The Programmes

The television programmes are about 14 minutes long, and the radio programmes about 6 minutes long. Both the television and the radio programmes follow a similar format:

Before the mission, where the Numberjacks play in the Gym or the Cosy Room
The Alarm, as the Agents call in with news of a Problem
The Launch of one or more Numberjacks into the real world to investigate the problem
Investigation of the Problem Identification of the cause of the Problem, which is usually one of the Meanies
Speculation of what else might happen if the problem isn’t sorted
Working out (with the Agents’ help) how to solve the problem
Solving the problem using Brain Gain (with the Agents’ help) after some initial setbacks
Return to base Review of what happened Setting of a challenge to the audience.

The format is structured in a way similar to a scientific investigation, and helps children develop a sense of scientific enquiry. The familiar and repeated format gives the audience security, and enables the programme content to be more varied and challenging. The radio programmes differ slightly, in that each is set in the “world” of a nursery rhyme or children’s song. Within the shorter timespan, there is no room (and less need) for a review.