to Woodbridge"	Daniel Wolf	25 November 1979 – 4:30PM
Pleiades revisits the yard where she was built, and Shep is introduced to Mr Punch. John plays croquet, goes banger-racing, and becomes an artist.

Series 6

Six programmes in which John Noakes and Shep take a Sunday afternoon drive down the by-ways of Britain broadcast on BBC1. Producer: David Brown

Total #	Series #	Title	Director	Original airdate
26	1	"Mills and Dales"	Cyril Gates	16 November 1980 – 3:45PM
John gets 'Nellie' back on the road, takes a stroll beneath the Pennines, ties up some loose ends in Hawes, and goes for a spin at Harewood. Shep hears all about Ilkley Moor, and comes face-to-face with a church mouse.
27	2	"Wolds and Fens"	Cyril Gates	23 November 1980 – 3:50PM
John spins a pot at Alford, goes for gold with the Friskney Bow-men, sizes up Geoff Capes and takes on the US Air Force at football. Shep has a bracing day out at Skegness.
28	3	"Downs and Rivers"	Cyril Gates	30 November 1980 – 3:40PM
John punts down the Thames, puts a leg on a chair, and goes up, up and away. Percy Edwards chats to the animals at Whipsnade Zoo and Shep takes a close look at village life.
29	4	"Coasts and Cottages"	Cyril Gates	7 December 1980 – 3:45PM
John races a 'cat' at Gosport, breaks a record with Roy Castle and thatches a roof at Milton Abbas; Shep drops in for tea with Lesley Judd and Brillo.
30	5	"Borders and Bridges"	Alan Walsh	14 December 1980 – 3:40PM
John dodges birds of prey, blows a glass vase, pulls some onions with Percy Thrower and climbs down a factory chimney. Shep enters the Dog Olympics.
31	6	"Peaks and Pattis"	Cyril Gates	21 December 1980 – 4:00PM
John walks over hill and glides over dale. Shep goes fishing and finds a wallaby. They return to Halifax for the Piece Hall Carol Concert, and say farewell to Nellie with the Black Dyke Mills Band.

Look Back With Noakes

Series 1

1. Paddlers Must Wear Life Jackets (Wednesday 21 December 1983, 12:05PM BBC1)
2. The Walk Will Do You Good (Thursday 22 December 1983, 12:00PM BBC1)
3. Down To Land's End (Monday 26 December 1983, 12:00PM BBC1)
4. The Oxford Bumps (Tuesday 27 December 1983, 12:00PM BBC1)
5. Up The Road To The Isles (Wednesday 28 December 1983, 12:00PM BBC1)
6. The Lakeland Games (Tuesday 3 January 1984, 12:00PM BBC1)
7. Along The South Downs (Wednesday 4 January 1984, 12:00PM BBC1)
8. The Guernsey Handicap (Thursday 5 January 1984, 12:00PM BBC1)

Series 2

1. By Caravan Through Kerry (Monday 16 April 1984, 9:20AM BBC1)
2. You Might Win A Wee Prize! (Tuesday 17 April 1984, 9:20AM BBC1)
3. Around The Cheshire Ring (Wednesday 18 April 1984, 9:20AM BBC1)
4. Castleford Rules OK? (Thursday 19 April 1984, 9:20AM BBC1)
5. From Lamlash to Inverness (Wednesday 25 April 1984, 9:20AM BBC1)
6. From Queensferry to Whitby (Thursday 26 April 1984, 9:20AM BBC1)
7. From Wells-Next-The-Sea to Woodbridge (Friday 27 April 1984, 9:20AM BBC1)

Series 3

1. Blaenau Ffestiniog Here we Come (Sunday 1 July 1984, 9:35AM BBC1)
2. Down to Land's End (Sunday 8 July 1984, 9:30AM BBC1)
3. By Caravan Through Kerry (Sunday 15 July 1984, 9:30AM BBC1)

Duncan Dares

Series 1

Series produced by Roy Thompson.

Broadcast Wednesdays on BBC1 with episode 2 on BBC2. Series produced by Roy Thompson.

