Zig Zag: Topical Programmes

	Animals in Action
	ITV Schools
	1985-1993
	Science

	Finding Out
	ITV Schools
	1964-1987
	Miscellany

	Picture Box
	ITV Schools
	1966-1993
	Miscellany

📺BBC Schools TV

companyBBC

started21st Mar 1985

ended27th Nov 1989

last rpt29th Nov 1989

6 school years

episodes5

duration20 mins

subject 🏫Miscellany

age rangeAge 7-9

languageenIn English

Zig Zag

Previous unit: The EskimosNext unit: Gardens and Growth

Topical Programmes is a unit of the BBC Schools TV series Zig Zag from the 1980s, covering various topics for primary school pupils.

For a while in the 1980s Zig Zag presented one Special programme each year, not directly related to the units being shown in the rest of the term and usually on a topical subject. For the first two years these Zig Zag Special episodes covered the Domesday Project enterprise organised by the BBC, and later took on other topics.

Episode List

#	Title	Broadcast
1.	The Domesday Project	#1985-03-21-00-00-0021 Mar 1985
2.	Topical Programme (Summer 1986)	#1986-06-16-00-00-0016 Jun 1986
3.	Quiz Programme	#1987-06-22-00-00-0022 Jun 1987
4.	Australia's Bicentenary	#1988-03-21-00-00-0021 Mar 1988
5.	Hungarian Link-Up	#1989-11-27-00-00-0027 Nov 1989

Episode Guide

1. The Domesday Project

Sheelagh introduces the BBC's Domesday Project, running to mark 900 years since the Normans prepared the original Domesday Book. She explains how hundreds of schools across the United Kingdom can prepare reports and photographs about their local areas.

First broadcast: Thursday 21st March 1985, 9:20am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Friday 29th March 1985, 9:30am on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBG100T

2. Topical Programme (Summer 1986)

Sheelagh gives an update on the Domesday Project videodisc preparations, and Paul previews the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.

First broadcast: Monday 16th June 1986, 11:00am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Wednesday 18th June 1986, 2:40pm on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBJ082L

3. Quiz Programme

Paul sets questions about the 1986-87 Zig Zag programmes to children from two schools.

First broadcast: Monday 22nd June 1987, 11:00am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Wednesday 24th June 1987, 2:15pm on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBK096J

4. Australia's Bicentenary

Children from a school in England and another in Australia work together on a project about James Hobbs, a young settler inAustralia, to mark 200 years since the first British convict ships arrived in Australia. Using computers and satellite links they can talk to each other and cooperate.

First broadcast: Monday 21st March 1988, 11:00am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Wednesday 23rd March 1988, 1:38pm on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBK095P

5. Hungarian Link-Up

Children at a primary school in London correspond with their counterparts in Budapest and find out about daily life for children in 1980s Hungary.

First broadcast: Monday 27th November 1989, 11:00am on BBC2 Last broadcast: Wednesday 29th November 1989, 1:40pm on BBC2 BBC programme number: ESBM384S

Broadcasts

Year	Term	Mon	Wed	Thu	Fri	Channel	Details
1984-85	Spring 1985			Thursday, 9:20am	Friday, 9:30am	BBC2	Thu, rpt Fri in next week
1985-86	Summer 1986	Monday, 11:00am	Wednesday, 2:40pm			BBC2
1986-87	Summer 1987	Monday, 11:00am	Wednesday, 2:15pm			BBC2
1987-88	Spring 1988	Monday, 11:00am	Wednesday, 1:38pm			BBC2
1989-90	Autumn 1989	Monday, 11:00am	Wednesday, 1:40pm			BBC2

Zig Zag (1983-2000)

Series Overview • Units • Episode List

Ancient Greece (1996) • The Anglo-Saxons (1992) • The Arabs (1984) • Art (1997) • Canada (1987) • Cathedrals (1989) • The Channel Tunnel (1987) • Computers (1983) • Danger Detectors (1996) • The Eskimos (1985) • Food and Farming (1995) • France (2000) • Gardens and Growth (1985) • Geography UK (1995) • Getting About (1988) • The Greeks (1986) • Hungry Times (1983) • Invaders (1997) • Kenya (1994-96) • Let's Face It (1990) • Making It Work (1997) • Mapmakers! (1993) • Mordicus (1986) • The Normans (1983) • The Odyssey (1990) • The Olympics (1984-92) • Over to You (1985-89) • Roman Britain (1993) • Rush, The Fallow Deer (1987) • The Saga of Gunnar Goldhair (1987) • Snapshots: Children in the Second World War (2000) • Space (1984-88) • Spaceship Earth (1986) • Tales from Europe (1992) • Tales from Europe (2000) • Technology (1991) • Topical Programmes (1985-89) • Trees (1993) • Trees and Man (1991) • Tudor Life (1998) • The Vikings (1987) • Village, Town, City (1997) • A Walk Through Time (1999) • Water (1990) • Water, Air, Land (1998) • Weather (1999) • Where You Live, Where I Live (1994) • Wildlife Safari (1989-91) • Winter Festival (1986) • World of Work (1989) • You and the Media (1986)

See also: Zig Zag Shorts • Landmarks • Primary Geography • Primary History

Topics

School topics covered in this programme. Click to find other programmes covering the same topics, but bear in mind topics are a new addition to the site in 2023 and not many are set up yet.

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Topics

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