‘Barnacle Bill’ was composed by Herbert Ashworth-Hope and the original recording, by Sydney Torch and the New Light Orchestra, was used until the 1980s when Mike Oldfield re-arranged it. Though the musical palette may have changed over the years, the BBC’s longest running children’s programme has enjoyed the same theme tune. Midway through, we get the ‘chorus’, played on Hank Marvin-like guitar. After a flamboyant snare drum roll intro, the catchy plinky-plonky piano melody is joined by lolloping xylophone and flutes. It was a swaggering tune called Marching there and back, written by TV composer Syd Dale. Looking back, the films were often woeful Disney fare like The Cat From Outer Space, but the theme music was, at least, terrific. Hosted by Michael Rodd, it would feature four children being tested about details of a film clip they’d just seen.
Screen Test, the film quiz for kids, was shown on BBC TV through the 1970s. Will their Victoria sponge cool on time? Or does cake catastrophe await?įind out more about the composer behind the soundtrack for The Great British Bake Off here. Bake Off also makes generous use of music throughout the show to demonstrate the rising tension within the marquee, as the bakers begin to run out of time on their signature, showstopper, or technical challenges. Below the spongy surface, however, a bustling world of percussive complexity is also adding to the excitement: there are vigorously played drums, bongos, and even a subtle (if it can ever be so) gong. The opening titles heighten the viewer’s anticipation with its gradually building rhythmic cha-cha-cha of the cellos, and soothe us with a cheerful do-dooby-dooby from the violins.
What are the best TV theme tunes of all time? 13) The Great British Bake Off