Total #	Series #	Title	Director	Original airdate
1	1	"Stunt Man"	Rob Benfield	24 April 1985 – 5:10PM
Jumping 40 feet from a roof to escape enemy agents is just one stunt performed by Peter Duncan. Crashing a car at high speed and being set on fire are part of the rest of the day in the life of Special Agent Duncan.
2	2	"Dragon Boat Races"	Rob Benfield	1 May 1985 – 5:05PM
Travelling half-way around the world to be thrashed by the Far Easterns at their national sport seems an odd assignment for Peter Duncan, but after weeks of strenuous training with the men of the North East Amateur Rowing Club, they were ready for allcomers and off to exotic Hong Kong.
3	3	"Commando Yomp"	Alex Leger	8 May 1985 – 5:05PM
The 30-mile speed march is a legend in the Royal Marines. It's a race against the clock across some of the roughest country in Britain and the climax to a week of arduous muscle-sapping commando tests. The Royal Marine Commandos made a famous 'Yomp' or march to Port Stanley in The Falklands.
4	4	"Climber"	Rob Benfield	15 May 1985 – 5:10PM
On only his third climb, Peter Duncan tries the Old Man of Stoer. It's only 40 metres shorter than its famous cousin at Hoy, and to get to it involves an icy swim across a channel. With Everest mountaineer Doug Scott as his guide, Peter climbs up one of the most difficult and beautiful rocks in Britain, which only 20 years ago was considered unclimbable.
5	5	"Water Beetle"	Rob Benfield	22 May 1985 – 5:10PM
Crossing the notorious Irish Sea in an old car is a real dare for Peter Duncan and co-driver Steve Good when the weather forecasters get it wrong and they encounter 20-foot waves in mid-channel en route to Ireland. Why didn't they take the ferry?
6	6	"Tight Rope Walker"	Rob Benfield	29 May 1985 – 5:10PM
'..It takes years of practice to become a tightrope walker....' How about six months? That was the challenge put to Peter in this Duncan Dares when he joined the world of the circus to display his brand new act on the high wire. Look! No net and no strings attached, but will he get across without falling?

Episodes 1-5 were repeated on BBC1 on Thursdays from 26 June to 24 July 1986. Episode 6 was repeated on BBC2 on Thursday 31 July 1986.

Series 2

Series produced by Rob Benfield.

Total #	Series #	Title	Director	Original airdate
7	1	"Truck Racer"	Rob Benfield	28 April 1987 – 5:10PM
It's new, it's exciting, it's the fastest-growing motor-sport in Europe today - it's truck-racing! Peter has to learn to manoeuvre a 40-foot trailer backwards at 3mph before he's allowed to join top truck-racing drivers on the starting grid for a lOOmph battle of the giants, at one of the world's most famous racing tracks - The Paul Ricard Circuit in the south of France.
8	2	"Firefighter"	Alex Leger	5 May 1987 – 5:05PM
’Remember, remember, the fifth of November’.The 'towering inferno' and the 'rat run' are legendary in the London Fire Brigade, and are part of Peter Duncan's dare as he trains as a fireman. On bonfire night he joins 'White Watch' at Holloway fire station for a night of firefighting he will never forget.
9	3	"Survivor (Part One)"	Alex Leger	12 May 1987 – 5:05PM
Alone in the wilderness after an air crash - could you survive? In the first of two programmes Peter Duncan joins expert Lofty Wiseman, who says that with proper training and the will to continue, any fit person can survive. But solitude and lack of proper food make seven days seem like eternity to Peter as he learns that bull rushes are as nourishing as asparagus, and all you need to cross water safely is a plastic sack.
10	4	"Survivor (Part Two)"	Alex Leger	19 May 1987 – 5:05PM
After four days of living off the land, survival expert Lofty Wiseman and Peter Duncan join forces once more to leave Peter's forest shelter and march to the coast and safety. Weakened by lack of proper food and the walking, Peter learns that limpets and seaweed fill you up and wild strawberry roots are good for cleaning your teeth.
11	5	"Hang Glider Pilot"	Rob Benfield & Alex Leger	26 May 1987 – 5:10PM
Up and away! In this high-flying dare Peter Duncan becomes a hang-glider pilot and discovers the Blorenge - the highest hang-gliding site in South Wales.The spectacular views from its summit provide a test of nerve for Peter's first flight.
12	6	"What Is A Dare?"	Rob Benfield	2 June 1987 – 5:00PM
'Dear Peter, would you ... lie on a bed of nails? Wear a beard of bees? Walk over hot coals? Let a tarantula walk across your bare chest?' All these ideas came from Duncan Dares viewers who felt that up till now he was getting off lightly. Join Peter in the last programme of the series as he faces up to what the viewers think is daring.

Series repeated on BBC1 on Mondays from 17 July to 21 August 1989.

External links

• Go With Noakes at the BFI Website
• http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/search/0/20?order=asc&q=%22duncan+dares%22#search

References

1. "BBC programme catalogue entry for Go With Noakes". Retrieved 2007-01-30.
2. "Go With Noakes | The Red Arrows". Retrieved 2014-09-10.
3. "Go With Noakes Theme Song". Retrieved 2014-09-10.